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Tampa Bay Rowdies (USL)
Encyclopedia
FC Tampa Bay is an American professional soccer team based in Tampa, Florida
, United States
. Founded in 2008, the team currently play in the North American Soccer League (NASL), the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid
.
The team plays its home games at Progress Energy Park
in St. Petersburg, Florida
, and is coached by Ricky Hill
.
The team was originally named "FC Tampa Bay Rowdies" in acknowledgment of the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the old North American Soccer League
, which was the Tampa Bay area
's first top-level professional sports franchise when they began play in 1975. However, due to merchandising issues, the team officially dropped the "Rowdies" nickname and changed their name to "FC Tampa Bay" before taking the pitch in 2010, although many fans still use "Rowdies" as an unofficial nickname. FC Tampa Bay features the same green and yellow colors of the former Rowdies and features the old team's iconic hoops.
expansion franchise which played for 10 seasons in Tampa Stadium starting in 1975. They were generally successful, winning a Soccer Bowl
championship in their inaugural season, making it to league final in both 1978 and 1979, and regularly making the NASL playoffs. The team showcased international stars such as midfield captain Rodney Marsh
(England), league leading goal scorer Oscar Fabbiani
(Argentina), forward Steve Wegerle
(South Africa), defender Arsene Auguste
(Haiti), and popular player and high goal-scoring Derek Smethurst
(South Africa). Head coaches included well-known managers Eddie Firmani
, John Boyle
, and Gordon Jago
. The club's substantial fan base were dubbed "Fannies". They enjoyed broad popular support in the Tampa Bay area
until the NASL folded in 1984, after which the team played in various minor indoor and outdoor leagues before finally folding in 1993.
On June 18, 2008, it was announced that a new soccer club would revive the Rowdies name as the "FC Tampa Bay Rowdies" and play as an expansion team of the USL First Division
, the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid
. However, in November 2009 FC Tampa Bay announced their intent to instead become the co-founders of a new North American Soccer League
, which would begin play in 2010. These plans were subsequently superseded by the USSF Division 2 deal, which created a compromise one-season only league comprising teams from both the USL and the new NASL.
Before actually beginning play, the club announced in January 2010 that they would drop the Rowdies moniker and become simply "FC Tampa Bay" due to an ongoing legal dispute over the merchandising rights of the Tampa Bay Rowdies name. However, the name was still used informally. On October 15, 2010, the team announced that they will no longer use the "Rowdies" nickname at all, but that they are still working to regain use of the name.
. The first home game was held on May 8, 2010, a 2-2 draw against Austin Aztex
. The club started their inaugural season with a 5-1-3 record, but then won only 2 of its last 21 games and failed to make the playoffs with a final record of 7-12-11. They did, however, capture the 2010 Ponce De Leon Cup
.
at Al Lang Field in downtown St. Petersburg. On January 18, 2011, Ricky Hill
was announced as the next head coach of FC Tampa Bay, filling the vacancy created by the firing of previous coach Paul Dalglish
.
Championship won by the original Rowdies in 1975. Additionally, the stripes were worn on the sleeves of the original kit of the Rowdies. The new logo adds a navy border to the color scheme to set the new team apart from the original NASL team.
FC Tampa Bay's home pitch is Al Lang Stadium at Progress Energy Park
, a 7,227 seat baseball
stadium
located on the downtown
waterfront of St. Petersburg, Florida
. The club is the only regular tenant of the stadium, so the playing surface was converted for soccer use by removing the pitcher's mound and replacing the infield dirt with grass.
During its inaugural season in 2010, FC Tampa Bay played at George M. Steinbrenner Field, an 11,000-seat baseball stadium in Tampa
. The club shared the facility with the Tampa Yankees
, the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the New York Yankees
, which presented some difficulties. Since the pitcher's mound and infield dirt could not be altered, the soccer field ran across the outfield grass, creating a playing surface smaller than most professional soccer fields. Still, some of the clay baseball diamond bowed out into the soccer pitch. Also, since the Tampa Yankees play several games every week during the summer, scheduling was an issue.
- Executive Vice President, Technical Director, and Director of Player Development Ricky Hill
- Head Coach Lee Cohen - Director of Operations David Hayes
- Assistant Coach Slobodan Janjuš
- Goalkeeper Coach James Faylo - Head Athletic Trainer Harris McIlwain - Team Physician Seth Gasser - Team Physician
(2009–2010) Perry Van der Beck
(last 2 matches of 2010) Ricky Hill
(2011–present)
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Founded in 2008, the team currently play in the North American Soccer League (NASL), the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid
American Soccer Pyramid
The United States soccer pyramid is a term used in soccer to describe the structure of the league system in the United States. The country's governing body for the sport, the United States Soccer Federation , oversees the system but does not operate any of its component leagues—with one temporary...
