Bedistan Premier League, 2078 season

The most notable change in the Bedistani leagues for the 2078 season was the fact that the Bedistani Cup was moved in the calendar, now occurring between the Spring and Fall semesters instead of after the end of the Fall semester.

There was little hope before the season began for the three promoted teams, Jervis, Washington, and Griffin, especially given what usually tends to be a rather large gulf between the Premier League and the First Division, but as always the players and management hoped to do well enough to maintain their newly-found (or newly-regained) Premier League status.

Spring semester

Five matches in, San Solari held a narrow one-point lead at the top as one of only two undefeated clubs, a 2-2 draw with Charleston being the only thing marring their otherwise perfect record. Unsurprisingly, the Alexandria Porcupines were close behind in second, with third-place San Diego being the only other undefeated team. Defending champions Rolestu were having a horrendous start, sitting in fourteenth place.

The top of the BPL showed a surprising amount of solidity throughout the spring semester, with very few position changes among the top four after the first few weeks. Of note was a seemingly lesser importance of the "Big Three", with Floral failing to make an appearance in the top three after the first matchday and Rolestu making exactly two appearances in the top four, instead spending most of their time just outside. Alexandria was the only one to perform as well as expected, and perhaps even better, winning seventeen out of nineteen matches.

Midseason table

Bedistani Cup

Round 1

• Navarre Town 4-0 Ansan Athletic
• Siheung FC 2-1 Sinpo Sporting
• Chungju United 1-2 Wonju Rovers
• Tallahassee Gators 0-2 Washington Tigers
• Jennerstown FC 1-3 Lames Etúskaït
• Jeju FC 0-1 FC Metrewalk AET (0-0 FT)
• South Coast United 3-0 FC Livinable
• Sonovago City FC 3-0 Massanutten FC
• Nalimaria Albion 5-2 Masan Rovers APK (2-2 FT, 2-2 AET)
• Darwin Tortoises 2-0 Madison Farmers
• Khikhi United 5-0 Danch'on United
• St. Louis Sporting 1-2 Haralson FC AET (1-1 FT)
• Lyme Wanderers 1-4 Aeon United
• Garorsi Unidire 2-0 Massack Town APK (1-1 FT, 3-3 AET)
• Cornish FC 5-1 Burbank Athletic
• Dennis Bears 3-1 Cedar Point Athletic
• Sokojiwa City FC 4-0 High Mountain Marketplace
• Carter FC 3-1 Albany United
• FC Glückstadt 4-0 Hendersonburg Stars
• San Solari FC 6-0 Detmold Town
• Buffalo Town 1-0 Freeport Town
• New Brunswick Athletic 4-2 Campton Town APK (1-1 FT, 1-1 AET)
• Bladensburg FC 4-3 Esom Hill Rovers APK (0-0 FT, 0-0 AET)
• Jacksonville Town 0-2 Wallops United
• AFC Beaagkh 3-0 Qidade Itekton
• SV Kleinestadt 0-1 Viborg FC
• Hundon FC 4-0 East Columbia Sporting APK (0-0 FT, 0-0 AET)
• Nile Riverboaters 0-5 Chelmsford Forest
• KQ Im 0-4 Independence FC
• Olin United 1-0 Brugese City
• Charleston FC 0-1 Senators AC
• AC Crotts 1-0 Andong United
• Black Oasis Athletic 2-0 Plain Athletic
• Three Points Highland 0-4 Oklee FC
• Belfast United 2-0 Amissville Antagonists
• Wisconsin Swamp AFC 1-2 Scottsville Town
• Uniondale FC 4-3 Yangsan FC AET (3-3 FT)
• Dionte City 3-0 SK Fjordalen
• Columbia Sharks 3-1 University Gardens Athletic
• Kilkenney Greens 0-1 Burnham Rovers
• Brooklyn FC 0-2 New Haverford Albion
• Chilson United 2-1 Newburgh Wanderers AET (1-1 FT)
