VSI Tampa Bay FC

History

In 2011, the English development academy VisionPro Sports Institute announced a plan to launch a club within the United Soccer Leagues. It partnered with the West Florida Flames, a youth organization based near Brandon, Florida, to create VSI Tampa Flames. CEO Simon Crane called it a platform for vertical progression from youth soccer to the professional level. The USL Pro team was meant to be the top of the men's pyramid, with additional teams in the W-League, the USL Premier Development League, and the Super-20 League. The W-League, PDL, and Super-20 sides began play in 2012, while the USL Pro team joined in 2013. On November 22, 2012, the club was renamed VSI Tampa Bay FC, and Matt Weston was named head coach. The first match was on March 30, 2013, a 1-0 loss to Phoenix FC. The first win came on April 2, 2013, a 1-0 victory over the Los Angeles Blues, with Antonio Neto scoring the team's first goal. On April 4, 2013, Plant City Stadium became the home venue for all VSI teams. Weston resigned as head coach on May 8, 2013, and Joel Harrison took over as interim head coach. The USL Pro team struggled throughout its only season, hindered by the remote stadium location and competition from the more popular Tampa Bay Rowdies of the North American Soccer League. The entire organization folded after the 2013 season.