1977 Tampa Bay Rowdies season

March 2026 August 2023 Tampa Bay Rowdies 1977 ITA Eddie Firmani (resigned July 3) ENG Len Glover (interim) SCO John Boyle (hired July 9) Head coach USA Beau Rodgers General manager USA George W. Strawbridge, Jr. Tampa Stadium NASL Division: 3rdPlayoffs: First round U.S. Open Cup Did not enter RSA 1928 Derek Smethurst (19 goals) 45,288(May 29 v. Cosmos) 8,398(July 6 v. Washington) 19,491 true _collargreen _tbrowdies12h _tbrowdies12h _green_border _hoops_green_2 006600 ffffff 006600 FFFFff FFF200 _tbrowdies13h _tbrowdies12h _tbrowdies12h _norwich1617h _hoops_green_2 006600 006600 006600 006600 FFF200 1976 1978 The 1977 season was the original Tampa Bay Rowdies third season of existence, and their third season in the North American Soccer League, the top division of soccer in the United States and Canada at that time. Overview The year would see the Rowdies host friendlies against teams from the Soviet Union, Italy and China. The team also took part in the preseason Tournament of Champions, finishing as runners-up. In the NASL season, the Rowdies finished with 131 points and a record of 14–12, which placed them third in the Eastern Division of the Atlantic Conference. The point total qualified them for the playoffs. They lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Cosmos, 3–0. For the second consecutive season Tampa Bay lost in the playoffs to the eventual champion. For the third consecutive season South African striker, Derek Smethurst lead the club in scoring with 19 goals. https://www.newspapers.com/image/334954734/?terms=Rowdies%2Bstats Rowdies stats August 9, 1977 Tampa Tribune 2-C April 7, 2020 Club Roster No.PositionNationPlayer1 ENG GK Paul Hammond Paul Hammond (footballer) 2 ENG MF Farrukh Quraishi 3 SCO MF Ian Anderson Ian Anderson (Scottish footballer) 3 SCO DF Alex Pringle 4 HAI DF Arsène Auguste 5 CAN DF Rino Agostinis 5 SCO FW Davie Robb 6 RSA DF Mike Connell Mike Connell (soccer) 7 RSA FW Steve Wegerle 8 CAN MF Wes McLeod 9 AUS FW Adrian Alston 10 ENG FW Rodney Marsh 11 ENG MF Len Glover (capt.) Lenny Glover 12 RSA FW Derek Smethurst 13 ENG DF Stewart Jump 14 USA FW Joey Fink 15 ENG MF Mark Lindsay Mark Lindsay (footballer) 16 USA MF Dennis Wit 17 USA DF Kevin Eagan 18 USA GK Winston DuBose 19 USA DF Frantz St. Lot 20 USA FW Boris Bandov 22 YUG DF Radomir Stefanović 23 USA DF Tony Crudo Team management Eddie Firmani began the season as head coach, but abruptly resigned on June 3, a few days after a 4–2 victory over the Cosmos. The club’s record was 7–3 at the time.Blankenship Ken https://www.newspapers.com/image/319048027/?terms=Rowdies%2BMarcos Firmani’s bombshell: a kick in the derriere June 4, 1977 St. Petersburg Times 5C April 4, 2020 Team captain, Len Glover, who had been sidelined with an injury at the time, served as interim coach for one match, a loss to Rochester on June 5.Henderson Jim https://www.newspapers.com/image/335012083/?terms=Rowdies%2Bshaken For Shaken Rowdies, The Show Must Go On June 4, 1977 Tampa Tribune April 4, 2020 Retired former Rowdies captain, John Boyle, was hired on June 9.Mudry Richard https://www.newspapers.com/image/333679597/?terms=Rowdies%2BBoyle Boyle, Rowdies singing old tune June 10, 1977 Tampa Times April 4, 2020 Under Boyle the Rowdies record was 7–8, and though Tampa Bay made the playoffs, Boyle resigned to accept a position as the team’s permanent European