WILLIAMSBURG — Max Cooper, a 17-year-old Williamsburg native, is busy gearing up for his second season with USL League Two’s Lionsbridge Football Club.
Cooper, who is set to graduate from Jamestown High School this June, began playing soccer in a mommy and me program. He then played for the Tidewater Sharks, Virginia Reign and Virginia Legacy before starting with Lionsbridge.
Cooper made his debut with Lionsbridge during the 2024 season. In his first game, Cooper found the back of the net, helping to notch a Lionsbridge victory in a friendly against Ole Sporting.
“I’ve never played in front of that many people in my entire life. I was so nervous. My heart was beating out of my chest as I looked up and saw all those people at the game. I had the confidence and trust of all the players around me that were so good and they let me do my thing. I had the belief that I could do it. When I got that cross from Michael Hackworth, and he put it right on the back post and I was able to tap it in. The adrenaline rush that I felt there was pretty unbelievable,” Cooper recalls.
Thanks to his efforts during his rookie season, Cooper became a fan favorite.
“I’d never signed an autograph before last year. I didn’t think people really knew me because I came onto the team in the summer, so it was so funny to me that people wanted my signature,” Cooper said.
As he gets set for his second season with Lionsbridge, Cooper is looking forward to building on the relationships that he made last season.
“Playing alongside these guys is like a wake-up call. Everyone is amazing on the team, the level of play is so high. I was learning so much playing with these older players and better players last year. They all really take you under their wing. You learn a lot looking at better players and everything we do on the field is super competitive,” Cooper said.
After graduating from Jamestown, Cooper has signed to play soccer for William & Mary. He said the Lionsbridge experience has prepared him well for his NCAA chapter.
“A lot of the players that play on Lionsbridge are top-level college players. The speed of play and the competitiveness is on a whole other level. I’m going to really have to learn how to get the ball that much quicker off my feet. By playing for Lionsbridge, it’s really going to give me a chance to better understand competing and training alongside some of the top college players,” Cooper said.
Cooper hopes to be an inspiration to the next generation of soccer players and offered his advice on what it takes to get to his playing level.
“The number one thing is to always remind yourself to keep having fun and working hard. I learned that it’s not given to you, you have to earn what happens for you. Every time you play at a new level, you have to learn what it takes to get there. You have to stay humble and keep working. If you ever think that you are already good enough, you are not. There are always players out there that are amazing and better than you so you just have to keep working hard,” Cooper said.
Lionsbridge played its first match of the season Saturday, drawing 2-2 at Virginia Beach in the first leg of the Coastal Virginia Challenge Cup. The club will host its home opener on Wednesday at TowneBank Stadium when the team faces off against Grove United at 7 p.m. To buy tickets or to see the full schedule, visit lionsbridgefc.com.