All News

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Lexington Sporting Club announced Monday it is joining the United Soccer League (USL) Academy, a pre-professional league that is central to USL’s player development model.

For Lexington Sporting Club, the USL Academy pathway will operate as a “club and country” model. Our model within the USL Academy is extremely strategic and consists of these key components:

• Pathway to Pro
• Identification/Selection
• Training Environment
• Games Program
• Promotion to the USL League One team if players do well in the USL Academy

This model develops a long-term player development initiative and places the emphasis on our training environment, which in turn justifies the selection process of high performing players to showcase events every 12 weeks. These showcase events will be some of the highest competition throughout the nation, creating a unique and exciting approach to our player development model.

High performing players will then be selected into our academy cup training environment where they will train together in a camp environment and represent our USL Academy program at an event every 12 weeks. After the showcase event, players will return to their respective teams. This is designed to reward players that are performing well within their youth club environment, and creates more opportunities for more players over time through a “potential over performance” mentality.

In our inaugural season starting in Fall 2022, the USL Academy league will be for the U16-U19 age group of players. They will compete in a maximum of 6-8 games for this initial season, and Lexington Sporting Club fully supports players choosing to compete with their high school teams.

February 2023 will represent the official start of league play for our USL Academy U16-U19 seasons. In addition, the USL Academy Cup is the most prestigious competition within the USL Academy structure that players will be selected for from their body of work throughout our seasons.

“Lexington Sporting Club wants to thank USL Technical Director, Liam O’Connell, and his team for the countless hours of work that have been put into helping us devise a bespoke model that fits our values and philosophy for player development,” said Sam Stockley, Sporting Director. “We are fully committed to our players, families and community in providing a world class environment for our players to thrive.

“The USL Academy provides us with two separate models for our players,” Stockley added. “The USL Academy League will be for our U-16s, U-17s, U-18s, and U-19s who will compete eight months out of the year, which allows players to participate with their high school teams, if they choose. USL Academy Cup teams will be for players that have been performing well in the club environment throughout their seasons. We fully understand that every player’s journey is different, and we are committed to all our players throughout their development. It is critical that we provide multiple platforms for our players to perform and compete. Joining the USL Academy is a major component to our pathway to pro development model.”

Players in the USL Academy will be able to experience professional soccer while still being able to compete in high school, if they choose. The season aligns with the United States’ professional calendar, beginning with integration with the club’s Senior Team, followed by a regular season of mostly regional competition, and finishing at the USL Academy League Postseason Tournament.

This fall, specifically, Lexington Sporting Club will be in a division that features Louisville City FC, Indy Eleven and Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC of the USL Championship, and Cleveland Force SC of League Two.

“We couldn’t be more excited to welcome Lexington Sporting Club into the USL Academy League in advance of their men’s senior team kicking off next year as part of the 2023 season,” said Liam O’Connell, USL Technical Director. “From the staff to the ownership, everyone within the club is fully committed to improving the local landscape of soccer in Lexington and the greater Central Kentucky region. We expect this club to serve as a model franchise in building sustainable, equal-opportunity player development pathways that will help young boys and girls be able to pursue their dream of competing in professional soccer. We can’t wait to continue helping them achieve those efforts, while setting a new standard in how a USL League One club can achieve those ambitions.”

With standards emphasizing a “holistic approach” to youth development, the USL Academy is not only focused on pushing a handful of top players to the pro team, but will also provide collegiate support since all players will retain college eligibility. The USL Academy prepares players for the demands of being a student-athlete, and gives players the opportunity to compete in front of college scouts without having to leave the club. More information about maintaining college eligibility can be found here.

A unique and appreciated aspect of the USL Academy is its regionalized structure. The league limits travel requirements and costs for the players and clubs, with most matches being played within a regional division.

More information about the USL Academy can be found here.

Follow Lexington Sporting Club on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, and learn more online at www.lexsporting.com.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Lexington Sporting Club is excited to announce it will be joining the prestigious Girls Academy (GA) for its upcoming 2022/23 season.  

Founded by former members of the U.S. Soccer Girls’ Development Academy, the GA is the “leading youth development platform for the best female soccer players” in the United States, including 80 clubs with teams in the U13 through U19 age groups. 

