About Lionsbridge FC
Lionsbridge FC competes in USL League Two, the top pre-professional men’s soccer league in North America. The team is headquartered on the Virginia Peninsula and plays its home games at TowneBank Stadium in Newport News. All home matches are streamed on YouTube and SportsEngine Play.
TROPHIES:
COMPETITIONS:
UNDEFEATED REGULAR SEASONS:
AWARDS:
DEVELOPMENT:
21 Lionsbridge FC players have gone on to sign professional contracts in the United States (Major League Soccer, USL Championship and USL League One), Australia, England, France, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Scotland, Spain and Sweden.
Lionsbridge FC has also served as a launching pad for the professional careers for 17 front office interns who have gone on to positions in MLS, USL, NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, PGA, minor league baseball and hockey, multiple NCAA athletic departments and the national NCAA office.
ATTENDANCE:
Lionsbridge has led its conference in attendance in each of its seven seasons and seen its attendance improve every year since its inception. Among 100+ USL League Two clubs, Lionsbridge finished 4th nationally in attendance in 2018, 3rd in 2019, 3rd in 2021 and 2nd in 2022 and the club broke its previous total and average attendance records in 2023 and again in 2024.
The club's single-game attendance record was set on July 3, 2024 when 3,555 fans gathered to see Lionsbridge FC defeat Christos FC, 3-2.
COMMUNITY:
The club receives incredible support from the local community with hundreds of season ticket holders, two official Supporter Groups (Defenders of the Bridge and Overtown Ultras), corporate partnerships with businesses across multiple sectors, a network of host families that house players during their stay, strong alliances with every youth soccer organization in the area, promotional relationships with numerous local non-profit organizations and frequent coverage from the local ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC television affiliates and newspapers WYDaily.com and Daily Press/Virginian-Pilot in one of the nation's top 50 media markets.
YOUTH:
Each year, over 1,000 boys and girls participate in Lionsbridge FC summer camps and clinics across Newport News, Yorktown, Hampton, Gloucester, Smithfield, and Suffolk. We have partnerships with 11 youth soccer organizations, allowing more than 300 kids to serve as ball kids or national anthem walk-out kids at home games. This initiative creates unforgettable experiences with their heroes in the local community.
TROPHIES:
- USL League Two National Runner-Up (2023)
- USL League Two Eastern Conference Champion (2023)
- USL League Two Eastern Conference Runner-Up (2024)
- USL League Two Chesapeake Division Champion (2022, 2023, 2024)
- Coastal Virginia Challenge Cup Champions (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)
- Commonwealth Cup vs Evergreen (2018)
COMPETITIONS:
- Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup qualifier (2023, 2024, 2025)
UNDEFEATED REGULAR SEASONS:
- 2020
- 2022
AWARDS:
- USL League Two Franchise of the Year (2019)
- USL League Two Executive of the Year (2023)
DEVELOPMENT:
21 Lionsbridge FC players have gone on to sign professional contracts in the United States (Major League Soccer, USL Championship and USL League One), Australia, England, France, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Scotland, Spain and Sweden.
Lionsbridge FC has also served as a launching pad for the professional careers for 17 front office interns who have gone on to positions in MLS, USL, NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, PGA, minor league baseball and hockey, multiple NCAA athletic departments and the national NCAA office.
ATTENDANCE:
Lionsbridge has led its conference in attendance in each of its seven seasons and seen its attendance improve every year since its inception. Among 100+ USL League Two clubs, Lionsbridge finished 4th nationally in attendance in 2018, 3rd in 2019, 3rd in 2021 and 2nd in 2022 and the club broke its previous total and average attendance records in 2023 and again in 2024.
The club's single-game attendance record was set on July 3, 2024 when 3,555 fans gathered to see Lionsbridge FC defeat Christos FC, 3-2.
COMMUNITY:
The club receives incredible support from the local community with hundreds of season ticket holders, two official Supporter Groups (Defenders of the Bridge and Overtown Ultras), corporate partnerships with businesses across multiple sectors, a network of host families that house players during their stay, strong alliances with every youth soccer organization in the area, promotional relationships with numerous local non-profit organizations and frequent coverage from the local ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC television affiliates and newspapers WYDaily.com and Daily Press/Virginian-Pilot in one of the nation's top 50 media markets.
YOUTH:
Each year, over 1,000 boys and girls participate in Lionsbridge FC summer camps and clinics across Newport News, Yorktown, Hampton, Gloucester, Smithfield, and Suffolk. We have partnerships with 11 youth soccer organizations, allowing more than 300 kids to serve as ball kids or national anthem walk-out kids at home games. This initiative creates unforgettable experiences with their heroes in the local community.
The Mission:
1) Reflect and add to the amazing spirit that already exists on the Peninsula; 2) Provide positive role models for our young people; 3) Shine a light on the important work being done by the non-profit organizations in our community; 4) Support local businesses; 5) Provide a first-class experience for players and interns who are looking to launch their professional sports careers.
The Vision:
It's about more than soccer. It's community. It's a family night out. It's local flavor. There is something for everyone: music, a beer garden, food trucks, bounce houses and after select home games, fireworks.
Why "Lionsbridge?"
Since 1932, the Lions Bridge has been an iconic Peninsula landmark, majestically situated in The Mariners' Museum and Park on the banks of the James River. The bridge has long served as a gathering place for our residents and Lionsbridge FC is adding to this history.
Our Leadership
Lionsbridge FC is led by co-founders Mike Vest and Kevin Joyce. Alongside Mike and Kevin is a dedicated group of interns, volunteers and host families. Without their contributions, there wouldn't be a Lionsbridge FC.
(Left) Mike is a 25-year sports industry veteran with a background in marketing, public relations, media rights, content development and distribution and corporate sponsorship. He previously worked at his alma mater, the University of Kansas, as well as Wake Forest University, Big Ten Network, IMG and the Atlantic 10 Conference prior to launching Lionsbridge FC in 2017. He and his wife, Kristie, have a son, Jackson.
(Right) Kevin is a Registered Representative with Financial Security Management, Inc. in Newport News, Va. A graduate of the United States Naval Academy, Kevin is also the past chair of the Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce. Kevin resides in Newport News with his wife, Caitlin, and three sons, Asher, Silas and Ezra.
Funny story: Kevin and Mike met by happenstance in 2015 while their boys were playing on their neighborhood school's playground. Upon finding out that Mike worked in sports, Kevin asked, "hey, how does someone become the owner of a sports team?"
(Right) Kevin is a Registered Representative with Financial Security Management, Inc. in Newport News, Va. A graduate of the United States Naval Academy, Kevin is also the past chair of the Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce. Kevin resides in Newport News with his wife, Caitlin, and three sons, Asher, Silas and Ezra.
Funny story: Kevin and Mike met by happenstance in 2015 while their boys were playing on their neighborhood school's playground. Upon finding out that Mike worked in sports, Kevin asked, "hey, how does someone become the owner of a sports team?"