.
The team plays its home games at Progress Energy Park
Progress Energy Park
Progress Energy Park is a 7,227 seat baseball stadium located on the downtown waterfront of St. Petersburg, Florida, United States. It is named in honor of Al Lang, a former mayor of St. Petersburg who helped to bring professional baseball to the city...
in St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. It is known as a vacation destination for both American and foreign tourists. As of 2008, the population estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau is 245,314, making St...
, and is coached by Ricky Hill
Ricky Hill
Ricky Hill is a former English footballer and the current head coach for Tampa Bay in the second division North American Soccer League.He was born in Paddington.-Playing career:...
.
The team was originally named "FC Tampa Bay Rowdies" in acknowledgment of the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the old North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
, which was the Tampa Bay area
Tampa Bay Area
The Tampa Bay Area is the region of west central Florida adjacent to Tampa Bay. Definitions of the region vary. It is often considered equivalent to the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater Metropolitan Statistical Area defined by the United States Census Bureau. The Census Bureau currently...
's first top-level professional sports franchise when they began play in 1975. However, due to merchandising issues, the team officially dropped the "Rowdies" nickname and changed their name to "FC Tampa Bay" before taking the pitch in 2010, although many fans still use "Rowdies" as an unofficial nickname. FC Tampa Bay features the same green and yellow colors of the former Rowdies and features the old team's iconic hoops.
History
The original Tampa Bay Rowdies were a a North American Soccer LeagueNorth American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
expansion franchise which played for 10 seasons in Tampa Stadium starting in 1975. They were generally successful, winning a Soccer Bowl
Soccer Bowl
The Soccer Bowl was the championship game of the North American Soccer League from 1975 to 1983. The event was created by NASL Commissioner Phil Woosnam who was trying to build a neutral-site championship event in the mold of the NFL's Super Bowl....
championship in their inaugural season, making it to league final in both 1978 and 1979, and regularly making the NASL playoffs. The team showcased international stars such as midfield captain Rodney Marsh
Rodney Marsh (footballer)
Rodney William Marsh is an English retired footballer. He was named after HMS Rodney by his father, who served on the battleship. He played for Fulham, Queens Park Rangers, Manchester City, the Tampa Bay Rowdies and the England national team. Lately, he has been a pundit and a commentator on the...
(England), league leading goal scorer Oscar Fabbiani
Oscar Fabbiani
Oscar Fabbiani was an Argentine-Chilean professional footballer who played international football for the Chile national team...
(Argentina), forward Steve Wegerle
Steve Wegerle
Steve Wegerle is a former professional soccer player.Wegerle was voted Player of the Year is South Africa in 1974. He then joined Coventry City F.C. in 1975, but made no first team appearances...
(South Africa), defender Arsene Auguste
Arsène Auguste
Arsène Auguste was a Haitian international footballer who represented Haiti in the 1974 FIFA World Cup. He played professional club football with Racing Club Haïtien in Haiti and Tampa Bay Rowdies and Fort Lauderdale Strikers in the United States. In 1986, he signed with the Tampa Bay Rowdies,...
(Haiti), and popular player and high goal-scoring Derek Smethurst
Derek Smethurst
Derek Smethurst is a retired South African soccer forward who played professionally in South Africa, England and the United States.-Bio:...
(South Africa). Head coaches included well-known managers Eddie Firmani
Eddie Firmani
Edwin Ronald "Eddie" Firmani is a retired football player and manager. He was born in South Africa but represented Italy internationally.-Playing career:...
, John Boyle
John Boyle
John Boyle may refer to:*John Boyle *John Boyle, 5th Earl of Cork , Irish author and nobleman*John Boyle , judge and United States Representative from Kentucky*John R...
, and Gordon Jago
Gordon Jago
Gordon Harold Jago MBE is a former English association football player and manager.Born in Poplar, London, Jago began his career in the Football League with , whom he joined in the 1954–55 season from non-league team . He made a total of 147 appearances, scoring one goal, at The Valley...
