Sports in The Tampa Bay Area - Other Sports and Events - Soccer

Soccer

The Tampa Bay Rowdies are a member of the new North American Soccer League (NASL) competing in the second tier of the United States soccer pyramid. The franchise considers itself to be a continuation of the original original Tampa Bay Rowdies of the old NASL and displays a star on its shield commemoratiing the 1975 championship. Though the owners intended to use the Rowdies name from the beginning, trademark issues forced the team to call itself FC Tampa Bay when it took the pitch as an expansion franchise of the USSF Division 2 Professional League in 2010. The team transitioned into the NASL for 2011 and finally obtained the rights to the Rowdies name for 2012.

The club played its first season in George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa before moving to St. Petersburg's Al Lang Stadium for subsequent seasons. In 2012, the Rowdies won the NASL's Soccer Bowl to claim the league championship.

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Famous quotes containing the word soccer:

    If we were doing this in the Falklands they would love it. It’s part of our heritage. The British have always been fighting wars.
    —British soccer fan. quoted in Independent (London, Dec. 23, 1988)

    Our first line of defense in raising children with values is modeling good behavior ourselves. This is critical. How will our kids learn tolerance for others if our hearts are filled with hate? Learn compassion if we are indifferent? Perceive academics as important if soccer practice is a higher priority than homework?
    Fred G. Gosman (20th century)

    We want beans, not goals.
    —Mexican steelworkers’ banner at opening ceremony of 1986 World Cup soccer championship.