Panama City Beach Pirates
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| Full name | Panama City Beach Pirates | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Pirates | ||
| Founded | 2007 (as Panama City Pirates) | ||
| Dissolved | 2015 | ||
| Stadium |
Mike Gavlak Stadium Panama City Beach, Florida | ||
| Capacity | 3,500 | ||
| Owner | Eehab Kenawy | ||
| Head Coach | Greg Devito | ||
| League | USL Premier Development League | ||
| 2014 |
4th, Southeast Playoffs: DNQ | ||
| Website | Club home page | ||
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The Panama City Beach Pirates are an American soccer team that plays in the Southeast Division of the USL Premier Development League (PDL), the fourth tier of the American soccer pyramid. The club was originally founded in 2007 as the Panama City Pirates and played in the PDL in 2008 and 2009, before folding due to financial constraints. However, the club would be revived in 2011 under new ownership to begin play once again in the PDL in 2012. Later after the 2014 season the Pirates would once again end their program.
The team plays its home games in Panama City Beach, Florida at Mike Gavlak Stadium on the campus of Arnold High School, where it had played since 2008. The team's colors are black, white and red.
History
Early days
The Panama City Pirates were founded in 2007 to begin play in the USL Premier Development League, the fourth tier of the American soccer pyramid. The team received a great deal of local fanfare and publicity, but found the early going tough in competitive terms, losing their opening two fixtures, both to Central Florida Kraze on consecutive dates. Despite a couple of battling ties, the Pirates didn't pick up their first victory until the first weekend of June, with a 3–2 win at home over Nashville Metros. This seemed to spark a turn in the Pirates' fortunes, as they suddenly found their goalscoring touch. The Palm Beach Pumas bore the brunt of the Pirates' new-found prowess in front of goal, being annihilated 6-0, 7-0 and 5-0 in their three games in June. C.D. Harris and Bruno Conceição hit 12 of the Pirates' 18 goals against the Pumas between them, and helped the team enjoy a seven-game unbeaten streak which also included a 1-0 win over Bradenton Academics, and an unexpected 3-0 victory over the Central Florida Kraze, the latter of which saw them playing with 10 men for over half an hour. Unfortunately for the Pirates, their late-season charge wasn't quite enough for them to make the playoffs, and their last-day defeat to Bradenton left them in 5th place in the Southeast; still an excellent achievement for a first-year franchise. C.D. Harris and Bruno Conceição were the season's top scorers, with 10 and 7 goals respectively.
The team folded in April 2010, just weeks before the start of the 2010 PDL season, when owners Laird and Nanette Hitchcock informed the league there were no financial resources with which to continue running the club.[1]
2012 season
In November 2011, the club was resurrected as the Panama City Beach Pirates under the new ownership of Eehab Kenawy, Jill Holt, and Amy Dalton to once again play in the USL PDL in 2012.
The Pirates would play in the Southeast Division of the Southern Conference of the PDL, along with the Ocala Stampede, Orlando City U-23, IMG Bradenton Academics, VSI Tampa Bay, Mississippi Brilla, Fort Lauderdale Schulz Academy, and FC Jax Destroyers.
The Pirates finished the season in 6th place, with 16 points in the regular season and a 4-3-1 home record, and 6-7-3 overall.
2013 season
The Pirates held open tryouts for the 2013 PDL season on January 12–13 and February 9–10 at Pete Edwards Field in Panama City Beach, Florida, with the season set to begin on May 2, 2013.[2]
The Pirates clinched a playoff spot after defeating Ft. Lauderdale Schulz Academy 2–0 at home on July 13, 2013; this represents the first time the Pirates have made it to the post-season in their short history.
The season came to an end in Austin, Texas, in a loss to the home-town Aztex 0–4 in the Southern Conference semi-finals to end the season with a 10–4–1 record.
2014 Schedule
| Month | Day | Opponent | Score | Win/Loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May | 17 | @ Mississippi Brilla | 1-2 | L |
| June | 7 | v SW Florida | 1-1 | D |
| June | 13 | v Ocala | 2-4 | L |
| June | 15 | @ Orlando City | 1-1 | D |
| June | 17 | @ IMG Bradenton | 0-1 | L |
| June | 21 | v IMG Bradenton | 1-0 | W |
| June | 23 | @ IMG Bradenton | 0-2 | L |
| June | 24 | @ Orlando City | 2-1 | W |
| June | 27 | v Floridians FC | 3-3 | D |
| June | 29 | v Ocala | 3-4 | L |
| July | 5 | v Orlando City | 2-0 | W |
| July | 11 | @ SW Florida | 1-3 | L |
| July | 13 | @ Floridians FC | 2-1 | W |
| July | 19 | v Mississippi Brilla | 4-4 | D |
Colors and badge
The Pirates use black Adidas Tiro 11 jerseys at home and red as visitors, with official USL numbers. The Front sponsor for the 2012 & 2013 jersey is the Panama City Beach Visitor Bureau.
Stadium
- Mike Gavlak Stadium; Panama City Beach, Florida (2008-2009, 2012-2015)
- Pete Edwards Field; Panama City Beach, Florida (2012-2015, Practice Facility)
Average attendance
Attendance stats are calculated by averaging each team's self-reported home attendances from the historical match archive at http://www.uslsoccer.com/history/index_E.html.
- 2008: 270
- 2009: 357
- 2012: 450
- 2013: 457
Club culture
Mascot
Captain Jack the pirate has been the official mascot of the Panama City Beach Pirates since the team was reestablished during the 2012 campaign. He can be found at home games roaming the sideline and cheering on his beloved team.
Players and staff
2013
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Head coaches
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Bill Elliott (2008-2009) - Greg DeVito (2012-2015)
Year-by-year
| Year | Division | League | Regular Season | Playoffs | Open Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 4 | USL PDL | 5th, Southeast | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2009 | 4 | USL PDL | 4th, Southeast | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2010 | DNP | ||||
| 2011 | DNP | ||||
| 2012 | 4 | USL PDL | 6th, Southeast | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2013 | 4 | USL PDL | 2nd, Southeast | Conference Semi-finals | Did not qualify |
| 2014 | 4 | USL PDL | 4th, Southeast | Did not qualify | 2nd Round |
| Season | Games Played | Wins | Losses | Ties | Home Wins | Home Losses | Home Ties | Away Wins | Away Losses | Away Ties | Goal Differential |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 16 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| 2013 | 15 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 9 |
| 2014 | 14 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 1 | (4) |
References
- ↑ "Pirates season in doubt".
- ↑ Shoot, Jason (January 14, 2013). "PCB Pirates eye bright future". The News Herald (Panama City, FL). Retrieved January 16, 2013.
External links
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