• Port Lusambo FC 3-0 Yojimbo United
• Louisville Rangers 0-3 Gimje Athletic
• Sokcho Athletic 2-4 Forest Hill FC
• Cdredika City 4-2 Flanders FC
• Wheat Ridge Town 4-5 Kimchaek FC APK (0-0 FT, 1-1 AET)
• Sylvania Sporting 2-1 Blue Hill FC
• Roxana FC 1-3 Utida FC
• Alexandria Porcupines 4-1 Eagleswood Forest
• Beloit FC 5-0 Dice Rollers
• Johnson's Corner Athletic 1-2 Van Diemen FC
• RC Los Triesto 5-2 Rouzerville Athletic APK (1-1 FT, 1-1 AET)
• Alétike Ústin 3-1 Navy SPFC
• Grover United 2-1 Ch'ongjin Park
• KQI Pologak 0-2 Sonoma City Volcanoes
• Chickamauga United 4-0 Fostoria United
• Thorndale FC 0-1 International Park
• Westport Town 3-0 Delano FC APK (1-1 FT, 1-1 AET)
• Corling-Su FC 2-0 Lafe FC
• Grant City Lions 0-2 St. Lawrence FC
• West Creek Town 0-3 Tallahassee Blues
• Staffordville FC 0-2 Columbia United
• La Porte Rangers 1-0 Millstone Town
• Red Bank Foothills 0-2 Rolestu FC
• Bucheon FC 0-1 Lilac Sporting
• Houston Rovers 2-1 Forea FC
• Concrete Jungle FC 1-2 AFC IJsselmeer
• Dresford Coast 1-0 Linsuk City FC
• Grover Athletic 2-4 Eagle Lake Athletic
• Jervis FC 4-3 Yuba United APK (1-1 FT, 1-1 AET)
• Hooker United 2-1 Cereston Rovers
• Yankeetown Dandies 0-1 Uäneres Ataï
• Santa Monica FC 2-1 Mifflinburg FC
• Iksan United 0-1 Williamston FC
• Dawson Springs FC 7-2 Reston FC
• Ari FC 4-2 Kainia FC
• Uk-Tow Ri United 2-0 Bremen Athletic
• Dungeness Town 1-3 Brookdale Rovers
• Fyres Point Wanderers 4-1 Perry Hall Sporting
• Sangju United 0-2 Aspanes Kalsam
• Pleasure Ridge FC 0-2 Normaton City
• Victory Mills Athletic 1-0 KQ Qas
• Leeco Rangers 2-1 Richmond FC
• Sariwon FC 0-5 Gyeongsan FC
• Old Town Eufaula 3-4 Warren Center FC AET (3-3 FT)
• High Mountain Buffalo 3-1 Hwaseong Athletic
• Miryang FC 0-2 Bloom City FC
• Mokpo Athletic 1-5 New Town Red Devils
• Skelrod Unidire 0-1 Sierra City FC
• Jackson FC 0-1 Esto Wanderers
• Floral FC 2-0 RC San Antón
• Griffin Zebras 3-0 Walling United
• Falls Church FC 0-3 Waterford Town
• Cisna-Ri Athletic 2-1 D'ok'chon Raptors
• RKA Warriors 5-0 Paterson FC
• Fort Worth Patriots 3-1 Pohang FC
• Columbus FC 3-2 Jeonju United
• Eastfield Rogues 1-3 Graceville Salamanders
• FC Halma 2032 0-1 Herat FC
• Naperville & Castor 0-3 Chattanooga FC
• Marmaduke Rovers 1-0 White Springs FC
• Jamaica Giants 5-2 Springfield FC
• Cedar Run FC 5-4 Hamheung Sporting APK (2-2 FT, 2-2 AET)
• Wading River Athletic 3-4 Iron River Panhandlers APK (1-1 FT, 1-1 AET)
• Benbrook United 1-0 Amityville FC
• Justus Loons 4-0 Gaech'on Kings
• San Gabriel FC 2-1 Monkton FC AET (1-1 FT)
• Sayle United 0-2 Bucks Lake Athletic
• Spring Garden Rangers 0-2 West Island Sporting
• Woodpoint Athletic 0-4 Ilium Dragons
• Cowan FC 3-1 Najin FC
• Valeria Borderers 6-5 Naju Sporting APK (1-1 FT, 1-1 AET)
• Hampton Paladins 4-0 Carbondale United
• Gunpo Rovers 3-2 Totowa United AET (2-2 FT)
• Cheongju United 2-1 Guri FC
• Eagle's Rest United 4-0 Chuncheon United
• Martha FC 1-0 Hale Center FC
• Pine Village FC 1-2 Afton FC
• Keene FC 1-0 Haechu Sporting
• Badonga FC 4-2 Denison Town APK (2-2 FT, 2-2 AET)
• Reading FC 1-2 Midway Wolves
• Paradise Town 6-0 Port Lusambo Athletic
• Albany FC 3-0 Mayetta Town
• Hillcrest United 0-3 San Diego Iguanas
• Gwacheon United 0-4 Hyatt Gorge FC
• Brentford Town 0-2 Osage United
• Spring House FC 4-2 Canton United AET (2-2 FT)

