Richmond Kickers Feature -- www.richmondkickers.com
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
A natural leader on and off the field, former Kickers defender and captain, Kevin Knight, is a soccer star turned hometown hero.
Following his retirement from a prolific career in professional soccer that spanned over a decade, Knight now serves as one of Richmond’s bravest as a Richmond City firefighter. Assigned to Rescue Company 1, he specializes in Swift Water Rescue and Dive Operations.
Playing a tremendous role in the Kickers success over nine seasons, Knight anchored the team that made three Championship appearances, claiming the league title in 2006. As one of the most stalwart and steadfast Kickers ever to take the pitch, he resides in fifth place on the Kickers all-time games played list with 217, logging nearly 20,000 minutes in a Kickers uniform.
A Peer Fitness Trainer with the Richmond City Fire Department, Knight is a CrossFit Level 1 Certified Trainer and recently opened his own gym, CrossFit Midlo. In his spare time, he acts as a soccer coach for the Kickers U9 travel program and he resides in Midlothian with his wife Jodi and their three daughters, Ella, Naomi and Abigail.
RichmondKickers.com spoke with Kevin Knight as he reflected on his career with the Kickers.
RichmondKickers.com: Kevin, what is the best experience that you had with the Kickers?
Knight: I spent nine years with the Richmond Kickers and I just think it was great to have the opportunity to play, to meet all these great people on the team, the front office and in the community. Winning the Championship [in 2006] was great, but making a difference in our community is just as important to me.
RichmondKickers.com: In which way did you benefit from the experience that you gained at the Kickers?
Knight: Especially in my job as a firefighter, being able to work in a team, making decisions in split seconds and quick reacting are key skills to successful work. All of these are aspects that I was able to improve a lot during my time as a player. Being the head coach in our CrossFit Midlo gym, I also benefit from the whole physical nature that is involved in soccer.
RichmondKickers.com: Playing nine seasons with one club is quite an accomplishment. What is special about the Kickers?
Knight: What is striking about the Kickers is definitely the stability in the club. I love Richmond and it is great to see how the Kickers provide the community with quality soccer for everyone and on all levels of play.
RichmondKickers.com: What do you love most about your job as a firefighter?
Knight: I love being able to help people and working in a team for a mutual goal.
RichmondKickers.com: Do you miss the competition on the pro level in soccer?
Knight: I still find my challenges in sports through CrossFit. Of course I kind of miss the times when I played soccer on the pro level, but I love what I am doing now. Soccer is still part of my life as I work as a coach in my free time.