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Richmond Kickers

Richmond Kickersis an American professionalsoccerclub based inRichmond, Virginia.The Kickers compete as a member ofUSL League One(USL1). The club was established in 1993, and began play that same year as aUnited States Interregional Soccer League(now USL League Two)expansion team,which at the time, was the fourth tier of soccer in the United States.

Richmond Kickers
Full nameRichmond Kickers Soccer Club
Nickname(s)Roos
Founded1993(31 years ago)(1993)
StadiumCity Stadium
Richmond,Virginia
Capacity6,000[1]
Owner22 Holdings, LLC (majority)[2]
RKYSC (minority)
ChairmanRobert Ukrop
Head coachDarren Sawatzky
LeagueUSL League One
2024USL League One, 8th of 12
Playoffs: Quarter-finals
Websitehttp:// richmondkickers /
Current season

The club's majority owner is 22 Holdings, LLC, and its minority owners are Richmond Kickers Youth Soccer Club and theUkrop family,a prominent family from theGreater Richmond Regionwho founded theUkrop'sgrocery chain. The company serves as the club's primary uniform sponsor.Darren Sawatzkyhas been the club's manager since 2019, taking over forDavid Bulow.The club's director of soccer,Leigh Cowlishaw,coached the team from 2000 until 2018, making him one of the longest tenured professional soccer coaches in American soccer history.

The Kickers play their home league matches atCity Stadium,with a reduced capacity of 6,000 seats for most matches.[3]City Stadium has been the club's primary home since 1995. The club has one primary supporters group: the Red Army, who sit in Section O of the stadium. Richmond has rivalries with fellow Mid-Atlantic and Deep South soccer clubs including theCharleston BatteryandGreenville Triumph.The Kickers had an intrastate rivalry with theVirginia Beach Mariners,where the two sides competed for theJames River Cupuntil the Mariners folded in 2009.

The Kickers played their inaugural match on May 8, 1993, winning 1–0 over the now defunct-Columbia Spirit.Richmond has won eight trophies over the course of their history including four regular season titles across the second, third, and fourth divisions, and three playoffs championships across the third and fourth divisions. The club has won theU.S. Open Cuponce,winning the domestic cup in 1995.The club earned a berth into the 1996CONCACAF Cup Winners Cup,but ultimately did not play in the tournament.

Today the club is one of the most well-attended USL League One teams, with an average of 3,000 to 4,000 fans per match.[4]

The team has been known to develop several players who has notable soccer careers. Some notable players who played for the Richmond Kickers include,Derrick Etienne,Dwayne De Rosario,andMatt Turner.Some players who played a majority of their career with Richmond includeMatthew Delicâte,Yomby William,Robert Ukrop,andKevin Jeffrey.

History

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1993–2019

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The Richmond Kickers were founded in 1993 and played their inaugural season in theUnited States Interregional Soccer League(USISL), which, at the time, represented the third division of theAmerican soccer pyramid.The team originally played their home matches on the campus of theUniversity of Richmondand targeted players specifically from Virginia.[5]After a poor season in 1994, the club self-relegated to the newly formed fourth-tierUSISL Premier League,now known as theUSL League Two.During the1995 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-defunctCocoa Exposin the championship. That same season, Richmond won their only,Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cupchampionship. The following year, Richmond chose to rejoin the third division, where they reached theUSISL Select Leaguechampionship, only to lose to theCalifornia Jaguarsin 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 theSeattle Soundersin 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.[6]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 retiredRob Ukrop's #6 jersey. Ukrop played for the inaugural 1993 Kickers and the 1995U.S. Open Cupteam, joined theNew England Revolutionat the launch ofMajor League Soccerbefore 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 the2007 U.S. Open Cup,the Kickers defeated theLos Angeles Galaxyof the first division,Major League Soccer,1–0 in the third round of competition.[7]The Kickers won their First Round match of the2008 U.S. Open Cup,beating theFredericksburg Gunnersof thePDLwith a final scoreline of 3–0.[8]The Kickers won their second-round game over theWestern Mass Pioneers2–1 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 clubsColumbus CrewandSporting Kansas Cityto reach the semi-finals, before falling to theChicago Fire.

