First-ever team in English football pyramid made up entirely of American players

Born in the USA! New club FC 219 will be first-ever team in English football pyramid made up entirely of American players

Amid the growing trend of American ownership of English football clubs, a sensational ground breaking initiative is announced today that will see a new club enter the English Football League Pyramid next season made up entirely of players from the United States.
FC 219 is the brainchild of Liverpool-born entrepreneur Tom Baker (pictured right) who is based in Austin, Texas, where he runs 219 Sports, an international sports and education consultancy that sources scholarships for talented UK athletes at universities across the USA.
Since launching six years ago, 219 Sports, which holds a verified partnership with League Football Education (LFE), the education provider of the English Football League, has secured university scholarships worth over $7 million for more than 250 UK students.
Now Tom is extending his trans-Atlantic business enterprise to bring US sports students to the UK to study and play football with his newly created FC 219, the first-ever team within the English football pyramid consisting of players who are all born in the USA.
The club will be built entirely around talented American student players who have each already completed an undergraduate degree in the United States and who will be studying a one-year master’s degree while playing for FC 219.
The Club will join the tenth tier of the English Football Pyramid for the 2027/28 season with an initial squad of 22 players combining football with their educational studies.
Tom says: “This is a landmark day for everyone involved. American interest in English Football has never been higher. More than half of all Premier League Clubs are now American owned and lots of clubs in the lower leagues are under American ownership. Wrexham AFC, backed by Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, showed the world how compelling English football’s story can be.
“ FC 219 sits right at the centre of this moment, an English club built from American talent, with a natural audience in the United States from day one. Each player is a story back home in America. It is a club designed to attract attention on both sides of the Atlantic. Launching a new football club and earning a place within the football pyramid is an incredible achievement. Our vision is to build a club that our community can be proud of - one that develops players, welcomes supporters of all ages and competes with passion and integrity. This is just the beginning." More/2
219 Sports has linked up with Edge Hill University in Ormskirk, Lancashire, situated between the globally recognised football institutions of Liverpool and Manchester, where FC 219’s players will study postgraduate (Master’s) degrees, train and play their matches on the Edge Hill campus.
Tom adds: “As the club grows, we will recruit for a women’s team alongside younger players who will come to study undergraduate degrees too. Alongside their studies, they play for FC 219 in the English football league system, with real ambitions to win promotions and climb the pyramid. A massive amount of thought and planning has gone into this, and we will soon be announcing details of FC 219’s management and coaching structure.
“It’s a really exciting and groundbreaking initiative that has never been done before. FC 219 will provide opportunities for players and supporters to be part of an exciting new sporting journey. The club has been established on the principles of ambition, inclusivity and long-term development, with a commitment to building strong links throughout the local community. From grassroots participation to senior football, the club aims to become a focal point for the area both on and off the pitch.
“As the newest addition to the football pyramid, FC 219 is determined to establish itself through hard work, strong community values and an impressive style of football.”
FC 219’s logo has been designed to reflect the unique proposition. Tom explains: “The bridge acts as a visual metaphor for the club's mission: bridging the gap between US college football and the UK league system to create opportunities for student-athletes (players) to continue their development overseas. The water beneath the bridge represents the Atlantic Ocean, reinforcing the club's transatlantic identity and the connection between the United States and the United Kingdom.”
The club will play its home fixtures at Edge Hill and preparations are already underway in readiness for the 2027/28 season, including player recruitment, commercial partnerships and community engagement initiatives.
Matthew Greig, Professor of Sport & Exercise Biomechanics and an Associate Head (Sports Therapy) at Edge Hill said: “We are delighted to have joined up with 219 Sports/FC 219 for this exciting venture, with a real focus on the continuation of the student-athlete pathway. Talented soccer-scholars having the opportunity to pursue post-graduate study across the breadth of opportunities at Edge Hill, whilst continuing their soccer journey in the heartland of soccer in the UK, is an amazing opportunity.
“We are confident we can provide a really unique experience, providing the quality of soccer training and competition 219 Sport students have become accustomed to, with excellence in teaching or research mentorship, and an amazing cultural experience. We have a beautiful campus that will quickly feel like home, with all educational and playing needs close to hand for the students. We are looking forward to welcoming our first squads and getting started.”
Dan Jordan, League Football Education’s Club Community Organisation Study Programme Manager, an operation set up by the English Football League and the UK’s Professional Footballers Association, said: “The launch of FC 219 is an exciting development. 219 Sports has quickly established itself as one of the most respected organisations in this field, and this new opportunity will allow American players to experience life in England, both on and off the pitch. It promises to be a unique and enriching experience that will help young players develop both personally and professionally.”
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He added: “League Football Education has been working closely with 219 Sports for several years, and they remain our only approved progression partner for Study Programme learners exploring scholarship opportunities in the United States. That endorsement is built on the exceptional experience they provide for our young people from the first time they meet.
“The advice, guidance and support offered by Tom and his team is consistently of the highest quality. Their initial meetings with learners and families are professional, informative and tailored to individual aspirations, which is why so many of our learners choose to progress with their scholarship applications through 219 Sports. What really sets 219 Sports apart, however, is the ongoing support they provide once learners reach the United States. Learners genuinely become part of the 219 family. Tom and his team work tirelessly to maintain strong relationships with every learner, ensuring they always have someone to turn to should they need advice, guidance or support during their time abroad.”

For more information go to:

https://www.fc219.com

About 219 Sports

Tom Baker, who was born in Liverpool and whose family still live in the City Region, founded 219 Sports in 2020 to change the way talented UK athletes earn scholarships in the United States. He wanted to offer a service that puts UK students first, not just an agency where they become a numbers game.
After four years of studying and playing soccer at the University of Charleston in West Virginia, Tom saw the size and scale of sporting environments in the US and how life-changing the opportunity can be. However, he also knew from his own personal experience that it lacked the vital ongoing support. Tom has picked out the good bits that other firms offer and added knowledge from his own experience to ensure that 219 Sports provides an unbeatable service.
So far, it has placed more than 250 student athletes across 30 plus American states, securing more than $7million worth of funding.
As part of this process, 219 Sports operate football tours taking UK students to the USA to visit top university and college campuses, meet coaches, play matches and be introduced to contacts in the MLS, North America’s soccer league. For more information on 219 Sports go to: www.219sports.com

Media Contact: Paul Smith — paul@paulsmithassociates.co.uk
Tom Baker — tom.baker@fc219.com

PAUL SMITH ASSOCIATES
16th September 2026