From a first kick to a full pathway

The spark

Smith County Soccer was founded by Erling Johnsen, a coach based in Lindale, Texas, who wanted local kids to have access to professional-style soccer development close to home.

TBD: Erling's backstory (how he got into soccer, why he started the club)

TBD: founding year

Smith County Soccer Academy

The club began as Smith County Soccer Academy, a DBA operated as a sole proprietorship. The Academy focused on technique, 1v1 skills and small-sided games, with each age group trained on its own and never mixed.

TBD: first season, first group size, first field

Enter the Knights

The Smith County Knights became the club's competitive side, giving players who outgrow the Academy a place to compete, and inspiring the Knights Quest tournament series: the search for the Golden Knight.

TBD: when the Knights first formed, first teams / results

One name, one pathway

In October 2026, the club rebranded as Smith County Soccer, bringing everything under one roof: Soccer Start (ages 2–5), the Soccer Academy, the Smith County Knights club, Camps & Clinics and Knights Quest. One clear ladder, one flat price: $80/month for coaching.

The mission

Bring professional-style development to East Texas kids: structured, age-appropriate coaching, built on four values: Ambition, Effort, Respect and Integrity.

The Academy is coed for now, with boys and girls split onto separate groups once the Academy fills and a second coach joins.

Building small, growing together

We're starting small on purpose: one group per program at launch, splitting into age groups as they fill. Every new family helps the pathway grow.

TBD: goals for the next seasons (teams, coaches, facilities)