YAKIMA, WA — The new logo for Yakima United FC made quite a splash earlier this year. Look beyond the hops flowers and the beer-label quality and you might notice the numbers “20” and “10,” as in 2010, the year Yakima United was founded. Yes, there is already a story and tradition to the newest club joining the Evergreen Premier League.

THIS WEEK: Evergreen Premier League kicks off with Seattle Stars at Yakima United

Yakima United was founded after the Yakima Reds folded / were moved to Puget Sound. The Reds became the North Sound SeaWolves, who are now called the Puget Sound Gunners. Got it? Meanwhile, YUFC was busy playing in local Yakima leagues, the ill-fated American National Soccer League (ANSL) and USASA Region IV tournaments. One year United traveled to Sacramento in search of an US Open Cup bid via the USASA Regionals. (The Reds last made the USOC in 2008 and were assigned to travel across the country to Harrisburg, PA, where they lost to the City Islanders.)

In 2011 Yakima United FC advanced to the Final of the ANSL Washington Conference. They played Seattle Stars FC, another club that is joining the EPLWA this year. YUFC fell to the Stars in that match, one we covered right here on goalWA.net.

The Yakima club so strongly desired to play the best in state adult clubs that they have been willing to travel to Seattle for multiple matches as part of the Starfire Premier League. They also helped form the International Premier Soccer League.

Hector Vega Sr. and Joshua Vega have been running YUFC and will bring the club forward into the 2014 campaign.

There seems to be plenty of positive buzz about the “new” Yakima United. As Yakima Valley fans return to the sport as spectators of a statewide league, they will discover that YUFC has been around a little bit longer than some of them might have known.



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