Inanimate objects and locations are blessed, as is the case to be told here, with the gift of relying on others to tell their story, to celebrate their history, and bask in the admiration of their visitors. As the new season of USL League One unfolds, fans will once again find themselves drawn to the aura of the esteemed City Stadium, humbly residing in Richmond, Virginia. That magnetism is a veritable force, enriched by the near-century of events which have unfolded before the fans lucky enough to find a seat within the stadium.
Built in 1929, City Stadium has mostly been the host of American football games, but that all changed in the mid-1990s, as the NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Championship held matches from 1995-1998. Ahead of the 1998 FIFA World Cup, the United States Men’s National Team competed in a qualifier against Trinidad & Tobago with over 19,000 fans in attendance. During that same time frame, a new tenant took up residence in City Stadium and still plays there to this day.
Unbeknownst to many American soccer fans, pro soccer has existed in Richmond, Virginia for over three decades. That distinction is rare in the United States, so it seems only fitting that the Richmond Kickers would find a home like City Stadium. Since joining USL League One as a founding club in 2019, the Kickers have gradually increased their attendance to home matches, even setting records along the way. In fact, the club has led the league in overall attendance the past two seasons, welcoming over 124,000 fans inside the historic confines of City Stadium. Having played in the league since its inception, Tormenta FC midfielder and team captain Conor Doyle has made many memories in Richmond. “It’s always fun to play in City Stadium,” Doyle said. “The fans create an amazing atmosphere, the field is always in good shape, and it’s always a good game. Knowing the history of that place just ties it all together in making it one of the best places to go in this league.”
With all of this talk of history, it’s worth noting a bit related to Tormenta FC’s visit last Saturday: when looking at Tormenta FC’s performance during away matches against active USL League One clubs, two neighbors quickly jump off the page. In 10 away matches against the Greenville Triumph, Tormenta has won 5 matches, drawing 2 more, and averaging 1.7 points per visit. While it’s always nice to gloat about achievements over a rival, the second club is more pertinent to this article. In 7 away matches against the Richmond Kickers, Tormenta FC has won 3 matches, drawn 2 matches, and currently holds an average of 1.57 points taken from each visit to City Stadium.
Saturday’s win was Tormenta FC’s first of the season, catapulting them into fourth place at the end of Week 3. Tormenta FC goalkeeper Ford Parker recognized the significance of the achievement after the match. “I think the first win is always the hardest one to get with a new group and I think any time you can do that on the road in front of a good crowd, it’s even more special,” Parker said. “Playing on the road is tough and good teams are able to get points away from home and results like that will help us later in the season. I think the guys showed a lot of fight and were willing to do whatever it took to come away with three points.”
Tormenta FC midfielder Ajmeer Spengler credited the technical staff with high-quality game management. “I thought it was a resilient team win,” Spengler said. “The coaching staff made some excellent half-time adjustments and the team did a great job of executing those adjustments on the field, leading to a strong victory.”
Things weren’t always so rosy on the pitch, however. As the match drew on, ire from the City Stadium crowd grew to a roar, with particular grievances being filed against individual players from Tormenta FC. “Boo’s” rained onto the pitch, accompanied by sharp gestures, finger-pointing, and further vocalizations. The environment was becoming hostile and the competitive spirits alive and well, but don’t think for even a second that any Tormenta FC player would sink to the weight of the pressure. “The fans getting rowdy is what makes the game more fun, especially when you’re winning,” team captain Conor Doyle said.
Goalkeeper Ford Parker echoed those sentiments. “That’s the kind of atmosphere all players want to play in. I enjoy when the fans get into the game,” Parker said. “Playing in front of a stadium that is full of energy is what players at our level want. You want to play the best teams with the most fans to see what your group is made of, and our group showed that we have what it takes to go into hostile environments and get a result.”
Midfielder Ajmeer Spengler opened up about his way of dealing with the pressure of the fans. “As the crowd grows increasingly more rowdy and hostile towards us, the best way for us as a team to keep performing and maintaining our composure is to embrace the hostility and use it as fuel to continue to keep the intensity high,” Spengler said. “I felt that as a group we all did a great job of matching the crowd’s intensity and raising it on the field to the point where we were out-competing our opponents, ultimately leading us to a great win.”
With Richmond now in the rearview mirror, Tormenta FC can focus on the next USL League One opponent: One Knoxville SC. Tormenta FC has only played one away match against them, resulting in a 2-0 victory. The head-to-head history may be in its infancy, but there’s still plenty of history to unfold. Who’s ready for another chapter of glory from Tormenta FC?
Founded in 2015, Tormenta FC is a professional soccer club based in Statesboro, Georgia. Tormenta FC competes in the professional USL League One and the pre-professional USL W League, under the United Soccer League (USL) and has also established a thriving academy system throughout South Georgia and the Lowcountry of South Carolina.