KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — On Saturday, One Knox SC will host FC Naples at Covenant Health Park for a semifinal matchup after an undefeated season at home.

But for two longtime players, the moment marks how far the club has come in just a few short years.

Defender James Thomas, from England, remembers the team’s earliest days in 2022, long before the new stadium and crowds of more than 6,500 fans.

“It's been pretty remarkable to see us from day zero to now,” he said.

Before playing in a multi-million dollar stadium with drumlines and cheering supporters, One Knox held its first match at the Austin-East High School soccer field.

“Obviously we were kind of coming into the city, so we didn't know the history and everything that had gone on at Austin East,” Thomas said.

The club’s first season c

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