The 2018 Tampa Bay Rowdies season was the club's ninth season of existence, and their second in the

United Soccer League United Soccer League (USL), formerly known as United Soccer Leagues, is a Association football, soccer league in the United States and Canada. It organizes several men's and women's leagues, both professional and amateur. Men's leagues curren ...

. Including the previous Tampa Bay Rowdies, it was the 25th season of a franchise in the Tampa Bay metro area with the Rowdies moniker. Including the now-defunct

Tampa Bay Mutiny Tampa Bay Mutiny was a professional soccer team based in Tampa, Florida. They were a charter member of Major League Soccer (MLS) and played from 1996 to 2001. They played their home games at Tampa Stadium and then at Raymond James Stadium. The ...

, this was the 31st season of professional soccer in the Tampa Bay region.

Club

On October 2, 2018, the

Tampa Bay Rays The Tampa Bay Rays are an American professional baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East division. Since its inception ...

baseball club announced their purchase the Rowdies for an undisclosed amount, pending St. Petersburg City Council approval. Once the sale was finalized, Rays presidents

Matthew Silverman Matthew Silverman (born May 20, 1976) is an American professional baseball executive. He is currently the co-president, along with Brian Auld, of the Tampa Bay Rays of Major League Baseball (MLB). Biography Silverman is Jewish and was raised in ...

and

Brian Auld Brian Auld is an American professional baseball executive. He is currently the co-president, along with Matthew Silverman, of the Tampa Bay Rays of Major League Baseball (MLB). Career Auld received his bachelor's degree in economics and master's ...

became vice chairmen of the soccer club. They, along with Rowdies vice president and chief operating officer Lee Cohen, became the team's directors.

Roster

Technical staff

Neill Collins Neill William Collins (born 2 September 1983) is a Scottish football manager and former player who is the head coach of USL Championship side Tampa Bay Rowdies. He is a former Scotland U21 and Scotland B international who played as a centre ...

- head coach ''(beginning May 18)'' *

Cheyne Roberts Weston Cheyne Roberts (born March 27, 1988 in Plant City, Florida) is a retired American soccer player. Career Youth and college Roberts attended Plant City High School, and played college soccer at Palm Beach Atlantic University. He was named t ...

– assistant coach *

Martin Paterson Martin Andrew Paterson (born 10 May 1987) is a former professional footballer and assistant head coach of club Barnsley. Born in Stoke-on-Trent, he played as a forward he began his career with Stoke City, making his senior debut in April 200 ...

– assistant coach *

Stuart Dobson Stuart Dobson (born 10 February 1970) is an English retired footballer who played in various indoor soccer leagues in the United States. He currently serves as Goalkeepers Coach for the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the USL Championship. Playing caree ...

– goalkeeper coach * Blain Bott – strength and conditioning coach * Bentley Smith – kit man * '' Stuart Campbell – head coach (until May 17)''

Medical staff

* Andrew Keane – head athletic trainer * Michelle Leget – assistant athletic trainer * Robert Dixon – message therapist * Dr. Koco Eaton – team physician and orthopedic surgeon * Dr. Mohit Bansal – team physician and orthopedic surgeon * Dr. Christopher Salud – team physician * Dr. Samuel Meyers – team chiropractor

Front office

Stuart Sternberg Stuart L. Sternberg (born August 8, 1959) is an American Wall Street investor. He is the principal shareholder of the ownership group that owns the Tampa Bay Rays and acts as the team's Managing General Partner since November 2005. Early life T ...

– owner ''(beginning October 2)'' * Lee Cohen – vice president and chief operating officer *

– vice chairmen ''(beginning October 2)'' *

– vice chairmen ''(beginning October 2)'' * Bill Edwards – chairman, chief executive officer and governor ''(until October 2)''

Competitions

Preseason / Friendlies

The Rowdies hosted

Major League Soccer Major League Soccer (MLS) is a men's professional soccer league sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation, which represents the sport's highest level in the United States. The league comprises 29 teams—26 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada ...

teams in the Suncoast Invitational for the third year in a row.

USL

USL Eastern Conference table

Results summary

Results by round

Results

U.S. Open Cup

References

{{2018 in American soccer

Tampa Bay Rowdies The Tampa Bay Rowdies are an American professional Association football, soccer team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The club was founded in 2008 and first took the pitch in 2010. Since 2017, the Rowdies have been members of the USL Champions ...

Tampa Bay Rowdies (2010–) seasons

Sports in St. Petersburg, Florida