Tampa Bay Rowdies (1975–1993)

infobox football club
clubname = Tampa Bay Rowdies
current =


fullname = Tampa Bay Rowdies
nickname = Rowdies
founded = 1975
dissolved = 1993
ground = Tampa Stadium
capacity = 71,000
chairman = Beau Rogers
Harry Mangurian
mgrtitle = Coach
manager = Eddie Firmani
league = North American Soccer League
season =
position =
pattern_b1 =
pattern_la1 =_yellow_hoops
pattern_ra1 =_yellow_hoops
leftarm1 = 006600
body1 = ffffff
rightarm1 = 006600
shorts1 = FFFFff
socks1 = ffffff
pattern_b2 =
pattern_la2 =_yellow_hoops
pattern_ra2 =_yellow_hoops
leftarm2 = 006600
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socks2 = 006600The Tampa Bay Rowdies were a professional soccer team from Tampa, Florida, USA. The team played in the North American Soccer League until the league's dissolution and then went on to play in other leagues before folding in 1993.

The Rowdies played their home games at Tampa Stadium, except for their indoor games which were played at Bayfront Center Arena in St. Petersburg, Florida.

On June 18, 2008, it was a revealed that a new Tampa Bay Rowdies team would play in the USL First Division in 2010. Plans to build a new stadium in Tampa are in development. [ [http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/jun/18/new-pro-soccer-team-form-tampa/ Tampa To Get New Pro Soccer Team, Stadium ] ] [cite news|url=http://www.tampabay.com/sports/soccer/article633711.ece|title=Tampa Bay Rowdies to get new life in USL|last=Encina|first=Eduardo A.|date=2008-06-19|publisher=St. Petersburg Times|accessdate=2008-06-20]

NASL: 1975-1984

Originally founded as a North American Soccer League expansion franchise in 1975 by George Strawbridge, the Rowdies played ten seasons at Tampa Stadium and won their only Soccer Bowl championship in their inaugural season defeating the Portland Timbers 2-0. The Rowdies lost in the finals in 1978 and 1979. The team showcased international stars such as midfield captain Rodney Marsh (England), league leading goal scorer Oscar Fabbiani, swift and lethal forward Steve Wegerle (South Africa), rock-solid defenseman Arsene Auguste (Haiti), and popular player and high goal-scoring Derek Smethurst (South Africa). Coached by Eddie Firmani, John Boyle, and Gordon Jago, their catch phrase and marketing slogan was "The Rowdies arrrre...a kick in the grass!"

Fans of the Rowdies were dubbed Fannies. The most famous Fannies were the notorious North End Zone Gang (AKA the Ozone, the Yellow Card Section, The Mooners and the Village Idiots). The gang of college aged beer swilling fans were known for their wild antics, including throwing dead mullets dressed in mini Ft. Lauderdale Strikers uniforms onto the field.

After the 1983 season, the team was sold to Stella Thayer, Bob Blanchard and Dick Corbett.

Year-by-year

ASL/APSL: 1988-1993

In the summer of 1988, the Rowdies joined the third incarnation of the American Soccer League. They would stay in this league and its successor (the APSL) until they folded after the 1993 season.

Year-by-year

Coaches

* Ricky Hill: 1992
* Ken Fogarty: 1993

Honors

Leading Scorer
* 1992: Jean Harbor

Top Goalkeeper
* 1988: Winston DuBose

Coach of the Year
* 1992: Ricky Hill
* 1993: Ken Fogarty

First Team All Star
* 1988: Winston DuBose, Steve Wegerle
* 1989: Winston DuBose, Steve Trittschuh, Steve Wegerle
* 1990: David Byrne
* 1992: Bill Andracki, Steve Trittschuh, Ricky Hill, Kevin Sloan, Jean Harbor
* 1993: Paul Dougherty

Notable Players

*flagicon|England Peter Barnes
*flagicon|ENG Paul Dougherty (1993)
*flagicon|ENG Ken Fogarty (1989-93) [http://home.att.net/~nasl/players.htm#F]
*flagicon|England Ricky Hill (1992) 16 apps 1 goal
*flagicon|England Terry Rowe (1985-93)

References

External links

* [http://www.tbrowdies.com Tampa Bay Rowdies]