VSI Tampa Bay FC
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| Full name | VisionPro Sports Institute Tampa Bay Football Club | ||
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| Nickname(s) | Flames | ||
| Founded | 2011 | ||
| Stadium | Plant City Stadium Plant City, Florida (capacity: 6,700) |
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| General Manager | Alex Miranda | ||
| Interim Head Coach | Joel Harrison | ||
| League | USL Pro | ||
| 2013 | Inaugural season | ||
| Website | Club home page | ||
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VSI (VisionPro Sports Institute) Tampa Bay FC is an American soccer team that plays in the USL Pro league, the third tier of the American soccer pyramid, in 2013. The foundation of the team was announced on November 16, 2011 alongside the creation of sister teams for the amateur USL Premier Development League (PDL), women's W-League and youth Super-20 League.[1]
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History [edit]
The VSI Tampa Flames were established in 2011 as part of a broader move by the English soccer development academy, VisionPro Sports Institute, to build a foundation for youth and professional soccer in the United States. VSI partnered with the local Brandon, Florida area youth soccer organization, West Florida Flames, to build "the perfect platform for vertical progression, giving talented youngsters the opportunity to progress from junior soccer all the way through to the professional game," according to VSI's CEO, Simon Crane.[1]
With the USL Pro team to serve as the pinnacle of the youth pyramid for men, VSI also announced the formation of teams in the USL PDL, Super-20 League and women's W-League, all within the organization of the United Soccer Leagues (USL). These teams started play in 2012.
On November 22, 2012, the team changed its name to "VSI Tampa Bay FC" and named Matt Weston as the Head Coach.[2][3]
Their first game was played on March 30, 2012, losing to Phoenix FC 1-0.[4] They defeated the Los Angeles Blues 1-0 for their first win on April 2, 2013. Antonio Neto scored the first goal in team history.[5][6]
The team chose Plant City Stadium as their home venue on April 4, 2013. It will also be their home for their PDL, W-League and youth Super-20 League teams.[7]
Matt Weston resigned as Head Coach on May 8, 2013. Joel Harrison was named as Interim Head Coach. [8]
Current roster [edit]
Staff [edit]
Joel Harrison - Interim Head Coach
Sheldon Cipriani - Head Coach, PDL Team / First Team Assistant Coach
Sam Mitchell - Head Coach, Super-20 League Team / First Team Assistant Coach
Jorge Zavala - Goalkeeping Coach- Mac McCarthy - Performance Coach
- John Mitchell - Head of Operations
- Clay Roberts - Director of Soccer
See also [edit]
References [edit]
- ^ a b "VisionPro Academy Headed to Tampa". United Soccer Leagues (USL). November 16, 2011. Retrieved August 14, 2012.
- ^ "Weston joins VSI Tampa Bay FC". VSI Tampa Bay FC. November 22, 2012. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
- ^ "VSI Tampa Names Weston As Coach". United Soccer Leagues (USL). November 21, 2012. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
- ^ "VSI Falls in First Road Match". VSI Tampa Bay FC. March 31, 2013. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
- ^ "VSI Captures First Franchise Win Over LA Blues". VSI Tampa Bay FC. April 3, 2013. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
- ^ "Sports Digest". tampabay.com. April 3, 2013. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
- ^ "VSI Tampa Bay FC announces 2013 USL Stadium Venue". VSI Tampa Bay FC. April 4, 2013. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
- ^ "VSI Tampa Bay Announces the Departure of Coach Weston". VSI Tampa Bay FC. May 8, 2013. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
External links [edit]
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