The Richmond Kickers Soccer Club is an American professional soccer club based in Richmond, Virginia. Founded in 1993, the team plays in the United Soccer League, part of the second tier of the American soccer league system. The team is one of the oldest continuously run soccer clubs in the United States.
The team's home field is the 22,000-seat City Stadium, where the club has played since 1995. The team's president is Rob Ukrop, a Richmond native and former Kickers player, who is also an heir to the area's Ukrop's Food Group chain. The team is coached by Englishman Leigh Cowlishaw, who has been the team's head coach since 2000.
The Kickers had two developmental teams: Richmond Kickers Future and Richmond Kickers Destiny. Future played in the men's USL Premier Development League until 2008, while the Destiny left the women's USL W-League after the 2009 season.
Maps, Directions, and Place Reviews
History
The Richmond Kickers were founded in 1993 and played their inaugural season in the United States Interregional Soccer League (USISL), which, at the time, represented the third division of the American soccer pyramid. The team originally played their home matches on the campus of the University of Richmond and targeted players specifically from Virginia. After a poor season in 1994, the club self-relegated to the newly formed fourth-tier USISL Premier League, now known as the Premier Development League. During the 1995 season, the Kickers battled to a 15-3 winning season and went on to win the first ever USISL Premier League championship, defeating the now-defunct Cocoa Expos in the championship. That same season, Richmond won their first, and to date only, Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup championship. The following year, Richmond chose to rejoin the third division, where they reached the USISL Select League championship, only to lose to the California Jaguars in the finals.
For the next nine seasons, Richmond played in the second tier of the American soccer pyramid, earning the Commissioner's Cup twice, in 1998 and 2001, as well as earning two conference championships. However, the club was never able to secure a division two league championship, their closest coming in 2005, when the Kickers fell to the Seattle Sounders in the 2005 USL First Division Championship. After the 2005 season, the Kickers ownership self-relegated the team back into the third division, citing possible financial problems for the club if they remained in the second tier. Since joining the third division, the Kickers have had tremendous success, making it to at least the playoff semifinals each season they have played in the third division. Additionally, the Kickers have won two third division premierships and two third division championships during their spell.
Richmond Kickers have not only experienced league success, but have been perennial contenders in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup tournament. In the 2007 U.S. Open Cup, the Kickers defeated the Los Angeles Galaxy of the first division, Major League Soccer, 1-0 in the third round of competition. The Kickers won their First Round match of the 2008 U.S. Open Cup, beating the Fredericksburg Gunners of the PDL with a final scoreline of 3-0. The Kickers won their second-round game over the Western Mass Pioneers 2-1 before being eliminated from the Cup in the third round by MLS side, and defending USOC champion, New England Revolution, 3-0. In the 2011 US Open Cup the Kickers made a Cinderella run, defeating MLS clubs Columbus Crew and Sporting Kansas City to reach the semi-finals, before falling to the Chicago Fire.
In September 2005, Rob Ukrop's #6 jersey was retired. He was a well-liked soccer player on and off of the field, and particularly notable since he is the son of the influential Ukrop's grocery store CEO Robert "Bobby" Ukrop.
On January 24, 2013, it was announced that the Kickers had signed a multi-year deal to become the USL Pro affiliate of D.C. United.
Richmond United Soccer Video
Colors and badge
The Kickers' primary colors are red and white, having been so since the beginning of the 2001 season. Their kits are manufactured by Adidas, as they have been since at least 2009. In March 2012, the Kickers revealed a new logo to celebrate 20 years since their inception. Along with the new crest, the club also announced they would be using a third uniform with the colors from their first season in 1993, green and blue. They also have a black kit they have used during the 2013 season.
Stadium
- First Market Stadium, University of Richmond, Richmond, Virginia (1993-1994)
- City Stadium, Richmond, Virginia (1995-present)
Club culture
Supporters
The Kickers' official supporters group is the River City Red Army who occupy section O of City Stadium.
James River Cup
The James River Cup was an annual competition held between the Richmond Kickers and the Virginia Beach Mariners (formerly Hampton Roads Mariners) which the team with the most points at the conclusion of all scheduled matches between the two teams would win. The Cup was held every year since 1996 with the exception of 1997 and 2001 when Virginia Beach did not field a team. In 2007, the Virginia Beach team was disbanded.
For the 2008 season, the James River Cup was contested between the Kickers' organization and the Hampton Roads Piranhas organization. The cup went to the organization that had the most points in games between their PDL and W-League teams. The series ended up tied 2-2-1, with the Piranhas winning the Cup on goal difference.
Winners
- 2008: Hampton Roads Piranhas
- 2007: Not held
- 2006: Virginia Beach Mariners
- 2005: Richmond Kickers
- 2004: Richmond Kickers
- 2003: Richmond Kickers
- 2002: Richmond Kickers
- 2001: Not held
- 2000: Richmond Kickers
- 1999: Richmond Kickers
- 1998: Richmond Kickers
- 1997: Not held
- 1996: Hampton Roads Mariners
Broadcasting
Beginning with the 2017 season, Richmond's CBS affiliate WTVR-TV will broadcast the club's home and away matches on their primary channel and their subchannels.
