Matthew Delicate: Toast of Richmond

Richmond's Matthew Delicate

Fifteen years ago, forward Matthew Delicate was playing for the Wales U-18 national team and had zero knowledge of Richmond, Va. Fast-forward to the present, and Delicate is the toast of the Richmond Kickers.

It was April of 2000 when Virginia Commonwealth University’s assistant men’s soccer coach Ted Jones, a fellow native of Wales, prompted Delicate’s path to the States. Delicate has been a lethal offensive weapon since, from VCU to the Kickers.

“I actually was just looking at trials at various professional clubs at that point, hoping I would just pick up with a team,” Delicate said. “Then this opportunity to play at VCU came out of the blue. A few months later, I was playing for them with a scholarship. It all happened very quickly.”

It was a path that Delicate never envisioned, but something he clearly has embraced and succeeded in.

“It was never even remotely on the radar,” Delicate said. “I had never heard of Richmond. I never heard of the NCAA or college soccer. The opportunity to come to the States was a big surprise, but it also was a great opportunity.”

For more, visit uslsoccer.com.