Richmond Strikers, Richmond Kickers Youth merge to form ‘United’ soccer club

Richmond United CEO Jay Howell and Director of Soccer Leigh Cowlishaw unveil the club’s logo at Tuesday’s announcement. (Photos by Jackie DiBartolomeo)

Two of Richmond’s most well-known youth soccer clubs are merging.

Richmond Strikers and Richmond Kickers Youth announced at a Tuesday press conference they will be joining forces to become one club: Richmond United. 

The move will bring more than 10,000 players under the combined club, making Richmond United one of the largest youth soccer organizations in the country, officials said Tuesday. 

“Our collaboration is a natural fit. We are stronger together; one dynamic club dedicated to elevating its players, coaches and the community to the highest levels,” Richmond United CEO Jay Howell said at the press conference. 

The Strikers and Kickers Youth previously worked together to create Richmond United as a development program for top youth soccer players in 2014. Now, the two clubs are joining forces and rebranding completely under the Richmond United umbrella.

Howell, who previously served as the Strikers’ executive director, and Leigh Cowlishaw, former executive director of soccer for Kickers Youth, will lead the new Richmond United as CEO and director of soccer, respectively.

The Richmond United logo.

Howell told BizSense that during the pair’s previous work on the initial incarnation of the Richmond United development program, they realized similarities between how the Strikers and Kickers Youth operated. 

“We started talking about, ‘How do we clear up the pathway for players? How do they work through the club in an efficient way?’… Our technical staff already all know each other, many of them played in the game together, and it sort of grew from there,” Howell said.

Cowlishaw told BizSense the unification will provide more comprehensive and personalized player development. The two clubs serve players ages 3 or 4 to 18.

“It’s not an acquisition, it’s not somebody stronger,” Cowlishaw said. “We are stronger together…we’re taking the best of the Strikers and the best of the Kickers.” 

While the Strikers and Kickers Youth have been rivals in the past, the consolidation of the two clubs’ resources and coaching staffs will create a stronger resource for players, Cowlishaw added. He predicted greater player access to both local and national tournaments under the unification. 

The new Richmond United uniforms, unveiled at the Jan. 21 press conference.

The newly minted Richmond United unveiled their new logo, club uniforms and color palette Tuesday. The new club’s brand will make its first appearance on the field in the fall 2025 season. 

This year marks the Strikers’ and Kickers Youth’s 50th and 25th anniversaries, respectively. 

Tuesday’s announcement comes on the heels of construction starting at the Strikers’ 42-acre Striker Park facility, where the soccer club is spending $5.5 million on a 10,000-square-foot office and storage building, along with two covered futsal courts and additional parking. 

The Strikers operated with $7.95 million in revenue and $8.29 million in annual expenses in 2023, and the Kickers Youth operated with $4.35 million in revenue and $3.51 million in annual expenses the same year, according to the clubs’ most recent public financial reports issued to the IRS.

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