The Kickers briefly sponsored two developmental teams of their own:Richmond Kickers FutureandRichmond Kickers Destiny.Future played in the men'sUSL Premier Development Leaguefrom 2002 to 2008, while the Destiny played in the women'sUSL W-Leaguefrom 2004 to 2009. The Kickers entered a multi-year deal to become the USL Pro affiliate ofD.C. Unitedin 2013, and continued that affiliation through 2018.[9]Loudoun United FCwas launched as a fully owned-and-operated affiliate of D.C. United for the 2019USL Championshipseason, presumably ending the Kickers' affiliation tenure.[10]

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

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After two losing seasons in the second-divisionUSL Championship,the Kickers announced that they were self-relegating and becoming inaugural members of the new third division league,USL League One.[11][12]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 playerRob Ukrop,had acquired a controlling interest in the team.[13]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.[13]

Colors and badge

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Crest of Richmond Kickers used from 1993 to 2011

The Kickers' primary colors are red and white, having been so since the beginning of the 2001 season.[14]Their kits are manufactured byAdidas,as they have been since at least 2009.[15][16]In March 2012, the Kickers revealed a new logo designed by branding firm yogg llc 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.[17]They also have a black kit they have used during the 2013 season.

For the 2022 season, the club released "legacy kits" for the season which included the club's original green color in the home kits. The club used the original 1993 logo in the kits.[18]

Stadium

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Club culture

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Supporters

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The Kickers' supporters groups sit in section O of City Stadium. The two supporters groups are theRiver City Red Army,which formed in 2010, and theScuffletown Social Club,which formed in 2020.

James River Cup

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The James River Cup was an annual competition held between the Richmond Kickers and theVirginia 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 theHampton Roads Piranhasorganization. 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 ongoal difference.[19]

Winners

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Players and staff

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Current roster

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As of August 13, 2024[20]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules.Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK CHI Pablo Jara
2 DF USA Dakota Barnathan
3 DF USA Chris Cole
4 DF USA Simon Fitch
5 DF CHI Maxi Schenfeld
6 MF ARG Zacarías Morán
8 MF BRA João Gomiero
9 FW RSA Arthur Bosua
10 MF ESP Nil Vinyals
11 FW USA Ryan Sierakowski
13 GK USA Ryan Shellow
14 DF BRA Guilherme França
15 FW USA Toni Pineda
16 DF CAN Klaidi Cela
No. Pos. Nation Player
17 MF ENG James Vaughan
19 MF USA Justin Sukow
20 MF GER Adrian Billhardt
24 DF USA Nathan Aune
27 MF ENG Chandler O'Dwyer
32 FW ARG Emiliano Terzaghi
33 MF USA Gabe Cox([A])
34 DF USA Beckett Howell
35 GK USA James Sneddon([A])
36 MF USA Landon Johnson
37 FW JAM Nicholas Simmonds([A])
38 DF USA Griffin Garnett
39 DF USA Noah Hiort-Wright([A])
  1. ^
    USL Academy Contract
    2.

Reserves and academy roster

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Further information:Richmond Kickers Academy

Club management

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Front office
Chairman/president Robert Ukrop
Chief operating officer Camp Peery
Coaching staff
Head coach/sporting director Darren Sawatzky
Assistant coach Conner Cappelletti
Goalkeeping coach Akira Fitzgerald
Director of player personnel Ray Smetanick
Athletic trainer Rodrigo Perez
Richmond Kickers Youth Club
Executive director Leigh Cowlishaw
Technical director Fred Sekyere
Team directors Michael Burke
Ross MacKenzie
Andy McIntosh
Mark Stollsteimer
Goalkeeping director Adrian Clewlow

Last updated: February 1, 2023
Source:[1]

Head coaching history

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Dates Name Notes
1993 Bobby Lennon
1994 John Kerr, Sr.
1995–1996 Dennis Viollet Led team to onlyU.S. Open Cuptitle and USISL championship
1997 Frank Kohlenstein
1998–1999 Colin Clarke
2000–2018 Leigh Cowlishaw Longest tenured coach in club history
2018–2019 David Bulow
2019–present Darren Sawatzky

Honors

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League

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Cup

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International

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Other

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  • Bon Secours Cup
    • Winners(2): 2019, 2020
  • James River Cup
    • Winners(7): 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005

Record

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Year-by-year

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Main article:List of Richmond Kickers seasons

This is a partial list of the last five seasons completed by the Kickers. For the full season-by-season history, see:List of Richmond Kickers seasons.

