‘Changing landscape.’ Lexington’s youth soccer clubs to merge under flag of new pro team.
The future of youth soccer in Central Kentucky underwent a massive development Tuesday morning.
Just hours after the new USL League One professional soccer team in Lexington revealed its official name — Lexington Sporting Club — along with its colors and crest, an announcement came about its youth soccer operations in the region.
Two existing competitive youth soccer programs — Lexington F.C. and Commonwealth Soccer Club — will merge and become Lexington Sporting Club Youth Soccer Club and will launch in the fall.
This club will be part of the Lexington Sporting Club Youth Soccer Academy.
“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, in a news release. “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 Sporting Club’s pre-professional academy, which will feature ages U-16 through U-19, will also launch in the fall.
The men’s senior team, which will compete in USL League One, the third tier of North American soccer, will begin play in April 2023.
Lexington Sporting Club is merging two organizations with a lot of history.
The Lexington Youth Soccer Association (LYSA) was incorporated in 1977 to promote “the growth and appreciation for the game of soccer by providing opportunities for youth to learn and participate in organized programs of soccer,” according to its website. LYSA has overseen a youth recreational league in addition to the competitive Lexington F.C. It also runs leagues for special needs players and adults.
“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,” said Catherine Carrico, Lexington Youth Soccer Association board president, in the news release. “The club’s plan for its academy, youth programs and facilities will greatly take soccer in Central Kentucky to the next level.”
Commonwealth Soccer Club has also been providing competitive youth soccer opportunities for decades.
“Many of our youth players dream of playing soccer at the next level, whether it be collegiate or professional,” said Robert Easley, chair, Commonwealth Soccer Club board of directors, in the news release. “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.”
The Herald-Leader obtained a copy of an email sent from the Commonwealth Soccer Club board of directors to CSC members on Monday night.
According to the message, the CSC board of directors voted March 3 to join Lexington Sporting Club’s youth setup, along with Lexington F.C.
“Ultimately, the majority of the board believed that a unifying organization with financial and educational resources, a pathway to college and/or pro soccer and full-time paid professional staff is best for our members and their success in soccer,” the email from the CSC board of directors said. “The board, many of whom are longtime members and unpaid volunteers of CSC, did not take this decision lightly.”
“We hold very sentimental memories of our times with the organization and will value those indefinitely,” the message continued. “That said, the soccer landscape in Kentucky and all around the country is changing quickly. After evaluating the opportunity that was presented to our members and employees from (Lexington Sporting Club), the board ultimately felt that competing in the changing landscape would be an uphill battle and that the invitation presented by (Lexington Sporting Club) was a compelling opportunity for the long-term development of CSC players.”
The message also said CSC was “ensured” that all of its current players would receive fair placement in the Lexington Sporting Club youth program and have also been offered free uniforms in the next uniform cycle for every current member of CSC.
Vince Gabbert, the president of Lexington Sporting Club, previously told the Herald-Leader that community listening sessions held by the club included discussions with youth club operators in Central Kentucky, as well as “kids that are in the youth club.”
