‘They’re ready to go.’ Lexington’s pro soccer franchise only days away from debut.

Less than two weeks remain until Lexington’s newest professional sports franchise makes its official playing debut.

Lexington Sporting Club (LSC) — a professional soccer franchise that will play in USL League One, the third tier of American pro soccer — will begin its 2023 season on Saturday, March 18, with a road match at One Knoxville Sporting Club, another team new to the league.

LSC was first announced in October 2021 under the name Lexington Pro Soccer, before the LSC name and branding was unveiled in March 2022.

The club’s inaugural roster was announced in January, which followed the October news that Sam Stockley — who also serves as the club’s men’s sporting director — would be the head coach of the senior men’s team in USL League One.

Now, only days remain until the club takes the pitch for the first time in an official league match.

“I think you can see just out there now, the lads are excited, they’re bubbling, they’re full of passion and energy and they’re ready to go,” Stockley said Tuesday afternoon during the club’s media day.

Lexington SC has played four preseason matches so far against the University of the Cumberlands (NAIA), Columbus Crew 2 (MLS NEXT Pro), Georgetown College (NAIA) and Chattanooga Red Wolves (USL League One).

The final preseason tuneup for LSC comes this Saturday against the University of Kentucky at UK’s Bell Soccer Complex.

“Every time we’ve asked a question of the group, they’ve always responded in a fantastic way,” Stockley said. “That’s what’s so great about this group: It really is limitless how much they can do and what they want to do. It’s about confidence and belief.”

What lies ahead for LSC’s 21-player roster and Stockley is a daunting task: a 32-game season in USL League One, as well as an early season measuring-stick moment in the second round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup against in-state rival Louisville City FC.

Lexington and Kentucky connections

Of the 21 players on LSC’s inaugural roster, several have close ties to the commonwealth and Lexington itself.

Defender Kaelon Fox was born in Louisville, played club soccer locally for both Javanon SC and Lexington FC, won two KHSAA state titles at St. Xavier in Louisville and had a four-year playing career at UK.

Defender Kimball Jackson went to Lafayette High School in Lexington and was part of MLS club FC Cincinnati’s MLS NEXT Under-19 team.

Diallo Irakoze, who is listed as both a defender and midfielder, was born in the east African country of Tanzania, but he was raised in Lexington and played youth soccer for Lexington FC and high school soccer at Bryan Station. Irakoze also played one season of college soccer at Louisville.

“To be back here is really awesome,” said Fox, who spent the last two seasons playing for FC Tucson in USL League One and was LSC’s first professional signing this year. “I coach within the club, so constantly just trying to give back to this city that’s given me so much, to this club that’s already given me so much.”

“It’s an amazing feeling, especially this being my first-ever professional team,” added Irakoze, who was a KHSAA All-State selection at Bryan Station. “I think (LSC) is something the city really needed, especially for players who are looking to go pro. It’s a clear pathway for them to take if they want to do that after high school or after college.”

A significant early-season storyline for LSC — which opens the USL League One campaign with road matches at One Knoxville SC and North Carolina FC before its home opener on April 8 — will be team chemistry and cohesion.

The 2023 roster features a blend of young players with past experience in the USL Championship and USL League One, as well as former college players and those who played at other lower-division clubs.

Veteran midfielder Don Smart (35) is the only LSC player over the age of 30.

“It’s been a real journey so far and I think the boys have grabbed it … And they’ve really started to work together as a culture,” Stockley said. “We put a lot of time and effort into recruiting the right people that fit our culture and that stems from our ownership down about good values, traditional values, hard work, being a good teammate and all those different things. And pushing each other, which is ultimately what we need to do.”

Season opener

Lexington Sporting Club at One Knoxville Sporting Club

When: 7 p.m. Saturday, March 18

Where: Regal Soccer Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn.

Live video stream: ESPN Plus