News

FC Tampa Bay returned to the practice field Wednesday morning at Shimberg Fields. The session was the first for the club following Monday night's impressive 4-2 victory over Ft. Lauderdale at Al Lang Stadium as part of Light Up The Bay 7.4.

The 2011 NASL season has reached the halfway point and FC Tampa Bay stands in a tie for fifth place with the Strikers at 17 points, just two points behind fourth-place NSC Minnesota. The top six teams make the 2011 playoffs.

Forward Mike Ambersley has scored five goals in the last five matches and ranks third in the league with a team-high seven goals this season. FC Tampa Bay is on a scoring roll as a team with nine goals in the last four matches after scoring just eight goals in the first 10 games of the season.

"We have shown more consistency as a team lately and are looking more like a cohesive unit," said head coach Ricky Hill. "But there still is a lot of work to be done to reach our true potential."

FC Tampa Bay returns to action this Saturday, July 9 at 8:05 p.m. when it travels to Puerto Rico to take on the Islanders. Following the match, FCTB hosts the English Premier League's Bolton Wanderers in an international friendly next Thursday, July 14 at 7:30 p.m. at Al Lang Stadium. To purchase tickets, call (813) 287-1539 or click here.

INJURY UPDATES
Midfielder Chad Burt (foot) and midfielder/defender Takuya Yamada (groin) are doubtful for this Saturday's match at Puerto Rico. Burt has missed the last five matches, while Yamada has been sidelined for two of the last three games.