Round 2

• Navarre Town 4-0 Siheung FC
• Wonju Rovers 0-4 Washington Tigers
• Lames Etúskaït 2-1 FC Metrewalk
• South Coast United 3-0 Sonovago City FC
• Nalimaria Albion 3-1 Darwin Tortoises
• Khikhi United 4-0 Haralson FC
• Aeon United 3-2 Garorsi Unidire
• Cornish FC 0-3 Dennis Bears
• Sokojiwa City FC 2-5 Carter FC
• FC Glückstadt 0-2 San Solari FC
• Buffalo Town 2-1 New Brunswick Athletic
• Bladensburg FC 1-3 Wallops United
• AFC Beaagkh 3-1 Viborg FC
• Hundon FC 1-2 Chelmsford Forest
• Independence FC 2-0 Olin United
• Senators AC 1-3 AC Crotts
• Black Oasis Athletic 5-1 Oklee FC
• Belfast United 2-0 Scottsville Town
• Uniondale FC 1-3 Dionte City
• Columbia Sharks 2-1 Burnham Rovers AET (1-1 FT)
• New Haverford Albion 3-1 Chilson United
• Port Lusambo FC 4-0 Gimje Athletic
• Forest Hill FC 4-1 Cdredika City
• Kimchaek FC 0-2 Sylvania Sporting
• Utida FC 0-1 Alexandria Porcupines
• Beloit FC 1-0 Van Diemen FC APK (1-1 FT, 1-1 AET)
• RC Los Triesto 2-0 Alétike Ústin
• Grover United 2-5 Sonoma City Volcanoes
• Chickamauga United 3-1 International Park
• Westport Town 3-0 Corling-Su FC
• St. Lawrence FC 0-1 Tallahassee Blues
• Columbia United 0-3 La Porte Rangers
• Rolestu FC 3-0 Lilac Sporting
• Houston Rovers 0-1 AFC IJsselmeer
• Dresford Coast 2-1 Eagle Lake Athletic
• Jervis FC 5-0 Hooker United
• Uäneres Ataï 1-3 Santa Monica FC APK (1-1 FT, 1-1 AET)
• Williamston FC 2-1 Dawson Springs FC
• Ari FC 1-0 Uk-Tow Ri United
• Brookdale Rovers 2-1 Fyres Point Wanderers
• Aspanes Kalsam 0-1 Normaton City
• Victory Mills Athletic 0-6 Leeco Rangers
• Gyeongsan FC 2-1 Warren Center FC
• High Mountain Buffalo 2-1 Bloom City FC
• New Town Red Devils 2-0 Sierra City FC AET (0-0 FT)
• Esto Wanderers 1-2 Floral FC
• Griffin Zebras 3-1 Waterford Town
• Cisna-Ri Athletic 2-5 RKA Warriors
• Fort Worth Patriots 2-3 Columbus FC AET (2-2 FT)
• Graceville Salamanders 2-0 Herat FC
• Chattanooga FC 1-0 Marmaduke Rovers AET (0-0 FT)
• Jamaica Giants 4-0 Cedar Run FC
• Iron River Panhandlers 1-2 Benbrook United
• Justus Loons 6-1 San Gabriel FC
• Bucks Lake Athletic 4-0 West Island Sporting
• Ilium Dragons 3-1 Cowan FC
• Valeria Borderers 1-4 Hampton Paladins
• Gunpo Rovers 0-2 Cheongju United
• Eagle's Rest United 7-0 Martha FC
• Afton FC 5-0 Keene FC
• Badonga FC 0-7 Midway Wolves
• Paradise Town 2-1 Albany FC
• San Diego Iguanas 3-0 Hyatt Gorge FC
• Osage United 0-4 Spring House FC

