Richmond Kickers

1993–2019 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 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. 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 two losing seasons in the second-division 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 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. 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. In January 2025, the club released their third logo, featuring an interlocking R and K, as well as alternative logos featuring a kangaroo. ==Stadium==

• E. Claiborne Robins Stadium, University of Richmond, Richmond, Virginia (1993–1994) • City Stadium, Richmond, Virginia (1995–present) ==Club culture==

Supporters The Kickers' supporters groups sit in section O of City Stadium. The two supporters groups are the River City Red Army, which formed in 2010, and the Scuffletown Social Club, which formed in 2020. 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 ==Players and staff==

Current roster Reserves and academy roster Club management ==Honors==

League • A-League (Second Tier) • Regular Season (1): 2001 • USL Second Division/USL Pro/USL League One (Third Tier) • Regular Season (4): 2006, 2007, 2013, 2022 • Playoffs (2): 2006, 2009 • USISL Premier League (Fourth Tier) • Playoffs (1): 1995 Cup • Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup • Winners (1): 1995 International • Participations in CONCACAF Cup Winners Cup: 1996 Other • Bon Secours Cup • Winners (2): 2019, 2020 • James River Cup • Winners (7): 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 ==Record==

Year-by-year 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. 1. Avg. attendance include 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 • 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) • 7/1/08 - U.S. Open Cup (3rd Rd) - New England Revolution 3 vs. Richmond Kickers 0 (Veteran's 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) • 6/6/18 – U.S. Open Cup (4th Rd) – Philadelphia Union 5 vs. Richmond Kickers 0 (Talen Energy Stadium) • 5/11/22 – U.S. Open Cup (4th Rd) – Richmond Kickers 1 vs. Charlotte FC 5 (City Stadium) • 4/26/23 – U.S. Open Cup (3rd Rd) – D.C. United 1 vs. Richmond Kickers 0 (Audi Field) • 4/17/26 – U.S. Open Cup (Rd of 32) – Richmond Kickers 0 vs. Columbus Crew 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) • 7/16/25 – Exhibition – Richmond Kickers 1 vs. C.D. Leganés 1 (City Stadium) ==References==