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USL Richmond Kickers

Kickers Host English Premier League Side West Brom Sunday

July 16, 2015 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Richmond Kickers News Release


RICHMOND, VA - (Thursday, July 16, 2015) - The Richmond Kickers are pleased to host West Bromwich Albion of the world famous Barclays Premier League in an international exhibition, presented by Chicken Fiesta, at City Stadium this Sunday, July 19. The pre-game party begins at 3:30 p.m. with live music from The Trongones, growlers of craft beer and RVA food trucks and the game kicks off at 5:30 p.m. Tickets ($30/$35) are on sale now at RichmondKickers.com.

"The English Premier League is widely considered the world's greatest sports league and when you add this summer's Women's World Cup, our rapidly increasing fan support, and the overwhelming success of last year's event, we knew we had to bring the Premier League back to Richmond this summer," commented Leigh Cowlishaw, Richmond Kickers Director of Soccer. "The crowd atmosphere will be electric and we invite the Richmond community to join us in celebrating the Premier League with their hometown team."

Following a week-long training trip to Austria, the prestigious match in Richmond concludes West Brom's 10-day, three-game U.S. preseason tour, which kicked off with a 3-1 loss to Major League Soccer side Orlando City on July 15 before battling the Charleston Battery on July 17. The 2015-15 Barclays Premier League season begins August 8/9.

Established in 1878, the West Midlands-based club climbed to a 13th place finish in the Premier League standings with a 11-16-11 record and 44 points. After a near-disastrous 2013-14 campaign that saw the Baggies finish just above the relegation zone and a rocky start to the 2014-15 season, the addition of former Premier League Manager of the Year Tony Pulis and acquisition of Manchester United veteran Darren Fletcher led West Brom to a five-game undefeated streak, including wins over giants Manchester United and Chelsea, to secure the mid-table ranking.

Sunday's historic match marks the second consecutive season that a team from England's top flight will appear in Virginia following a sold-out event featuring Crystal Palace at City Stadium in 2014.

Players to Watch

Kickers: Forward Jason Yeisley (#17) posted his seventh goal of the 2015 campaign last week against Saint Louis FC to lead the Kickers to a 3-1 win on the road while snapping a five game winless streak. Signing with the Kickers in 2012, the former FC Dallas forward has amassed more than 5,000 minutes over four seasons. In his seventh season in Richmond, 2009 Defender of the Year William Yomby (#2) has started every game this season, leading the team with 1,688 minutes while anchoring the backline with nine shutouts. The native of Bafoussam, Cameroon has earned six consecutive USL All-League First Team nominations since his Kickers debut in 2009. A native of Kent, England, Matthew Delicate (#7) leads the Kickers with six goals and 12 points. Notching 93 goals over nine seasons in Richmond, the club's all-time leading scorer surpassed 200 points in a Kickers uniform in May, reaching the century mark in career goals in June 2014.

Baggies: Bolstering West Brom's offense, forward Saido Berahino (#18) joined the Baggies this week in the U.S. after missing the club's training week in Austria with a knee injury that forced him out of the European U-21 Championships in the Czech Republic. The 21-year old homegrown hero tallied 20 goals through all competitions last season and was named the 2014 England U21 Player of the Year. Former England National Team defender Joleon Lescott (#6) signed with West Brom prior to the 2014-15 campaign, following five seasons at Manchester City where he won two league titles in three years. Since making his West Brom debut in 2014, he has made 37 appearances, contributing to 15 shutouts, adding one goal and two assists. Ending a 12-year affiliation with Manchester United after making 342 appearances, midfielder Darren Fletcher (#24) transferred to West Brom in January, leading the Baggies out of the relegation zone and to a mid-table finish last season. Doubling as captain of the Scottish National Team, he has earned 68 caps and notched five international goals.

Tickets

General Admission tickets for the Richmond Kickers versus West Bromwich Albion match are $35. Red Army tickets in the official supporter's section, Section O, are $30. Limited edition, commemorative growlers, courtesy of Growlers To Go, which include one growler fill at City Stadium and a ticket the game are available for $35, while supplies last. Tickets are on sale now at RichmondKickers.com and at select ticket outlets throughout the Greater Richmond area.

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