One Knoxville Sporting Club is an American soccer team based in Knoxville, Tennessee that competes in USL League One, the third tier of the United States soccer league system.
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| Full name | One Knoxville Sporting Club | |||
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| Founded | 2021 | |||
| Stadium | Regal Stadium | |||
| Capacity | 3,000 | |||
| Owner | Drew McKenna | |||
| Head Coach | Ilija Ilić (interim) | |||
| League | USL League One | |||
| 2024 | 5th of 12 Playoffs: Quarterfinals | |||
| Website | https://oneknoxsc.com/ | |||
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History
editUSL League Two
editThe club was initially unveiled as Knox Pro Soccer starting as a semi-professional USL League Two club with the goal to eventually move to the professional USL League One in the future.[1] The official name for the team, One Knoxville Sporting Club, was announced on July 15, 2021.[2] The official crest for the team, designed by artist Matthew Wolff, was unveiled on August 19, 2021.[3] Mark McKeever was appointed as the club's first ever head coach on January 13, 2021.[4]
The team made their USL2 debut on May 14, 2022 hosting Asheville City SC,[5] where they were defeated by a score of 2–1 in front of 2200 spectators.[6] They recorded their first victory in their next match on May 17, defeating the Tri-Cities Otters by a score of 1–0.[7] In their inaugural season, they won the South Central Division, with an 11–1–2 record, advancing to the playoffs.[8][9] After winning their first two playoff rounds, the club was defeated by North Carolina Fusion U23 in the South Conference Finals (league quarterfinals).[10]
USL League One
editOn October 20, 2022, it was announced that the club would move up to the fully professional level, joining USL League One.[11] The club also announced that all of the team's 15 home games would by played at Regal Stadium, home of the Tennessee Lady Volunteers.[12]
The club announced their first professional signing on December 12, 2022, forward Ilija Ilić, who will also serve as assistant coach.[13]
The club scored its first ever professional win with a 2–1 victory over Lexington SC.[14] Midfielder Jimmie Villalobos scored the team's first ever professional goal.[15]
Stadium
editIn Fall 2021, the team signed a tentative agreement with Boyd Sports that would move One Knoxville SC's home games to a new stadium in the Old City near downtown Knoxville, TN. The stadium would be shared with the Tennessee Smokies minor league baseball team. [16] The new facility is planned to be open in Spring 2025.
Supporters
editThe Scruffs are an independent supporters group for One Knoxville. The group's name is a reference to Scruffy City, a commonly used nickname for Knoxville from the 1982 World's Fair.[17]
According to their website, "The Scruffs are a community-first supporters group of One Knoxville Sporting Club. We believe that sport has the potential to create a positive culture of unity and energy, and we strive to embrace that philosophy both in the environment we create on match day and in the ways we interact with Knoxville and the surrounding area."[18]
Players and staff
editCurrent roster
editNote: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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- ^ USL Academy Contract
Out on loan
editNote: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Club management
edit| Front office | |
|---|---|
| Chairman/President |  Drew McKenna
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| Coaching staff | |
| Head Coach |  Ilija Ilić (interim)
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| Assistant/Goalkeeping Coach | Nick Jaramillo
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Record
edit| Year | League | Record (W–D–L) | Rank | Playoffs | Open Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | USL League Two | 11–1–2 | 1st, South Central Division | Conference Finals | not eligible |
| 2023 | USL League One | 9–11–12 | 8th | Did not qualify | Lost in Second Round |
| 2024 | USL League One | 9–8–5 | 5th | Quarterfinals | Lost in Second Round |
References
edit- ^ "New Knoxville pro soccer team focusing on community". WATE-TV. February 8, 2021.
- ^ Raucoules, Gregory (July 15, 2021). "One Knoxville Sporting Club: pro soccer team reveals name". WATE-TV.
- ^ Smith, Shannon (August 19, 2021). "Knoxville professional soccer team unveils new logo". WBIR-TV.
- ^ Venkataraman, Karthik (January 13, 2022). "One Knoxville SC announces Mark McKeever as first ever head coach". WBIR-TV. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
- ^ Wilusz, Ryan (May 11, 2022). "Knoxville's new pro soccer team debuts Saturday. Here's why its first game is so special". Knoxville News Sentinel.
- ^ Raucoules, Gregory (May 16, 2022). "Inaugural One Knoxville SC match draws 2,200 fans". WATE-TV.
- ^ Smith, Savannah (May 17, 2022). "One Knox SC clinches first ever win against Tri-Cities". WVLT-TV.
- ^ Canever, Brian Gabriel (July 10, 2022). "One Knoxville SC claims division championship in blowout win". Knoxville News Sentinel.
- ^ Camargo, Alberto (July 21, 2022). "Four things to know about One Knoxville SC ahead of USL League Two playoffs". Knoxville News Sentinel.
- ^ Russo, Rick (July 30, 2022). "Remarkable first season comes to an end for One Knox SC". WVLT-TV.
- ^ Wilusz, Ryan. "That didn't take long! Knoxville's soccer team goes pro after just one season". Knoxville News Sentinel.
- ^ "One Knoxville SC to join USL League One in 2023". USL League One. October 20, 2022.
- ^ "Signed: Ilija Ilic". oneknox.com. 12 December 2022.
- ^ "One Knox SC Schedule". www.uslleagueone.com.
- ^ USLLeagueOne com Staff (March 20, 2023). "USL League One Fans' Choice Goal of the Week – Week 1". USL League One.
- ^ "One Knoxville to play in Old City stadium if approved". WATE 6 On Your Side. 2021-10-26. Retrieved 2023-07-16.
- ^ "From giant toys to chili, these Knoxville staples exist thanks to the 1982 World's Fair".
- ^ "Welcome".