Lionsbridge FC

Last updated

Lionsbridge FC
Lionsbridge Football Club logo.jpg
Full nameLionsbridge Football Club
Founded2017
Stadium TowneBank Stadium
Newport News, Virginia
Capacity4,200
Chairman Mike Vest, Kevin Joyce
Head coach Chris Whalley
League USL League Two
2023 1st, Chesapeake Division
Playoffs: National Final
Website Club website

Lionsbridge Football Club, or Lionsbridge FC, is an American soccer club based in Newport News, Virginia. The club was founded in 2017, and play in USL League Two. [1] The club's colors are blue, black and white, and the club is named for the Lions Bridge, the iconic Peninsula landmark that has stood along the James River and in the Mariners' Museum Park since 1923. [2] The team plays its home games at TowneBank Stadium on the campus of Christopher Newport University.

Contents

History

The original founders include Mike Vest, Kevin Joyce, and Dan Chenoweth, all of whom are Virginia Peninsula residents. [3] Lionsbridge FC announced its launch on June 9, 2017, via a social media release. At the time of the team's announcement, the club invited fans to help determine its crest via a fan vote on social media. More than 600 people voted [4] and the team unveiled the winning design in July 2017. The crest integrates four identifying features of the Virginia Peninsula - the Lions Bridge, the team's location and launch year, the James and York Rivers, and the region's importance as a hub of the United States military. [1] [5]

Lionsbridge FC announced its league affiliation (Premier Development League) and TowneBank Stadium (then known as Pomoco Stadium) agreement (with Christopher Newport University) during a press conference on November 14, 2017. [6] [7]

The team named Chris Whalley as its first head coach on February 14, 2018. [8]

Players and Staff

Current Staff

Notable former players

This list contains former players who went on to play professionally after they left the club.

Head Coaches

Year by year

YearLeagueConferenceDivisionPldWLDPosPlayoffs U.S. Open Cup Top Goalscorer(s)
2018 PDLEasternSouth Atlantic144553rddid not qualifydid not qualify Flag of the United States.svg Jalon Brown
2019 USL League TwoEasternSouth Atlantic145635thdid not qualifydid not qualify Flag of France.svg Thibaut Jacquel
2020 USL League TwoSouthernSouth AtlanticSeason cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021 USL League TwoSouthernSouth Atlantic159422ndConference Quarterfinalsdid not qualify Flag of the United States.svg Charles Touche
2022 USL League TwoEasternChesapeake1512121stConference Quarterfinalsdid not qualify Flag of England.svg Sam Hall
2023 USL League TwoEasternChesapeake1712321stNational Final1st Round Flag of England.svg Sam Hall

Flag of the United States.svg Logan Finnegan

2024 USL League TwoEasternChesapeake129211stTBDdid not qualify Flag of England.svg Sam Hall

Honors

League

Cup

Awards

Jersey sponsors

PeriodKit manufacturerShirt sponsor
2018-19 Nike Chick-fil-A
2020-22Errea
2023–presentFood Lion

Lionsbridge FC's inaugural season sponsors included Chick-fil-A (Official Jersey Sponsor), Riverside Health System (Official Sports Medicine Provider), Planet Fitness (Official Health Club), Nike (Official Apparel Supplier) and Financial Security Group. [25] [26] [27] [28]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richmond Kickers</span> Soccer team in Richmond, Virginia, USA

Richmond Kickers is an American professional soccer club based in Richmond, Virginia. The Kickers compete as a member of USL League One (USL1). The club was established in 1993, and began play that same year as a United States Interregional Soccer League expansion team, which at the time, was the fourth tier of soccer in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Conor Shanosky</span> American professional soccer player (born 1991)

Conor Shanosky is an American former professional soccer player who played as a defender.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Derrick Etienne Jr.</span> Haitian footballer (born 1996)

Derrick Burckley Etienne Jr. is a professional footballer who plays as a winger for Major League Soccer club Toronto FC. Born in the United States, he plays for the Haiti national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Franck Tayou</span>

Franck Tayou is a Cameroon-born-American soccer player who currently plays for Utica City FC of the Major Arena Soccer League.

Dakota Barnathan is an American professional soccer player who currently plays for the Richmond Kickers in USL League One.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brandon Eaton</span> American soccer player

Brandon Eaton is an American soccer player who most recently played for Forward Madison FC in USL League One.

Mike Vest is an American sports executive who co-founded Lionsbridge FC in USL League Two, and previously held senior-level roles at the Atlantic 10 Conference, IMG and Big Ten Network. Vest has been at the forefront of new trends at the intersection of sports, social media and media rights.

Chris Whalley is the head coach of Lionsbridge FC of the USL League Two and the Chowan University men's soccer team. He is the former head coach of Lees-McRae College and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

The 2018 Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC season was the club's nineteenth season of existence, and their eighth consecutive season in the United Soccer League, the second tier of American soccer. Pittsburgh also competed in the U.S. Open Cup. The season covered the period from October 15, 2017, to the beginning of the 2019 USL season.

