Lionsbridge FC

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. 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. The team plays its home games at TowneBank Stadium on the campus of Christopher Newport University.

History
The original founders include Mike Vest, Kevin Joyce, and Dan Chenoweth, all of whom are Virginia Peninsula residents. 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 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.

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.

The team named Chris Whalley as its first head coach on February 14, 2018.

Current Staff

 * 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Chris Whalley – Head Coach
 * 🇺🇸 Jamie Gunderson – Assistant Coach
 * 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Josh Spencer – Assistant Coach
 * 🇺🇸 Fernando Zuniga – Assistant Coach

Notable former players
This list contains former players who went on to play professionally after they left the club.


 * 2018 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Tom Devitt – Gateshead FC, Blythe United, Stranraer FC, Hebburn Town
 * 2018 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Josh Spencer – Hinckley A.F.C.
 * 2018 🇺🇸 Joe Rice – Richmond Kickers, New England Revolution II, Loudoun United FC, Detroit City FC.


 * 2018 🇪🇸 Fortia Munts – Valentine Eleebana Phoenix (Australia), Unio Esportiva Vic
 * 2018, 2020-21 🇺🇸 Simon Fitch – Richmond Kickers
 * 2018, 2020-21 🇺🇸 Adrian Rebollar - Monterey Bay FC
 * 2019 🇺🇸 JP Scearce – Union Omaha, Phoenix Rising FC
 * 2019 Oscar Ramsay – Charlotte Independence, North Shore United
 * 2019 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Luke Brown – Hitchin Town FC, Stowmarket Town FC
 * 2019 🇺🇸 Rene White – Real Salt Lake
 * 2019 🇫🇷 Thibaut Jacquel – FC Dallas, CS Fola Esch
 * 2019 🇺🇸 Emeka Eneli - Real Salt Lake
 * 2020 🇺🇸 Alex Touche – New Mexico United, Union Omaha
 * 2021 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Matthew Bentley – Minnesota United, Dover Athletic, Richmond Kickers
 * 2021 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Peter Dearle - Alfreton Town
 * 2023 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Matty Cornish – Darlington FC

Head Coaches

 * 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Chris Whalley – (2018 - Present)

Honors
League
 * USL League Two
 * Runners Up (1): 2023
 * USL League Two Best Regular Season Record
 * Champions (1): 2022
 * USL League Two Eastern Conference
 * Champions (1): 2023
 * USL League Two Chesapeake Division
 * Champions (3): 2022, 2023, 2024

Cup
 * Coastal Virginia Challenge Cup
 * Champions (6): 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024

Awards
 * USL League Two Franchise of the Year: 2019
 * USL League Two Eastern Conference Attendance Leaders: 2018, 2022
 * USL League Two Southern Conference Attendance Leaders: 2019, 2020, 2021

Jersey sponsors
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.