When the Richmond Kickers played their first game in 1993, no one could have predicted the club would have such a lasting legacy on American soccer. The franchise started as a small team playing on the campus of the University of Richmond. Their early recruiting, which was heavily weighted toward players in Virginia, showed a commitment to developing local talent that would become an important piece of their identity.
No year represents the one-time brilliance of the Kickers quite like 1995. The club did the impossible in earning its medals by winning the USISL Premier League title and the coveted U.S. Open Cup, while playing at the fourth tier of American soccer. This second feat was one of the club’s greatest moments, proving that even lower-division teams could compete with the best American soccer had to offer.
City Stadium is not just the Kickers' home, but a citadel of Richmond soccer since 1995. The venue, with a capacity of 6,000, offers the kind of intimate atmosphere that larger stadiums cannot. It also regularly gets 3,000 to 4,000 fans at the stadium, leading the Kickers to be among the best supported teams in USL League One. The generous backing of Section O's Red Army and Scuffletown Social Club has created an atmosphere that would put many higher division clubs to shame.
Many soccer careers have begun on the field of the Richmond Kickers. Among the notable recent graduates are U.S. National Team goalkeeper Matt Turner and former MLS star Dwayne De Rosario. It has also nurtured local legends like Matthew Delicâte and Robert Ukrop, whose contributions were so great that the club retired his #6 jersey in 2005, a rare honor in American soccer.
Few American soccer teams own the history of their journey through the sport’s divisional structure as much as the Kickers. From their founding in the third tier to their tenure in the second division and now their current membership in USL League One, it has always been the club's priority to take a sustainable approach rather than to chase fleeting, short-term glory.
The 2019 season was a turning point for Kickers when the club joined USL League One. It was then under the majority ownership of 22 Holdings, LLC, headed by former player Rob Ukrop. But it was a whole new world as this meant more than switching leagues; it meant they were recommitted to growth and a return to the community. Retaining the Richmond Kickers Youth Soccer Club as minority owners helped the club maintain a close connection with its roots in the community.
The Kickers also have a rich history in the U.S. Open Cup, beyond their 1995 victory. Their capacity to compete with, and sometimes defeat Major League Soccer teams has become legendary. That remains only a particularly impressive cup run, but the 2011 cup run, which saw them survive Columbus Crew and Sporting Kansas City to reach the semifinals, stands as a reminder of how the mini-club has had a knack for outpunching itself in cup competitions.
Led by head coach Darren Sawatzky, now in his fifth season with the club, the Kickers are building on their foundation. The club’s emphasis on nurturing and promoting young players, balanced with ambitions of remaining competitive, has resulted in a model for success in lower-division soccer that, being so focused on a strong foundation. Their 2022 regular season title proved the club is still capable of competing for honors on a budget.
The Richmond Kickers are uniquely integrated into the local community. The Kickers are more than a soccer team; their youth soccer programs and community initiatives make them an integral part of Richmond's sporting landscape. Their long-standing stability and reputation helped keep them in good terms with local businesses and supporters and to become a model for sustainable soccer in midsize American markets.
As American soccer continues to grow and evolve, Richmond Kickers show the way on how to create a soccer institution that lasts. That combination of community engagement, youth development and competitive ambition has proved a potent formula. With healthy attendance figures, a loyal fan base, and a clear vision for the future, the Kickers seem well-poised to continue as one of the best-functioning and respected lower-division clubs in American soccer.