Richmond Kickers


The Richmond Kickers are an American professional soccer club based in Richmond, Virginia. Founded in 1993, the Kickers are one of the oldest continuously run professional soccer clubs in the United States, tied with the Charleston Battery. After following the United Soccer League into the second division for 2017 and 2018, the Kickers returned to the third tier of American soccer in 2019 as a founding member of USL League One.
The team's home field is City Stadium, where the club has played since 1995. The team's chairman is Robert Ukrop, a Richmond native and former Kickers player.

History

1993–2019

The Richmond Kickers were founded in 1993 and played their inaugural season in the United States Interregional Soccer League, 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 USL League Two. 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 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.
In September 2005, the club retired Rob Ukrop's #6 jersey. Ukrop played for the inaugural 1993 Kickers and the 1995 U.S. Open Cup team, joined the New England Revolution at the launch of Major League Soccer before returning midway through the 1996 season to play out his career in his hometown.
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.
The Kickers briefly sponsored two developmental teams of their own: Richmond Kickers Future and Richmond Kickers Destiny. Future played in the men's USL Premier Development League from 2002–2008, while the Destiny played in the women's USL W-League from 2004–2009. The Kickers entered a multi-year deal to become the USL Pro affiliate of D.C. United in 2013, and continued that affiliation through 2018. Loudoun United FC was launched as a fully owned-and-operated affiliate of D.C. United for the 2019 USL Championship season, presumably ending the Kickers' affiliation tenure.

USL League One era and new ownership (2019–present)

After many years of struggling to keep up with the other teams in the USL Championship, the Kickers announced that they were self-relegating and becoming inaugural members of the new third division league, USL League One. In addition to joining a new league, the Kickers announced that 22 Holdings, LLC, an organization consisting of former Davidson College soccer players and led by former Kickers player Rob Ukrop, had acquired a controlling interest in the team. The former majority owners, the Richmond Kickers Youth Soccer Club, would continue holding a minority interest in the team and operating as the team's youth organization.

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

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 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

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 were broadcast on the USL YouTube page from 2014 to 2017. Previously, games were broadcast on USL Live. Starting in 2018, matches will be broadcast on ESPN+.
From 2003 to 2004, Selecta 1320 AM broadcast select Kickers matches in Spanish; in 2005 they broadcast all Kickers home matches. However, Selecta 1320 AM does not broadcast Kickers matches now.

Players and staff

Current roster

No.PositionPlayerNation

Reserves and academy roster

Club management

Head coaching history

Honors

League

Year-by-year

YearDivisionLeagueRegular SeasonPlayoffsU.S. Open CupAvg. Attendance
19933USISL4th, Atlantic DivisionDivisional SemifinalsDid Not Enter2,433
19943USISL9th, Atlantic DivisionDid Not QualifyDid Not Enter985
1994N/AUSISL Indoor2nd, Northern DivisionDid Not QualifyDid Not Enter985
19954USISL Premier League2nd, Eastern DivisionChampionsChampions1,109
19963USISL Select League2nd, North Atlantic DivisionFinalDid Not Qualify1,255
19972USISL A-League3rd, Atlantic DivisionDivision Semifinals3rd round1,925
19982USISL A-League1st, Atlantic DivisionConference SemifinalsDid Not Qualify2,527
19992USL A-League2nd, Atlantic DivisionSecond RoundDid Not Qualify2,488
20002USL A-League2nd, Atlantic DivisionConference Semifinals3rd round2,192
20012USL A-League1st, Central ConferenceQuarterfinalsQuarterfinals2,436
20022USL A-League2nd, Southeast DivisionFinal3rd Round2,431
20032USL A-League3rd, Southeast DivisionDid Not QualifyDid Not Qualify2,273
20042USL A-League2nd, Eastern ConferenceQuarterfinalsQuarterfinals2,333
20052USL First Division6thFinal4th Round2,754
20063USL Second Division1stChampions2nd Round2,341
20073USL Second Division1stFinalQuarterfinals2,594
20083USL Second Division2ndSemifinals3rd Round2,519
20093USL Second Division2ndChampions1st Round2,874
20103USL Second Division2ndFinal3rd Round2,044
20113USL Pro3rd, American DivisionSemifinalsSemifinals2,545
20123USL Pro4th1st Round3rd Round2,433
20133USL Pro1stSemifinals3rd Round2,637
20143USL Pro4thSemifinals4th Round2,679
20153USL6th, EasternConference 1st Round4th Round3,747
20163USL7th, EasternConference Quarterfinals3rd Round3,996
20172USL14th, EasternDid not qualify2nd Round4,665
20182USL15th, EasternDid not qualify4th Round3,976
20193USL19thDid not qualify2nd Round3,468

History vs. Major League Soccer