The GA is a highly selective program, and acceptance allows Lexington Sporting Club youth players to have access to top level training, development and competition not found elsewhere in the region. Through the GA, players will receive exposure to the top level of soccer in America – including NCAA Division I and USA National Team scouts. 

Lexington Sporting Club will field teams in the U13 to U19 age groups and will compete in the Mid-America conference, one of eight across the nation in the GA. 

“We are excited and honored to have been accepted into the Girls Academy League, said Sam Stockley, Lexington’s Sporting Director. “This is a historic moment for the female players in Lexington. From the very first conversation with Lesle Gallimore, we knew that the GA would be an excellent fit for our female player development model. The values and philosophy of the GA align with our vision to empower our female players. This platform gives our females national exposure at the highest level, as we know only a small percentage will go on and play professionally.” 

“I’ve seen firsthand how soccer can create countless opportunities for young players, having been fortunate enough to play at the highest level in the world for a female at the World Cup, and in various leagues and countries as a professional,” added Michelle Rayner, Senior Director of Sporting Operations. “To be able to have an amazing platform in the GA League to create opportunities for girls in our region that have similar aspirations to reach the highest level is such an incredible opportunity for all females.” 

Recently, Lexington Sporting Club absorbed the youth soccer programs associated with Lexington F.C. and Commonwealth Soccer Club with the goal of forming a competitive program open to youth players of all levels. 

Gallimore, Commissioner of the Girls Academy, said, “This new professional organization in Kentucky has shown their very real commitment to including female youth players in their player pathway and doing it in a way that meshes well with the philosophy and vision of the Girls Academy. We’re excited to bring Sam Stockley and his group into the GA family.” 

Stockley continued: “It was critical for us to create a holistic pathway for our female players, whether that be professionally, collegiately or playing because they love the game. The GA allows our players to continue to play for their high school team if they choose, as this is an important part of their social development. Until now, many of the top players in our region were forced to spend countless hours per week traveling to other cities just for training to have an opportunity to compete at the highest level.  They can now stay home, develop as a player and play against the best in the nation.” 

League play for the GA begins in August 2022 and culminates with playoffs and national final events the following summer. 

More information about the Girls Academy can be found here. 

March 22, 2022 – LEXINGTON, KY – Lexington Sporting Club, the USL League One soccer club awarded to the city of Lexington last October, announced today that youth soccer programs currently associated with Lexington F.C. and Commonwealth Soccer Club will join and become Lexington S. C. Youth Soccer Club that will launch this fall.

“Each of the LFC and CSC Soccer programs has a long and impressive history within the landscape of youth soccer in our region,” said Bill Shively, Owner of Lexington Sporting Club and Managing Partner of iVisionary Capital. “We are extremely excited that these valued programs will be joining Lexington S. C. this year, working with us to create a single, unifying youth club for Lexington. There’s a tremendous amount of young soccer talent in Central Kentucky. Our goal is to unify players, parents, and coaches to help harness and further develop this talent through our own unique player development program.”

Lexington S. C.’s pre-professional academy (USL-A), ages u16-19, will also launch in the fall, with the first teams beginning to play in April 2023. Additional details will become available over the coming months.

“When LYSA was approached by the Lexington S. C. team, we were genuinely excited to learn about the club’s plans for youth soccer in Central Kentucky. The club’s plan for its Academy, youth programs and facilities will greatly take soccer in Central Kentucky to the next level” said Catherine Carrico, LYSA Board President. “Our teams work tirelessly to train and educate the talented young players and we look forward to expanding the capabilities and opportunities that will be made available to our select players in LFC.”

“Many of our youth players dream of playing soccer at the next level, whether it be collegiate or professional,” said Robert Easley, Chair, CSC Board of Directors. “Now through the Lexington S.C. Academy, the possibility to achieve these levels of play becomes more of a reality than ever before. Lexington S.C.’s Academy program will create new opportunities for all of our players, and for those interested it creates a direct pathway to professional play that hasn’t existed here in Lexington before. We’re thrilled to be joining the program.” 

