Good news, Dentonites! You’ll have a shiny new semi-pro soccer team to cheer for in 2019!

The Denton Diablos FC announced that they will be joining the National Premier Soccer League as an expansion team. The Diablos will begin competition in 2019 as the newest member of the Lone Star Conference in the South Region. The club will play home games at the Mean Green Soccer Stadium at the University of North Texas.

The launch party was held at LSA Burger Co. (which also happens to top our list of Best Outdoor Dining Destinations) in Denton, TX on Thursday, September 13th. The speakers showed enthusiasm for the soccer start-up throughout the party both on and off the stage. The party was all smiles and laughs.

“It’s very exciting to see the Lone Star Conference continue to grow with Denton Diablos FC,” said NPSL chairman Joe Barone. “Texas is a true hotbed of American soccer and we are extremely happy for the NPSL to have a stronger presence there.”

Denton Diablos FC is owned by a partnership between the Denton-based Aspiro Agency (a marketing agency owned by Damon Gochneaur) and Playbook Management International (a sports management company owned by Michael Hitchcock out of Frisco, TX).

Damon Gochneaur, a UNT graduate, has spent a majority of his life around the sport of soccer as a player, a coach, and now as an owner.

“We’re wholly committed to weaving ourselves into the fabric of the community and be more than just a semi-pro club." Gochneaur said. “We have some lofty goals to change the paradigm in youth soccer and be an agent of positive change in our community through soccer.”

“Damon and I are community-centric business leaders who are passionate about the game of soccer and the impact it can have on the community.” Michael Hitchcock added that they have a commitment towards providing opportunities to local players. The club wants to give the players and fans a hometown team to support proudly.

Denton Diablos FC will be holding open tryouts in mid-October. The club is also in the process of hiring a coach, and will have an announcement in the upcoming few weeks regarding the hiring.

The NPSL, founded in 2003, has seen major growth since its inception, starting with just three teams. The Denton Diablos will expand the league to ninety-eight teams, and the Lone Star Conference to ten teams, making it the second-largest conference in the league.

Along with the Denton Diablos FC, the Lone Star Conference includes FC Brownsville, Fort Worth Vaqueros, Houston Dutch Lions, Houston Regals, Katy 1895 FC, Laredo Heat, Midland-Odessa FC, Shreveport Rafters FC, and Tyler FC.

Photos by Jordan Brown
Header image design by Sara Button