The Great History Of The Rowdies In The 70's, 80's And 90's!
|
The Tampa Bay Rowdies are a professional soccer team from Tampa, Florida, USA. The team played in the North American Soccer League until the league's dissolution and went on to play in several other leagues before folding in 1993. The Rowdies played their outdoor home games at Tampa Stadium and their indoor games at the Bayfront Center.
Rowdies in the North American Soccer League (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!"
(Listen to the song here)
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. On June 18, 2008, it was a revealed that a new Tampa Bay Rowdies team would play in the new second division NASL in 2010.
Their catch phrase and marketing slogan was "The Rowdies arrrre...a kick in the grass!"
(Listen to the song here)
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. On June 18, 2008, it was a revealed that a new Tampa Bay Rowdies team would play in the new second division NASL in 2010.
The Vancouver Whitecaps defeated the Tampa Bay Rowdies, 2-1 in the North American Soccer League's Soccer Bowl '79 at Giants Stadium. Watch the video:
In a rematch of Soccer Bowl '79, the Tampa Bay Rowdies defeated the Vancouver Whitecaps 3-2 in a North American Soccer League match on May 17, 1980 at Tampa Stadium. Watch the video:
Independent: 1985–1986
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).
American Indoor Soccer Association (AISA): 1986–1987
They finished 3rd in the Regular Season and reached the Quarterfinals of the Playoffs.
American Soccer League (ASL) / American Professional Soccer League (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.
(Source: Wikipedia)
More links and the history of Tampa Bay Soccer: