News

YOU ASK. WE ANSWER.

Leigh Cowlishaw is taking over @RichmondKickers on Twitter on Monday, February 5 at 10:00am to answer your questions about the upcoming 2018 season. Use the hashtag #AskCowlishaw and he will answer questions from how the team is looking heading into preseason, the USL and the new competition in 2018, and anything about RVA.

Entering his 18th season at the helm, Cowlishaw has amassed an overall record of 271-147-125. Under his guidance, the Kickers have qualified for postseason play 15 times, reaching the title match six times (2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2010) while earning the Regular Season Championship title on four occasions (2001, 2006, 2007 and 2013) and claiming the league crown twice (2006 and 2009).

Having also achieved significant success in the U.S. Open Cup, he won the tournament title as a player in 1995 and has since led the team to four quarterfinal appearances (2001, 2004, 2007, 2011) and a remarkable semifinal finish in 2011, ousting five Major League Soccer teams along the way. A member of the USL Hall of Fame and 2013 USL Coach of the Year, Cowlishaw’s success on the field is matched by numerous awards off the field, helping to guide the club to five USL Organization of the Year awards (1995, 2000, 2006, 2007, 2009).

REGISTER NOW FOR LITTLE KICKS

Little Kicks, the FUN and EASY way to bring soccer into your child’s life! Richmond’s most popular mobile enrichment program is designed to develop COORDINATION, CONFIDENCE and CHARACTER. The team atmosphere fosters life skills and socialization at a crucial developmental age. Little Kicks utilizes experienced, role-model coaches to deliver our Age-Appropriate Curriculum. Our instructors are experienced, enthusiastic coaches with a passion for soccer and helping children succeed. They understand the great opportunity to be a strong role model and positive impact. Spring registration is open at over 70 preschools and child care centers throughout Richmond. Don’t miss out on all the fun this upcoming season!

KICKERS RELEASE MARCEL DEBELLIS

RICHMOND, VA – (Wednesday, January 31, 2018) – The Richmond Kickers announced today that goalkeeper Marcel DeBellis has been released by mutual agreement.

DeBellis made three appearances with the Kickers last season, joining the club after a two-year stint with Ottawa Fury FC where he made five appearances and posted one shutout. The 6’3” goalkeeper previously spent four years in Italy with Trento Calcio and Vincenza Calcio, while splitting the 2012/2013 season between Italian Fourth Division club AC Bellaria Igea Marina and Serie B side Ascoli. A native of Ontario, DeBellis first made the move to Europe in 2008, signing with Portuguese powerhouse Benefica where he suited up for their U19 squad.

Experience the passion, excitement and authentic atmosphere at City Stadium with the Richmond Kickers 2018 season kicks off this spring. Richmond Kickers Season Ticket Benefits include 45-60% 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 experience – order now!

USL ANNOUNCES RULE CHANGES FOR 2018

TAMPA, Fla. – (Wednesday, January 31, 2018) – The United Soccer League (USL), one of the most prominent Division II professional leagues in the world, officially announced Wednesday that the 2018 season will feature a handful of new rules which were vetted by the various Competition Subcommittees and subsequently approved by the full Technical Committee meeting at the annual meetings in Orlando earlier this month.

“We are pleased to continue the evolution of the USL’s rules to bring our league in line with top domestic and international competition, and offer greater roster flexibility to our clubs,” said USL President Jake Edwards. “The changes the league’s rules have undergone over recent seasons have occurred thanks to close collaboration with our clubs and will deliver the highest level of competition on the pitch for our fans.”

On the field, USL regular-season games will now be considered official only upon reaching the 70th minute of the contest, with the rule having previously allowed games to be declared official after the completion of the first half. All games in the USL Cup Playoffs will continue to be played to conclusion.

Contests in the USL Cup Playoffs will now allow a fourth substitute to be used in extra time. The fourth substitution must occur prior to the final whistle in extra time and will not be permitted in the break between the end of the contest and a penalty shootout.

Off the field, teams will now be permitted to trade or sell international roster spots within the league for the duration of a season. Following the conclusion of the season, all rosters will reset to seven international roster spots per team.

The league has also introduced an Injured Reserve position to its rosters, allowing clubs to retain a player who has suffered a medically-verified season-ending injury without using a roster position. Each club will have one available IR spot for the season.

In gameday rules, teams will now submit a 23-player squad at least 48 hours before kickoff of each game, reduced from 27 players a season ago. Additionally, a team’s 18-player gameday roster may now contain a maximum of five players signed to USL Academy contracts.

SOLD OUT! BALL KIDS & PLAYER ESCORTS

Be a part of the action and interact with some of the world’s best players as a BALL KID or PLAYER ESCORT when the Washington Spirit hosts NWSL Regular Season Champions North Carolina Courage at City Stadium on March 17!

Only 12 spaces for Ball Kids (ages 12 and older) and just 22 spaces for Player Escorts (ages 6 and older) are available for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity – $60, includes a game ticket, exclusive field level access and a commemorative t-shirt.

Email Emily Chen at echen@https://www.richmondkickers.com with your child’s name, age, t-shirt size and phone number to reserve your spot.

Fast Sell Out Expected – Don’t Delay!

Reservations will be accepted on a first come, first served basis and are considered final once payment has been received.

STATE CUP FINAL FOUR

Over the weekend, three Kickers teams competed in the Final Four of the Virginia NPL State Cup.

The U19 Elite Boys team fell to Virginia Soccer Association (VSA) 0-1 in the semifinals, after battling through double overtime.

Penalty kicks ended the run of the U15 Elite Girls in the semifinals against Prince William Courage (PWSI). Finishing the match level at 1-1 through regulation and overtime, the Kickers narrowly missed out on a berth in the final, falling 5-6 in penalties.

The U15 Boys Elite team reached the finals after successfully knocking off the #1 seed PWSI 1-0 in the semifinals. After a highly competitive match against the Richmond Strikers, the Strikers would get the victory behind a 2-1 result.

KICKERS LEGEND RETURNS

RICHMOND, VA – (Friday, January 26, 2018) – The Richmond Kickers are pleased to announce the return of veteran defender William Yomby for the 2018 season, pending USL, USSF and Visa approval.

Returning to Richmond for his 10th season, Yomby is a six time All-League First Team defender and former USL Defender of the Year. Named the 2017 Supporter’s Choice MVP, the franchise player made 19 appearances last season after an offseason surgery sidelined him through May. Overall, he has made 240 appearances in a Kickers uniform, amassing over 20,000 minutes. Integral on both sides of the ball, the native of Bafoussam, Cameroon has contributed 11 goals and five assists throughout his career, while backstopping the Kickers defense to more than 80 shutouts in nine seasons.

Prior to signing with the Kickers, Yomby was drafted by Sporting Kansas City in the 2008 MLS SuperDraft, inking a developmental contract with the Major League Soccer side before joining the Puerto Rico Islanders later that season. A graduate of Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, he was selected to the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) All-Rookie Team before making 48 appearances over three seasons. He also earned All-CAA Second Team honors and was named to the CAA All-Tournament and All-State teams.

Yomby joins 16 players currently under contract including Matt Bolduc, Heviel Cordovés, Marcel DeBellis, Giuseppe Gentile, Raul Gonzalez, Yudai Imura, Alex Lee, Luiz Fernando, Fred Owusu Sekyere, Mallan Roberts, Conor Shanosky, Brian Shriver, Braeden Troyer, Oscar Umar, Finnlay Wyatt, and Austin Yearwood.

KICKERS RESTRUCTURE TECHNICAL STAFF

RICHMOND, VA – (Thursday, January 25, 2018) – The Richmond Kickers are pleased to announce the restructuring of its Technical Staff, naming Michael Burke, U11-U14 Director, Ross MacKenzie, Kickers FUTSAL Director and ADP, U9/U10 Director, Andy McIntosh, U15-U19 Girls Director and Mark Stollsteimer, U15-U19 Boys Director, under the continued guidance of Leigh Cowlishaw, Director of Soccer. After 16 years of service with the Richmond Kickers, former Technical Director Ihor Dotsenko moved on from the club to pursue a position as a Technical Advisor with U.S. Soccer.

The Richmond Kickers Technical Staff will continue to guide the club through innovative and high-quality youth development programming and excellence in coaching, while providing the highest level of customer service and building upon the club’s unassailable reputation for success on and off the field.

Among other duties, each member of the Technical Staff will act as a main point of contact for his respective age group and serve as a technical liaison between coaches and the Director of Soccer, collaborate to ensure successful player placement and cultivate positive and proactive communication between parents, coaches and staff, while fulfilling the strategic direction of the club.

Additionally, the club will strengthen the coaching staff with a Girls Assistant Technical Director and a Boys Assistant Technical Director. The new positions will assist their respective Technical Directors in the Kickers’ continued pursuit of excellence and expansion.

Leigh Cowlishaw, Director of Soccer

An integral member of the Kickers franchise since the club’s inception in 1993, Cowlishaw has compiled an overall record 271-148-125 over 18 seasons as head coach of the Richmond Kickers professional team. Under his guidance, the Kickers have qualified for postseason play 15 of the past 17 seasons, reaching the league title match six times (2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010) and claiming the USL crown twice (2006 and 2009). Cowlishaw holds a USSF A License and provides technical direction and guidance for all levels of the Kickers organization. Essential in establishing the Richmond Kickers youth club in 2000, he works closely with the technical staff to oversee nearly 8,000 youth soccer players in programs sponsored by the Kickers and partner clubs.

