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USL Richmond Kickers

Kickers pro season opens this weekend

April 6, 2006 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Richmond Kickers News Release


RICHMOND, VA - (Thursday, April 6, 2006) - The Richmond Kickers will open their 14th season on the road this weekend, facing the Virginia Beach Mariners in the first leg of this year's James River Cup competition on Saturday, April 8th at the Virginia Beach Sportsplex. The winner of the James River Cup will be decided when the Kickers host the Mariners in the second leg, opening the Kickers home season the following week, Saturday, April 15th at the University of Richmond Stadium. Kickoff for both matches is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

At stake is the 2006 James River Cup, a nine-year competition between Richmond and Virginia Beach based on total points at the end of all matches played between the two teams. Beginning in 1996, the James River Cup competition has been in existence for nine seasons as a local derby between the two clubs (the Mariners did not field a team in 1997 or 2001). Defending 2005 James River Cup Champion, the Kickers have won the competition consistently for the past seven seasons (1998-2000, 2002-2005).

"We are pleased to continue this great growing tradition of our local derby," comments Richmond Kickers Vice President & General Manager Paul Sterbenz. "The intensity and level of pride in this rivalry has continued to grow between the clubs to a point where we believe it is one of the most anticipated matches, by both fans and players, on our season schedule."

This year's James River Cup matches versus the Kickers cross-state rivals will be considered a cup competition and will not double in the USL standings as in years past, due to the Kickers recent realignment with the USL Second Division. The USL professional league is a two-tiered system modeled after many of the historic professional leagues around the world and is comprised of the USL First Division and USL Second Division. The USL Second Division serves as the base of the professional structure and the regional focus allows professional soccer to thrive in smaller markets, while providing a premium brand of soccer and an exciting level of competition.

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