LEXINGTON, Ky. — While the Lexington Sporting Club awaits a home field, they have found a temporary place to come back to.
"Home is what you make it" is often said by many, and for the Lexington Sporting Club, it's a reality. Now, that home will be on a brand new specialized matrix turf at Georgetown College.
The team is the first and only professional soccer team in the city, and they're preparing for their first home match.
Head Coach and Sports Director of the USL League 1 team, Sam Stockley, said the energy from fans will help set the tone and further show what they hope to bring to central Kentucky.
“We wanna play in front of a packed house full of supporters, you know — crazy noise, smoke drums, and all the singing and chanting,” Stockley said.
Stockley has known his way around a soccer field for nearly 34 years and has coached 10 different teams around the world. He said he’s thrilled to be in Kentucky with the Lexington Sporting Club. While he is adjusting to being a Lexington local, he said it’s been a great experience and future home for him and his family. Stockley said the players are happy to play in the Commonwealth and as host.
“There's huge excitement around the city. The players are ready; they're excited to perform at home.” Stockley explained. “As I mentioned, Thursday games have been on the road including preseason so thus to now have a place to call home, even though it’s a temporary home for a couple of years, it’s a place to call our own.”
Director of Communications Kyle Piercy said it’s a priority to bring a premier athletic surface to this community and for the young athletes to come. The new micro-fibered turf was put in at Toyota Stadium in Georgetown for their temporary host games. Piercy said when their facility is complete, they invite any kid with a drive for the sport to their programs.
“These kids are gonna be playing on the same surface the pros play on but we hope to attract the best players we want to track the top teams in the state, in the region but also in the nation as well," said Piercy.
Stockley said the players are committed to making crowd-pleasing moves in their inaugural start. It's how they hope to establish a clear relationship with the community and keep kids connected to the game.
“Twelve years I've been in this game, and it’s only going to get better and better. I mean, you look at the U.S. national team in the World Cup and how well they did with such a young group. That generation is now coming through, but I think that was a huge piece of what our owners wanted to do,” Stockley explained.
Both Stockley and Piercy credit ownership for the inclusive efforts of the team and future facility.
Georgetown College’s Vice President of Athletics Brian Evan applauded the positive nature of their work with the Sporting Club.
“This partnership sends a signal that Georgetown College is a destination for athletics. Lexington Sporting Club has been easy to work with and this partnership allows Georgetown College to install the same playing surface that is located in SoFi and AT&T stadiums," Evan said.