Round 3

• Navarre Town 4-1 Washington Tigers APK (1-1 FT, 1-1 AET)
• Lames Etúskaït 1-3 South Coast United
• Nalimaria Albion 1-3 Khikhi United
• Aeon United 0-4 Dennis Bears
• Carter FC 0-1 San Solari FC
• Buffalo Town 3-1 Wallops United
• AFC Beaagkh 1-3 Chelmsford Forest APK (0-0 FT, 0-0 AET)
• Independence FC 0-2 AC Crotts
• Black Oasis Athletic 3-0 Belfast United
• Dionte City 3-0 Columbia Sharks
• New Haverford Albion 4-0 Port Lusambo FC
• Forest Hill FC 3-0 Sylvania Sporting
• Alexandria Porcupines 2-1 Beloit FC
• RC Los Triesto 1-0 Sonoma City Volcanoes
• Chickamauga United 1-2 Westport Town
• Tallahassee Blues 6-0 La Porte Rangers
• Rolestu FC 4-0 AFC IJsselmeer
• Dresford Coast 2-1 Jervis FC
• Santa Monica FC 5-2 Williamston FC
• Ari FC 3-0 Brookdale Rovers
• Normaton City 1-6 Leeco Rangers
• Gyeongsan FC 0-3 High Mountain Buffalo
• New Town Red Devils 1-5 Floral FC
• Griffin Zebras 4-1 RKA Warriors APK (1-1 FT, 1-1 AET)
• Columbus FC 0-1 Graceville Salamanders
• Chattanooga FC 1-5 Jamaica Giants
• Benbrook United 0-4 Justus Loons
• Bucks Lake Athletic 4-0 Ilium Dragons
• Hampton Paladins 2-0 Cheongju United
• Eagle's Rest United 0-1 Afton FC
• Midway Wolves 0-2 Paradise Town
• San Diego Iguanas 4-2 Spring House FC

Round 4

• Navarre Town 1-0 South Coast United
• Khikhi United 0-2 Dennis Bears
• San Solari FC 5-0 Buffalo Town
• Chelmsford Forest 1-3 AC Crotts AET (1-1 FT)
• Black Oasis Athletic 0-5 Dionte City
• New Haverford Albion 1-3 Forest Hill FC
• Alexandria Porcupines 5-0 RC Los Triesto
• Westport Town 0-3 Tallahassee Blues
• Rolestu FC 4-1 Dresford Coast
• Santa Monica FC 3-1 Ari FC
• Leeco Rangers 1-3 High Mountain Buffalo
• Floral FC 1-0 Griffin Zebras
• Graceville Salamanders 0-1 Jamaica Giants
• Justus Loons 5-2 Bucks Lake Athletic
• Hampton Paladins 0-2 Afton FC
• Paradise Town 1-4 San Diego Iguanas

Round 5

• Navarre Town 2-1 Dennis Bears
• San Solari FC 3-1 AC Crotts
• Dionte City 2-1 Forest Hill FC
• Alexandria Porcupines 3-0 Tallahassee Blues
• Rolestu FC 1-0 Santa Monica FC AET (0-0 FT)
• High Mountain Buffalo 1-3 Floral FC APK (0-0 FT, 0-0 AET)
• Jamaica Giants 2-1 Justus Loons AET (1-1 FT)
• Afton FC 1-2 San Diego Iguanas

Quarterfinals

• Navarre Town 2-4 San Solari FC APK (2-2 FT, 2-2 AET)
• Dionte City 0-1 Alexandria Porcupines
• Rolestu FC 0-1 Floral FC
• Jamaica Giants 0-3 San Diego Iguanas

Semifinals

• San Solari FC 0-2 Alexandria Porcupines
• Floral FC 3-4 San Diego Iguanas APK (0-0 FT, 0-0 AET)

Final

• Alexandria Porcupines 1-0 San Diego Iguanas AET (0-0 FT)

Fall semester

Alexandria were never even close to being in danger of losing the lead at any point in the fall semester, so there was effectively no title race. The 'pines effectively had the title locked up with six weeks to go, leading Rolestu and Floral by eighteen points and about twenty units of goal difference, and it became mathematically ensured on matchday 33, one of the earliest title-clinchings in BPL history. Rolestu and Floral had to be content to fight between themselves for second place, and Rolestu ultimately edged out Floral on goal difference to take second place, eighteen points behind the league champions.

The relegation battle

So most fans were simply left wondering who would be sent down to the First Division. With two games to go, there were five candidates: newly-promoted Griffin and Washington, promotees from the previous year Justus, and perennial relegation candidates Dawson Springs and Forest Hill. Washington were all but confirmed, six points and seven units of goal difference from Justus and safety.

