Papa John's Goal: Free Breadsticks!

Last Friday as the Kickers took on the Charlotte Eagles everyone in attendance received free breadsticks thanks in part to Papa John’s Pizza. Two minutes into the game Kickers midfielder Jonny Villanueva scored off of a free kick which qualified as a “Papa John’s Goal.” A "Papa John's Goal" rewards fans with free breadsticks if the Kickers score within the first ten minutes of the match. Fans can redeem their breadsticks by presenting their tickets from that game at any area Papa John's and those fans with Pro Passes were given tickets to redeem their bread sticks. Needless to say, all of the fans were delighted- thanks Papa John's (and Jonny)!

Ultimate Comfort? Seat Cushions!

We hope to see all of our fans out at University of Richmond Stadium this Friday at 7pm as the Kickers battle the Charlotte Eagles. What better way to spend a Friday night with your friends and family?

Our first 100 fans at the game will receive FREE seat cushions, so get there early! Our players feed off of their fan's energy so we can't wait to see you all there with your cheering voices and smiling faces!

Hop on Down to Martins!

Our very own mascot, Kickeroo, joined in on the excitement of the Grand Opening at the Martin’on Staples Mill on Monday. This location is one of four that opened on Monday after their conversion from Ukrops to Martins. Other Martin’s locations that opened on Monday were in Ashland, Chippenham Crossing, and Chesterfield Towne Center. Martin’s Vice President, Jim Scanlon, said the remodeling process is all in an effort to “provide shoppers with a more modern and convenient shopping experience.” Kickeroo dove right into the new experience and helped greet customers, took a tour, and even helped around the check out lanes-definitely Kickeroo approved! Stop by your local Martin’s and maybe you’ll even bump into Kickeroo!

Slam Dunk!

Richmond Kicker’s players Jonny Villanueva and Neil Barlow participated in the Smith Athletic Association’s Spring Sports Festival at Alberta Smith Elementary on Saturday afternoon. The mission of the Alberta Smith Sharks Athletic Association is to “provide every child with the opportunity to participate in an activity that will give them a sense of accomplishment and build character.” Villanueva and Barlow took part in the fun by participating in the Dunk Tank where children tried their hardest to get them soaked (we always knew they were good sports!) This wet fundraiser helped support local recreational leagues in the Midlothian area and provided entertainment for all involved.

A Fresh Start

Kickers fans, we are proud to introduce to you our newly refurbished blog! "The Direct Kick" is our way of bringing you in-depth news and a behind the scenes look at everything Kickers. "The Direct Kick" will provide a wide array of stories ranging from posts about recent games to background stories of our players. "The Direct Kick" is your ultimate Richmond Kickers source.

Please take the time to scroll through our blog; we welcome any and all comments. Our fans are the most important and vital aspect to our Kicker’s community, so we want to hear from you.

We look forward to hearing from you and can’t wait to see all of your faces out at our games this season!

One Final Kick

Two weeks, two wins. That's all that separates the Richmond Kickers from reclaiming the USL2 crown. It all starts this Saturday at 7 PM at the University of Richmond Stadium as the Kickers take on rival Harrisburg City Islanders in a semifinal match that is sure to be a tough and physical affair. Should the boys in red advance this Saturday, they'll take on the winner of Charlotte and Wilmington in the USL2 Championship on Saturday, August 29 at a host site to be determined. The championship match will be broadcast on Fox Soccer Channel later that same night.

So, those are the details. It's a pretty straight forward task, but one that will take a great amount of talent, hard work, and a little bit of luck for sure. As you prepare to head to U of R stadium on Saturday to cheer the team on, be sure to chime in below for your choice for Supporter's Choice MVP. Official Ballots will also be available at the game this Saturday!

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Many Reasons to Celebrate this Saturday

As we are in the midst of our first real heat wave of the summer, it's hard to believe that we're already approaching the end of summer and the end of the Kickers season. But that doesn't mean we're winding down! In fact, it's quite the opposite, as the Kickers look to celebrate a home playoff game and a potential regular season championship this Saturday at U of R Stadium. This will be the team's final regular season match, and we're going out in style by hosting our Second Annual Family Fest starting at 4 PM! A full list of vendors and activities can be seen here on our official website. But here are some highlights that will surely make the Festival even better than last year:

BOUNCE 2 THE MOON - The Chesterfield-based inflatable and game company returns to U of R Stadium with a full slate of activities on the upper concourse. The ever popular Adrenaline Rush Extreme obstacle course returns along with a Sports Arena, Jumbo Castle, Rocky River Log Roll, and Home Run Derby game.

LONG BRANCH PETTING ZOO - Long Branch Petting Zoo out of Amelia County is bringing a wide variety of adorable animals from 5-7 PM. The Petting Zoo will feature miniature horses, pygmy goats, llamas, and much more!

U-TURN ON-FIELD GAMES - From 4 until 6 PM, U-Turn will be hosting a number of different mini games on the field for kids of all ages.

CONCESSIONS SPECIALS - The kids will surely be hungry and thirsty from the mini games and inflatable games, so we're offering a great dinner combo special at the concessions stands. $5 for a hamburger/hot dog, chips and a drink before 7 PM!

SALVATION ARMY BAND - The Salvation Army Band will be out in full force, with a performance before the game, a live playing of the National Anthem, and a half-time performance.

TRACKLESS TRAIN - Back by popular demand will be the trackless train, also courtesy of Bounce 2 the Moon. Train rides will be running all afternoon on the upper concourse for those who want to take a relaxing tour of all of the fun and games going on at the stadium.

SUMO SUIT SOCCER - Bounce 2 the Moon is also bringing back one of the most popular half-time games of the year, Sumo Suit Soccer! Two lucky contestants will battle it out at half-time for a great gift from Dr. Babik and Crossridge Dentistry. Be sure to check out what will surely be an epic battle for Sumo Suit domination!

KICKERS PRO GAME - Of course, what would a Richmond Kickers Family Fest be without the actual game versus the Wilmington Hammerheads at 7 PM? The stakes for this one are at their highest, with the winner taking home the regular season championship. Be sure to wear red and get ready to be loud!