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• Comment: Clean up AI generated content and add promotional materials. See WP:NPOV for writing in a nuetral point of view. I remind to add reliable source references for the details added. AlphaCore talk 09:37, 26 February 2026 (UTC)

Midwest Hooligans

Full name	Midwest Hooligans
Nickname	The Hooligans
Founded	2020
Ground	Goebel Soccer Complex – Old National Bank Field
Capacity	500
Owner	Auston Bruder
Manager	Auston Bruder
League	United Premier Soccer League
Website	https://www.mwhooligans.com
Home colours Away colours

Midwest Hooligans is an American semi-professional soccer club based in Evansville, Indiana. Founded in 2020, the club competes in the United Premier Soccer League (UPSL), a national amateur and semi-professional league within the United States soccer pyramid.

The organization operates a senior UPSL team, a Development Academy (DA) summer program, and maintains a formal partnership with Indy Eleven Academy Spirit as part of its player development pathway.

The mission of the Midwest Hooligans has evolved since the club’s founding. Originally formed as a group of former collegiate players seeking opportunities to continue competing, the organization has grown into a structured program focused on player development within a professional-style environment.

The club aims to provide athletes with opportunities to develop their abilities at a high competitive level while promoting personal growth on and off the field. In addition to senior team competition, the organization places an emphasis on community engagement and youth soccer development throughout the Evansville area.

The Midwest Hooligans were founded in early 2020 in Evansville, Indiana, during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The club originated from discussions between founder Auston Bruder and his wife, Tori Bruder, about the lack of local playing opportunities for former collegiate athletes.

With limited adult competitive soccer infrastructure in the region, the concept expanded beyond a recreational side into a club built around identity, structure, and long-term purpose. The roster was initially composed of players from multiple surrounding communities rather than a single hometown base.^[1]

The club’s name originated during early branding discussions when Tori Bruder remarked that the players were “a bunch of hooligans,” a phrase that was ultimately adopted as the team’s identity. The “Midwest” designation was selected to reflect the regional makeup of the squad and the potential for future growth beyond a single city.^[2]

To organize communication, scheduling, and match updates, the club launched a Facebook page, while Tori Bruder designed the organization’s first crest. Early community engagement and local interest helped the club gain visibility during its formative months.

Midwest Hooligans is an American semi-professional soccer club based in Evansville, Indiana. The club competes in the United Premier Soccer League (UPSL), a national amateur and semi-professional league within the United States soccer pyramid.^[3]

Founded in 2020, the organization was established to provide competitive playing opportunities for former collegiate and high-level amateur players in the Southern Indiana region while also contributing to youth development and community engagement.

The Midwest Hooligans play their home matches at Goebel Soccer Complex – Old National Bank Field, located in Evansville, Indiana. The facility has an estimated seating capacity of 500 spectators and serves as the primary matchday venue for UPSL competition and club events.

The club is owned by founder Auston Bruder, who also serves as Head Coach.

• Head Coach — Auston Bruder
• Associate Head Coach — Logan Ball
• Assistant Coach — Trevor Warfield
• Goalkeeper Coach — Rylan Gentil-Diaz

The technical staff oversees player development, match preparation, and integration with local youth soccer initiatives.

The Midwest Hooligans maintain an active digital and social media presence used for match promotion, player announcements, and supporter engagement.

• Official Website — https://www.mwhooligans.com
• Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/mwhooligans/
• Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/MWHooligans
• TikTok — https://www.tiktok.com/@midwesthooligans

The Midwest Hooligans crest features a modern shield design centered around supporter culture imagery and club identity.

At the center of the badge is a stylized hooded figure, representing the “Hooligan” persona from which the club derives its name. The figure is rendered in a bold graphic style intended to convey intensity, unity, and competitive edge.

Positioned behind the central figure is a soccer ball, integrating the supporter symbolism with the sport itself and reinforcing the club’s football foundation.

The crest utilizes sharp, angular linework within the shield frame, a design approach commonly associated with contemporary semi-professional and supporter-driven clubs.

The official club colors are:

• Emerald Green — Representing growth, community roots, and regional pride
• Navy Blue — Symbolizing strength, resilience, and competitive focus
• White accents — Used for contrast and visual clarity in typography and detailing

Green and navy blue form the dominant palette across team kits, merchandise, and matchday branding. The color combination is also reflected in supporter displays, including smoke effects and stadium visuals associated with Hartigan’s Hooligans.

The official supporters group of the Midwest Hooligans is Hartigan’s Hooligans, established in 2023 by longtime club supporter Sam Finn.

