The Royals concluded their inaugural foray in the Select League with a record of 15-0-1, and 45pts. They have set a standard of excellence, and have laid down the marker for their opponents' to chase going into the 2025 season.
It's hard to predict a 16-week season when you have a brand new league, with 9 brand new clubs, with 9 brand new coaches, with 9 brand new teams who haven't played together, in 9 different cities across 2 different seasons, and 2 different states.
How would the players' individual life schedules, work schedules, family schedules, vacation schedules, mesh with their new league schedules and how committed would they be to a league that was still in a fledgling state, and still gaining credibility within the KCAAF?
It started with a high quality match in Shawnee Kansas between Southside FC and Woodland FC. Woodland and Southside were able to establish what the standard would be for the teams at the top of the table throughout the season. A 4-3 win, with a brace from Chandler Givler, for Woodland was the ideal start the Royals needed, and one that would set the table for a dramatic rematch later against Southside.
The Royals followed up their inaugural success with a dominant win at Liberty FC where Andersson Obando and Spence Jean-Baptiste were able to find form. That set the stage for a title-fight against Real Overland Park.
The Royals would stumble over their own feet against Overland Park, committing mistake after mistake. They were missing key personnel all over the field, and suffered a setback to their title-fight that would leave them outside the top spot. It was the last mistake they would make all season.
The Royals rebounded with a resounding victory against Lenexa City FC in the first installment of the Tallgrass Derby, with Brennan Williams scoring 2 crucial goals in the match. Getting back to winning ways was huge, but would only mean anything if they did the job in the following week against Olathe United, another title chaser.
The Royals trailed twice all season. Once against Real Overland Park, and once against Olathe United. They would complete the comeback after falling behind early to win 3-2 against a frisky, and very competent and competitive Olathe side. Next was a challenge from Northland FC, the top of the table at the time.
The Royals would brush aside the Norsemen with a dominant 5-0 win in Gladstone. Brett Jackson would begin scoring, something he didn't stop doing until season's end. The Royals had navigated all of May without dropping points, and were now entering a congested June schedule, and their rivals from Southside FC looming on the horizon.
Woodland would not be denied. Southside arrived hungry for revenge, but vengeance was not to be theirs this week. The Royals would come out firing on all cylinders from the opening whistle, and established a firm grip on the title chase with a resounding 3-0 win. With this win, they were now firmly in control of their own destiny in the title race. The debut of Naguib Nassir would signal an improved defense. A great place to be with Northland sailing into town.
Woodland would continue their winning ways with a commanding 3-1 win at home to maintain their lead. By this time of the season, Woodland had cemented themselves as a team that, when healthy, they were the toughest team in the league to score on, and a difficult team to keep off the score sheet. The fewest goals Woodland scored all season in a match was 3. With Northland dispatched, the Royals had survived challenges from almost every team at the top of the table. Their schedule would ease up from here, but there was still work to do.
Woodland would benefit with some rest in their schedule congestion thanks to a forfeit from Liberty FC. The rest would not be wasted in their trip to Leawood Forest. Leawood was a challenging team, with great athletes that can outrun anybody on their day. This was not their day. Woodland controlled the game, and left with a 5-0 win, and were able to rest many players for a massive date with some unfinished business--Real Overland Park.
Real Overland Park left Stump Park several weeks earlier confident that the Woodland FC team they played was the Royals at their best. It decidely wasn't. The Royals traveled to Overland Park eager to put to bed any ideas dominance that Real OP thought they might have. Haddon DeMoure and Luke Heaton would lead a 3-1 win, and all but end the hopes of Overland Park in their title race.
The Royals had now navigated all of May and June without dropping points. They had a more than 3-point lead on 2nd as well. The chance to clinch the title in July was a reality. It began with a declaration shortly after Independence Day.
Woodland traveled to Lee's Summit to take on Lee's Summit Athletic on a swelteringly hot day that was dwarfed only by the sizzling form of Joseph Caughron. The Royals would romp to a 4-0 win to continue their streak. Next came a rematch versus Leawood Forest.
Leawood arrived at Stump Park eager to show the talent and promise they had in the beginning of the season was more bite than bark, but a thin roster and injuries prevented that from happening. The Royals dealt with their threat handily, and continued their march. They now had one hand on the title. The end was in sight. As fortune would have it, it would be against their cross-town rival, Lenexa City in the Tallgrass Derby.
The Royals showed the poise and composure of champions, romping to a dominant win against their rivals. They clinched the title and secured their place in history as the first ever champions. Fittingly, the same player who scored the first ever goal in league history, Michael Okiring, scored the match opener for the title. It was a glorious day for the league, for the club, and for club captains Gage Pemberton and Chandler Givler who hoisted the trophy to the roar of over 100 fans in attendance.
The Royals would end their season with wins against Lee's Summit Athletic (7-2), and Olathe United (3-0). They ended their season with an unforgettable 13-match win streak. A feat that will be difficult to match in the coming seasons, and one that set the standard of excellence for what is needed to win this competitive league.
"When we came into the season, we had no idea what to expect, apart from the fact that we knew we had a chance with the team we had," coach Ross Harris said. "I felt that if we were in control of our destiny by July, we should be able to get it done. These players were incredible. Each and every man on our team was exactly what our club needed, and who we prayed for in this season. We thank God from whom all blessings flow, and thank Him for bringing incredible players to our club. Apart from Him, these players deserve all the credit. They did the work. I just had the best seat in the house each game."
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