There’s a green-and-gold streak in just about everyone who grew up in the Bay area and outgrew their training pants before 1985, fans who’ve been waiting for a Tampa Bay Rowdies resurgence. It’s a dream that might finally be realized, thanks to the sentimental mojo of the old name.
The Tampa Bay Rowdies, who endured lengthy legal battles to return to their old moniker, returned to the field with retro-reminiscent uniforms, winning its home opener 1-0 on Sat., April 14, against FC Edmonton.
A lively mood and upbeat tunes rang through the night. Kids played on the grassy berm on the west side of Al Lang, and a cool spring breeze refreshed fans in the sparsely filled stadium. Ralph’s Mob, the fan club named in honor of the team’s mascot, dominated the middle section, beating on drums and wearing face paint.
In recent years, as FC Tampa Bay and FC Tampa Bay Rowdies, the team has made some respectable strides. Last year they executed a record eight shutouts. At the home game opener against Edmonton, Japanese defender Takuya Yamada scored 20 minutes into the game, aided with a pass from Andres Arango, for the match’s sole goal of the night. Yamada’s score marked the second straight season that he netted a goal in a home opener. Last season, he came through with the only score in the 85th minute against Montreal.
On Saturday, the Rowdies defense did start to falter midway through, but they summoned a second wind. After the game, Japanese scorer Yamada pointed out weak spots in the defense and cited the recent loss against Puerto Rico during the Rowdies’ first away game as a huge motivating factor. Midfielder Stuart Campbell kept the Canadians scoreless at a crucial point of the game after Edmonton’s Paul Hamilton sprung off a header past Jeff Attinella, keeping the Rowdies ahead 1-0.
Coach Ricky Hill told reporters that the Puerto Rican loss had been good for the team mentally. He emphasized the urgency to be vigilant and alert. Overall, a certain reticence tempered the team’s enthusiasm.
Nonetheless, the young (and young-ish) parents in the bleachers exuded excitement. The generations who remember the salad days of Rodney Marsh and Winston DeBose brought their kids and grandkids to relive the fervor of the franchise that began with a bang in 1975 — when the Rowdies led the NASL and won their first league championship. The late-’70s Rowdies team stood in stark contrast to the NFL’s Buccaneers, who had lent a perpetual droop to the Old Sombrero (aka Tampa Stadium). Tampa Bay’s soccer team offered a source of sports pride. Matches sold out, and parents and kids alike participated in fun games on the field at the half.
Fan Amy Jean Smith, 34, fondly recalled via Facebook a memorable match when she and her late-arriving family heard her dad’s name being called on the loudspeaker. She said that she was the only girl in a field full of boys in front of a packed crowd. To her surprise, she won a three-legged race with kids on one side of the field and parents on the other. “I remember it so well,” she said, “working together as a perfect team, and my dad kicking the hell out of that beach ball for the goal — the win!”
Lifetime fans like Smith may inspire a new following, along with the strapping players on what appears to be a promising roster.
“I never quit calling them the Rowdies,” said soccer dad Scott Cortelyou, 41, from Wesley Chapel. On Saturday, he and wife Jami attended the Edmonton game with son Jayan, 11, who congregated with teammates from the Crush in matching white jerseys. Like his son, Scott played soccer on a rec team and even got to play on the Tampa Stadium field in an exhibition match in 1978, one of his fondest memories.
Likewise, Jayan Cortelyou’s buddy and teammate Ethan Miller, 10, will not forget that Rowdies forward Tsuyoshi Yoshitake signed his jersey the night of April 14, 2012.
The Tampa Bay Rowdies compete again on Sat., April 21, at Atlanta Silverbacks. Away games can usually be seen at Crowley’s in downtown St. Pete. Next home game is Saturday, April 28, 7:30 p.m. against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers. Tickets are around $12-$45. Discounted tickets are available at 813-287-1539 or tickets@rowdiessoccer.com. The stadium at 230 First St. S, St. Petersburg. Al Lang box office opens three hours before kickoff. Gates open at 6:30 p.m. Parking is $5 in the lots and garages near the stadium. rowdiessoccer.com.
This article appears in Apr 19-25, 2012.