Week 37

The first match of the day was a fairly lopsided affair between Rolestu and Forest Hill, resulting in the latter suffering a two-nil loss. That was nothing, though, compared to poor Justus' fate. They had a slightly easier opponent on paper, the San Diego Iguanas, but that was little consolation after San Diego romped to a five-goal shutout. A critical match between Dawson Springs and Washington ended in a draw, officially condemning the latter to last place, while Griffin's 3-0 away victory over Jervis officially secured their continued Premier League status.

Week 38

Only Dawson Springs, Justus, and Forest Hill had yet-to-be-determined fates. Two of them would go down and one would stay up. Dawson Springs led Justus by four units of goal difference, with Forest Hill one point behind with a goal difference directly in the middle.

Dawson Springs had the earliest match of the three at home against Floral. The resulting 1-1 draw meant that Dawson Springs would stay up provided neither Justus nor Forest Hill won their matches. A Forest Hill win wasn't very likely, though, given that they were playing already declared champions Alexandria. As expected, FHFC lost and wound up with a 19th-place finish, leaving it down to Justus – if they won, they stayed up; otherwise it was down to the First Division with them. In a great display of clutch, they upset the Dennis Bears two-nil to move up into 17th place and send Dawson Springs down.

Final standings

Top scorers

Foreign players

Bettia

• John Connick suffered a bit of a lapse this season, with the Tallahassee Blues having dropped back into the First Division after not quite hacking it in the BPL in 2077. Connick still showed brilliance at times in the midfield, but got little support from the rest of the team as the Blues managed only an eighth-place finish.

Chicanada

• Yzi Camelo saw very little playing time as a result of being on the same team as Druidan goalkeeper Trevor Lee. Still young and inexperienced, he does seem to be improving, however.

Druida

• Trevor Lee had a passable season between the sticks for South Coast United. Not spectacular, but not horrible either.

Hockey Canada

• Rahul Kulkarni's midfield play helped Dionte City achieve another good finish, fifth in the table. He also helped assist in the attack on occasion, sending a number of balls forward for Billy English to finish.

Spruitland

• Another solid season for Fritz Wigmeister, playing for what some call the most consistent team in the Premier League – Bucks Lake Athletic has finished either 12th or 13th for four consecutive seasons.

Starblaydia

• Alex Vidal has done his part in the rise of Sokojiwa City FC, helping them to a top-half finish just two years after promotion. If Jiwa have any defensive problems, they're not coming from Vidal's side of the pitch.
• Georges Blanc has reportedly made excellent progress in Floral FC's youth academy, and some sources say he may well be playing on Floral's main squad in season 2079.

End-of-season transfers

Into Bedistan

• Maratima Tareak (Turorian) to South Coast United on a free transfer (previously unattached)
• Martiia Vluka (Turorian) to Jervis FC on a free transfer (previously unattached)
• Raso Morre (Turorian) to San Diego Iguanas on a free transfer (previously unattached)
• Rogelio Hockensmith (Brazillican) to Jervis FC on a free transfer (previously unattached)

Out of Bedistan

• Greg Moon from Paradise Town to Hallad Reavers (Starblaydia)
• Zack Vincent from New Haverford Albion to Beverington Hawks (Nova Britannicus)

Within Bedistan

• Gus Dawson retires as a player from Floral FC and takes a coaching position at Cisna-Ri Athletic, newly promoted to the Third Division
• Georges Blanc is promoted to the Floral FC main squad from the under-19s
• Joshua Norton moves from Rolestu FC to the Alexandria Porcupines
• Tommy Bob Valentín is promoted to the Rolestu FC main squad from the under-19s
• Yzi Camelo moves from South Coast United to Bucks Lake Athletic
• Sherman Locke-Holmes is promoted to the Navarre Town main squad from the under-19s
• Albert Simpson moves from South Coast United to Jackson FC
• Billy English moves from Dionte City to Floral FC
• Sally Dapper moves from Floral FC to Charleston FC
• Kelly Bowden retires as a player from the High Mountain Buffalo and takes a coaching position at New Haverford Albion in the First Division
• John Connick moves from the Tallahassee Blues to Rolestu FC
• James Wong moves from Rolestu FC to the Justus Loons