Protagonist Podcasts Presents: America’s Greatest is a brand new podcast series co-hosted by Joshua Duder and several of Protagonist’s other writers, podcasters, and guests. We want to explore and share the rich narrative and pedigree of the sport in the United States - to tell the stories about our greatest games, moments, and iconic soccer characters.

We reach out to authors, historians, coaches, players and fellow podcasters to help uncover the narrative of soccer in our country and in episode three we discuss the 1995 US Open Cup Final between The El Paso Patriots and Richmond Kickers with blogger and co-host of Walkin’ 90 Podcast, the Can I Kick It Podcast, and the River City 93 Podcast, Elliot Barr, aka Yogi.

When originally planning for the series, we knew that one of the first orders of business would be to discuss the 1995 US Open Cup Final - the last tournament before Major League Soccer was included and the second to last final won by a non-MLS team. We knew there was only one person to reach out to and when asked, he snapped at the opportunity to talk some Roos. Originally recorded on August 27th, 2023 - exactly 28 years to the day that this final was played, we set the stage by talking about the 1995 season for the El Paso Patriots and the Richmond Kickers, respectively.

In the days before MLS, the United Soccer Leagues ruled and both the Patriots and Kickers were playing within the USL system, however, at different levels - the Kickers were an amateur team which rostered mostly college kids while the El Paso Patriots were loaded with paid professionals, most of whom had some experience playing in the top-level of Mexican soccer.

El Paso beat teams playing above or below them all the way through the 1995 Open Cup, including a knock out of the Seattle Sounders (a level above them in the APSL). They were the higher-level side, the higher seeded side, and they would host the final in El Paso, at Socorro Stadium, where they had beat the Sounders just prior. Many considered them heavy favorites, including the commentators, who even cited that the weather would be against the college kids from Richmond.

What nobody was prepared for was this young Kickers team, who had defeated the Fairfax Spartans 6-2, the Atlanta Ruckas 2-1, and the Chicago Stingers 4-3; scoring goals at will and not concerned with El Paso’s stingy defense. Let’s not fail to mention, coached by the legendary Dennis Violett, the former Manchester United starlett and Busby Babe.

Join us here for the third episode of America’s Greatest where we learn from Yogi how the match unfolded, who were the heroes, and how this tournament was essential in giving a club formed just two years prior in 1993, a foothold in the hearts and minds of Richmonders.

We have a few more episodes already recorded and look forward to releasing them every second week. If there is a player, game, or moment you think we should consider, don’t hesitate to reach out and let us know!

by Joshua Duder