Lexington S. C.’s inaugural professional season will begin Spring 2023. The club will play initially at a local collegiate facility. Fans interested in placing a deposit on tickets for the 2023 season can visit lexsporting.com/pages/tickets.

March 22, 2022 – LEXINGTON, KY – The USL League One soccer club awarded to the city of Lexington last October announced today its new name and crest design. The club will be named Lexington Sporting Club (Lexington S.C.). Its crest, designed by renowned crest designer Christopher Payne, features a vibrant green stylized horse figure set against a dark green background.

 “We’ve spent many months working hard to develop the name and crest of Lexington’s professional soccer club, and we have relied heavily on the input and opinions of residents around the region,” said Bill Shively, Owner of Lexington Sporting Club and Managing Partner of iVisionary Capital Partners. “From day one, it has been critical to us that this club represent our region and its people in every way possible, which is why we spent significant time listening to community voices during our branding and naming process. We’re thrilled with the final outcome and hope that our fans and supporters will be, as well.”

The process to design Lexington S.C.’s crest involved 14 listening sessions with members of the local community, more than 300 responses to brand surveys, and more than 1,500 responses to stadium surveys. The information gathered during this months-long process revealed several common themes, including pride in Central Kentucky’s winning heritage, the region’s unparallelled landscape, and its horse and bourbon industries. Each of these themes is represented in the final crest design, which is explained in full in this video.

“It was important to design this crest with input from the Lexington community. We spent hours and hours listening to the community and asking questions to make sure we got this right. In the multiple listening sessions, we heard many many great things about Lexington, but it struck me how proud the local community was about horses and the horse industry, and so I wanted to build a brand identity around this much loved icon of the community,” said Christopher Payne. “I think that we have created something that everyone can be proud of, a design that is strong and powerful, as well as being modern yet traditional. It is a new identity that will represent Lexington, locally, nationally and internationally.

I am excited to see the club grow and this design to be used by players and fans in Lexington and beyond.”

In addition to introducing its name and crest, Lexington S.C. has also unveiled a new website and an initial range of Lexington S.C.-branded merchandise. Additional merchandise will become available in the coming weeks.

Lexington S. C.’s inaugural season will begin Spring 2023. The club will play initially at a local collegiate facility. Fans interested in placing a deposit on tickets for the 2023 season can visit https://lexsporting.com/pages/tickets.

“Lexington is the ideal home for a thriving professional soccer club. We have all of the ingredients needed to make Lexington Pro Soccer one of the best teams in the league – except a professional-quality stadium,” said Bill Shively, Majority Owner of Lexington Pro Soccer and Managing Partner of iVisionary Capital Partners. “Our aim is to build a state-of-the-art, multi-use venue – centered around a professional soccer stadium – right in the heart of downtown Lexington. The development we hope to build would be a meaningful economic driver for the city of Lexington and the surrounding region, by expanding the range of entertainment opportunities downtown Lexington has to offer its residents and visitors.”

Designed by global architecture firm Gensler, the 6,000+ seat Lexington Pro Soccer multi-use venue and soccer stadium would feature 45,000 square feet of entertainment-focused retail with patio views overlooking both the stadium and Rupp Arena. A 160-room hotel, a 250-unit upscale, multi-family residential development, and integrated parking garages onsite in excess of the current available parking.

Gensler has deep expertise in stadium design and construction. The firm is responsible for the design of the Milwaukee Bucks Entertainment Block (Milwaukee Bucks), the Banc of California Stadium (Los Angeles Football Club), and the BMO Field, Canada’s first soccer-specific stadium (Toronto Football Club), among others.

“We’re honored to have been chosen to help with the design of Lexington Pro Soccer’s stadium, and we’re excited about the potential for a downtown venue for the club,” said Ryan Sickman, Principal with Gensler. “Location can play a significant role in the overall success of a new entertainment venue. The proposed location of the Lexington Pro Soccer stadium and entertainment complex is ideal, offering local residents easy access to the venue and contributing to the existing growth and vibrancy of the downtown area with designs for new retail, lodging, and entertainment opportunities.”