scout after the season.Henderson Jim https://www.newspapers.com/image/335647840/?terms=Rowdies%2BBoyle John Boyle Going ‘Over There’ October 21, 1977 Tampa Tribune April 4, 2020 For his part, Firmani re-immerged as the Cosmos coach (just as several of his former players had predicted in early June),Blankenship Ken https://www.newspapers.com/image/319051307/?terms=Firmani%2BCosmos Shocked, leaderless Rowdies take on Lancers June 5, 1977 St. Petersburg Times 1C April 7, 2020 and ultimately eliminated Tampa Bay, 3–0, in the first round of the 1977 playoffs. USA George W. Strawbridge, Jr., owner USA Beau Rodgers, general manager ITA Eddie Firmani, head coach (resigned June 3) ENG Len Glover, head coach (interim) ENG John Boyle, head coach (hired June 9) ENG Ken Shields, trainer POR Francisco Marcos, public relations director USA Alfredo Beronda, equipment manager Honors Four Rowdies received individual honors following the 1977 NASL season. NASL All-Star, First Team: Derek Smethurst NASL All-Star, Second Team: Arsène Auguste NASL All-Star, Second Team: Rodney Marsh NASL All-Star, Second Team: Steve Wegerle Competitions Tournament of Champions The inaugural Tournament of Champions was a friendly two-day tournament hosted by the Cosmos at Giants Stadium on April 2 and 3. Four teams participated: the Cosmos, Tampa Bay, Toronto Metros-Croatia and Victory SC of Haiti. In the opening match the Rowdies and Metros-Croatia played to a scoreless draw, before Tampa Bay won using the NASL’s new shoot-out tiebreaker, 2–1.Rowdies Win; Face Cosmos https://www.newspapers.com/image/334939882/?terms=Rowdies Tampa Tribune April 3, 1977 1-C April 11, 2020 This put the Rowdies into the finals vs. the Cosmos the following day. The Rowdies lost the match, 2–1, and were runners-up. Their lone goal came from Wes McLeod with an assist by Farrukh Quraishi.Cosmos hold off Rowdies 2-1, Mausser sold https://www.newspapers.com/image/319047598/?terms=Rowdies April 4, 1977 St. Petersburg Times 1C April 11, 2020 Series results DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorersApril 2, 1977 CAN Toronto Metros-CroatiaA0–1 (SO)7,212April 3, 1977 USA CosmosA2–111, 098Wes McLeod Other friendlies Tampa Bay hosted three international friendlies in 1977. The first was a, 1–0, losing effort on March 5 versus FC Zenit Leningrad. A crowd of more than 41,000 attended the preseason match.Henderson Jim https://www.newspapers.com/image/334965032/?terms=Rowdies Russians Go One-Up On Rowdies March 6, 1977 Tampa Tribune 1-D March 6, 2020 The second international was midseason match-up versus A.S. Roma on June 14. They drew with the Italians, 1–1. Adrian Alston scored for the Rowdies on 30-yard free kick.Blankenship Ken https://www.newspapers.com/image/319001364/?terms=Rowdies Morale boost for Rowdie: Roma tied 1-1 June 15, 1977 St. Petersburg Times 1C March 5, 2020 The third was played on October 13, and pitted the Rowdies against the Chinese National Team. Boris Bandov scored for Tampa Bay in the, 2–1, loss.Tierney Mike https://www.newspapers.com/image/318958472/?terms=Rowdies Chinese nip Rowdies 2–1 for first tour win October 14, 1977 Tampa Times 1-C April 6, 2020 The Rowdies also played a postseason friendly versus the Dallas Tornado in Tulsa, Oklahoma five days after the match against China. The game was meant to serve as a test balloon to see if Tulsa would support soccer. Tampa Bay won, 1–0, on