Tampa Bay Rowdies U23

The Tampa Bay Rowdies U23 were an American semi-professional soccer team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. They were the reserve club of USL Championship club Tampa Bay Rowdies.

Tampa Bay Rowdies U23
Full nameTampa Bay Rowdies U23
Nickname(s)Rowdies
Founded2017 (first edition)
2020 (re-founded)
StadiumAl Lang Stadium
St. Petersburg, Florida
Capacity7,500
Head coachAndres Arango
LeagueUSL League Two
WebsiteClub website

The club is part of the Rowdies Youth Network, which consists of the U23 team in League Two, Rowdies Women (run in partnership with Pinellas County United SC), and the Tampa Bay United Rowdies Development Academy (run in partnership with Tampa Bay United).[1]

In 2016, the Rowdies operated a team called Tampa Bay Rowdies 2 in the NPSL. This team was replaced by the U23s the following year.

History

Prior editions

In December 2015, the Rowdies announced that they would begin fielding a developmental team in the National Premier Soccer League for the 2016 season and that the club would be called Rowdies 2.[2] The original Tampa Bay Rowdies had fielded a similarly named reserve/developmental squad from 1982 to 1983, but used Roman numerals to dub them Rowdies II.[3][4][5] Rowdies 2 competed in the Sunshine Conference of the South Region of NPSL, finishing in fourth place with a record of four wins, four losses, and two draws. The team disbanded in 2016.

In February 2017, The Rowdies announced that they would field a U23 team in the USL's Premier Development League, with Rowdies U23 set to join the league this for 2017 PDL season, playing in the Southeast Division in the Southern Conference.[6] The majority of the roster had ties to the Tampa Bay and Florida area.[7] They played their first match on May 27 against Weston FC.[8] The team went 3-8-3 in conference play and finished sixth out of nine teams. The team did not return for the 2018 season.[9]

Current edition

On January 15, 2020, USL League Two (formerly the PDL) announced that the Rowdies would be re-launching the U23 for the 2020 USL League Two season,[10] however, the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[11] The team was to play in the Southeast Division once again, play its games as Al Lang Stadium, and will be coached by former Rowdies player Andres Arango.[12] The team is a partnership between the USL Rowdies and Chargers SC.[13]

However, they never played as the 2020 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, they were replaced in USL2 by Tampa Bay United, who are also an affiliate of the Rowdies.

Year-by-year

Tampa Bay Rowdies 2

Year League Regular Season Playoffs U.S. Open Cup
2016 NPSL 4th, Sunshine Conference Did not qualify Ineligible

Tampa Bay Rowdies U23

Year League Regular Season Playoffs U.S. Open Cup
2017 PDL 6th, Southeast Division Did not qualify Ineligible
2018 No team fielded
2019
2020 USL2 Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic

References
  1. "Tampa Bay Rowdies Add U23 Team in USL League Two". Our Sports Central. January 1, 2020.
  2. "Tampa Bay Rowdies". Archived from the original on April 30, 2016. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  3. Reeves, Dave (May 18, 1982). "Rowdies Sign Three Floridian Reserves". Lakeland Ledger. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  4. Scheiber, Dave (December 14, 1982). "Once again, Rowdies get No. 1 pick in today's draft". St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
  5. Beard, Randy (August 24, 1983). "Rowdies look to rookies for help". The Evening Independent. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  6. "Rowdies U23 to compete in USL'S Premier Development League". Tampa Bay Rowdies. Retrieved February 15, 2017.
  7. "Rowdies U23 Announce Roster ahead of Inaugural PDL season". Tampa Bay Rowdies. May 12, 2017.
  8. Nutting, Jake (March 20, 2017). "Keith Fulk Tapped As Rowdies U23 Head Coach". The Unused Substitutes.
  9. Norling, Ashle (February 27, 2018). "2018 US Soccer Expansion/Departure Tracker". E Pluribus Loonum.
  10. "Tampa Bay Rowdies Add U23 Team in USL League Two". USL League Two. January 15, 2020. Retrieved January 16, 2020.
  11. Hojnacki, Jenny (April 30, 2020). "USL cancels 2020 League Two season, extends pro league suspensions". sbisoccer.com. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  12. "Rowdies unveil plan for amateur soccer team". St. Pete Catalyst. January 15, 2020.
  13. "Rowdies Partner with Chargers SC for USL League Two team". Tampa Bay Rowdies. January 15, 2020.
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