Cincinnati Kings

Cincinnati Kings are an American soccer team, founded in 2005. The team is a member of the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League (PDL), the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, and play in the Great Lakes Division of the Central Conference against teams from Charleston, Cleveland, Pontiac and Toronto, having taken voluntary relegation from the United Soccer Leagues Second Division at the end of 2007.

They currently play their home games in the stadium at the Town and Country Sports Club in Wilder, Kentucky, 9 miles south of downtown Cincinnati. The team's colors are red and black.

2008 Roster

Year-by-year

Year	Division	League	Reg. Season	Playoffs	Open Cup
2005	3	USL Second Division	5th	Did not qualify	1st Round
2006	3	USL Second Division	4th	Semifinals	2nd Round
2007	3	USL Second Division	8th	Did not qualify	1st Round
2008	4	USL PDL	4th, Great Lakes	Did not qualify	Did not qualify

Competition History

The Cincinnati Kings first entered the USL Second Division in 2005, under the leadership of Yacoub Abdallahi, an entrepreneur from Mauritania in north Africa who graduated from Northern Kentucky University, and player-manager Jon Pickup, a former English U-16 international, who played professionally in England with Wigan Athletic, Blackburn Rovers and Chester City. From their home at Corcoran Field on the campus of Xavier University, the Kings made an immediate splash in the league, remaining unbeaten in their first five games, and enjoying a comprehensive 5-0 win over Northern Virginia Royals in just their second ever competitive match. However, Cincinnati's mid-season form stuttered slightly; the Kings lost four in a row, conceding a late goal against Long Island Rough Riders, and giving Wilmington Hammerheads and own-goal winner in the first game of June. Even their first foray into the US Open Cup was a disappointing one, as they shockingly lost 4-2 in the first round to Indianapolis-based USASA amateur side Reggae Boyz. This, really, remained the story for much of the rest of the season. Xavier University was not the fortress they needed it to be, and despite an away win over Charlotte Eagles in early July, and a 4-1 thrashing of Northern Virginia Royals on the last day of ths season, the Kings finished their first year in 5th place behind regular season champions Western Mass Pioneers. George Kithas was the top scorer with 5 goals; Jack Cummings and Tiest Sondaal were the top assist providers with three each.

2006 was a slight improvement for the Kings. Despite losing their opening two fixtures, the Kings nevertheless became a tough team to beat, and enjoyed improved home form throughout the season. The Kings' main problem was a lack of consistency, and their inability to build any kind of unbeaten momentum - their strongest run of form coming towards the end of July when they rattled off four wins in a row, including two 4-goal hauls against Long Island Rough Riders. Most of the rest of the time, however, win followed loss followed win followed loss, and all the while the Kings lost ground on the teams ahead of them. For the second consecutive year the Kings' US Open Cup run was a short one, going out at the first hurdle with a 2-1 loss to PDL side Michigan Bucks. However, despite losing their final two regular season games of the year to Pittsburgh Riverhounds and Western Mass Pioneers, their results were enough to leave them in fourth place in the table, and in the playoffs. They were drawn against Richmond Kickers in the semi final; Richmond took the first leg at home in Virginia 2-1, and despite a home crowd of 1,465, and despite out-shooting the Kickers, the Kings simply couldn't find the net in the second leg, and Richmond went through to the final 2-1 on aggregate. Jeff Hughes and John Krause were Cincinnati's top scorers, with 4 goals each, Nowaf Jaman contributed 4 assists, and head coach Pickup was named USL2 Manager of the Year.

2007, however, was tough all round for the Ohioans. The year started positively with a move away from University accommodation to the the Town and Country Sports Club, just across the border in Wilder, Kentucky, which owner Yacoub purchased as the Kings' permanent home for $11.3 million. On the field, however, the Kings' fortunes were much less favorable. The Kings only managed two wins - 1-0 over Crystal Palace Baltimore and 4-0 over New Hampshire Phantoms - in their first ten games, and by the end of June were already struggling to remain in contention for the playoffs. For the third year in a row the Kings' US Open Cup run lasted just one game, as they lost to a USASA side for the second time - this time a 1-0 defeat to National Premier Soccer League team Milwaukee Bavarians - and this seemed to signal Cincinnati's doom for the rest of the season. The Kings just managed to win just two more regular season games - 1-0 over Richmond Kickers in July and 3-1 over New Hampshire Phantoms on the last day of the season - eventually finishing a distant 8th in the table. Chad Eckerlin and Byron Neal did score 13 goals between them, but on the whole it was a hugely disappointing season for the Kings.

Prior to the beginning of the 2008 season, it was announced that the Kings would be taking voluntary relegation, and would henceforth be competing in the USL Premier Development League.

The Kings' first season in the PDL did not go entirely to plan, despite winning their opening game 1-0 over the Indiana Invaders. The Kings lost five of their next six games, dropping 3-0 to Ohio rivals Cleveland Internationals, and only just scraping past West Virginia Chaos 2-1 off a late, late winner from Braden Bishop. Things didn't get much better during the middle of the season; Cleveland compounded their state superiority with a thumping 5-1 win at the end of July, and although the Kings managaged to hold perennial powerhouses Chicago Fire Premier to a goalless draw, and pick up another win over West Virginia, things were generally fairly grim. The Kings were out of the playoff race by mid-August, and dropped three of their last five games, including a 0-4 loss to Toronto Lynx on the final day of the season. Thy eventually finished fourth in their division, almost 30 points behind league-leaders Michigan Bucks; Branden Stelmak was the top scorer, the 5 goals on the season.

Notable former players

• Ivan Becerra
• Tim Brown
• Moussa Dagnogo
• François Dubourdeau
• Jeff Hughes
• Jordan James
• John McGinlay
• Michael McGinlay
• Nathan Micklos
• Jon Pickup
• Florent Raimy

Coaches

• Jon Pickup 2005-07
• Roby Stahl 2008-date

Stadia

• Corcoran Field, Cincinnati, Ohio (2005-06)
• Town and Country Sports Club, Wilder, Kentucky (2007-present)

Average Attendance

• 2008: 1,249
• 2007:
• 2006: 1,153 (1,182 with playoffs)
• 2005: 1,301

Supporter's Group

In 2006 the Cincinnati Kings supporters founded a group dubbed 'The Pride', inspired by the lion in the club's crest. The dedicated group cheers on the Kings at every game with banners, flags, drums and chants. The Pride's crest has the message Juncta Juvant, which was inspired by the city of Cincinnati flag, which also has the message which means "Strength in Unity". The Pride can be found online at

Chants

The Pride has several chants Pride of the Midwest Who are we!?! We are the Kings of Ohio! We are the pride of the whole Midwest! Until we hoist the cup, Our club will never rest! We are the Kings of Ohio! We are the pride of the whole Midwest! And all the other clubs know, That we're simply the best! Join us Join us in this song Together we shall sing Rise up and be counted Sing a Song for your Kings Join us in this song Together we shall see Our proud club all the way On to Victory! Ode to Pickup Say hey Jon Pickup Our Battle call United we stand, divided we fall Together we are what we can't be alone You came to this club, made our own Good old Kings Good old Kings, Good old Kings, We're proud to say that name. And while we sing this song, We know we'll win the game. Go Kings! Clap Clap Clap Clap Clap Clap Clap Clap Clap GO KINGS!

External links

• Cincinnati Kings
• USL Soccer page
• Town and Country Sports Complex