In addition to its stadium design, Lexington Pro Soccer has undergone an in-depth branding process over the past three months. This process, which has included significant input from Central Kentucky residents, will lead to the creation of the club’s official name, crest, and colors, which are expected to be released in the coming weeks.

Lexington Pro Soccer’s inaugural season will begin Spring 2023. The club will play initially at a local collegiate facility. Fans interested in placing a deposit on tickets for the 2023 season can learn more here.

October 5, 2021 – LEXINGTON, KY – The United Soccer League (USL) announced today that the city of Lexington has been awarded a League One expansion franchise. The club is majority-owned by Tower Hill Sports and is slated to kick off its inaugural season in 2023.

William J. Shively, Founder of Tower Hill Sports, is widely respected for his investment in the Lexington community and in the city’s sports industry. Shively, who owns the historic Dixiana Thoroughbred horse farm, opened the first Tower Hill Sports complex in January 2019, to provide an outstanding soccer experience for youth and adult players alike. The company’s second complex opened in 2021.

Vince Gabbert has been named President of Lexington Pro Soccer. Gabbert, a native of Northern Kentucky, has served on the boards of local organizations including Commerce Lexington and the Bluegrass Sports Commission. Gabbert will continue his work with Keeneland on strategic initiatives and legislative affairs. Additionally, Sam Stockley has been named the club’s Sporting Director. Stockley, a native of Tiverton, England, played professionally in England, Hungary and the United States for nearly 20 years, and transitioned into coaching and technical director roles in both the United States and England at all levels from youth to professional, including the National Team level with the U.S. Soccer Federation. Stockley has spent the last two years with the Welsh FA as coach education instructor and consultant.

“Lexington has a rich and storied tradition of sporting excellence, from the racetrack to the hardwood and beyond. Our local teams and athletes have long been among the best, and our fans are some of the most passionate in the nation. Our community is comprised of a diverse and international citizenry, which has a deep appreciation for the game of soccer. To bring a Professional club to Lexington is a natural fit,” said Gabbert. “We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to bring a USL League One club to our great city and to our incredible fans. League One features an impressive lineup of community-driven soccer clubs, and we’re honored that Lexington will now join that group and become a part of the USL family.”

The unveiling of the club’s full crest and brand will be developed through input from community members and soccer fans, who will play a vital role in the process. With an aim to reflect the energy and diversity of the region, Lexington Pro Soccer will host multiple listening sessions over the coming weeks and months, relying on feedback from the community to create an identity that represents Lexington authentically.

The club will initially play at a nearby collegiate facility, with terms currently being finalized, and a formal announcement to be forthcoming. Lexington Pro Soccer will be responding to the RFP for the High Street Development Project, with the intent to construct a state-of-the-art soccer-specific venue on the site that could also accommodate festivals, concerts, and other events, adding another entertainment option to downtown Lexington that would sit adjacent to Rupp Arena and the Central Bank Center. Apart from the stadium proposal, the club is exploring multiple site locations in Fayette County to be developed into the training grounds of the club, as well as the home to their Academy program, further advancing the game in Lexington and Central Kentucky.

“This is an exciting moment for USL League One, the city of Lexington, and Central Kentucky,” said USL President Jake Edwards. “Since League One’s inception, Lexington is a place we’ve wanted to be because of its celebrated sports history and growing appetite for soccer. With tremendous leadership in Bill Shively, Vince Gabbert and Tower Hill Sports, this club will create a new source of great pride for the people of Lexington and the Central Kentucky region.”

Since its inaugural season in 2019, USL League One has brought professional soccer to fans in communities across the country. Currently comprised of 12 clubs, League One will add two expansion clubs next season in Fresno, CA (Central Valley Fuego FC) and Windsor, CO (Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC).

The United Soccer League has over 125 clubs across professional (USL Championship, USL League One), pre-professional (USL League Two, USL W League, USL Academy) and youth (Super Y League) properties within its membership. In September, the USL also announced the USL Super League, a new professional women’s league that will apply for Division II sanctioning from USSF and aims to begin play in 2023.The USL brings the thrill of professional soccer into the homes of fans nationwide through broadcast partnerships with ESPN and SiriusXM Radio.

Lexington Pro Soccer’s inaugural season will begin Spring 2023.