Heritage NASL; Tampa Bay Rowdies

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Tampa Bay Rowdies are playing in the USL Championship. This league is seen as the 2nd tier in American soccer. However, as we all know, there is no promotion or relegation. They are no longer a major force at the top level. They once were, 50 years ago, in the legendary NASL. John Gorman mostly remembered for his role as a player for Carlisle and Tottenham. He was also a manager at Swindon and served as an assistant to Glenn Hoddle for England and Spurs. Gorman used to play for The Rowdies back in the NASL days.

Rodney Marsh and Frank Worthington are two other well known names. They are proven England internationals who turned out for The Rowdies. Marsh becoming one of their all time favourites, being a prolific player and also later, head coach. He scored 48 goals in 94 outings in NASL action.

On June 19, 1974, George Strawbridge and Beau Rogers purchased an expansion franchise. It was in the North American Soccer League. They paid $25,000. By July 24, they named Eddie Firmani their coach. In October 1974, Alex Pringle becomes the first player to sign with the team. On November 21, 1974. The Rowdies had a brilliant start, winning the Soccerbowl in 1975, their first season of existence.

The Rowdies also finished as runners-up in 1978 and 1979. The team signed international stars. The signings included Rodney Marsh from England and Óscar Fabbiani from Chile. They also included Steve Wegerle from South Africa, Clyde Best from Bermuda, and Arsene Auguste from Haiti. They also signed the 1976 NASL leading goal scorer Derek Smethurst (South Africa). He was their all-time leading goal scorer, with 57 goals in 65 games.

The Rowdies, as we used to know them, existed from 1975 to 1993. They continued to compete in different leagues after NASL folded in 1985. The current club is a phoenix club of the original Tampa Bay Rowdies. The original club was active from 1975 until 1993. They played most notably in the original North American Soccer League. It shares its name, logo, and some of its club culture with the original club. The current Rowdies have always used the same green and yellow color scheme. They kept the “hoops” design from the original team. This was true even when they could not yet use the Rowdies name.

This article mainly talks about the years The Rowdies operated in the NASL. It discusses a group of players and managers who gave soccer a special place in many areas. Soccer became a blend of what we knew as football and American sports. Of course, it had other rules. It did not accept a game to end in a draw, having special shootouts, also known from ice hockey. NASL was not part of FIFA rules and regulations. This exclusion possibly became one of the reasons why the league failed.

You will find an update below on the most important players to have played for The Rowdies (75-84). A great number of players, especially from English football, made their mark.

The Rowdies also reached the Soccer Bowl final in 1978 and 1979. Manager on both occasions, Eddie Firmani’s successor, Gordon Jago. Jago had been in charge of the USA national team. He also managed Queens Park Rangers and Millwall before moving to Tampa in 1978. He served as The Rowdies head coach until 1982. We should not forget John Boyle who was in charge of team affairs before Gordon Jago took over.

When you look over their group of players over the years, it becomes an interesting read. It is especially so for the teams reaching the finals. First choice Goalkeeper in the 1975 side was Paul Hammond. He was in goal when The Rowdies defeated Portland Timbers 2-0 in the Soccer Bowl final that season. He was loaned in from Crystal Palace. In the two other finals, USA international Winston DuBose was the preferred choice. DuBose did not play the 1979 final, gloves given to Canada international, Zeljko Bilecki. Other goalkeepers to mention were Arnie Mausser, having two spells with The Rowdies. Not to forget are the two Germans, Jurgen Stars and Jack Brand. Former Norwich goalkeeper, Kevin Keelan, also had a short spell at The Rowdies, playing one season (81) for The Rowdies.

Among the defenders we did mention John Gorman. He played for The Rowdies from 1979 to 1982, adding up 111 NASL games. This makes him special. Tommy Smith has turned out for The Rowdies. Sam Allardyce has also played for the team. Manny Andruszewski and Barry Kitchener are other players who played in the English league. Possibly the best Rowdies defender of all time must be South African, Mike Connell. He was serving The Rowdies from the very first season until the last, until NASL foulded in 1984. Stewart Jump will never be forgotten and another solid choice for The Rowdies. The former Stoke and Crystal Palace defender, being in that 1975 winning team, alongside Connell.

In the midfield area you also had some fantastic players. Mark Lindsay was one, signed from Crystal Palace in 1975. He was playing his part in the team than took home the Soccer Bowl in that very first season. Lindsay continued to play for two more seasons, before making a move to Houston Hurricane. He returned to The Rowdies in 1984. Len Glover joined The Rowdies from Leicester in 1976, became a fan favourite and also captained the team. Wes McLeod was a midfielder for The Rowdies. He was possibly the most important player. The Canadian international played 188 NASL games for The Rowdies from 1977 to 1984. Graham Paddon and Jan Van Der Veen are two other midfielders with major impact during their years with The Rowdies.

Up front you had a number of former top names in English football mixed with more unknown figures. Clyde Best, Rodney Marsh, Frank Worthington, and Stewart Scullion were all special. Scullion was probably the least known of these four. However, at The Rowdies, he was on fire. The former Sheffield United and Watford player became an influential and very important man in that early success. He first joined on loan. Later, he made a full transfer. After the 1976 season, he moved to Portland Timbers. His time with The Rowdies was over.

Rodney Marsh joined in 1976 and became an icon. His long blond hair and artistic play made him perfect for show business. He was with The Rowdies from 1976 to 1979. He played 94 games and scored 48 goals. He was in the line-up for the 1978 and 1979 Soccer Bowl finals. The coach of The Rowdies, Eddie Firmani, had connections in South Africa. He had a good vision of the game there. He knew the players in person. This knowledge gave him the opportunity to bring in Derek Smethurst and Roy Wegerle. Two great players, who The Rowdies signed early on, being very influential over those early seasons. Smethurst playing from 1975 to 1978, scoring 57 goals in 65 NASL appearances. Steve Wegerle played from 1977 to 1981. He returned in 1984, playing a total of 161 NASL games. He scored 31 goals and was one of the most exciting wingers during NASL years.

Later and after NASL we have seen exciting football names being involved in action for The Rowdies. England internationals Ricky Hill, Peter Barnes, Tony Morley and Terry Fenwick are in there. Robbie James and Mark Lawrenson are others previous with the The Rowdies.

Favourite Selection (1975-1984)