Northern Virginia Royals News Release -- www.novafc.org
Monday, March 3, 2014
FAIRFAX, Va. – The Northern Virginia Royals eagerly announced today that former Livingston manager Richie Burke will resume his previous head coaching duties over the Premier Development League team for the 2014 season. The Royals front office also confirmed the PDL squad will retain former player Grady Renfrow as an assistant on this summer’s coaching staff.
Following a 2012 stint as manager with Livingston in the Scottish Football League First Division, Burke returns stateside to take the reins of the Royals following a respectable 5-4-5 season in 2013. Guiding the Northern Virginia PDL side is familiar territory to Burke, as he led the Royals in 2011 and 2012 before accepting the coaching post in the United Kingdom.
A native of Liverpool, England, Burke’s tenure with Northern Virginia began after several successful years with the D.C. United Academy program in which he helped engineer a MLS Youth Cup Championship in 2007. Burke also served as an assistant coach for the MLS D.C. United under Ray Hudson from 2001-2003.
In addition to coaching, Burke’s background includes numerous stints on the professional player side of the ball. After playing collegiate soccer at American University, Burke played for the Washington Diplomats before heading returning to England and joining Chester City FC. Burke retired as a professional player in 1994 following two successful indoor seasons on the Washington Warthogs.
During the 2012 PDL season, Burke moved back to the UK after securing a coaching and youth development opportunity with Scottish side Livingston. Burke, who was originally appointed as technical coach of the West Lothian club, was promoted to assistant manager to Gareth Evans in November 2012. After the dismissal of Evans as manager on 28 February 2013, Burke assumed the role of interim manager. On 25 March 2013, he was appointed as the new permanent manager of Livingston on a multi-year contract.
A member of the Royals organization since 2004, former midfielder Renfrow took over for Burke in 2013 as the fifth head coach in Northern Virginia team history. A Washington, D.C. native, Renfrow grew up playing soccer with Stoddert Soccer Club before signing with Penn State University. It was during his Big Ten college stint that Renfrow spent his summers playing in the United Soccer League’s PDL with the local Northern Virginia Royals.
The Royals kick off their season on Saturday, May 10th as they travel to Newark, N.J., to face the Jersey Express. Northern Virginia opens its home season the following Saturday, May 17th as they face the Baltimore Bohemians. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at Westfield High School in Centreville, Va.