. The club's substantial fan base were dubbed "Fannies". They enjoyed broad popular support in the Tampa Bay area
Tampa Bay Area
The Tampa Bay Area is the region of west central Florida adjacent to Tampa Bay. Definitions of the region vary. It is often considered equivalent to the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater Metropolitan Statistical Area defined by the United States Census Bureau. The Census Bureau currently...
until the NASL folded in 1984, after which the team played in various minor indoor and outdoor leagues before finally folding in 1993.
On June 18, 2008, it was announced that a new soccer club would revive the Rowdies name as the "FC Tampa Bay Rowdies" and play as an expansion team of the USL First Division
USL First Division
The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
, the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid
American Soccer Pyramid
The United States soccer pyramid is a term used in soccer to describe the structure of the league system in the United States. The country's governing body for the sport, the United States Soccer Federation , oversees the system but does not operate any of its component leagues—with one temporary...
. However, in November 2009 FC Tampa Bay announced their intent to instead become the co-founders of a new North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League (2010)
The North American Soccer League is a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico which began league play on April 9, 2011. It has been provisionally sanctioned as the second tier of soccer in the United States soccer pyramid, behind Major League Soccer in the...
, which would begin play in 2010. These plans were subsequently superseded by the USSF Division 2 deal, which created a compromise one-season only league comprising teams from both the USL and the new NASL.
Before actually beginning play, the club announced in January 2010 that they would drop the Rowdies moniker and become simply "FC Tampa Bay" due to an ongoing legal dispute over the merchandising rights of the Tampa Bay Rowdies name. However, the name was still used informally. On October 15, 2010, the team announced that they will no longer use the "Rowdies" nickname at all, but that they are still working to regain use of the name.
2010 season
The team played its first official game on April 16, 2010, a 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace Baltimore. The first goal in franchise history was scored by striker Aaron KingAaron King
Aaron King is an American soccer player.-Youth and Amateur:King attended South High School and Smoky Hill High School where he won the 2000 Colorado State Soccer Championship. He then attended the North Carolina State University, playing on the men’s soccer team from 2002 to 2005...
. The first home game was held on May 8, 2010, a 2-2 draw against Austin Aztex
Austin Aztex
Austin Aztex FC was an American professional soccer team based in Austin, Texas, United States. Founded in 2008, the team played in the USL First Division, and in the USL Division of the USSF D2 Pro League, the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid...
. The club started their inaugural season with a 5-1-3 record, but then won only 2 of its last 21 games and failed to make the playoffs with a final record of 7-12-11. They did, however, capture the 2010 Ponce De Leon Cup
Ponce De Leon Cup
The Ponce de Leon Cup is a three team competition between Puerto Rico Islanders, Fort Lauderdale Strikers and FC Tampa Bay of the NASL. Should any other teams from Puerto Rico or Florida join the NASL then they would participate in this cup....
.
2011 season
For the 2011 season, FC Tampa Bay will play in the new North American Soccer League, a second division league, and will also change their home pitch, as they will play their home games across Tampa BayTampa Bay
Tampa Bay is a large natural harbor and estuary along the Gulf of Mexico on the west central coast of Florida, comprising Hillsborough Bay, Old Tampa Bay, Middle Tampa Bay, and Lower Tampa Bay."Tampa Bay" is not the name of any municipality...
at Al Lang Field in downtown St. Petersburg. On January 18, 2011, Ricky Hill
Ricky Hill
Ricky Hill is a former English footballer and the current head coach for Tampa Bay in the second division North American Soccer League.He was born in Paddington.-Playing career:...
was announced as the next head coach of FC Tampa Bay, filling the vacancy created by the firing of previous coach Paul Dalglish
Paul Dalglish
Paul Kenneth Dalglish is a Scottish former professional football player and manager.-Playing career:Dalglish, son of former Scotland international Kenny Dalglish, was born in Glasgow though spent his childhood in Liverpool where his father managed Liverpool F.C...
.
Colors and badge
According to an official press release, the new team logo is meant to invoke the past through the use of a traditional shield shape, stripes and a traditional soccer ball in the top portion of the shield. The star above the shield represents the North American Soccer LeagueNorth American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
Championship won by the original Rowdies in 1975. Additionally, the stripes were worn on the sleeves of the original kit of the Rowdies. The new logo adds a navy border to the color scheme to set the new team apart from the original NASL team.
Stadium
Progress Energy Park
Progress Energy Park is a 7,227 seat baseball stadium located on the downtown waterfront of St. Petersburg, Florida, United States. It is named in honor of Al Lang, a former mayor of St. Petersburg who helped to bring professional baseball to the city...
