Two longtime youth soccer clubs in northern Indiana are coming together to form one new organization.

Michiana Echo Premier and Junior Irish are merging to create the Northern Indiana Football Club.

Leaders say the idea has been discussed for more than 20 years, and now it’s finally happening. The goal is to make things simpler for families and coaches, while also strengthening the level of play in the region.

By combining resources, the new club expects to reduce travel time and give more players a chance to compete close to home.

In recent years, families often had to drive to Indianapolis or Chicago for higher-level competition.

With the new club, leaders say more of those opportunities will stay in northern Indiana.