Charlotte FC teams take the field for the first team as U-14, U-17 sides play exhibitions

Fresh off the big reveal of their name and colors last month, a couple Charlotte FC teams saw the field for the first time on Saturday in a pair of exhibition games.

The club's Under-14 side, coached by Mark Simpson, earned the distinction of being the first Charlotte FC team to play a game when they faced the Carolina Elite Soccer Academy (CESA) U-15s. They were followed by the Charlotte FC U-17s, coached by Dan Lock, against the CESA U-19s. Both teams suffered defeat against their older counterparts.

Both games were played at Manchester Meadows in Rock Hill, South Carolina, about 20 miles south of Uptown Charlotte. The Charlotte FC youth teams will be back in action next weekend as well, with more exhibitions on tap.

Lock, Charlotte's academy director, said in May that the club hopes to have two Homegrown players signed for the first team by 2022, when they will begin play in MLS.

Charlotte announced their first signing, Spanish midfielder Sergio Ruiz, on July 8. Additionally, sporting director Zoran Krneta indicated to MLSsoccer.com's Tom Bogert in late July that the they're aiming to sign the "building blocks" of their inaugural roster in the ongoing summer transfer window.