The Richmond Kickers are set to open their 24th professional season his spring, with preseason officially kicking off in late February. www.richmondkickers.com sat down with captain, Michael Callahan, and USL veteran Jason Yeisley to reflect on the 2015 season and the team’s goals for 2016.
www.richmondkickers.com: 2015 was a season of ups and downs. How would you rate the season for the club?
Callahan: It was a tough year. Our form was inconsistent on both an individual and team level. We expect to challenge for a championship every year and we fell well short of that.
RK.com: You had one of your best scoring seasons in 2015. What went right for you?
Yeisley: Last season was the right combination of a lot of things. We had a good group of players who would create opportunities for others through crosses into the box, passes, or making runs to open space. We played a 4-4-2 for a lot of the season, which I am more comfortable playing in. And finally, I lucked out in a lot of situations being in the right place at the right time.
RK.com: What was your favorite moment of the 2015 season?
Callahan: The West Brom game was certainly a highlight. The fan support was incredible and it’s always going to be special playing against a team of that caliber. Beating Toronto at home to keep our playoff hopes alive in our final regular season game was another positive.
RK.com: What changes do you think need to be made to be successful for the 2016 season?
Callahan: Individually, we as players need to perform at a higher level more consistently. In the few games when we had everyone in form, we were a very hard team to beat.
RK.com: How do you see your role for the 2016 season?
Yeisley: I’m looking to have a similar role for the 2016 season and continuing where I left off. I’ve had a great offseason and I’m feeling fitter and sharper entering this season than any of the previous seasons.
RK.com: The USL as a whole has seen significant growth over the last few years. Do you still see Richmond as a top contender each season?
Callahan: Absolutely. 2015 was a down year for us, but we still made the playoffs and nearly beat an undefeated at home Charleston team to advance. The fact that this is viewed as a failure tells you everything you need to know about our yearly expectations.
RK.com: What is your number one goal for 2016?
Yeisley: Winning the USL. Absolutely the number one goal for 2016. We’ve been close and set ourselves up well going into postseason a number of times but this season I really feel we can put together an entire campaign through the finals.