The group was formed to build a dedicated matchday atmosphere and organized fan presence at Hooligans fixtures. Members are known for pre-match tailgates and in-stadium support that includes coordinated chants, drum accompaniment, and the use of colored smoke displays—primarily in green and blue.

Hartigan’s Hooligans maintain a close association with Patsy Hartigan's Irish Pub, where supporters gather to watch away matches and celebrate club victories. The pub serves as the central social hub for the group and a key meeting point for fan events.

In the summer of 2020, the Midwest Hooligans were approached by Jack Strassweg, owner of Indiana Fire South Academy, regarding the possibility of joining a national league structure.

Following discussions, an agreement was reached for the club to enter the United Premier Soccer League (UPSL). The move marked the Hooligans’ transition into sanctioned semi-professional competition.

With their UPSL entry, the Midwest Hooligans became the first official outdoor semi-professional soccer team based in Evansville, Indiana.

The Midwest Hooligans maintain a developmental partnership with Indy Eleven Academy Spirit, a youth soccer organization affiliated with the professional club Indy Eleven.

The partnership establishes a formal player pathway connecting academy development to semi-professional competition. Academy athletes progress through youth programming with opportunities to train within the senior team environment as they advance.

Players from the Midwest Hooligans coaching staff also contribute directly to academy development by serving in coaching roles across various youth age groups. This integration supports continuity in training methodology and player evaluation.

Select academy teams, particularly at the U18 and U19 levels, periodically participate in shared training sessions with the Hooligans’ UPSL squad. These sessions are designed to expose youth players to higher training standards and match preparation environments.

Academy players and families also maintain a visible presence on matchdays, with organized attendance supporting the club’s community and developmental connection.

Since joining the United Premier Soccer League (UPSL) in 2020, the Midwest Hooligans have competed in multiple conference alignments within the regional league structure, including both Gateway and Kentucky–Tennessee divisions.

Across four seasons of UPSL competition, the club has focused on roster development and establishing itself within the upper half of conference standings.

In their inaugural UPSL campaigns, the Midwest Hooligans competed against established regional sides while building organizational infrastructure and recruiting a consistent player base.

During these formative seasons, the club recorded mid-table finishes while gaining experience against playoff-caliber opposition such as Tennessee Tempo FC, Bowling Green FC, and St. Louis City SC Academy-affiliated squads.

While competing in the Gateway Conference, the Hooligans faced Missouri-based and academy-affiliated clubs. One recorded campaign saw the club finish fifth in conference standings, continuing its developmental progression within UPSL play.

Following conference realignment, the Midwest Hooligans joined the Kentucky–Tennessee Division, where the club began posting stronger competitive results.^[4]

In one of its most successful regular seasons, the Hooligans finished third in the conference table with a record of:

• 6 Wins
• 2 Draws
• 3 Losses
• 23 Goals For
• 17 Goals Against
• 20 Points

The finish placed the club behind conference leaders Southern Indiana FC and Tennessee Tempo FC.

The Midwest Hooligans qualified for the UPSL Conference Playoffs for the first time in club history during the 2025 Fall season.

In the opening round, the club faced Tennessee United Soccer Club and were narrowly defeated 3–2 in a competitive knockout fixture.

Despite the early exit, the playoff qualification marked a significant milestone in the club’s competitive development and progression within the league structure.

As of the most recent UPSL season, the Midwest Hooligans roster includes:

The Midwest Hooligans DA (Development Academy) Summer Program was launched in 2026 as an extension of the club’s player development structure.

The program was created to provide structured off-season training and competitive preparation for emerging players seeking advancement within the Midwest Hooligans pathway. It focuses on technical development, tactical education, and exposure to semi-professional training standards during the summer months.

The DA program serves as a bridge between youth academy soccer and senior-level competition. Participants may include high school-aged players, recent graduates, and academy prospects pursuing higher levels of play.

• Head Coach — Ben Dempsey
• Assistant Coach — Jesse Sharp

The coaching staff oversees player evaluation, training implementation, and integration opportunities with the club’s UPSL senior team environment.

The creation of the DA program further expands the Midwest Hooligans’ developmental model, linking youth partnerships, academy training, and semi-professional competition within a unified organizational structure.

The Midwest Hooligans have been featured in independent soccer media coverage, including a club spotlight by Protagonist Soccer highlighting the organization’s origins and community impact.^[5]

The club has also appeared in digital media features and podcast interviews discussing its development, supporter culture, and competitive growth.^[6]

Video features documenting the club’s matchday environment and organizational story have also been produced.^[7]