Season League Position Playoffs USOC Continental Average attendance Top goalscorer(s)
Div League Pld W L D GF GA GD Pts PPG Conf. Div.
2020 3 USL L1 16 8 6 2 22 22 0 26 1.63 N/A 4th DNQ NH DNQ 875 Emiliano Terzaghi 10
2021 USL L1 28 11 10 7 35 36 –1 40 1.43 N/A 5th R1 NH 2,051 Emiliano Terzaghi 18 ♦
2022 USL L1 30 14 7 9 54 35 +19 51 1.70 N/A 1st R1 R4 3,551 Emiliano Terzaghi 17 ♦
2023 USL L1 32 6 15 11 42 55 –13 29 0.91 N/A 11th DNQ R3 3,551 Emiliano Terzaghi 12
2024 USL L1 22 6 10 6 25 34 –9 24 1.09 N/A 8th QF R3 4,672 Chandler O'Dwyer 7

^1.Avg. attendanceinclude statistics from league matches only.
^2.Top goalscorer(s)includes all goals scored in league, league playoffs,U.S. Open Cup,CONCACAF Champions League,and other competitive continental matches.

History vs. Major League Soccer

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International competition

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References

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  1. ^"City Stadium".richmondkickers.RetrievedOctober 17,2022.
  2. ^Wood, Patrick (December 18, 2018)."Richmond Kickers Announce New Ownership".Richmondkickers.Archived fromthe originalon November 24, 2020.RetrievedMay 20,2019.
  3. ^"City Stadium".richmondkickers.RetrievedOctober 17,2022.
  4. ^"2022 USL League One Attendance".RetrievedOctober 17,2022.
  5. ^"Professional soccer comes to campus".The Collegian.March 4, 1993.RetrievedJune 1,2012.
  6. ^"Kickers realign into USL2".RichmondKickers. October 25, 2005.RetrievedJune 10,2008.
  7. ^"Kickers oust LA Galaxy".RichmondKickers. July 11, 2007.RetrievedJuly 11,2007.
  8. ^"Kickers disarm Gunners in 3–0 win".RichmondKickers. June 11, 2008.RetrievedJune 11,2008.
  9. ^"D.C. United, Richmond Kickers announce landmark affiliation".D.C. United. January 24, 2013.RetrievedJanuary 30,2013.
  10. ^"Loudoun United FC Joins the USL for 2019".United Soccer League.RetrievedJuly 18,2018.
  11. ^Wood, Patrick (September 11, 2018)."RICHMOND KICKERS NAMED A USL DIVISION III FOUNDING MEMBER".Richmond Kickers.RetrievedJune 14,2019.
  12. ^Times-Dispatch, ADAM CULLER Richmond (September 11, 2018)."Richmond Kickers will join a new league, transitioning to third division of U.S. Soccer".Richmond Times-Dispatch.RetrievedJune 14,2019.
  13. ^abWood, Patrick (December 18, 2018)."Richmond Kickers Announce New Ownership".Richmond Kickers.RetrievedJune 14,2019.
  14. ^"Kickers Logo Narrative".Richmondkickers.RetrievedJune 1,2012.
  15. ^"Front of Jersey Sponsor Unveiled".Richmondkickers.RetrievedJune 1,2012.
  16. ^"Kickers Unveil 2009 Jersey Saturday".Richmondkickers.RetrievedJune 1,2012.
  17. ^"Richmond Kickers unveil new logo".Potomac Soccer Wire. March 6, 2012.RetrievedMarch 9,2012.
  18. ^"Richmond Kickers 30th Anniversary Legacy Kits Launched".Footy Headlines.RetrievedMarch 25,2022.
  19. ^"James River Cup".Richmond Kickers.Archived fromthe originalon October 29, 2006.RetrievedOctober 19,2020.
  20. ^"Richmond Kickers roster archive".Richmond Kickers.United Soccer League.RetrievedSeptember 2,2022.
  21. ^"Richmond Kickers vs. Columbus Crew SC - 2015 U.S. Open Cup - Fourth Round".Ussoccer.RetrievedMay 20,2019.
  22. ^"RICHMOND 2, SWANSEA CITY 0 - Richmond Kickers".richmondkickers.Archived fromthe originalon July 20, 2016.RetrievedJanuary 15,2022.
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