For the past six months, Kevin Knight has spent much of his time saving property -- and sometimes lives -- as a firefighter for the city of Richmond.

Beginning tomorrow night, the midfielder/defender also will do his best to save goals from reaching the Richmond Kickers' net in United Soccer Leagues Second Division games.

Knight has had plenty of practice during the latter, since he spent 7½ seasons with the Kickers before "retiring" last June to pursue his goal of becoming a firefighter. Now he'll combine both of his loves for the 2008 season.

His first appearance back on the field will be tomorrow at 7 p.m. when the Kickers open their USL2 season against Western Mass. at University of Richmond Stadium.

"I missed the competitive aspect, and I missed the game," Knight said after practice this week. "I also missed the people. A large part of it, too, was that a lot of firefighters have jobs on the side. I remembered a couple of years ago when I started thinking about working for the fire department that [coach] Leigh [Cowlishaw] had said offhand that firefighters have a lot of time off and this would be a good part-time job."

Knight, 31, works at Station 14 in Highland Park on the North Side, and his off-and-on, 24-hour schedule typical of firefighters will allow him to make most of the practices and games. Much to the delight of Cowlishaw.

"We certainly didn't expect this," Cowlishaw said. "We got a phone call about two months before the start of the season, saying, 'I'm interested in playing.' So that was certainly a bonus to have such an experienced player and proven team leader back in the mix. He'll miss maybe a practice a week and a couple of games here and there.

"Most importantly, for the final stretch in August and the playoffs, he's not going to miss anything. So we thought it was worthwhile to bring him back for the season."

Knight mainly will be used as a defender but probably will spend a fair amount of time in the midfield, helping set up the offensive attack.

"I'm willing to play wherever he wants me," said Knight, who missed the exhibition against D.C. United last month with a hamstring injury. "I played some defensive center midfield this preseason and some at central defense. Right now, I'm at right [defensive] back. I just want to do the best I can to get accustomed to any position."

The kind of shape he needs to be in for his full-time job has helped Knight prepare for his return to soccer. He's gradually working his way back to the fitness that allowed him to be one of the Kickers' top players during his tenure.

"Part of the transition is that I've been staying fit, but I haven't been doing a lot of soccer-specific movements," said the native of Fairfax. "Just stuff that would benefit me in general fitness and also in firefighting. For soccer, doing a lot of short sprints and quick turns, stuff like that, caused me to hurt my hamstring a little bit.

"I feel good now, but after nine months off [from soccer], I'm still not where I need to be. I think it will come real soon ."

Knight, a father of three, needs plenty of support from his family to make this dual role of firefighter and soccer player work successfully.

"It's going to be a tough five months or so for my family," he said. "So I'm really thankful for the sacrifice, especially my wife, is making to let me play."

Contact John Packett at (804) 649-6313 or jpackett@timesdispatch.com.