[photo by Rosa Cavalcanti]

• by Joe Curtis, writing from Miami, FL

The Florida Derby has returned, 26 years after the end of the original North American Soccer League. The teams have played before, in the ASL and USL (Strikers were Miami FC), but will meet for the first time in the new NASL. Both the Strikers and Rowdies are in the bottom half of the standings six games into the 2011 NASL season. Both clubs are 1-3-2, with the Strikers coming off a frustrating 4-2 loss at the hands of the Carolina Railhawks last Wednesday, and the Rowdies coming off a 1-1 tie with FC Edmonton.

In the old NASL the Tampa Bay Rowdies, led by Rodney Marsh, played in three Soccer Bowls (1975, 1978, 1979), and won one Championship in 1975 when they beat the Portland Timbers 2-0. Their run to the Championship in back-to-back years in 78' and 79' were stopped short by the New York Cosmos and Vancouver Whitecaps, respectively.

The Fort Lauderdale Strikers, on the other hand, only reached one Soccer Bowl: the 1980 Soccer Bowl against the New York Cosmos, which they lost 3-0. Like the this year's Miami Heat team, the Strikers had their own "Big Three" in 1980: Gerd Müller, Teófilo Cubillas, and Ray Hudson. It is also worth mentioning that from 1978 to 1979 the Strikers also had the services of a member of the "United Trinity", George Best.

The Florida Derby has had its moments. A great example is when the Strikers defeated the Rowdies 3-2 in a North American Soccer League playoff match on August 20, 1978. The Rowdies would come back to win the second game of the series and the mini-game tiebreaker to earn a trip to Soccer Bowl '78 against the Cosmos. However, the 3-2 victory (see the video below) shows the passion of the players and supporters in the rivalry.


This saturday the rivalry re-emerges. The Strikers have started their "Defend The Fort" campaign in an attempt to get 10,000 fans to Lockhart in time for the 7:30 kickoff. It may be something that could be accompished. Just in case, the Strikers are also selling tickets to the August 3rd matchup between Spanish juggernaut Barcelona and Mexican club Chivas, who will play at Sun Life Stadium in Miami in the World Football Challenge. Fans who purchase tickets will also receive tickets to the Strikers next home game against a future MLS club, the Montreal Impact, on May 28th.

“We know it’s a big game for our fans but it’s an even bigger game for us on the field coming off a loss yesterday,” said Head Coach Daryl Shore. “We feel this is a game we have to win and we'll give every effort to take three points from this game.”

• via Strikers.com

The Fort Lauderdale Strikers have announced they will be selling tickets to the much anticipated FC Barcelona vs. Chivas de Guadalajara match on August 3rd at Sun Life Stadium. Tickets will go on sale at the Strikers home match this Saturday, May 14th at 7:30 p.m. against FC Tampa Bay. With each FC Barcelona vs. Chivas ticket purchase, fans will receive a ticket to the Strikers next home match against the Montreal Impact on May 28th.

“We are obviously excited about having one of the world’s top clubs, F.C. Barcelona, coming to play in our community. We know our fans will appreciate the convenience of purchasing these tickets at our game on Saturday night. The soccer community is unified in its desire to sell out Sun Life Stadium for this extraordinary event,” said Strikers President Tim Robbie.

The Strikers will be selling premium seating in various price categories throughout Sun Life Stadium. Ticket prices range from $40 dollars up to $105. Below is a breakdown of all the tickets that will be on sale:

Sideline lower level - $105

Sideline upper level- $55

End zone lower level -$70

End zone upper level -$40

For more information you can call 954.606.0400 or visit www.strikers.com.

In 1977 the legendary tenure of the Fort Lauderdale Strikers began. World renown players such as Nene Cubillas, Ray Hudson, Gerd Muller, and George Best graced the pitch of Lockhart Stadium every weekend and brought an exciting brand of soccer to Fort Lauderdale soccer fans.

via. miamisoccerfan.com

The Fort Lauderdale Strikers unveiled their new logo at Fort Lauderdale's Centennial Celebration yesterday. The logo was designed by 343RLP+ creative group, who are responsible for the Brand Identity & Naming of the Houston Dynamo, Real Salt Lake, and Toronto FC.  The iconic Red and Yellow stripes should be familiar to those who have some knowledge of the team and/or the NASL. The logo also has the iconic pillars of Los Olas Boulevard, in Fort Lauderdale.

"This new Fort Lauderdale Strikers logo reflects the rich history of our club and embodies everything we represent." said Strikers President Tim Robbie. "The incorporation of the wave wall columns of Las Olas into the logo and the logo unveiling at the Fort Lauderdale centennial celebration underline the inextricable link between the Strikers and the city of Fort Lauderdale," said Strikers President Tim Robbie.

"Our main objective was to develop a visual brand identity program evolving key attributes of the Strikers brand representing the traditional heritage of the old Fort Lauderdale Strikers, while also capturing the passion of the team brand more suitable for the 21st Century," said Rich Levy, Principal and Design Director of 343RLP+ Creative Group. "We are excited and feel we have accomplished that by capturing the brand essence of the team and institution."

The Strikers' new jersey will be unveiled Tuesday night.

What are your thoughts on the logo?

The Fort Lauderdale Strikers hosted the New York Red Bulls in their first pre-season match of the 2011 season. The Strikers announced the game 48 hours before kickoff and around 3,000 people attended. I was one of those fans and brought along my Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi.

• via NASL

From 1977 to 1983, the Fort Lauderdale Strikers were among the premier professional soccer clubs in North America. In 2009, Miami FC brought professional soccer back to Fort Lauderdale. In 2010, Miami FC announced that they would honor the legacy of the Strikers starting in 2011 with the launch of the new NASL.