FC Tampa Bay Rowdies Host International Player Combine at Liverpool Football Club

LIVERPOOL, England--(BUSINESS WIRE)--FC Tampa Bay Rowdies (Rowdies) will host its second invitation-only combine next month as part of the building process for its 2010 inaugural team roster. The combine will take place at the Liverpool FC Academy training facilities on Tuesday, December 15, 2009 and Wednesday, December 16, 2009, featuring professional players from several countries.

“Liverpool has graciously opened its doors to the Rowdies at a critical point in our team development”

“We are working tirelessly in our pursuit to find the best players available for the Rowdies to enable us to contend for the NASL title from day one,” said Paul Dalglish, head coach of the Rowdies. “This international combine is a truly special and unique opportunity for us to evaluate players from overseas.”

On Tuesday, December 15, 2009, invited players will participate in 30-minute scrimmage games and will be evaluated by the Rowdies coaching staff and scouts. Rowdies staff will then select the best players to compete in a 90-minute exhibition game against a Liverpool FC team on Wednesday, December 16, 2009 at 1:30 p.m. local time. Head Coach Paul Dalglish, Technical Director Perry Van Der Beck and Owner Andrew Nestor will be in attendance for the Rowdies.

“Liverpool has graciously opened its doors to the Rowdies at a critical point in our team development,” said Nestor. “This has never been done by a soccer club of Liverpool’s stature and we are extremely grateful to Liverpool for this opportunity.”

The Rowdies have already held one professional combine in Tampa in October 2009 and plan to hold another combine, with a focus on domestic collegiate players, in January 2010.

About FC Tampa Bay Rowdies:

FC Tampa Bay Rowdies is a men’s professional soccer team, which will begin play in the new North American Soccer League (NASL) beginning April 2010. From 1975 to 1984, the original Rowdies played in the NASL and won the NASL championship in its inaugural season. The Rowdies also played in the NASL championship game in 1978 and 1979. In 1988, the Rowdies joined the American Soccer League (ASL) where they played until the team and league folded in 1993. For more information, visit www.tbrowdies.com.