Hills & Heights
Kickers Double Header on Saturday Includes Red Army vs. Front Office
Kickers pro team takes on UVA while the Kickers front office takes on its most passionate fans the Red Army.
This Saturday the team continues its pre-season with a match against the University of Virginia with food trucks and craft beer on tap! Kickoff for that match is set for 4 PM. The match will be open to the public with tickets costing $5. The Kickers most recently played ODU to a 2-2 draw this past Sunday. So far, for the most part the Kickers have been playing their starters for around 60 minutes and then bringing in trialists for the remaining 30 minutes. This pre-season matchup a great opportunity to see the new style of soccer that Coach Bulow is hoping to bring to City Stadium this year.
The real excitement starts around 1:30. That is the predicted start time for the clash of titans that is the 2nd Annual Our City Our Home Charity Game between the Front Office and the Kickers’ most rabid supporters the Red Army. Full disclosure I’m one of the leaders of the Red Army so I’m a bit biased. Anyone hoping to see me attempt to haul my sorry-looking body up and down the field will be disappointed. I’ll be on the sidelines cheering on the Red Army.
The Red Army will be hosting two events during the game. There will be a yard sale of Kickers gear with prices ranging from $10 to $20. Items include polo shirts, warmup jackets, a few rain jackets and more. There will also be a raffle with prizes donated by the Kickers, Strictly Soccer, Savage Apparel, Richmond Flying Squirrels, Bingo Brewing, and the Red Army. Money from the raffle will be going to RVA Access. Raffle tickets Prices will be 1 ticket for 3 dollars, 2 for 5 dollars, and an arm’s length for 15 dollars!
Full details on the prize packs in the comments in the Red Army’s Facebook event page.
RVA Access is an exciting new free program by the Richmond Kickers. It offers children with special needs the opportunity to play soccer. Open to boys and girls ages 4-19, sessions are held at the beautiful, 80-acre natural grass complex, Hensley Park in Midlothian and The Collegiate School in Richmond’s West End.
The regular season starts for the Richmond Kickers on March 30th against Lansing Unite FC. Season Tickets including Section O Passes to hang with the Red Army and single-game tickets are currently available online.
Community
PREVIEW: Kickers Face Playoff Nemesis Chattanooga
Revenge is a dish best served at City Stadium. Chattanooga knocked the Kickers out of the playoffs last year and the Kickers are looking for payback.
Opponent: Chattanooga (2-5-2)
Date/Time: Saturday, June 3rd, 7:00 PM
Last Result: Kickers 1 – Tormenta 1
Weather Forecast From WeatherBug.com
Three Things to Kick About
- Vinyals Returns – Nil Vinyals came off the bench last Saturday so barring a training setback he should be in the starting lineup. With the midfielder back in action expect the midfield to look better and hopefully more in control of the ball. In theory that control should lead to more transition into attack and more goals.
- Everyone Scores – So far this year seven different Kickers have scored, with midfielder João Silva leading the pack with 3. The latest goal was a beautiful Olympico but Sukow that must be seen to be believed. Don’t whine at me that it was a cross. It goes into the books as a goal and will be celebrated as such. So far 8 goals have been produced by the midfielders and defenders. Meanwhile our forwards, you know the guys paid to put the ball in the net have racked up 4 goals.
- Hot Ticket – It does my jaded heart good to see the amount of support in the stands the team is getting this year. Every game so far has had over 5,000 in attendance. This is well over the 3,500 or so we averaged last year. I’m not sure what switch flipped in the community but I’m glad to see it happen. The drawback is longer lines for food and drink but the Kickers are addressing that with more trucks. If you’re looking for a drink don’t forget there are multiple beer stations you don’t have to go straight for the building in the center of the concourse.
Prediction
The Kickers had a tremendous season last year until their first playoff game. In that game, despite being a man up for the majority of the game they ended up losing to Chattanooga by a goal. The fans, coaches and certainly the players remember the night a little too well. A win would have meant hosting the Championship Game in City Stadium, instead, it ended with a crushing defeat. Revenge will be on everyone’s mind and Chattanooga is not having a great season. The Red Wolves sit in second to last place and have a -8 goal differential. If ever there was a time for the Kickers to rack up some goals and get their scoring mojo flowing this is it. I predict it will happen.
Kickers 3 – Chattanooga 0
Community
Free Fishing Days in Virginia are June 2–4
Normally you need a fishing license to fish but not this weekend. A great opportunity for the fishing curious.
No fishing license of any kind will be required for recreational rod and reel fishing during free fishing days and facilities use permits will also not be required during these dates. To increase angling opportunities, DWR has removed the restriction to fishing designated stocked trout waters for free fishing weekend. This will open over 2,900 miles of trout streams, in addition to numerous ponds, small lakes and reservoirs. Virginia’s diversified trout habitat offers a wide range of trout fishing prospects. All fishing regulations including size, season, catch limits, and gear restrictions will remain in effect.
DWR fee fishing areas still require a fee for Free Fishing Days weekend.
Interested in learning how to fish? Attend an event with family and friends at one of the following locations:
Saturday, June 3rdBurke Lake (Fairfax County): 9:00 am – 3:00 pmDorey Park (Henrico County): 9:00 am – 3:00 pmMt. Trashmore (Virginia Beach): 9:00 am – 1:00 pmHungry Mother State Park (Marion): 9:00 am—1:00 pm ($7 entrance fee)
Sunday, June 4thFestival del Rio Rappahannock (Old Mill Park in Fredericksburg): 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Community
Fun Run and More with Redemption Hill Church on Saturday
5K Fun Run, food trucks (Cocky Rooster, Goatacado, Gelati Celeste, Hambura Coffee), pickleball, playground, and yard games in the park by the Stone House.
Saturday, June 3 – Come join your neighbors for a summer kickoff festival at Forest Hill Park from 10a~1ish. Bring a friend or a stranger!😁 Everyone is welcome. We’ll have a free 5K Fun Run (register with the QR code on the flyer to participate in the run), food trucks (Cocky Rooster, Goatacado, Gelati Celeste, Hambura Coffee), pickleball, playground, and yard games in the park by the stone house. Run registration is at 9:30am. Otherwise come whenever! Trucks will be gone around 1pm. A good time should be had by all!
Citizen Burger Turns Off the Grills
PREVIEW: Kickers Face Playoff Nemesis Chattanooga
Tiki Club RVA Sets Sail on Saturday
Photo of the Day: Morning Commute in Fog
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Virginia’s medical cannabis program has ‘improved’ but more needed to meet expectations
Richmond Needs This: Surfing
Renderings: James River Association breaks ground on James A. Buzzard River Education Center
Science Museum of Virginia offering special $10 admission days on 10 separate dates this year
