1976 Tampa Bay Rowdies indoor season

March 2026 August 2023 Tampa Bay Rowdies 1976 indoor ITA Eddie Firmani USA Beau Rodgers General manager USA George W. Strawbridge, Jr. Bayfront Center NASL Regional: ChampionLeague: Champion BER Clyde Best(7 goals) BER Clyde Best(11 goals) 5,787(March 27 vs. Lancers) 4,762(March 12 vs. Diplomats) 5,464 _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 true 1975 1977 The 1976 Tampa Bay Rowdies indoor season was the second indoor season of the club's existence. The Rowdies were able to replicate their 1975 outdoor success by winning the North American Soccer League's 1976 indoor championship. Club Roster No.PositionNationPlayer1 USA GK Arnie Mausser 1 USA GK Bob Stetler 2 ENG DF Farrukh Quraishi 3 SCO DF Alex Pringle 5 ENG DF Malcolm Linton 7 RSA FW Stewart Scullion 8 CAN MF Randy Garber Randy Garber (soccer) 9 BER FW Clyde Best 10 ENG FW Rodney Marsh Rodney Marsh (footballer) 11 SCO FW Doug Wark 12 RSA FW Derek Smethurst (capt.) Derek Smethurst 14 USA FW Joey Fink 15 ENG MF Mark Lindsay Mark Lindsay (footballer) 16 USA DF John Bluem 17 USA MF Eddie Austin 18 HAI DF Arsène Auguste Management and technical staff USA George Strawbridge, Jr., owner USA Beau Rogers, general manager ITA Eddie Firmani, head coach USA Chas Serednesky, business manager POR Francisco Marcos, director of public relations USA Mike Dolan and Stan Taylor, trainers USA John Kauzlarich, team physician USA Alfredo Beronda, equipment manager Honors NASL Indoor Tournament: Champions NASL Indoor, Eastern Regional: Regional champions International Cup: Champions (friendly) Individual honors Tournament MVP: Clyde Best (Tournament totals: 4 games, 7 goals, 4 assists) All-Tournament Team: Clyde Best, Stewart Scullion, Derek Smethurst Regional MVP: Stewart Scullion (Regional totals: 2 games, 3 goals, 1 assist) All-Regional Team: Stewart Scullion, Rodney Marsh, Arsene Auguste Review The Tampa Bay Rowdies were the runners-up of the 1975 NASL Indoor tournament in March, and the winners of Soccer Bowl '75 in August, both held California at the home venues of the San Jose Earthquakes. In October 1975 the NASL announced that the Bayfront Center would host both the 1976 Indoor Eastern Regionals and Final Four.Indoor Finale Here? October 8, 1975 Evening Independent https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=950&dat=19751008&id=c7daAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Q1gDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6971,1762411 3C September 15, 2016Tampa Bay Gets Indoor Finale October 9, 1975 Evening Independent https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=PZE8UkGerEcC&dat=19751009&printsec=frontpage&hl=en 2C September 15, 2016 It was later announced that Tampa Bay would also play a pre-tournament international friendly at the Bayfront Center. This meant that all of the Rowdies indoor matches for 1976 would be played at home.Santos Rowdies' Indoor Opener February 12, 1976 Evening Independent https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=950&dat=19760212&id=WLtSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=XX0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=3309,2759070 5C September 15, 2016 Friendlies Billed in media reports as an International Challenge Cup Match,Gurney Jack Rowdies Host Jamaicans Tonight At Bayfront March 6, 1976 Sarasota Herald-Tribune https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1755&dat=19760306&id=GQAkAAAAIBAJ&sjid=JmcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1899,2063217 1-D September 15, 2016 Tampa Bay’s first game was a pre-tournament international friendly versus Santos F.C. of Jamaica, and played on March 6 at the Bayfront Center. The Rowdies easily defeated their guests, who were playing indoor soccer for the very first time, by the score of 11–4.Best Scores Four To Spark Rowdies March 7, 1976 Sarasota Herald-Tribune https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1755&dat=19760307&id=GgAkAAAAIBAJ&sjid=JmcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3979,2393735 2-D September 15, 2016 Eastern Regionals The winner of the Eastern Regional would gain an automatic place in the Final Four. In their first tournament game the Rowdies battled back from a 4–1 deficit midway through the second period, to score eight straight goals and defeat Washington, 9–5.Blankenship Ken Down 4–1, Rowdies dump Diplomats 9–5 March 13, 1976 St. Petersburg Times https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=feST4K8J0scC&dat=19760313&printsec=frontpage&hl=en 1C September 15, 2016 The following evening Tampa Bay had a much easier time in defeating the Boston Minutemen, 5–3, as they dictated play until the final minutes, when Boston scored two meaningless late goals. Those two victories left the Rowdies as the only undefeated team in the group, and therefore champions of their region for the second straight year.Gurney Jack Rowdies Capture Indoor Regional March 14, 1976 Sarasota Herald-Tribune https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1755&dat=19760314&id=IQAkAAAAIBAJ&sjid=JmcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6699,5182035 2-C September 15, 2016 Stewart Scullion was named Regional MVP, with Rodney Marsh and Arsene Auguste joining him on the All-Regional squad. Regional