The first pro signing for Lexington Sporting Club is a familiar name to UK fans
Only two months remain until Lexington’s newest pro sports franchise takes to the pitch for the first time, and the pieces are beginning to come together.
On Monday afternoon, Lexington Sporting Club — a soccer franchise that will field a senior men’s team in USL League One, the third tier of American pro soccer —announced its first pro signing.
It’s Kaelon Fox, a 27-year old Louisville native who played for UK. He is a defensive player, with time spent during his pro career at center back, right back and as a defensive midfielder.
The connections between Fox and the commonwealth run deep.
Fox played club soccer locally for both Javanon SC and Lexington FC, and won two KHSAA state titles as a high school player at St. Xavier in Louisville.
In 2012, Fox was named both Kentucky Player of the Year and Kentucky Mr. Soccer.
Then came a four-year career at Kentucky, where Fox played in 48 career matches and was part of two UK teams that reached the NCAA Tournament.
UK also made the NCAA Tournament in 2015, but Fox didn’t play that season due to injury.
Fox closed his college career at St. Francis (Pa.) before embarking on a professional career that has included time spent in Iceland.
Most recently, Fox played for another club in USL League, FC Tucson, during the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Fox was Tucson’s Player of the year in 2021 and a team captain last year.
“Having grown up in Louisville, and playing for Lexington FC and the University of Kentucky, it feels like a homecoming,” Fox said in a news release. “Ever since the announcement of the club I have been following and waiting for this opportunity, and I am excited to get started with the group and meet the fans and community.”
“Being a first-year club, everyone will be arriving in as a ‘rookie,’” Fox added. “So coming together and playing as a collective during preseason and on will be another primary goal of ours.”
LSC roster construction
Unlike teams in Major League Soccer — the highest level of professional men’s soccer in the United States — there is no expansion draft for new clubs entering USL League One like Lexington Sporting Club.
The club’s roster for its inaugural 2023 season will comprise of players who arrive via signings or via LSC’s youth academy.
LSC announces initial matches
As the roster for LSC’s USL League One team begins to come together, fans now also have some concrete dates to mark for the team’s on-field debut.
LSC’s first match in USL League One will be Saturday, March 18, when LSC travels to play One Knoxville SC, another team set to make its debut in USL League One.
LSC’s first home match will be Saturday, April 8, against Forward Madison FC, a longtime member of USL League One that competed in the first edition of the league in 2019.
Sam Stockley — who has served as the franchise’s sporting director since its inception in October 2021 — will serve as the first head coach of LSC’s senior men’s team. Stockley will also remain in his role as LSC’s sporting director.
The remainder of LSC’s 2023 schedule and the location of its home matches will be announced at a later date, according to the club.
Potential options for a home venue include the Wendell and Vickie Bell Soccer Complex (home to UK men’s and women’s soccer) and Pat Deacon Stadium (home to Transylvania University men’s and women’s soccer).
Thomas Field, which is also located on the campus of Transylvania University, will be the practice facility for LSC for the 2023 season.
According to LSC, the initial 2,500 ticket allotment for fans is sold out, but fans can still sign up for the ticket waitlist at lexsporting.com/ticketwaitlist.
This story was originally published January 9, 2023 at 1:23 PM.
