STREET. PETERSBURG, FL – Tampa Bay area soccer enthusiasts will have a new semi-pro team to cheer on this season as St. Petersburg FC enrolls in USL League Two, according to a press release.
The domain is already a thriving soccer network that is home to two professional soccer teams, the Tampa Bay Rowdies who play in the United Soccer League and the Tampa Bay Strikers in the National Indoor Soccer League. The St. Petersburg FC Aztecs also play in the United Premier Soccer League, a competitive pro-development league.
USL League Two, a North American pre-professional football league, has a season from early May to mid-July and has franchises in the United States and Canada, according to the USL League Two website. In its final season, the league had over a hundred groups divided into 16 divisions in 4 conferences.
“Joining USL League Two has been our purpose for many years,” SPFC officials said. “We are convinced that the USL has the right style and vision for its players, clubs and partners. “
The team colors the Pinellas County network: “the pink of the iconic Hotel Don Cesar, the blue of the Gulf of Mexico, and the yellow of the sand bare on its many beaches,” according to the news release.
“It’s very exciting to welcome St. Petersburg FC to the USL ecosystem,” said Joel Nash, USL vice president of youth and pre-professional properties. “This region has shown an affinity for football, we have noticed that first hand. We can’t wait and see what this club gets in Ligue 2. “
The club said its partnerships with civic and networking organizations, as well as local foundations, will be central to its project and “anchor (its) commitment to reinvesting in underserved services and programs,” the club says. Press release.
St. Petersburg FC will compete in the South Florida Division of the Southern Conference. The department’s teams come with Altitude Rush, FC Miami City, Miami AC, Sarasota Paradise and Weston FC.
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