Sports
St. Petersburg FC, New Semi-Pro Soccer Team, Coming To Pinellas
A new semi-professional soccer team, St. Petersburg FC, playing in USL League Two will take the field in Pinellas County this year.
ST. PETERSBURG, FL — Tampa Bay-area soccer fans will have a new semi-pro team to cheer on this season as the St. Petersburg FC joins USL League Two, according to a news release.
The region is already a thriving soccer community that’s home to two professional soccer teams, the Tampa Bay Rowdies playing in the United Soccer League and the Tampa Bay Strikers competing in the National Indoor Soccer League. The St. Petersburg FC Aztecs also plays in the United Premier Soccer League, a competitive pro-development league.
USL League Two, a North American pre-professional soccer league, runs from early May to mid-July each season and has franchises throughout the United States and Canada, according to the USL League Two website. In its last season, the league had more than 100 teams divided among 16 divisions in four conferences.
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“Joining USL League Two has been a target of ours for many years,” SPFC officials said. “We are steadfast in our belief that USL has the correct model and vision for its players, clubs and partners.”
The team’s colors reflect the Pinellas County community — “the pink of the iconic Don Cesar hotel, the blue of the Gulf of Mexico and the yellow of the sand found on its many beaches,” according to the news release.
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“It’s so exciting to welcome St. Petersburg FC to the USL ecosystem,” Joel Nash, USL vice president of youth and pre-professional properties, said. “This region has a proven affinity for soccer, we’ve been able to see that firsthand. We can’t wait to see what this club accomplishes in League Two.”
The club said its partnerships with civic and community organizations, as well as local foundations, will be at the core of its mission and “will anchor (its) commitment to reinvest in underserved sports facilities and programs,” the news release said.
St. Petersburg FC will compete in the Southern Conference’s South Florida Division. Teams in the division include Altitude Rush, FC Miami City, Miami AC, Sarasota Paradise and Weston FC.
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