First off, who are you (the person answering the questions) and how did you get involved with Williamsport City Lions?
We are Kenny Fern and Ian Scheller. We are coaches who have been working in the Williamsport area for a while now. We are college coaches and owners of the Lisbon Lions Soccer Academy, a youth club based out of the Williamsport area. We have a passion and a desire to make our mark on the soccer community, by bringing in professional coaches to work with players at the academy level, while also bringing the passion and excitement that comes with a professional club.

Your coach (or you, if you're answering) has a lot of international coaching experience, what does that experience bring to this club and how'd he/you end up in PA?
Our coaching staff consists of myself, Kenny Fern, and Ian Scheller. We will run the men’s and women’s programs together, with us acting as head and associate head coach on either team. We have a backroom staff comprised of other experienced coaches from the area. Kenny Fern brings a wealth of experience to the job, with a background coaching professionally in the UK, Europe, and Asia. He has worked for world-renowned clubs Arsenal and Chelsea, before moving to the Philippines to work in their top division. After a stint in Asia, Fern moved to America to be with his wife, a native of Williamsport. Fern then began as a volunteer assistant at Lycoming College, before becoming the head women’s soccer coach a year later. Fern hired Scheller as an assistant at Lycoming College, with the two of them leading to the most successful team in almost two decades.

What's the history of the club?
The club is a dream that we have both had for many years, bringing a passion for soccer to the Williamsport area. The club is inspired by Celtic FC of Glasgow, Scotland. The club will wear the green and white hoops of Celtic, with the Lions mascot in honor of the 1967 European Cup champions.

You're site mentions men's and women's sides, how does the club plan to make both sides successful?
We will look to lean on the experience of our coaching staff, which has seen success in both the men’s and women’s game. We have connections and relationships that have been cultivated by working with clubs, soccer programs, and other coaches, to find the region’s best talent, and use our coaching to create a winning culture in the club early.

The men's and women’s club is joining the UPSL next year, what needs to happen before the Spring season?
The next step for us is beginning our player recruitment process. We will look to establish a pool of players whom we believe can make an impact and help our club toward our ultimate goal. We also will need to acquire sponsorships and partners for the club. We are looking for people want to be a part of the historic first season of our soccer club, and looking for partners to join us on this amazing journey.

What made the UPSL the best choice for your club?
The UPSL is a great league for our club to begin, because it offers both men’s and women’s divisions, and is a great level of competition for us.

What league will the women's team play in? Will they have a separate coaching staff?
The women will also be a part of the UPSL. Ian Scheller and I will run the teams together, both as a coach and associate head coach, each of us taking the lead of one team over the course of the season.

What plans do you have for Williamsport City Lions moving forward?
After the first year, we will look to grow the club further. We are looking at expanding into more teams, adding teams other semi-professional leagues and allowing the team to progress up the professional soccer pyramid. This will also be an opportunity to impact more players, looking to extend their playing careers, and creating an even larger following of soccer in the community.

Anything else we should know about your club?
Our clubs inaugural season begins this spring of 2022. More info can be found HERE
Follow Williamsport City Lions on Facebook HERE