RICHMOND KICKERS

[epjr]

Richmond Kickers,
DC United Announce Partnership



Richmond Kickers News Release -- www.richmondkickers.com

Thursday, January 24, 2013

RICHMOND, Va. – In conjunction with the groundbreaking multi-year deal unveiled on Wednesday between MLS and USL PRO, the Richmond Kickers and D.C. United today announced that the clubs have entered into an affiliate agreement.

As a part of this arrangement with the Kickers, United will send a minimum of four first-team players – to be announced at a later date – on long-term loans to Richmond. Separated by a little over 100 miles, the two organizations worked closely together last year to organize loan spells for forward Long Tan and Homegrown defender Ethan White.

“We have had a long-standing relationship with the Richmond Kickers and we are thrilled to now have a formal partnership in place that will benefit both organizations,” said D.C. United General Manager Dave Kasper. “Many current and former D.C. United players have gained valuable experience while playing for the Kickers over the years, and we are excited to be working with a club who has a vision of excellence with everything from their professional team down to their academy and youth teams.”

uslpro.uslsoccer.com/home/690800.html

[epjr]

Kickers, DCU Announce Tryout
Set for Ukrop Park from Jan. 31-Feb. 2

Richmond Kickers News Release -- www.richmondkickers.com

Monday, January 6, 2014

RICHMOND, Va. – The Richmond Kickers have teamed up with D.C. United of Major League Soccer to jointly host open tryouts in Richmond, Va., from January 31 to February 2. The event will be held at the home training ground of the Richmond Kickers, the state-of-the-art soccer complex, Ukrop Park. The two organizations, who entered an exclusive inter-league affiliation in January 2013, will look to start the player identification process early for the 2014 season


uslpro.uslsoccer.com/home/778824.html

[epjr]

D.C. United, Richmond Kickers extend affiliation

The Black-and-Red to send minimum of four players on long-term loans in 2014

In conjunction with the groundbreaking multi-year deal unveiled last year between MLS and USL PRO, the Richmond Kickers and D.C. United today announced that the clubs have extended their affiliation agreement through the 2014 season.

“Last year's partnership with Richmond was mutually beneficial and we are very pleased to be working together again in 2014,” said Dave Kasper, D.C. United General Manager. “Our younger players who went on loan last season gained valuable experience that can only be realized by playing in professional games. We have had a long-standing relationship with the Kickers and we look forward to making this another win-win year.”

www.dcunited.com/news/2014/02/dc-united-richmond-kickers-extend-affiliation

[epjr]

D.C.'s Seaton On Upward Path
United youngster gained valuable experience with Kickers

Thursday, February 6, 2014

BRADENTON, Fla. – It’s been a little more than a year since Michael Season became the fifth, and youngest, Homegrown Player in D.C. United’s history. Since then, he’s scored on his professional debut, made his debut in Major League Soccer, trained with Inter Milan and made his debut for the Jamaican national team.

Now in his second professional training camp, Seaton has added size and continues to grow as he works toward earning regular minutes for United in MLS. As he looked back on his first professional season, though, the time spent with the Kickers was a good, and valuable, experience.

“With me being young, I was 16, and scored my first professional goal at Richmond in my first game,” Seaton said this week at IMG Academy. “Hearing I was going to Richmond, it wasn’t like I was upset, I just know I have to work on getting to this level, to the MLS level, and Richmond helped tremendously. If I go again, I wouldn’t feel bad about that because I need to develop.”

Seaton’s debut came on the road against the Wilmington Hammerheads last April. After Luke Vercollone had given Richmond the lead in the second half, Seaton put the game away late as his speed took him away from the Hammerheads’ defense on a breakaway and he coolly slotted home his finish a little under a month before his 17th birthday.

“It was awesome,” Seaton said. “It was in the last minute and it basically secured the entire game, that we were going to win it. It was awesome and I wanted to score before I turned 17, so that was just a plus.”

uslpro.uslsoccer.com/home/785919.html

[epjr]

UNITED SEND THREE TO RICHMOND:
D.C. United and the Richmond Kickers announced Thursday the first three players to report to the USL PRO side as part of the teams' extended partnership.

Goalkeeper Joe Willis, midfielder Collin Martin and forward Christiano Francois will be sent to Richmond and are expected to report ahead of the Kickers’ match Saturday against the University of Maryland. The three will then return to D.C. United next week, ahead of their season opener March 8 at home against the Columbus Crew (7 pm, MLS Live).

Willis is entering his third season with United and has played in 23 matches for the Black and Red, making 71 saves, including a memorable penalty kick save against the New York Red Bulls in the 2012 MLS Cup playoffs.

Martin was United’s sixth Homegrown signing, joining the team midway through last season after playing one year at Wake Forest University.

Francois, who played last season at Maryland, signed on with D.C. this offseason.

www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2014/02/27/mls-preseason-tracker-mike-magee-rejoins-chicago-fire-camp-paul-mariner-retu

[epjr]

Kickers Announce United Loanees
Seaton, Robinson, Francois, Willis to join Richmond

Richmond Kickers News Release -- www.richmondkickers.com

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

RICHMOND, Va. – The Richmond Kickers announced today that four players will appear on loan from D.C. United as part of the two clubs’ affiliation agreement. Forward Michael Seaton, defender Jalen Robinson, goalkeeper Joe Willis and forward Cristiano Francois will all join the Kickers on loan for the 2014 season.

“We are extremely excited for our players to once again have the opportunity to go on loan in a fantastic professional environment with the Richmond Kickers,” said D.C. United General Manager Dave Kasper. “To develop quickly as a professional it involves playing in meaningful games, and our partnership with the Richmond Kickers provides the perfect platform to do just that.”

uslpro.uslsoccer.com/home/797013.html