Full name | Lionsbridge Football Club | ||
---|---|---|---|
Founded | 2017 | ||
Stadium | TowneBank Stadium Newport News, Virginia | ||
Capacity | 4,200 | ||
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.
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]
Year | League | Conference | Division | Pld | W | L | D | Pts | Pos | Playoffs | U.S. Open Cup | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018 | PDL | Eastern | South Atlantic | 14 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 17 | 3rd | did not qualify | did not qualify | 11,520 |
2019 | USL League Two | Eastern | South Atlantic | 14 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 18 | 5th | did not qualify | did not qualify | 17,523 |
2020 | USL League Two | Southern | South Atlantic | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | ||||||||
2021 | USL League Two | Southern | South Atlantic | 14 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 23 | 2nd | Conference Quarterfinals | did not qualify | 17,655 |
2022 | USL League Two | Eastern | Chesapeake | 14 | 12 | 0 | 2 | 38 | 1st | Conference Quarterfinals | did not qualify | 25,493 |
2023 | USL League Two | Eastern | Chesapeake | 12 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 28 | 1st | National Final | 1st Round |
Period | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor |
---|---|---|
2018-19 | Nike | Chick-fil-A |
2020-22 | Errea | |
2023–present | Food 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. [24] [25] [26] [27]
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.
The USL Championship (USLC) is a professional men's soccer league in the United States that began play in 2011. The USL is sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation as a Division II league since 2017, placing it under Major League Soccer in the hierarchy. The USL is headquartered in Tampa, Florida.
Kevin Reginald Molino is a Trinidadian professional footballer who plays as a winger.
Kyle Venter is an American retired professional soccer player who last played as a defender for the Richmond Kickers in USL League One. Venter is currently an assistant coach for the Florida Gators women's soccer team.
Andre Lewis is a Jamaican professional footballer who currently plays for Spokane Velocity FC in the USL League One.
Daniel Jackson is an American professional soccer player who plays as a forward.
Derrick Burckley Etienne Jr. is a professional footballer who plays as a winger for Major League Soccer club Atlanta United FC. Born in the United States, he plays for the Haiti national team.
The Eastern Conference is one of two conferences in USL Championship soccer.
The 2017 Orlando City B season was the club's second year of existence, and their second season in the Eastern Conference of the competition then known as the United Soccer League and now as the USL Championship, the second tier of the United States soccer pyramid. It was their first and ultimately only year playing in the new Orlando City Stadium in Downtown Orlando.
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.
Jared Presson Stroud is an American professional soccer player who plays as a winger for Major League Soccer club D.C. United.
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 Richmond Kickers in USL League One. Bentley played college soccer for Missouri State University.
Michael Simon Fitch is an American soccer player who plays as a defender for USL League One club Richmond Kickers.