As the thermometer ticked into the triple digits in Newport News, we couldn’t help but wonder what the attendance would be like for this late-season match in the southeastern part Virginia.
Sure, the regional derby match between Lionsbridge FC and Virginia Beach United tends to draw some of the largest crowds every season. But it takes a special kind of supporter to brave that kind of heat and humidity.
Yet as game time approached, the supporters started rolling in by the thousands.
And once we learned about the commitment of the Defenders of the Bridge supporters group, it’s almost silly to think there was any doubt.
“I haven’t missed a match since the club first started playing,” shared Carl Hanson, one of the leaders of the Defenders of the Bridge supporters group. “Rain or shine, we are always here because we love Lionsbridge FC and what it means to our community.”
Since playing its first match in 2018, Lionsbridge FC has been a favorite in the local community of Newport News. Early on, the club made a point to focus on supporters first by bringing them into the decision-making process. From club colors to the crest, supporters had a direct link with the new USL League Two side, a move that has paid dividends from the very beginning.
In its first year, Lionsbridge FC finished with average attendance numbers in the top five of USL League Two. The club then followed that up with a top-three attendance record in 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2023. And among the notable matches, the annual derby match against Virginia Beach United is consistently one of the highest turnouts each year. In fact, when 3,547 supporters showed up to watch Lionsbridge and Virginia Beach compete in 2022, it was the largest crowd among all USL League Two matches that season. Which brings us to now.
The Defenders of the Bridge supporters of Lionsbridge FC are among the most diehard groups you’ll find in any league in U.S. soccer.
Every home match. Every away match. The Defenders of the Bridge are there.
“There are a lot of times when we have more of our supporters at away matches than the home teams do,” shared James Messer, another one of the leaders of the Defenders of the Bridge supporters group. “Those are the moments we love. When our players come out of the locker room at away matches and see us banging drums and being louder than the home support, it’s a special feeling.”

No matter the distance, whether it’s a half-day drive up the East Coast or a cross-country trip to Washington State for the 2023 finals, the Defenders of the Bridge supporters will be there.
When asked why, James joked, “Why not?”
“It’s all about the camaraderie you get from being around these people, this club, and this community,” continued James. “These people have become my family.”




On matchdays, Carl, James, and a host of other members of the Defenders of the Bridge are some of the first to arrive at the stadium and the last to leave. And that dedication doesn’t stop there. Their love for the club and community extends far beyond the regular season calendar. Throughout the year, the Defenders of the Bridge organize volunteer events that uplift the community of Newport News, from hosting a toy drive for local kids to feeding hundreds of families facing homelessness at their annual Thanksgiving dinner.
“Our season is so short; if we’re lucky, we get three months of games per year,” shared Carl. “It’s important that we create opportunities for supporters and the club to come together even when Lionsbridge isn’t playing. We want to show that it’s more than just the outcomes on the field. It’s about helping out this community and building for future generations.”
That future is never more evident than when you watch what happens near the end of a home match at TowneBank Stadium. As the clock approaches 90 minutes, kids of all ages stream down the stands so that they can get a front-row spot on the railing to meet their heroes. After every match, hundreds upon hundreds of kids wait patiently as players stick around to sign shirts and take photos with everyone who stays to say hello.
“Just about every piece of blue clothing my son owns has autographs all over,” said Jon Hill. “Even my wife, who isn’t a soccer fan, loves this club so much because of the impact it has had on our family and the youth in this community.”
When the final whistle blew on that hot summer night, Lionsbridge FC once again walked away with the Coastal Virginia Challenge Cup and all but secured its spot in the USL League Two playoffs. And while only time will tell if the club can repeat its 2023 run to the championship game, one thing is certain. The Defenders of the Bridge will be there every step of the way.






