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All year long, we will be bringing you up close to members of the Tampa Bay Rowdies team.

In this installment of the 2012 Get to Know the Rowdies, we feature forward Matt Clare, who is in his second season with Tampa Bay.

This season, Matt has played in 11 matches with four starts, including his first career start at Atlanta on April 21. Matt has scored goals against Ft. Lauderdale on April 28 and the lone goal in Tampa Bay's 3-1 loss to Major League Soccer's Colorado Rapids in the third round of the U.S. Open Cup.

Last season with the Rowdies, Matt played in six matches and scored two goals in league play. He also scored the game-winning goal in the exhibition match against the English Premier League’s Bolton Wanderers.

Matt, the son of former Ft. Lauderdale Strikers defender John Clare, played in the Premier Development League with the West Virginia Chaos in 2008, scoring two goals in eight games played. In 2009, he appeared in 10 matches with the Bradenton Academics and tallied one goal.


Typical pre-game meal
Chicken and salad

Most memorable soccer moment thus far
Scoring against Bolton

Growing up what soccer team did you support?
Manchester United

All-time favorite soccer player
Zinedine Zidane

What is your favorite thing about soccer?
Scoring goals

Favorite sporting event to watch
Champions League Finals

Favorite athlete outside of soccer
Michael Jordan

Favorite TV show
King of Queens

Best event you have ever seen in person
The Masters

Someone you have met through soccer who you would consider an inspiration
Brady Bryant

Three words to describe you
Funny, Outgoing, and Go-Getter

What do you like doing in your free time?
Working out and spending time with friends and family

What is your biggest fear?
Spiders

Who is your hero?
My dad, because he has been the biggest influence in my life

Choose One:
Gatorade or Powerade: Gatorade
Cats or Dogs: Dogs
Coffee or Tea: Tea
Facebook or Twitter: Twitter
Chocolate or Vanilla: Vanilla
X-Box or PlayStation: PlayStation