VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WVEC) — Virginia Beach City FC head coach Brian Hinkey said this was always the goal, but he had to be patient.
"We needed to make sure it was sustainable," he said. "We needed to make sure it was viable and something the community could get behind."
Still, the moment has arrived for the semi-professional soccer team based out of Virginia Beach, and Hinkey and others aren't shy about admitting their excitement.
Virginia Beach City FC will launch a professional men's soccer team for the 2019 season.
The team will play in the National Premier Soccer League, generally considered the fourth and lowest division of professional American soccer. Still, it's a start. Hinkey considers this move part of climbing the "U.S. soccer pyramid."
The team practices at the Norfolk Collegiate fields and will play home matches at the Virginia Beach Sportsplex for the 2019 season.
Club captain Tyler Cyrus smiled when thinking about the journey he's been on with this small football club. The former University of Virginia soccer player joined when the club was created in 2013.
"I started when we were a semi-professional team and now I'm watching it become a professional club," Cyrus said. "Just being able to say you were a part of it from the start, I'm excited for this transition."
From a player's perspective, Cyrus said the professional transition makes Virginia Beach City FC a launch pad for young players looking to start their professional careers.
"This is absolutely going to be a more attractive destination to play, and that's really important when you're trying to build a high-level team," he said.
Hinkey said he is going to use that motivation to bring in interested players from around the country, hopefully building a better end-product on the field.
The team also has a youth academy program that would ideally produce players for the professional team, in addition to encouraging the development
"For the youth players the addition of a professional side offers a sense that they can get there, it's tangible and real," Hinkey said. "I think this will be a huge benefit to the community."
Cyrus viewed the decision to announce the professional transition as a signal of intent from the club.
"I think the club has very big ambitions and wants to go as high as they can in the U.S. soccer pyramid and become relevant," he said.
Virginia Beach City FC should start the season around April. Hinkey said he expects to win, providing a goal for young soccer players around Hampton Roads and showing the passion for soccer in the region.
Cyrus said he's excited to see the new players the club brings in and he's ready to compete alongside them.
"This really is a dream come true and to have it take place in Virginia Beach makes it all the better," he said.
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