The 2018 Richmond Kickers season was the club's 26th season of existence. It was also the club's 11th season playing in the second tier of American soccer, and their seventh straight season in the United Soccer League, since renamed the USL Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lansing Ignite FC</span> American professional soccer club (2018–2019)

Lansing Ignite FC was a professional soccer team based in Lansing, Michigan, United States. The club began play in the newly-formed USL League One in 2019 and ceased operations following their inaugural season.

The 2019 Richmond Kickers season is a soccer club based in Richmond, Virginia. It was the club's 27th season of existence, their 15th season in the third tier of American soccer, and their first season in the newly-created USL League One. It was the Kickers' first season playing in the third tier of American soccer since 2016, when they were in the United Soccer League. The season covers the period from October 14, 2018 to the beginning of the 2020 USL League One season.

Joe Rice is an American professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Colorado Springs Switchbacks in the USL Championship.

The 2020 Richmond Kickers season was the club's 28th season of existence, their 16th season in the third tier of American soccer, and their second season in the newly created USL League One. It is the Kickers' second season playing in the third tier of American soccer since 2016, when they were in the United Soccer League. Initially, the preseason began on February 8, 2020 and was scheduled to conclude on March 24, 2020. The regular season was originally scheduled to begin on March 28, 2020 and conclude on September 24, 2020.

John Paul "JP" Scearce is an American soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Phoenix Rising FC in USL Championship.

Thibaut Jacquel is a French footballer who plays as a forward for US Thionville Lusitanos.

Adrian Rebollar-Cortes is an American soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Monterey Bay F.C. in the USL Championship.

Matthew Bentley is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for Maidstone United in the National League South.

Michael Simon Fitch is an American soccer player who plays as a defender for USL League One club Richmond Kickers.

Chukwuemeka Somto "Emeka" Eneli is an American professional soccer player who plays for Major League Soccer club Real Salt Lake.

References

  1. 1 2 Staff, USLPDL.com (November 14, 2017). "Lionsbridge FC Named New PDL Club". USL PDL. Archived from the original on June 13, 2018. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
  2. ↑ Yanchulis, Kate. "Semipro soccer coming to Newport News in form of Lionsbridge FC". dailypress.com. Retrieved October 6, 2017.
  3. ↑ Yanchulis, Kate. "Semipro soccer coming to Newport News in form of Lionsbridge FC". dailypress.com. Retrieved October 8, 2017.
  4. ↑ "Lionsbridge FC". Facebook . Retrieved October 6, 2017.
  5. ↑ "Welcome to Hampton Roads and the Virginia Peninsula". Military News. Retrieved October 6, 2017.
  6. ↑ O'Brien, Marty. "Lionsbridge FC founders aim to bring high-level soccer to Newport News". dailypress.com. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  7. ↑ Lionsbridge FC (November 14, 2017), Lionsbridge FC Press Conference 11-14-17 , retrieved November 18, 2017
  8. ↑ "chris-whalley". Lionsbridge football club. Retrieved February 14, 2018.
  9. ↑ "Tynesiders Secure Defender Devitt – Gateshead FC". www.gateshead-fc.com. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
  10. ↑ "JJ's squad update". Hinckley AFC. August 3, 2018. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
  11. 1 2 "Goalkeepers Added to 2019 Kickers Roster". Richmond Kickers. March 20, 2019. Retrieved March 20, 2019.
  12. ↑ Kerry, Craig (December 9, 2019). "NPL: Valentine Phoenix add Spanish attacker to 2020 squad". Newcastle Herald. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  13. ↑ "Local Richmond Youth Product Simon Fitch Signs with Kickers". USLLeagueOne.com. February 23, 2022.
  14. ↑ "Watsonville native Adrian Rebollar signs deal with Monterey Bay F.C. | USL Championship soccer". pajaronian.com. March 12, 2022.
  15. ↑ "The Journey: JP Scearce". wgahmedia.com. September 8, 2020.
  16. ↑ "MSOC: Ramsay Signs Professional Contract With Charlotte Independence". Hofstra University Athletics. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  17. ↑ "Luke Brown". Hitchin Town FC. October 10, 2020. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  18. ↑ "Real Salt Lake Selects Rene White in Third Round". RSL Communications.
  19. ↑ "North Texas SC signs FC Dallas SuperDraft pick Thibaut Jacquel". 3rd Degree. March 29, 2021.
  20. ↑ "Real Salt Lake sign Emeka Eneli after SuperDraft selection". www.mlssoccer.com.
  21. ↑ "NEW MEXICO UNITED ANNOUNCES THE SIGNING OF ALBUQUERQUE NATIVE ALEX TOUCHE". www.newmexicoutd.com.
  22. ↑ "Drafted: Bentley Selected by Minnesota United". wesleyanbobcats.com. January 14, 2020.
  23. ↑ "Matt Bentley Joins the Richmond Forward Line". Oursportscentral.com.
  24. ↑ "QUAKERS SIGN ATTACKING MIDFIELDER MATTY CORNISH". www.darlingtonfc.co.uk/.
  25. ↑ O'Brien, Marty. "Lionsbridge FC soccer team to partner with Riverside Health". dailypress.com. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  26. ↑ "chick-fil-a". Lionsbridge football club. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  27. ↑ "nike". Lionsbridge football club. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
  28. ↑ "planet fitness". Lionsbridge football club. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.