standings PosTeamGWLGFGAGDPTS1Tampa Bay Rowdies220148+642Washington Diplomats2111412+223Miami Toros211915-624Boston Minutemen202911-20 Final Four In the semifinal Tampa Bay held a slim, one-goal lead in the third period over the Dallas Tornado. With less than three minutes remaining the Rowdies broke open the match the by scoring three straight goals in a span of 81 seconds to defeated Dallas, 6–2, and earn their second straight trip to the indoor finals.Gulick Phil Rowdie Blitz Opens Way For Indoor Title March 27, 1976 Evening Independent https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=950&dat=19760327&id=e1lQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=jlgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5432,2814462 1-C September 15, 2016 On March 27, 1976, the Tampa Bay Rowdies played in their third championship final out of three total competitions in their brief history. This time they would face surprise finalists Rochester Lancers. Unfortunately for Rochester, goalkeeper Jim May was severely injured late in their semi-final upset win over San Jose, and could not play in the final. The Rowdies were without Rodney Marsh for the contest, as he suffered a head injury in the semi-final. In a closely fought match Tampa Bay prevailed, 6–4, on three goals by Derek Smethurst, two by Clyde Best, and one by Mark Lindsay. Smethurst’s game winning, third goal came with 3:18 left in the match. Best was named tournament MVP, with Smethurst and Stewart Scullion joining him on the All-Tournament squad.Gurney Jack Rowdies Win NASL Indoor Crown 6–4 March 28, 1976 Sarasota Herald-Tribune https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1755&dat=19760328&id=xLoqAAAAIBAJ&sjid=LmcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4831,4866586&hl=en/ 1D September 15, 2016 Bracket Semifinals Championship Final 35px 150px M1 Rochester Lancers 6 W1 San Jose Earthquakes 4 E1 Tampa Bay Rowdies 6 W2 Dallas Tornado 2 M1 Rochester Lancers 4 E1 Tampa Bay Rowdies 6 Championship standings PosTeamGWLGFGAGD1Tampa Bay Rowdies4402614+122Rochester Lancers4312016+43San Jose Earthquakes4313518+174Dallas Tornado4222015+5 Match reports 1. Int’l friendly March 6, 1976 7:30 PM (EST) Tampa Bay Rowdies 11–4 Report AReport B Santos F.C. (Jamaica) Wark 8:08 GarberAustin 14:11 MarshLindsay 17:19 MarshBest 24:13 GarberMarsh 25:54 AugusteMarsh 26:31 BleumBest 27:40Best 29:23 ScullionScullion 35:28 MarshScullion 51:34 MarshBest 55:18 Wark P. Marston 13:56 TaylorL. Anderson 30:57 TaylorE. Reid 39:29 TaylorMcKenzie 41:46 Blair Bayfront Center St. Petersburg, Florida 5,620 W 2. Regional #1 March 12, 1976 8:30 PM EST Tampa Bay Rowdies 9–5 Report on p. 7C Washington Diplomats Scullion 12:49Garber 22:47 Marsh Best 25:16 Pringle 26:09Lindsay 27:20Smethurst 28:40 MarshWark 29:52 MarshMarsh 41:58 BestAuguste 42:52 Trickovic 10:28 KerrTrickovic 10:55Kerr 16:24 TrickovicMinor 17:58Kerr 43:04 DeLeon Bayfront Center St. Petersburg, Florida 4,762 Rene Imar (USA) W 3. Regional #2 March 13, 1976 8:30 PM EST Tampa Bay Rowdies 5–3 Report AReport B Boston Minutemen Boston Minutemen og 3:20Best 9:47Best 18:43 GarberScullion 20:44Scullion 32:05 Best C. McCully 23:51Geimer 33:44H. McCully 39:41 Bayfront Center St. Petersburg, Florida 5,785 Sumpter / Donahue / Imar / Van Der Vygh W 4. Semifinal March 26, 1976 8:30 PM EST Tampa Bay Rowdies 6–2 https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=950&dat=19760327&id=e1lQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=jlgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5432,2814462 Dallas Tornado Marsh 2:11 ScullionFink 29:21 PringleScullion 35:21 BestGarber 42:03 ScullionBest 42:56 AugusteBest 43:24 Scullion Chadwick 17:50 TurnerPecher 25:00 Chadwick Bayfront Center St. Petersburg, Florida 5,365 Sumpter / King / Di’pollito W 5. Final March 27, 1976 8:30 PM EST Tampa Bay Rowdies 6–4 https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1755&dat=19760328&id=xLoqAAAAIBAJ&sjid=LmcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4831,4866586&hl=en/ Rochester Lancers Smethurst 3:37 ScullionLindsay 12:43Best 20:11Smethurst 30:26 BestSmethurst 41:42Best 44:58 Scullion Garcia 2:31 EscosEscos 9:54Silva Moia 35:43 Bayfront Center, St. Petersburg, Florida St. Petersburg, Florida 5,787Zier Patrick Rowdies Whip Rochester To Win The Indoor Title March 28, 1976 Lakeland Ledger https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1346&dat=19760328&id=zmRNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=DfsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7273,6905762 2C September 15, 2016 W Statistics Scoring GP = Games Played, G = Goals (worth 2 points), A = Assists (worth 1 point), Pts = Points Player GP G A PtsClyde Best511527 Stewart Scullion56618Rodney Marsh44715Derek Smethurst4408Randy Garber5237Mark Lindsay5306Doug Wark3215Arsène Auguste4124Alex Pringle4113Joey Fink1102Eddie Austin1102John Bluem1011 Goalkeeping Note: GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; GA = Goals against; GAA = Goals against average; W = Wins; L = Losses Player GP Min GA GAA W LArnie Mausser 4 160 13 3.66 4 0Bob Stetler 2 65 5 3.46 1 0 See also 1976 team indoor stats References 1976 indoor Category:Tampa Bay Rowdies (1975–1993) seasons Tampa Bay Rowdies Tampa Bay Rowdies Tampa Bay Rowdies Tampa Bay Rowdies