2023 Lexington SC season
The 2023 Lexington SC season was the club's first season since their establishment on October 5, 2021. The club made its league debut in the USL League One as well as its domestic cup debut in the U.S. Open Cup.
Background
On October 5, 2021, the United Soccer League announced that Tower Hill Sports had been granted a USL League One expansion team in Lexington to start play in the 2023 season. Tentatively named "Lexington Pro Soccer," the team revealed its official colors, crest, and branding as Lexington Sporting Club on March 22, 2022. The club named Sporting Director Sam Stockley as the club's first ever head coach on October 13, 2022. Following this announcement, the team announced that Warren Goodhind would be joining the coaching staff as the First Assistant Coach on October 18, 2022. On November 15, the team announced that Rangers F.C. legend Nacho Novo would be joining the coaching staff as an assistant coach and head coach of the U-23 squad. Connor Talbot was appointed the Head of Goalkeeping and the goalkeeping coach for the squad in September 2022.
Coaching Change
In the afternoon of September 17, before their matchup against the Charlotte Independence, the club announced that head coach Sam Stockley would be stepping down from his role to focus on being the club's sporting director full-time. Nacho Novo was promoted to interim manager for the remaining 5 matches. The club's president Vince Gabbert, was quoted as saying the following about the move -
Season squad
^ - Lexington SC Academy Contract
Competitions
Preseason
Lexington SC played five preseason exhibition matches in preparation of their first season.
As a member of the USL League One, Lexington SC entered their first-ever Open Cup tournament in the 2nd round, with their Cup opener played on April 5, 2023. They opened the competition against USL Championship powerhouse Louisville City FC. The match was the first competitive match against a fellow professional club from the state of Kentucky for both teams. Fans of both sides named the in-state matchup "El Bluegrassico" inspired by soccer derbies from around the world.