Richmond, VA – (Tuesday, January 24, 2008) – The Richmond Kickers Future of the USL Premier Development League (PDL) will open the 2008 season on Saturday, May 10th, hosting the Rhode Island Stingrays at 7:00 pm at Sports Backers Stadium. The 16-game regular season will conclude on the road at the Northern Virginia Royals on July 18th.
The PDL will feature 67 teams, playing in 10 divisions comprised from four conferences. Joining the Richmond Kickers Future in the Eastern Conference, Mid-Atlantic Division are the Fredericksburg Gunners, Hampton Roads Piranhas, Northern Virginia Royals, Reading Rage and Virginia Legacy. The 16-game, primarily balanced schedule will be supplemented with games from conference outsiders Cape Cod Crusaders, Ocean City Barons, Newark Ironbound Express and Rhode Island Stingrays.
This season, the Future will take home field advantage at one of three venues including Sports Backers Stadium (VCU), First Market Stadium (on the campus of the University of Richmond) and the University of Richmond Stadium (just off the Downtown Expressway). The Future will be featured as the first leg of doubleheaders with the Richmond Kickers pro team on three occasions, including Saturday, May 31st, Saturday, June 14th and Saturday, June 21st. The Future will lead doubleheaders with the Richmond Kickers Destiny (W-League) for four of the remaining five fixtures.
Playoffs
In the PDL Eastern Conference, the three division champions and the top-seeded second-place club (wild card) advance to the conference championship tournament, to be held July 25th-27th. The number one seed will play the lowest seeded non-divisional opponent in the conference tournament semifinals. The winner of the conference championship advances to the PDL Semifinals, August 1st-2nd. The PDL Championship will be determined Saturday, August 9th. All playoff hosts are determined via a bid process.
About the Premier Development League
In seven seasons in the Premier Development League (PDL), the Richmond Kickers Future have compiled an overall record of 57-38-14. The PDL is a blend of recent and current college stars, elite high school players, and savvy veterans producing an environment ideal for player development. The PDL provides an opportunity for these players to perform in a professionalized setting during the summer months while maintaining their collegiate eligibility. Last year, 63 PDL players were selected in the Major League Soccer Draft including three from the Kickers Future.
Tryouts
The Richmond Kickers Future will offer the opportunity of the PDL to local Richmond players: both current and former collegiate soccer standouts and to outstanding high school seniors. For tryouts information, please contact Jesse Myers at jmyers@richmondkickers.com. For ticket information, please call (804) 644-KICK x 304 or visit www.RichmondKickers.com.
2008 RICHMOND KICKERS FUTURE SCHEDULE
|
Day
|
Date
|
Opponent
|
Time
|
Stadium
|
| Saturday |
May 10 |
RHODE ISLAND STINGRAYS |
7:00 pm |
Sports Backers |
| Sunday |
May 18 |
FREDERICKSBURG GUNNERS# |
3:00 pm |
First Market |
| Thursday |
May 22 |
@ Newark Ironbound Express |
8:00 pm |
NJIT Stadium |
| Friday |
May 23 |
@ Ocean City Barons |
7:30 pm |
Carey Stadium |
| Thursday |
May 29 |
@ Virginia Legacy |
7:00 pm |
James City Stadium |
| Saturday |
May 31 |
HAMPTON ROADS PIRANHAS^ |
4:00 pm |
UR Stadium |
| Thursday |
June 5 |
HAMPTON ROADS PIRANHAS# |
4:00 pm |
Sports Backers |
| Sunday |
June 8 |
@ Reading Rage |
7:30pm |
Exeter High School |
| Saturday |
June 14 |
NORTHERN VIRGINA ROYALS^ |
4:00 pm |
UR Stadium |
| Saturday |
June 21 |
VIRGINIA LEGACY^ |
4:00 pm |
UR Stadium |
| Saturday |
June 28 |
CAPE COD CRUSADERS# |
4:00 pm |
Sports Backers |
| Thursday |
July 3 |
@ Hampton Roads Piranhas |
8:00 pm |
VA Beach Sportsplex |
| Saturday |
July 5 |
@ Fredericksburg Gunners |
6:00 pm |
Fredericksburg Academy |
| Friday |
July 11 |
@ Virginia Legacy |
7:00 pm |
James City Stadium |
| Sunday |
July 13 |
READING RAGE# |
3:00 pm |
Sports Backers |
| Friday |
July 18 |
@ Northern Virginia Royals |
7:30 pm |
Garfield High School |
HOME GAMES IN BOLD
^Doubleheader with Richmond Kickers Pro Team
#Doubleheader with Richmond Kickers Destiny (W-League)
Click HERE for a link to the complete PDL 2008 schedule.
