Lubbock Matadors SC is a semi-professional men's soccer club based in Lubbock, Texas. Founded in 2021, it competes in USL League Two, an amateur league in the United States league system. It previously played in the National Premier Soccer League. It plays its home games at the 8,471-capacity Lowery Field.
History On December 14, 2021, the National Premier Soccer League announced a new expansion team would be placed in Lubbock for the 2022 season. The ownership effort was led by former DC United and FC Dallas front office member Michael Hitchcock, along with Texas Tech alumni Brent McCarty, David Joyner, Eric Cunningham, and Lance Patton.
The Matadors announced Paul Gilbert as the team's first head coach on December 20.
The team's first game was an NPSL matchup against Fort Worth Vaqueros FC on Monday, May 9 at Lowery Field. Their first game of the season ended in a 3–1 loss drawing in 4,239 fans for the first NPSL game in Lubbock.
On Friday May 30, 2025, the Matadors set a franchise record attendance with 6,223 fans in attendance for their home opener of the 2025 season.
Lubbock qualified for its first U.S. Open Cup in 2024 based on its league results from the previous season.
The team's home field returned to Lowery Field in Lubbock after spending their second season at Lubbock-Cooper High School's Pirate Stadium due to renovations to their typical home pitch.
Stadiums StadiumCapacityLocationYear(s)NotesLowery Field8,471Lubbock, Texas2022, 2024–PresentLubbock-Cooper Pirate Stadium5,6192023LCU Soccer & Track Facility2,0002024Hosted the First and Second Round of the 109th Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
Players and staff
Head coaches NameNationalityTenurePaul GilbertDecember 21, 2021 – April 16, 202427187266.6Brandon MisuracaApril 17, 2024 – August 16, 20241054150.0David OrmistonFebruary 18, 2025 – June 23, 202622137259.1
Staff ExecutiveOwner Michael HitchcockOwner Brent McCartyOwner/Investor David JoynerOwner/Investor Eric CunninghamOwner/Investor Lance PattonPresident Dustin McCorkleCommunity and Event Coordinator Cooper CowanGeneral Manager Thomas WolfAccount Executive & Ticket Sales Tyler LoganCoaching staffManager David OrmistonAssistant CoachAlan MartinezAssistant CoachDaniel De MelloGoalkeeper CoachDiego Berlingeri
Club culture
Mascot The Mascot of the Lubbock Matadors is a bull named Notorious. He was officially unveiled on February 25, 2023 at the Two Docs Brewing Company, the main kit sponsor for the Matadors. Notorious has since been a key part of the marketing efforts for the Matadors both at games and at different events throughout the community.
Supporters The Lubbock Matadors' officially recognized supporters group is the Mozos. The group consists of fans that play different instruments, have chants and songs prepared for throughout the game, and smoke bombs that go off following a Matadors Goal.
Rivalries The Lubbock Matadors' main rivalry is with West Texas FC in El Dustico. The two teams compete for the Golden Tumbleweed, symbolic of the two teams - who are separated by just 118 miles. On February 18, 2025 the rivalry grew more intense as the Matadors signed manager David Ormiston away from West Texas F.C. following their Lone Star Conference Championship.
Record
Year-by-year SeasonLeaguePositionPlayoffsU.S. Open CupLeagueConferencePldWLDGFGAGDPtsPPGConf.Overall2022NPSLLone Star126422515 +10201.666th36thDNQDNE2023NPSLLone Star111010368 +28302.721st3rdConference FinalsDNE2024NPSLLone Star105412219 +3161.605th41stDNQThird Round2025NPSLLone Star12921289 +19222.202nd13thRegion FinalsDNE2026USL2Ranger123721416 -2110.925th Total5633131113770+67981.75
Top all-time goalscorers
As of 23 May 2026 Active player name(s) in bold
#NameCareerUSL 2NPSLNPSL PlayoffsU.S. Open CupTotal1Pablo Diez2022–202401520172Momo Diop2025–Present7700143Ethan Giwa-McNeil202307209Luke Jones2022–202309005Jack Thomas2025-Present071086Evan Howard2024–2025070077Markus Krogstad202305005Mitar Mitrovic20230500Pablo Torre2025–Present114010Francesco Pettinaroli202404004Saad Faiz20240400Theo Buttersworth2025–Present1130
Honors NPSL Lone Star Conference Regular Season Champions: 2023 Lone Star Conference Champions: 2025
References
External links