Tampa Bay Rowdies

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Contents

[edit] NASL

The first Tampa Bay Rowdies were a professional soccer team from Tampa, Florida, USA.

Originally founded as a North American Soccer League expansion franchise in 1975 by George Strawbridge, the team 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), 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 arrrreeee...a kick in the grass!"


[edit] NASL Indoor Soccer

The Rowdies also fielded an indoor soccer team from 1975-1984 and were two-time champions. After the 1983 season, the team was sold to Stella Thayer, Bob Blanchard and Dick Corbett.

[edit] Post-NASL

After the demise of the NASL in 1984, Cornelia Corbett became sole owner of the team in 1986. With Rodney Marsh as coach, the Rowdies operated as an independent team for two years before joining the American Indoor Soccer Association for one season (1986-87). 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.

[edit] Year-by-year

Year Record Regular Season Finish Playoffs Leading Goal Scorers
1975 16-6 1st, Eastern Division NASL Champions Derek Smethurst-18, Stewart Scullion-7, John Sissons-5
1976 18-6 1st, Eastern Division, Atlantic Conference Atlantic Conference Championship Derek Smethurst-20, Rodney Marsh-11, Stewart Scullion-10, Clyde Best-9
1977 14-12 3rd, Eastern Division, Atlantic Conference Divisional Playoffs Derek Smethurst-19, Rodney Marsh-8, Steve Wegerle-5
1978 18-12 1st, Eastern Division, American Conference Runners-up Rodney Marsh-18, David Robb-16
1979 19-11 1st, Eastern Division, American Conference Runners-up Oscar Fabbiani-25, Rodney Marsh-11,
1980 19-13 1st, Eastern Division, American Conference American Conference Semifinals Steve Wegerle-9
1981 15-17 4th, Southern Division Quarterfinals Frank Worthington-11
1982 12-20 3rd, Southern Division Did Not Qualify Luis Fernando-16
1983 7-23 3rd, Southern Division Did Not Qualify Manny Rojas-8
1984 9-15 4th, Eastern Division Did Not Qualify Roy Wegerle, Neill Roberts-9

[edit] Honors

NASL Championships

  • 1975

Division Titles

  • 1975 Eastern Division
  • 1976 Eastern Division, Atlantic Conference
  • 1978 Eastern Division, American Conference
  • 1979 Eastern Division, American Conference
  • 1980 Eastern Division, American Conference

Coach of the Year

  • 1976 Eddie Firmani

Rookie of the Year

  • 1982 Pedro DeBrito
  • 1983 Gregg Thompson
  • 1984 Roy Wegerle

All-Star First Team Selections

  • 1975 Farrukh Quuaishi
  • 1976 Rodney Marsh, Arnie Mausser, Tommy Smith
  • 1977 Derek Smethurst
  • 1978 Rodney Marsh
  • 1979 Mike Connell
  • 1980 Mike Connell
  • 1981 John Gorman
  • 1982 Peter Nogly

All-Star Second Team Selections

  • 1975 John Boyle, Stewart Jump, Stewart Scullion
  • 1976 Stewart Jump, Stewart Scullion, Derek Smethurst
  • 1977 Arsene Auguste, Rodney Marsh, Steve Wegerle
  • 1978 Arsene Auguste, Steve Wegerle
  • 1979 Oscar Fabbiani, John Gorman
  • 1980 Steve Wegerle

All-Star Honorable Mentions

  • 1975 Clyde Best, John Sissons, Derek Smethurst
  • 1979 Rodney Marsh, Steve Wegerle
  • 1980 John Gorman
  • 1982 Mike Connell
  • 1983 Gregg Thompson
  • 1984 Gregg Thompson

[edit] Head Coaches

  • Eddie Firmani 1975 - 1977
  • John Boyle 1977
  • Gordon Jago 1978 - 1982
  • Al Miller 1983
  • Rodney Marsh 1984

[edit] Yearly Average Attendance

  • 1975 - 10,728
  • 1976 - 16,452
  • 1977 - 19,491
  • 1978 - 18,123
  • 1979 - 27,650
  • 1980 - 28,345
  • 1981 - 22,532
  • 1982 - 22,532
  • 1983 - 18,507
  • 1984 - 10,932

[edit] AISA

[edit] Year-by-year

Year Division League Regular Season Playoffs U.S. Open Cup
1986/87 N/A AISA 3rd, Southern Quarterfinals N/A

[edit] ASL/APSL

[edit] Year-by-year

Year Division League Regular Season Playoffs U.S. Open Cup
1988 N/A ASL 3rd, Southern Did not qualify Did not enter
1989 N/A ASL 1st, Southern Semifinals Did not enter
1990 N/A APSL 2nd, ASL South ASL Semifinals Did not enter
1991 N/A APSL 3rd, American Did not qualify Did not enter
1992 N/A APSL 2nd Final Did not enter
1993 N/A APSL 3rd Semifinals Did not enter
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