an early second half goal by Mark Lindsay. The game drew 11,147 fans. Team Hawaii owner and potato chip magnate, Ward Lay soon moved his club, redubbing them the Tulsa Roughnecks. https://www.newspapers.com/image/318944920/?terms=Rowdies Lindsay Lifts Rowdie October 19, 1977 St. Petersburg Times 5C April 6, 2020 https://www.newspapers.com/image/262275666/?terms=Team%2BHawaii%2BTulsa Team Hawaii makes it official: Headed for Tulsa November 16, 1977 Honolulu Advertiser C2 April 6, 2020 Results DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorersMarch 5, 1977 URS FC Zenit LeningradTampa Stadium0–141,680June 14, 1977 ITA A.S. RomaTampa Stadium1–19,203Adrian AlstonOctober 13, 1977 PRC China National TeamTampa Stadium1–2 14,675Boris BandovOctober 18, 1977 USA Dallas TornadoSkelly Stadium0–111,147Mark Lindsay North American Soccer League season The Rowdies finished the regular season with 131 points placing them in 3rd place in the Eastern Division of the Atlantic Conference, and 7th out of 18 teams in the league overall. After a 7–3 start to the season, which put them at the top of the league standings, Tampa Bay limped home with a 7–9 record the rest of the way for a record of 14–12. The team’s midseason slump coincided exactly with Eddie Firmani’s abrupt resignation as head coach. The club averaged 19,491 fans per game, with three matches surpassing 21,000, one reaching 33,000 and still another topping 45,000. Regular-season standings W = Wins, L = Losses, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, BP = Bonus Points, Pts= point system 6 points for a win, 0 points for a loss, 1 point for each regulation goal scored up to three per game. #B3B7FF darkgray-League Premiers (most points). #ccffcc darkgray-Other playoff teams. Eastern Division W L GF GA BP Pts Home RoadFort Lauderdale Strikers19749294716111-28-5 Cosmos151160395014010-35-8Tampa Bay Rowdies141255454713111-23-10 Washington Diplomats1016324932926-74-9 Regular season results DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorersApril 9, 1977Dallas TornadoA2–115,212Rodney MarshApril 16, 1977Chicago StingH4–033,484Derek Smethurst (2), Adrian Alston (2)April 24, 1977Washington DiplomatsA0–19,099Rodney MarshApril 30, 1977Rochester LancersH3–121,426Derek Smethurst (2), Steve WegerleMay 7, 1977Fort Lauderdale StrikersH1–024,753Rodney MarshMay 13, 1977Connecticut BicentennialsH4–012,759Derek Smethurst (2), Adrian Alston, Steve WegerleMay 15, 1977Connecticut BicentennialsA1–41,520Derek Smethurst (2), Adrian Alston, Mark LindsayMay 20, 1977Chicago StingA3–43,233Derek Smethurst (2), Adrian AlstonMay 22, 1977Toronto Metros-CroatiaA4–0 7,649May 29, 1977CosmosH4–245,288Steve Wegerle (2), Ian Anderson, Rodney MarshJune 5, 1977Rochester LancersA2–05,247June 11, 1977Vancouver WhitecapsH1–215,225Derek SmethurstJune 19, 1977CosmosA3–162,394Wes McLeodJune 22, 1977Team HawaiiH4–3 (SO)10,220Adrian Alston, David Robb, Ian AndersonJune 25, 1977Seattle SoundersA3–022,388June 27, 1977San Jose EarthquakesA1–417,612Derek Smethurst (2), Rodney Marsh, David RobbJuly 1, 1977Fort Lauderdale StrikersA3–29325Steve Wegerle, David RobbJuly 6, 1977Washington DiplomatsH1–28,398Derek SmethurstJuly 9, 1977Las Vegas QuicksilversH4–112,123Smethurst, Auguste, Marsh, AlstonJuly 13, 1977Los Angeles AztecsH4–116,133Derek Smethurst (3), David RobbJuly 16, 1977Minnesota KicksA1–036,302July 20, 1977Portland TimbersH3–2 (OT)14,230David Robb, Derek Smethurst, Rodney MarshJuly 23, 1977Toronto Metros-CroatiaH2–017,473Arsène Auguste, David RobbJuly 27, 1977Portland TimbersA4–1 13,328David RobbJuly 30, 1977St. Louis StarsH3–2 (SO)21,876Rodney Marsh, David RobbAugust 5, 1977St. Louis StarsA1–0 9,158 Playoff results DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorersAugust 10, 1977CosmosA3–057,828 Statistics Season scoring GP = Games Played, G = Goals (worth 2 points), A = Assists (worth 1 point), Pts = Points Player GP G A PtsDerek Smethurst2119442Rodney Marsh2481127Steve Wegerle2551125David Robb158117Adrian Alston177317Wes McLeod20157Mark Lindsay20135Arsène Auguste14204Ian Anderson11204Len Glover19033Mike Connell26011Dennis Wit7011Paul Hammond24000Stewart Jump22000Kevin Eagan21000Farrukh Quraishi14000Joey Fink13000Boris Bandov5000Frantz St. Lot5000Winston DuBose3000Radomir Stefanović2000Alex Pringle1000Rino Agostinis0000 Season goalkeeping Note: GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; GA = Goals against; GAA = Goals against average; W = Wins; L = Losses Player GP Min Svs GA GAA W LPaul Hammond 24 2185 174 41 1.69 13 11Winston DuBose 3 196 22 4 1.83 1 1 Player movement In No.Pos.PlayerTransferred fromFee/notesDateSource5 DF CAN Rino Agostinis CAN Vancouver Columbus none March 2, 1977 Agostinis to complete Rowdies roster https://www.newspapers.com/image/318995016/?terms=Reno%2BAgostinis St. Petersburg Times March 2, 1977 3C April 11, 2020 5 FW SCO David Robb SCO Aberdeen F.C. on loan May 16, 1977 Henderson Jim Rowdies To Sign Two Scots, Will Host Rome Club In June https://www.newspapers.com/image/334964144/?terms=Anderson%2BRobb Tampa Tribune May 17, 1977 1-C April 11, 2020 3 MF SCO Ian Anderson SCO St. Johnstone F.C. on loan May 16, 1977 Henderson Jim Rowdies To Sign Two Scots, Will Host Rome Club In June https://www.newspapers.com/image/334964144/?terms=Anderson%2BRobb Tampa Tribune May 17, 1977 1-C April 11, 2020 20 FW USA Boris Bandov USA Seattle Sounders no details July 24, 1977 Henderson Jim The Bull To Dress On Trip https://www.newspapers.com/image/334947759/?terms=Bull%2Bto%2Bdress Tampa Tribune July 26, 1977 1-C April 10, 2020 22 DF YUG Radomir Stefanović YUG HNK Rijeka arrived July 29, 1977 July 19, 1977 Henderson Jim An Odyssey Of Red Tape Finally Ends https://www.newspapers.com/image/334955040/?terms=Radomir%2BStefanovic Tampa Tribune July 30, 1977 7-C April 10, 2020 Out No.Pos.PlayerTransferred toFee/notesDateSource1 GK USA Arnie Mausser CAN Vancouver Whitecaps sold contract April 2, 1977 Henderson Jim Vancouver Purchases Mausser https://www.newspapers.com/image/334944624/?terms=Mausser Tampa Tribune April 3, 1977 1-C April 11, 20203 DF ENG Alex Pringle USA Washington Diplomats sold contract April 10, 1977 Henderson Jim Rowdies Return Minus Pringle https://www.newspapers.com/image/334996055/?terms=Alex%2BPringle April 11, 1977 Tampa Tribune 1-C April 11, 2020 5DF CAN Rino Agostinis none released from team May 2, 1977 Mudry Richard Agostinis trimmed from Rowdies https://www.newspapers.com/image/334444274/?terms=Reno%2BAgostinis May 3, 1977 5C Tampa Times April 11, 2020 See also 1977 North American Soccer League season 1977 in American soccer Tampa Bay Rowdies (1975–1993) References 1977 Rowdies results Tampa Bay Rowdies 1977 Category:Tampa Bay Rowdies (1975–1993) seasons Tampa Bay Rowdies Tampa Bay Rowdies Category:20th century in Tampa, Florida