RED BANK, N.J. — FC Monmouth kicks off its inaugural season in the National Premier Soccer League at Atlantic City FC Wednesday.

The expansion team will host the Electric City Shock of Scranton, Pa. in its home opener, in a Keystone Conference matchup at Count Basie Park Saturday at 6 p.m.

More than a third of FC Monmouth roster is comprised of players from the immediate area, including Red Bank, Spring Lake, Manalapan, Freehold, Middletown, Howell and Monmouth University. FC Monmouth’s ownership group is also local, including John Kiely of Kiely Family of Companies, Simon Nynens of Wayside Technology and Corbett Donato of The Donato Group.

The club also has launched the FC Monmouth Podcast, hosted by play-by-play announcer Matt DeLuca with co-hosts Mitch Zapcic and Joey Di Camillo. The FC Monmouth Podcast features news, analysis, interviews and exclusive content. The podcast is available on all platforms, including iTunes and SoundCloud.

FC Monmouth is working with local businesses and non-profits to extend the experience beyond the game and give back to the community. Major sponsors include SMK Workforce Solutions, Professional Orthopaedic Associates, Elite Sports Physical Therapy and Food Circus Supermarkets. The club also counts Clean Ocean Action and Family and Children’s Services among the local community and charitable organizations that will be part of the game day experience.

Adult tickets are $8 and children under 12 are $5.

For more information of the team, visit https://www.fcmonmouth.com and follow FC Monmouth on social media @WeAreMonmouth.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.