RICHMOND, VA – (Thursday, March 26, 2015) – The Richmond Kickers are pleased to announce the addition of two Richmond United players, midfielder Chris Durkin and goalkeeper Drew Romig for the 2015 season.
“Drew and Chris thoroughly deserve this honor as they clearly want to reach the highest levels of the professional game,” commented Leigh Cowlishaw, Richmond Kickers Director of Soccer. “Our five Academy roster spots will become more and more important as our franchise and the USL continues to grow.”
Durkin, who turned 15 on February 8, recently returned from the U15 Boys National Team Camp in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. A sophomore at Glen Allen High School, he has played on Kickers teams since the age of eight. Following a stint with the D.C. United Academy, he currently represents Richmond United on the U16 Academy team.
Richmond United U16 Academy goalkeeper, Romig returns for his second season on the Kickers pro roster. At the age of 16, he made the 18-man game day roster on 10 occasions in 2014, backing up Ryan Taylor. Participating with the Kickers youth programs since U9, the 17-year old junior at St. Christopher’s School committed to the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill for the fall of 2016.
The pair follows in the footsteps of fellow Richmond United teammates Will Pulisic and Lyndsey Moreland who trained with the Kickers pro team in 2014 as well as former Academy players Evan Fowler and Vaughn Fowler who both featured for the Kickers’ in 2013.
As of the 2013 season, expanded roster sizes allow teams to carry as many as five Academy players in USL competition. To qualify for an Academy spot, players must be younger than 21 at the start of the current season; they can’t have competed collegiately; they must never have signed as a professional and the player must either be from a club’s region, an affiliate youth team or from an MLS affiliate.
Don’t miss a minute of RVA Pro action when the Kickers return to City Stadium on Saturday, April 4. Richmond Kickers Season Ticket Benefits include 50-75% off match day prices, exclusive invitations, merchandise discounts and VIP benefits. Guaranteed to see all regular season, US Open Cup and playoff games for the best possible pricing, Kickers Season Tickets are a fantastic way to get together with friends, family and colleagues for an unforgettable entertainment experience – order now!