, a 7,227 seat baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
stadium
Stadium
A modern stadium is a place or venue for outdoor sports, concerts, or other events and consists of a field or stage either partly or completely surrounded by a structure designed to allow spectators to stand or sit and view the event.)Pausanias noted that for about half a century the only event...
located on the downtown
Downtown
Downtown is a term primarily used in North America by English speakers to refer to a city's core or central business district ....
waterfront of St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. It is known as a vacation destination for both American and foreign tourists. As of 2008, the population estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau is 245,314, making St...
. The club is the only regular tenant of the stadium, so the playing surface was converted for soccer use by removing the pitcher's mound and replacing the infield dirt with grass.
During its inaugural season in 2010, FC Tampa Bay played at George M. Steinbrenner Field, an 11,000-seat baseball stadium in Tampa
Tâmpa
Tâmpa may refer to several villages in Romania:* Tâmpa, a village in Băcia Commune, Hunedoara County* Tâmpa, a village in Miercurea Nirajului, Mureş County* Tâmpa, a mountain in Braşov city...
. The club shared the facility with the Tampa Yankees
Tampa Yankees
The Tampa Yankees are a minor league baseball team based in Tampa, Florida. They are currently members of the Florida State League and are the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the New York Yankees Major League Baseball team. Home games are played at George M. Steinbrenner Field, a miniature replica of...
, the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
, which presented some difficulties. Since the pitcher's mound and infield dirt could not be altered, the soccer field ran across the outfield grass, creating a playing surface smaller than most professional soccer fields. Still, some of the clay baseball diamond bowed out into the soccer pitch. Also, since the Tampa Yankees play several games every week during the summer, scheduling was an issue.
Supporters
Ralph's Mob is an independent supporter group for FC Tampa Bay named after "Ralph Rowdie", the fictional mustached footballer featured in the logo of the original Tampa Bay Rowdies. The group is known for wearing green and gold striped scarves, socks, and face paint, and for loudly cheering on their team while teasing opponents, much like the "Fannies" of the original Rowdies. Ralph's Mob has a designated seating area at home matches. Many members also travel to away games, particularly when the Rowdies play at in-state rival Fort Lauderdale.
Current roster
as of October 19, 2011Staff
Perry Van der BeckPerry Van der Beck
Perry Van der Beck is a retired U.S. soccer midfielder and manager and a current soccer executive....
- Executive Vice President, Technical Director, and Director of Player Development Ricky Hill
Ricky Hill
Ricky Hill is a former English footballer and the current head coach for Tampa Bay in the second division North American Soccer League.He was born in Paddington.-Playing career:...
- Head Coach Lee Cohen - Director of Operations David Hayes
David Hayes (soccer)
David Hayes is a American soccer player currently playing for FC Tampa Bay in the North American Soccer League....
- Assistant Coach Slobodan Janjuš
Slobodan Janjuš
Slobodan Janjuš is a Bosnian former football goalkeeper.He represented a number of domestic clubs, having played with all of them, beside Second League FK Radnički Pirot, in the Yugoslav First League, namely, FK Željezničar Sarajevo, FK Vojvodina, FK Sarajevo, NK Olimpija Ljubljana, NK Dinamo...
- Goalkeeper Coach James Faylo - Head Athletic Trainer Harris McIlwain - Team Physician Seth Gasser - Team Physician
Head coaches
Paul DalglishPaul Dalglish
Paul Kenneth Dalglish is a Scottish former professional football player and manager.-Playing career:Dalglish, son of former Scotland international Kenny Dalglish, was born in Glasgow though spent his childhood in Liverpool where his father managed Liverpool F.C...
(2009–2010) Perry Van der Beck
Perry Van der Beck
Perry Van der Beck is a retired U.S. soccer midfielder and manager and a current soccer executive....
(last 2 matches of 2010) Ricky Hill
Ricky Hill
Ricky Hill is a former English footballer and the current head coach for Tampa Bay in the second division North American Soccer League.He was born in Paddington.-Playing career:...
(2011–present)
Year-by-year
| Year | Division | League | Regular Season | Playoffs | Open Cup | Avg. Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 2 | USSF Division 2 | 6th, USL (10th) | Did not qualify | 2nd Round | 3,866 |
| 2011 | 2 | NASL | 3rd | Lost in 1st Round | Denied entry | 3,159 |