Tampa Bay Rowdies U23
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2022}}
{{Short description|American soccer team}}
{{Infobox football club
| clubname = Tampa Bay Rowdies U23
| image = File:Tampa_Bay_Rowdies_U23.png
| upright = 0.8
| fullname = Tampa Bay Rowdies U23
| nickname = Rowdies
| founded = 2017 (first edition)
2020 (re-founded)
| stadium = Al Lang Stadium
St. Petersburg, Florida
| capacity = 7,500
| chrtitle = Owners
| chairman =
| mgrtitle = Head coach
| manager = Andres Arango
| league = USL League Two
| season =
| position =
| website = https://www.rowdiessoccer.com/
| American = true
| current = 2021 USL League Two season
| pattern_b1 = _darkgreenhoops
| pattern_la1 = green
| pattern_ra1 =
| pattern_so1 = _hoops_green
| leftarm1 = 006600
| body1 = FDEE00
| rightarm1 = 006600
| shorts1 = 006600
| socks1 = FDEE00
| pattern_la2 =
| pattern_b2 =
| pattern_ra2 =
| pattern_sh2 = _blacksides
| pattern_so2 = _blackstripe
| leftarm2 = D0FF00
| body2 = D0FF00
| rightarm2 = D0FF00
| shorts2 = D0FF00
| socks2 = D0FF00
| pattern_la3 =
| pattern_b3 =
| pattern_ra3 = EDEDED
| pattern_sh3 =
| pattern_so3 =
| leftarm3 = EDEDED
| body3 = FFFFFF
| rightarm3 = EDEDED
| shorts3 = FFFFFF
| socks3 = FFFFFF|
}}
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.
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).{{Cite web|url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/tampa-bay-rowdies-add-u23-team-in-usl-league-two/n-5589380|title=Tampa Bay Rowdies Add U23 Team in USL League Two|date=January 1, 2020|work=Our Sports Central}}
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.{{cite web|url=http://www.rowdiessoccer.com/news/2015/12/23/tampa-bay-rowdies-2-joins-the-national-premier-soccer-league|title=Tampa Bay Rowdies|access-date=January 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160430200624/http://www.rowdiessoccer.com/news/2015/12/23/tampa-bay-rowdies-2-joins-the-national-premier-soccer-league|archive-date=April 30, 2016|url-status=dead}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1346&dat=19820518&id=P6VOAAAAIBAJ&pg=4302,1126997|title=Rowdies Sign Three Floridian Reserves|work=Lakeland Ledger|date=May 18, 1982|first=Dave|last=Reeves|access-date=January 26, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=888&dat=19821214&id=KnRIAAAAIBAJ&pg=6907,6168861|title=Once again, Rowdies get No. 1 pick in today's draft|first=Dave|last=Scheiber|work=St. Petersburg Times|date=December 14, 1982|access-date=April 26, 2016}}{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=950&dat=19630824&id=0gpZAAAAIBAJ&pg=7022,2117125&hl=en|title=Rowdies look to rookies for help|first=Randy|last=Beard|work=The Evening Independent|access-date=January 26, 2021|date=August 24, 1983}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.rowdiessoccer.com/news_article/show/753034|title=Rowdies U23 to compete in USL'S Premier Development League|access-date=February 15, 2017|work=Tampa Bay Rowdies}} The majority of the roster had ties to the Tampa Bay and Florida area.{{cite web|url=https://www.rowdiessoccer.com/news_article/show/792011-rowdies-u23-announce-roster-ahead-of-inaugural-pdl-season|title=Rowdies U23 Announce Roster ahead of Inaugural PDL season|date=May 12, 2017|work=Tampa Bay Rowdies}} They played their first match on May 27 against Weston FC.{{Cite web|url=https://theunsubs.soccer/keith-fulk-tapped-as-rowdies-u23-head-coach/|title=Keith Fulk Tapped As Rowdies U23 Head Coach|date=March 20, 2017|first=Jake|last=Nutting|work=The Unused Substitutes}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.epluribusloonum.com/2017/9/7/16263000/us-soccer-expansion-departure-tracker-2018-mls-nasl-usl-pdl|title=2018 US Soccer Expansion/Departure Tracker|date=February 27, 2018|first=Ashle|last=Norling|work=E Pluribus Loonum}}
=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,{{cite web |title=Tampa Bay Rowdies Add U23 Team in USL League Two |url=https://www.uslleaguetwo.com/news_article/show/1077966 |website=USL League Two |access-date=January 16, 2020 |date=January 15, 2020}} however, the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite news|url=https://sbisoccer.com/2020/04/usl-cancels-2020-league-two-season-extends-pro-league-suspensions|title=USL cancels 2020 League Two season, extends pro league suspensions|first=Jenny|last=Hojnacki|publisher=sbisoccer.com|date=April 30, 2020|access-date=June 9, 2020}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://stpetecatalyst.com/zaps/rowdies-unveil-plan-for-amateur-soccer-team/|title=Rowdies unveil plan for amateur soccer team|work=St. Pete Catalyst|date=January 15, 2020}} The team is a partnership between the USL Rowdies and Chargers SC.{{cite web|url=https://www.rowdiessoccer.com/news_article/show/1078139-rowdies-partner-with-chargers-sc-for-usl-league-two-team|title=Rowdies Partner with Chargers SC for USL League Two team|date=January 15, 2020|work=Tampa Bay Rowdies}}
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
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |
| Year
!League !Regular Season !Playoffs !U.S. Open Cup |
|---|
| 2016
|NPSL |4th, Sunshine Conference |Did not qualify |Ineligible |
Tampa Bay Rowdies U23
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |
| Year
!League !Regular Season !Playoffs !U.S. Open Cup |
|---|
| 2017
|PDL |6th, Southeast Division |Did not qualify |Ineligible |
| 2018
| colspan="4" rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|No team fielded |
| 2019 |
| 2020
|USL2 |colspan=3|Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic |
References
{{reflist}}
{{USL League Two}}
{{Tampa Bay Rowdies}}
{{Tampa Bay Sports}}
{{Florida Sports}}