All USL matches are broadcast on the USL YouTube page, as of 2014. Previously, games were broadcast on USL Live.
From 2003 to 2004, Selecta 1320 AM (WVNZ) broadcast select Kickers matches in Spanish; in 2005 they broadcast all Kickers home matches. However, Selecta 1320 AM does not broadcast Kickers matches now.
Roster
First team roster
As of August 17, 2017.
Reserves and academy roster
Club management
Head coaching history
Honors
League
- A-League (Second Tier)
- Regular Season (1): 2001
- USL Second Division/USL Pro/USL (Third Tier)
- Regular Season (3): 2006, 2007, 2013
- Playoffs (2): 2006, 2009
- USISL Premier League (Fourth Tier)
- Playoffs (1): 1995
Cup
- Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
- Winners (1): 1995
Record
Year-by-year
History vs. Major League Soccer
- 3/15/97 - Exhibition - Richmond Kickers 3 vs. Columbus Crew 1 (UR Stadium)
- 6/17/97 - Exhibition - D.C. United 4 vs. Richmond Kickers 2 (UR Stadium)
- 7/23/97 - U.S. Open Cup (3rd Rd) - MetroStars 3 vs. Richmond Kickers 0 (UR Stadium)
- 6/14/00 - U.S. Open Cup (2nd Rd) - Richmond Kickers 3 vs. Colorado Rapids 0 (UR Stadium)
- 7/25/00 - U.S. Open Cup (3rd Rd) - San Jose Earthquakes 2 vs. Richmond Kickers 0 (Spartan Stadium)
- 4/1/01 - Exhibition - Richmond Kickers 0 vs. Dallas Burn 0 (UR Stadium)
- 7/24/01 - U.S. Open Cup (4th Rd) - D.C. United 2 vs. Richmond Kickers 1 (RFK Stadium)
- 4/13/02 - Exhibition - Richmond Kickers 0 vs. D.C. United 1 (UR Stadium)
- 7/17/02 - U.S. Open Cup (3rd Rd) - Columbus Crew 3 vs. Richmond Kickers 0 (Crew Stadium)
- 4/5/03 - Exhibition - Richmond Kickers 1 vs. D.C. United 1 (UR Stadium)
- 7/21/04 - U.S. Open Cup (4th Rd) - Richmond Kickers 2 vs. D.C. United 1 (UR Stadium)
- 8/4/04 - U.S. Open Cup (Quarterfinals) - Chicago Fire 1 vs. Richmond Kickers 0 (UR Stadium)
- 8/3/05 - U.S. Open Cup (4th Rd) - Richmond Kickers 1 vs. D.C. United 3 (UR Stadium)
- 7/10/07 - U.S. Open Cup (3rd Rd) - Richmond Kickers 1 vs Los Angeles Galaxy 0 (UR Stadium)
- 3/22/08 - Exhibition - Richmond Kickers 3 vs. D.C. United 0 (UR Stadium)
- 6/30/10 - U.S. Open Cup (4th Rd) - D.C. United 2 vs. Richmond Kickers 0 (George Mason Stadium)
- 6/28/11 - U.S. Open Cup (3rd Rd) - Richmond Kickers 2 vs. Columbus Crew 1 (Crew Stadium)
- 7/12/11 - U.S. Open Cup (Quarterfinals) - Richmond Kickers 2 vs. Sporting Kansas City 0 (Livestrong Sporting Park)
- 8/30/11 - U.S. Open Cup (Semifinals) - Chicago Fire 2 vs. Richmond Kickers 1 (Toyota Park)
- 5/29/12 - U.S. Open Cup (3rd Rd) - Richmond Kickers 1 vs. D.C. United 2 (City Stadium)
- 7/17/15 - U.S. Open Cup (4th Rd) - Richmond Kickers 1 vs. Columbus Crew SC 3 (City Stadium)
International competition
- 7/16/04 - Exhibition - Richmond Kickers 1 vs. Nottingham Forest 1 (UR Stadium)
- 7/25/09 - Exhibition - Richmond Kickers 1 vs. C.S.D. Comunicaciones 0 (UR Stadium)
- 7/1/14 - Exhibition - Richmond Kickers 1 vs. Mexico U21 1 (City Stadium)
- 7/31/14 - Exhibition - Richmond Kickers 0 vs. Crystal Palace 3 (City Stadium)
- 7/19/15 - Exhibition - Richmond Kickers 1 vs. West Bromwich Albion 2 (City Stadium)
- 7/16/16 - Exhibition - Richmond Kickers 2 vs. Swansea City A.F.C. 0 (City Stadium)
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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