Written by Will Ridgard
Rising star, Simon Fitch, is hoping to get some minutes on the field for the Richmond Kickers’ pro team in 2017.
The 17-year-old regularly trained with the team last season, and with that experience under his belt, is optimistic for even better opportunities next year.
“I am hoping to get in some games next year,” said Fitch, who currently plays with the Richmond United U18 Academy team, having grown up playing for Richmond Kickers and the Richmond Strikers.
“I feel comfortable playing and training at that (first team) level. I think that the strengths of my game are game-understanding as well as passing and moving.
“The possession-based style of the Kickers’ fits perfectly into my skillset, and playing with very experienced and smart players can only help me excel.”
Alongside Sawyer Gaffney, Fitch got the call-up to train with the Kickers pro team last season, before signing an Academy contract. It was an opportunity he relished.
“I was extremely excited and thankful when I got called up,” said Fitch, who resides in Goochland and attends St Christopher’s School.
“Training was very enjoyable. The best part of practice is just playing. I don’t think that there was a single day of practice that we didn’t just play.
“I also learned a lot from Coach Cowlishaw. He is a very intelligent and intense coach, and imparts a lot of knowledge on his players, always demanding intensity and focus.
“I found the transition into first team training both easy and difficult,” Fitch continued. “It was easy in the sense that the coaches and players are very welcoming, all the players on the team are very personable and very close.
“The difficult part of training with the team was adjusting to the speed of play and physicality. In the beginning, I felt that I was in over my head, but as I continued to train, I became very comfortable and felt I could really express myself as a player.”
And Fitch will look to continue to impress in the upcoming months.
He plans to play soccer at George Washington University next year, studying Business while in the nation’s capital.
Full-time professional soccer is his overall goal, but in the meantime, the young midfielder will look to continue to shine for the Richmond United Academy team, and prepare to compete for 2017 playing time with the Kickers’ first team.
“I definitely think the path to the pro team is doable,” continued Fitch.
“It’s certainly not easy, that’s for sure. But, as I’ve seen so far, if you keep your head down and keep working hard, the opportunities will come.
“It is very encouraging that I’m being asked to join in. Knowing that multiple high level coaches think you are good player is always a confidence booster, but I know I still have a lot of room to improve.”
Time will tell on a very enthusiastic young man determined to put his stamp on the beautiful game.