Ross MacKenzie, Kickers FUTSAL, ADP and U9/U10 Director

As the Director of the new year-round Kickers FUTSAL, MacKenzie will oversee the meticulously designed program to provide additional emphasis on technical and tactical instruction. Named ADP Director in 2012, the former Kickers pro player became U9/U10 Director in 2014 where he manages the day-to-day operations and technical aspects of the Kickers innovative U9/U10 program while overseeing all aspects of player development for future Kickers travel players ages 6-8 through the Advanced Development Program (ADP). The native of Paisley, Scotland holds a USSF B License and a USSF National Youth Coaching License

Michael Burke, U11-U14 Director

As the U11-U14 Director, Burke acts as the main technical point of contact for all of the Kickers U11-U14 Boys and Girls, Classic and Elite travel teams. Involved with the Kickers youth club since 2001, he holds a USSF B License. A former Kickers professional player, he holds the franchise record with 61 assists. The perennial fan favorite amassed nearly 18,000 minutes in a Richmond Kickers uniform over 11 seasons and garnered Supporter’s Choice MVP honors on six consecutive occasions before retiring from professional soccer in 2012.

Andy McIntosh, U15-U19 Girls Director

Involved with the Kickers organization for 15 years, McIntosh joined the Technical Staff in 2004 as Classic Director, adding Director of Soccer Camps to his title in 2006. While continuing to oversee the Kickers camp program, the new staff structure will see him manage all technical aspects of the Kickers U15-U19 Girls Classic and Elite teams. A native of London, England, McIntosh received his BS in PE and Sports Science as well as a Post-Graduate Certificate of Education in Physical Education from Loughborough University. He also has a USSF A License and a NSCAA Technical Director License.

Mark Stollsteimer, U15-U19 Boys Director

Joining the Kickers full-time staff in June 2012 as an Assistant Technical Director, Stollsteimer will now oversee all technical aspects of the U15-U19 Boys Classic and Elite teams. With 14 years of experience as a head coach at the NCAA Division II and III levels, Stollsteimer spent 12 years as head coach at Davis and Elkins College and two years at Millikin University. Holding a NSCAA Premier License, he brings over 10 years of experience as President, Technical Director and Director of Coaching for three different soccer clubs, serving most recently as Director of Coaching at the Bolton Wanderers Futbol Club of Illinois.

KICKERS SIGN GIUSEPPE GENTILE

RICHMOND, VA – (Wednesday, January 24, 2018) – The Richmond Kickers are pleased to announce that forward Giuseppe Gentile has signed for the 2018 season, pending USL and USSF approval, and International Clearance.

Bringing extensive professional experience to Richmond, Gentile joins the Kickers after spending the 2017 season with Puerto Rico FC (NASL) where he contributed four goals and five assists in 27 appearances. Previous stints included Ottawa Fury, Fort Lauderdale Strikers, San Antonio FC, Swiss club FC Chiasso, and Orlando City. Gentile began his professional career with Major League Soccer when he was acquired by the Chicago Fire through the 2014 MLS Waiver Draft and spent the majority of his rookie season on loan with former-USL side Charlotte Eagles

A native of Miami, Florida, Gentile attended University of North Carolina – Charlotte for three seasons (2011-2013), finishing his collegiate career ranked 11th in school history with 66 career points and 10th with 27 career goals.

Gentile joins 15 players currently under contract including Matt Bolduc, Heviel Cordovés, Marcel DeBellis, Raul Gonzalez, Yudai Imura, Alex Lee, Luiz Fernando, Fred Owusu Sekyere, Mallan Roberts, Conor Shanosky, Brian Shriver, Braeden Troyer, Oscar Umar, Finnlay Wyatt, and Austin Yearwood.

KICKERS ANNOUNCE 2018 SCHEDULE

RICHMOND, VA – (Friday, January 19, 2018) – The Richmond Kickers are pleased to announce the 34-game regular season schedule, kickoff off the 2018 regular season on the road against Bethlehem Steel FC on Sunday, March 18 before returning to City Stadium to host Indy Eleven on Saturday, March 24 at 5:00pm. The party starts at 3:30pm with live music, RVA food trucks and craft beer on tap. Tickets for the home opener and 2018 Season Tickets are on sale now at www.richmondkickers.com.

The Kickers will compete in the 16-team Eastern Conference against Bethlehem Steel FC, Charlotte Independence, FC Cincinnati, Louisville City FC, New York Red Bulls II, Ottawa Fury FC, Penn FC, Pittsburgh Riverhounds, Tampa Bay Rowdies, and Toronto FC as well as long-time rivals Charleston Battery and USL newcomers ATL UTD 2, Indy Eleven, Nashville SC and North Carolina FC. The Kickers will face each opponent twice, with additional games comprised of matchups against geographic rivals.

Soccer Saturdays comprise the majority of the Kickers regular season home schedule, with 15 of the 17 matches taking place on Saturdays. The two mid-week exceptions fall on Wednesday, April 25 and Wednesday, September 26. Three matches, including the home opener on March 24, will kick off at 5:00pm with the remainder of the matches beginning at 7:00pm.

The regular season concludes with the Kickers on the road at Atlanta United 2 on October 13. The top eight teams in each conference will qualify for postseason play that will include Conference Quarterfinals (Oct. 19-21), Semifinals (Oct. 26-28) and Final (Nov. 2-4). The 2018 USL Cup Final will be played the weekend of November 9-11.

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YOU ASK. WE ANSWER.

REGISTER NOW FOR LITTLE KICKS

KICKERS RELEASE MARCEL DEBELLIS

USL ANNOUNCES RULE CHANGES FOR 2018