Warren Goodhind sees the vision behind the project of USL One expansion franchise Lexington Sporting Club: and he has bought into it 100 per cent.

The 45-year-old South African Football Careers client has been appointed Men’s Technical Director at the Kentucky outfit and is settling into his new role as LSC prepare for their debut season in 2023.

Goodhind joins fellow Football Careers client and Head Coach Sam Stockley at Lexington as they prepare to break new ground in the American game together. Warren got to know Sam when they played together for Barnet in the English Football League and their similar thinking on the game saw a relationship build.

Now they are joining forces in the States after Goodhind quit his post as assistant boss of Combined Counties Premier Division side Southall FC to swap London for Lexington. Warren said:

“I was drawn to the idea of being part of something that is still in its infancy. I want to help deliver on the vision of what the club wants to be in terms of cultivating homegrown talent, developing all the youngsters under one crest and connecting with the first team.

“Obviously, the bonus for me is the exciting prospect of working with Sam and everybody connected with the club. It’s evident the community is a primary focus and football is where we can give back to that community.”

Goodhind played over 200 games in the EFL across four clubs in Barnet, Cambridge United, Rochdale and Oxford United before retiring from playing in 2012.

He has built his coaching reputation over the last decade with stints at the likes of Carolina Velocity FC, a youth soccer club in Raleigh, North Carolina, and Southall FC.

As Men’s Technical Director at LSC, Warren will have a triple-pronged role. He will work as TD with all the responsibilities that carries but also serve as Associate Head Coach of the USL Academy team and be an assistant on Stockley’s USL League One staff.

Football Careers client Sam, who is also Lexington’s Sporting Director as well as USL One Head Coach, explained:

“Warren’s primary responsibilities will be to help educate the coaches and implement the Player Pathway Program. Since he’ll also be an assistant coach on the first team staff, he will be someone that can understand our philosophy when it comes to identifying players throughout all age groups.

“The way that he values developing the player and the person is why he will be a key asset to our football club moving forward.”

Stockley and Goodhind are stepping into a vibrant new area of the game in the States with four expansion clubs joining USL One next year to take the number of franchises nationwide to 15. This year’s tournament finished up with South Georgia Tormenta FC being crowned champions with a 2-1 final win over Chattanooga Red Wolves. USL One is an exciting new competition that Football Careers will be keeping a close eye on in 2023.

We also have a top client in Irishman and former Libyan international striker, Eamon Zayed, operating there as Head Coach of Northern Colorado Hailstorm who were just edged out of the play-offs in their first season.