Fort Lauderdale United FC

Last updated
Fort Lauderdale United FC
Fort Lauderdale United FC logo 2024.png
FoundedNovember 21, 2023
Stadium Beyond Bancard Field at NSU
CEOTommy Smith
Head Coach Tyrone Mears
League USL Super League
Website https://www.ftlutd.com/
Soccerball current event.svg Current season

Fort Lauderdale United FC is a professional women's soccer team based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The club plays in the USL Super League, a new Division I league operated by the United Soccer League, and will participate in the USL Super League's inaugural season beginning in August 2024. [1] The team will play its home matches at a new soccer specific stadium being constructed at Nova Southeastern University.

Contents

The club is principally owned by Tommy Smith, who serves as Chair and CEO.

History

On November 21, 2023, the USL Super League announced that it had awarded a franchise to Fort Lauderdale, making it the first professional women's soccer team in South Florida. [2]

On January 25, 2024, former Premier League superstar Tyrone Mears was announced as the team's first head coach. [3] On May 14, 2024, Felicia Knox was revealed as the team's first ever signing after being drafted by Angel City FC in the 2024 NWSL Draft. [4] One day later, the club welcomed defender Laveni Vaka who made history as Tonga's first female professional soccer player. [5] On June 26, 2024, the club announced its full coaching staff, with Alissa Rogers as Associate Head Coach and former Fort Lauderdale Strikers star Aly Hassan as Director of Recruitment. [6]

Stadium

In November 2024, the team's home stadium at Nova Southeastern University on the site of the former Miami Dolphins training facility was rebranded from NSU Soccer Field to Beyond Bancard Field. [7] [8] [9] The $7 million project, which seats nearly 7,000 fans, is the result of a multi-year exclusive naming-rights agreement between FTL UTD and Beyond Bancard, a provider of payment-processing solutions. [9] [10] [11]

Included in the agreement are exclusive stadium-wide Beyond Bancard branding and a new stadium logo featured on all signage and LED boards. Beyond Bancard also acts as the team’s presenting sponsor for weekly kids’ soccer clinics and participates in giveaways, content series, and exclusive email offers for FTL UTD fans. [9]

Identity

The name and crest were unveiled on February 29, 2024. [7] The Fort Lauderdale United FC crest features the initials FTL prominently displayed, meant to intertwine like the canals of the city. The “glint” represents the vibrant sun bouncing off the waters the region is known for. The club’s colors represent Fort Lauderdale’s world-renowned beaches and shallow waters, with seafoam green contrasting the ocean blue.

Fort Lauderdale United FC is abbreviated to FTL UTD for short.

Players and staff

Current roster

As of November 11, 2024*Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.Pos.NationPlayer
1 GK Flag of the United States.svg  USA Cosette Morché
2 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Delaney Lindahl
3 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Sheyenne Allen
4 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Celia Gaynor
5 DF Flag of Tonga.svg  TGA Laveni Vaka
6 MF Flag of South Africa.svg  RSA Anele Komani
7 MF Flag of Bermuda.svg  BER Nia Christopher
8 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Felicia Knox
10 FW Flag of Brazil.svg  BRA Erica Gomes
11 FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Sh'Nia Gordon
12 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Darya Rajaee
14 FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Gianna Gourley
No.Pos.NationPlayer
15 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Adrienne Jordan
16 FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Anna Henderson
17 FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Jasmine Hamid
18 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Addie McCain
19 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Cameron Brooks
21 FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Tatiana Fung
22 FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Thelma Hermansdottir
23 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Taylor Smith
24 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Reese Klein
31 GK Flag of the United States.svg  USA Heather Hinz
43 GK Flag of the United States.svg  USA Makenna Gottschalk

Staff

As of October 24, 2024*

Front office
PositionName
Chairman & founderTommy Smith
CEOTommy Smith
Technical staff
Head Coach Tyrone Mears
Associate Head CoachAli Rogers
VP of Team Operations & Player Affairs
Head Athletic TrainerKiara Giles
Equipment ManagerKeneil Gibbs
Performance CoachJeff Duarte
Goalkeeper CoachAaron Ingham

Records

Year-by-year

SeasonLeagueRegular seasonPlayoffsAvg. attendanceTop Goalscorer
PWDLGFGAPtsPosName(s)Goals
2024–25 USLS 42113244th Flag of the United States.svg Addie McCain 5

Head coaching record

As of September 13, 2024

Only competitive matches are counted.*

All-time Fort Lauderdale United FC coaching records
NameNationalityFromToPWDLGFGAWin%
Tyrone Mears Flag of England.svg  England January 25, 2024present 42117462.50

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References

  1. "USL Super League adds team in Fort Lauderdale for inaugural 2024-25 season". equalizersoccer.com. The Equalizer. 21 November 2023. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  2. "USL Super League awards franchise to Fort Lauderdale". uslsuperleague.com. United Soccer League. 21 November 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  3. "Super League Fort Lauderdale Appoints Tyrone Mears as Club's First Head Coach". uslsuperleague.com. United Soccer League. 25 January 2024. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  4. "Fort Lauderdale United FC announces first player, Felicia Knox". uslsuperleague.com. United Soccer League. 14 May 2024. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  5. "Fort Lauderdale United FC makes history signing Tonga's first female professional soccer player, Laveni Vaka". ftlutd.com. Fort Lauderdale United FC. 15 May 2024. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  6. "Fort Lauderdale United FC rounds out its coaching staff with dynamic Associate Head Coach and Head of Recruitment Appointments". ftlutd.com. Fort Lauderdale United FC. 26 June 2024. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  7. 1 2 "FORT LAUDERDALE UNITED FC, ANNOUNCES NAME AND CREST". uslsuperleague.com. United Soccer League. 29 February 2024. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  8. "Nova Southeastern University to be Home to Super League Fort Lauderdale Women's Professional Soccer Team". news.nova.edu. Nova Southeastern University. 21 November 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  9. 1 2 3 "Fort Lauderdale United FC & Beyond Bancard Strike Multi-Year Seven Figure Naming Rights Deal". ftlutd.com. Fort Lauderdale United FC. 8 November 2024. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  10. "Nova Southeastern University stadium to host new pro soccer team, undergo $7M renovation". ftlutd.com. Fort Lauderdale United FC. 12 July 2024. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  11. "About Beyond Bancard" . Retrieved 9 November 2024.