Richmond Strikers and Richmond Kickers: Recreational League Soccer in the Region has Exploded Over the Years

 The Richmond Strikers Soccer Club was originally founded as the Three Chopt Soccer Association in 1975. In February 1986, Three Chopt Soccer changed its name to the Richmond Strikers Soccer Club. March of 2006 brought the merger of the Richmond Strikers Soccer Club and the Virginia Capital Area Soccer League (CASL). 

 The Richmond Strikers grew thanks to the youth program they offered, which gave kids a competitive experience at a young age. If players made the elite team, which competed against other elite teams, they increased their chances of making a professional team in the future. Also, Strikers offered futsal, rugby and cricket with 4,500 players annually on Striker teams.  

Formed in 2000, the Richmond Kickers Youth Soccer Club was a youth program for kids who both want to play to get better and for kids who are already playing at a higher level and want exposure. They offered elite teams which gave players more exposure at tournaments. If other elite teams saw talent, they would contact a player to give them opportunities on better teams. More than 6,000 players annually participated in Kickers recreation league soccer. 

In 2014, Strikers and Kickers collaborated to create an elite development program for local top youth soccer players called Richmond United. This change combined their U.S. Soccer Development Academy and the ECNL (Elite Clubs National League) Programs.  

In January 2025, the Richmond Kickers and the Richmond Strikers recreation leagues merged to form one club named Richmond United. When the merger is complete, the club will serve more than 5,000 families with its programs, which include both skill development and elite play. 

Sources 

Richmond Strikers History, https://www.richmondstrikers.com/about/club_history 

Richmond Strikers Press Release, https://www.richmondstrikers.com/General/Releases/Richmond_United_Announcement 

Richmond Kickers, https://www.richmondkickersyouth.com/page/show/4945309-history 

Richmond Kickers Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richmond_Kickers 

Richmond United, https://www.linkedin.com/company/richmond-united/ 

Richmond Magazine, https://richmondmagazine.com/news/features/the-long-game/ 

RTD, https://www.newspapers.com/image/1164263025/?match=1&terms=Richmond%20Strikers%20soccer