Dayton, March 4, 2021
The Dutch Lions FC organization today announced the launch of Washington Dutch Lions FC, their 9th soccer club in the USA. The club will have a Women’s team competing in the Women’s Professional Soccer League (WPSL), the second highest level of play for women in the country, and also offer camps, clinics, and skill training during the season with their coaching staff, players and high-level coaches coming in from Europe every year. The club is also looking to build partnerships with local youth soccer clubs to provide a “Gateway to Professional Soccer.”
Martin de Groot is the Washington Dutch Lions FC CEO & General Manager. He is from the Netherlands and moved to the US over 20 years ago. With his company “NL to US” he works with Dutch manufacturers that want to enter the US market. Martin is also chairman of the Netherlands American Business Council, a non-profit promoting business ties between the two countries. “We are very excited to start with the Washington Dutch Lions FC in the DC metro area. This region, Northern Virginia and Fairfax County, is a hotbed for women’s soccer and we are looking forward to bringing it to the next level. Our organization will provide a great platform for young players to bridge the gap from youth, high school and college to professional soccer in the United States and Europe. We believe the WPSL is the best fit for both our players and the ambitions of our club.”
According to Mike Mossel, CEO of the Dutch Lions Capital Group USA LLC, Washington is a great addition to the Dutch Lions FC organization: “I met Martin (de Groot) two years ago when he came to New York where we were playing with our All-Star team with former Dutch National team players. He got me excited about the amount of (talented) players in the DC area and his ambition to start a new Dutch Lions FC club together. We wanted to expand to the East Coast in our objective to build an infrastructure in the USA while providing soccer players the chance to become professional, either domestically or in Europe. We are starting in 2021 with a Women’s team. In Europe there is a shortage of good female players, while women’s soccer is growing rapidly.” Dutch Lions FC has had five players from their women’s team in Dayton sign contracts in Europe, and the organization would like to increase that number. Also, USWNT player Rose Lavelle played two years for the Dayton Dutch Lions FC Women’s team. “I am very excited to work with our Washington Dutch Lions FC CEO/General Manager, Martin (de Groot), on this project. I would also like to thank the WPSL for the great assistance in starting our new club, as well as Old Dominion FC Cesena USA for the constructive meetings to build a strong Conference,” Mossel states in conclusion.
WPSL President Sean Jones commented on the expansion team: “We are very excited for the Dutch Lions Capital Group to expand their exciting style of soccer to the Washington area. The Dutch Lions have a proven track record and will be a great addition to the Mid-Atlantic Region and part of the Colonial Division for the 2021 season.”
Washington Dutch Lions FC will announce their full 2021 coaching staff and try-out dates for the team in the coming weeks. You can find more information on www.washingtondlfc.com and follow the club on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. For more information, please contact Martin de Groot at m.degroot@washingtondlfc.com.