A-League: 19 teams approved for new league

The following are the teams that the new Division II A-League to be operated by the USISL has approved from among the 35 teams that applied for admission to play in 1997:

Atlanta (A-League), Carolina (USISL Select), Charleston (USISL Pro), Connecticut (USISL Select), El Paso (USISL Select), Hershey (A-League expansion), Jacksonville (former Tampa Bay, USISL Select), Long Island (USISL Select), Milwaukee (USISL Select), Minnesota (USISL Select), Nashville (USISL Premier), New Orleans (USISL Select), Orlando (USISL Premier), Raleigh (USISL Select), Rochester (A-League), Seattle (A-League), Toronto (A-League expansion), Vancouver (A-League), Worcester (USISL Pro).

Seven teams need to meet certain requirements to become Division II teams in the new league in the coming weeks:

California (USISL Select), Colorado (A-League), Hampton Roads (USISL Select), Montreal (A-League), New York (A-League), Richmond (USISL Select), Sacramento (USISL Select).

The final number of teams to play in ’97 remains undetermined. Those teams that will take part in the league must be finalized before the USISL meetings Nov. 14-17 in Tampa.