The mix of Kickers First Teamers and Richmond United players is set to build upon USL Academy Cup Final run back in March 2024
RICHMOND, Va. – The Richmond Kickers are pleased to announce 34 Kickers first team and Richmond United players called up to compete in the club’s U20 team during the 2024 USL Academy League this Summer.
Initially announced in November 2023, the Kickers U20 team competing in USL Academy will be comprised of elite, local youth talent through a partnership between the Kickers and Richmond United. Also serving as a reserve team for the Kickers, professional players will be able to move down to play more competitive minutes or regain match fitness following an injury.
Kickers First Team Assistant Coach Conner Cappelletti will serve as head coach for the U20s and he will be assisted by Patrick Hughes who also serves as the Richmond United U17 Boys Head Coach.
Currently, the Richmond Kickers first team features five players on USL Academy contracts including Gabe Cox (19), Griffin Garnett (17), Noah Hiort-Wright (18), Nicholas Simmonds (17), and James Sneddon (18). The Richmond Kickers have signed both Beckett Howell (18) and Landon Johnson (17) to professional contracts while both still maintain academy eligibility.
Kickers U20 will compete this summer in the USL Academy League South Atlantic Division which includes another professional club-backed academy team from North Carolina FC of the USL Championship. Also in the division are three USL League Two sides from North Carolina in Salem City FC, Tobacco Road FC, and Wake FC. VA United FC is the other Virginia-based side to compete in the division, hailing from the Roanoke, Christiansburg and Blacksburg regions.
Kickers U20 already enjoyed a successful run in March 2024, finishing as finalists in the USL Academy Cup in Tampa, Fla. First teamers Cox, Hiort-Wright, Landon Johnson, and Sneddon featured on the team as the U20s earned a 3-0 win over Tampa Bay United (USL League Two), a 0-0 draw against Hartford Athletic (USL Championship), and a 4-1 win over Colorado Springs Switchbacks (USL Championship).
Sneddon recorded a clean sheet, Johnson scored two goals, and Cox scored one goal and assisted another during the run to the final. The team fell 1-0 to academy powerhouses Indy Eleven (USL Championship) in a gritty championship match up.
Johnson, Cox, and Sandor Preda were named to the All-Tournament First Team and Sneddon earned an honorable mention.
Kickers U20 will kick off their season this Sunday, June 2 at 3 p.m. when they host Wake FC. The match is open to the public and admission is free.
Mika Elovaara, Richmond Kickers Head Assistant Coach and Director of Player Development and Methodology, and Richmond United Technical Director said:
“We are excited to get the USL Academy season underway. With high-level training both in the Richmond United environment and our USL Academy training, the core of the group has been gelling together well, as demonstrated by the early success in the USL Academy Cup. With an average age of just 17 on this roster, it is clear that the future is bright for RVA soccer. Our USL Academy team has already attracted players from outside of Richmond to join us, and as we continue to evolve all aspects of our fully integrated pathway, I have no doubt we will become more and more attractive to players from everywhere. [Head Coach] Conner [Cappelletti] has done a great job integrating players from our pro environment and promoting some of the higher potential young players into the USL Academy pool. Now it is up to the players to maintain high standards and a competitive atmosphere in training as they compete for the opportunity to play in league games.”
Conner Cappelletti, Richmond Kickers Assistant Coach and Richmond Kickers U20 Head Coach said:
“Absolutely stoked for the USL Academy season to begin. [Richmond Kickers Head Assistant Coach and Director of Player Development and Methodology, and Richmond United Technical Director] Mika [Elovaara] and the Richmond United staff have done an incredible job of creating and fostering a high-level environment that has produced an extremely talented player pool. The boys did a tremendous job in Tampa at the USL Academy Cup and they are itching to get back on the field to work toward another finals match. The level of training is continually being raised and it’s already at the point where it is difficult to identify who is a U16 or an Academy-contracted player. Each day is another opportunity to build on our fully integrated pathway and we are excited to showcase it through the USL Academy season. We all feel the energy fueling us to a bright future for RVA soccer!”
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