Full name | Florida Beach Soccer Football Club | ||
---|---|---|---|
Nickname(s) | Florida Beach Soccer; FBS-FC | ||
Founded | 2010 | ||
Dissolved | 2013 | ||
Ground | Fort Lauderdale / Miami, Florida | ||
GM & HC | Chris Antonopoulos | ||
President | Erich Khunke | ||
Florida Beach Soccer FC was a professional beach soccer team based in Miami, Florida, United States, active from 2010 to 2013. Founded by multiple U.S. Beach Soccer National Team players, the team achieved significant success in national and international competitions and winning multiple championships.
Florida Beach Soccer FC was established in 2010 by a group of U.S. National Beach Soccer Team players. The team quickly rose to prominence in the U.S. beach soccer scene, competing in high-profile tournaments across North America and the Caribbean. The team was built from the ground-up into a championship winning team. [1] In addition to its competitive achievements, Florida Beach Soccer FC also fostered the development of beach soccer talent through a youth soccer program.
Several players from the U.S. Beach Soccer National Team, took part in coaching youth teams under the FBS umbrella. This initiative helped grow the sport in South Florida and provided an opportunity for young athletes to train with some of the top beach soccer players in the world. [2]
The team also received national exposure through the winter edition of USL Breakaway on Fox Soccer Channel, which helped grow its visibility and expand the sport’s reach. Furthermore, the team entered into a five-year sponsorship deal with Admiral Sportswear, strengthening its business model and supporting its professional ambitions. [3]
Notable Players (with confirmed US Beach MNT or pro affiliations):
Additional Squad Members:
Below is a chart summarizing the championships and key results (2010–2013).
Year | Tournament | Result | Details |
---|---|---|---|
2010 | North American Sand Soccer Championship U.S. Open | 3rd Place | Held in Virginia Beach, VA; Florida Beach Soccer placed third in the professional U.S. Open division championship. [19] |
2010 | Clearwater Beach Soccer Tournament | Champions | Hosted in Clearwater, FL; part of the Major Beach Soccer National Championship Series by the United Soccer League. Won the title. [20] |
2011 | North American Sand Soccer Championship U.S. Open | Champions | Held in Virginia Beach, VA; secured the U.S. Open national championship. [21] [22] [23] |
2011 | BagoSports Beach Football Invitational | Champions | In Trinidad and Tobago; went undefeated, winning the Caribbean Championship with a 5–3 final victory over Stokely Vale FC. [24] [25] [23] |
2011 | Clearwater Beach Soccer Tournament | Champions | Hosted in Clearwater, FL; defended their title from 2010, going back-to-back. [20] |
2011 | Beach Soccer Championship | Competed | Participated in Oceanside, CA. |
2012 | North American Sand Soccer Championship U.S. Open | Champions | Held in Virginia Beach, VA; successfully defended their 2011 national title, going back-to-back. [26] [17] [27] |
2013 | North American Sand Soccer Championship U.S. Open | Runners-Up | Held in Virginia Beach, VA; finished second, narrowly missing a third consecutive U.S. Open national title, losing to HRSC in the finals. [28] [29] |
2013 | Beach Soccer Championship | Competed | Participated in Oceanside, CA. |
After their active years from 2009 to 2013, key figures from Florida Beach Soccer FC pursued new ventures within the soccer community:
Florida Beach Soccer FC played an important role in the development of beach soccer in the U.S., winning at least five documented titles and contributing to the growth of the sport in South Florida. Their success coincided with efforts to professionalize beach soccer in the United States. The team's participation in media coverage through Fox Soccer Channel and a sponsorship deal with Admiral Sportswear reflected the increasing visibility of beach soccer as a competitive sport. [3]
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