West Michigan Edge was an American soccer team based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1995, the team played in the USL Premier Development League (PDL), the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2008, when the franchise folded and the team left the league.
The team played its home games at EK Stadium on the campus of East Kentwood High School in nearby Kentwood, Michigan. The team's colors were red, white and blue.
The club also fielded a team in the USL's Super-20 League, a league for players 17 to 20 years of age run under the United Soccer Leagues umbrella.
History
The team played as Grand Rapids Explosion from 1995 to 1998, before changing names to West Michigan Explosion prior to the 1999 season, and adopting their final moniker in 2000.
Year-by-year YearDivisionLeagueRegular seasonPlayoffsOpen Cup19954USISL Premier League6th, CentralDid not qualifyDid not qualify19964USISL Premier League6th, Central NorthernDid not qualifyDid not qualify19974USISL PDSL4th, North CentralDivision SemifinalsDid not qualify19984USISL PDSL7th, Great LakesDid not qualifyDid not qualify19994USL PDL7th, Great LakesDid not qualifyDid not qualify20004USL PDL4th, Great LakesConference SemifinalsDid not qualify20014USL PDL2nd, Great LakesDid not qualifyDid not qualify20024USL PDL3rd, Great LakesDid not qualifyDid not qualify2003On Hiatus20044USL PDL6th, Great LakesDid not qualifyDid not qualify20054USL PDL6th, Great LakesDid not qualifyDid not qualify20064USL PDL5th, Great LakesDid not qualifyDid not qualify20074USL PDL3rd, Great LakesDid not qualifyDid not qualify20084USL PDL5th, MidwestDid not qualifyDid not qualify
Head coaches Erwin van Elst (1995) Tim Hendrickson (1996) Aric Dershem (1997) Mark "Moose" Noorzai (1997) Carl Whitehouse (1998) Jamie Huff (1999–2000) Joey Barone (2005–2006) Mark Bell (2007) Stephen Herdsman (2008)
Additional Coaches & Members
Ben Pirmann (2007 - 2008).
Stadia Velting Field; Grand Rapids, Michigan (1995) no home games (1996) Calvin College; Grand Rapids, Michigan (1997–98) Holland Municipal Stadium; Holland, Michigan 1 game (1998) Lowell High School; Lowell, Michigan 1 game (1998) Cornerstone College; Grand Rapids, Michigan (1999) East Grant Rapids Middle School; East Grand Rapids, Michigan (2000) Holland Municipal Stadium; Holland, Michigan (2004) Stadium at Forest Hills Central High School; Grand Rapids, Michigan (2005–2007) Stadium at Mona Shores High School; Muskegon, Michigan 1 game (2005) Stadium at Cornerstone University; Grand Rapids, Michigan 4 games (2007) East Grand Rapids Memorial Field; Grand Rapids, Michigan 2 games (2007) Stadium at Crestwood Middle School; Kentwood, Michigan 1 game (2007) EK Stadium; Kentwood, Michigan (2008)
Average Attendances 2008: 125 2007: 89 2006: 298 2005: 412
References
External links West Michigan Edge