Florida Beach Soccer FC was a professional beach soccer team based in South Florida, United States, active from 2009 to 2013. Founded by multiple national team players, the team achieved significant success in national and international competitions, winning multiple championships, including the North American Sand Soccer Championship (NASSC) in 2011 and 2012, and the BagoSports Beach Football Invitational in 2011. The squad featured several players from the United States Men's National Beach Soccer Team, contributing to its prominence during its peak years.
History
Florida Beach Soccer FC was fully-established in 2010 by a group of U.S. National Beach Soccer Team players. The team quickly rose to prominence in the U.S. beach soccer scene, competing in high-profile tournaments across North America and the Caribbean. The team was built from the ground-up into a championship winning team.[1] In addition to its competitive achievements, Florida Beach Soccer FC also fostered the development of beach soccer talent through a youth soccer program.
Several players from the U.S. Beach Soccer National Team, took part in coaching youth teams under the FBS umbrella. This initiative helped grow the sport in South Florida and provided an opportunity for young athletes to train with some of the top beach soccer players in the world.[2]
Coaching staff and players
Head Coach
Chris Antonopoulos led Florida Beach Soccer FC as its general manager and head coach throughout its existence. Initially played as the team's goalkeeper in its inaugural year but transitioned to coaching full-time after sustaining knee and shoulder injuries.[3]
Players
The team included several players affiliated with the U.S. Beach Soccer National Team, though complete rosters are not publicly archived. Confirmed players include:
- Chris Antonopoulos a former goalkeeper for Florida International University[4] and the Fort Lauderdale Strikers,[5] he also served as a goalkeeper and assistant coach for the U.S. National Beach Soccer Team during the 2006 Concacaf Beach Soccer Championship and Beach Soccer World Cup 2006.[6]
- Benyam Astorga, a veteran of the U.S. Beach Soccer National Team with experience in multiple Concacaf Championships and is the current assistant coach of Beach MNT.[7][8]
- Oscar Gil, a multi-sport athlete who competed with the U.S. Beach Soccer and Futsal National Teams, with prior experience at Miami FC and Vasco de Gama.[9]
- Francis Farberoff, who captained the U.S. National Team from 2003 to 2014 and participated in four FIFA Beach Soccer World Cups (2005, 2006, 2007, 2013) and was the assistant and head coach of Men's Beach MNT.[10]
- Erich Kuhnke served as the President of Florida Beach Soccer FC and also contributed as a player. He played collegiate soccer at Coastal Carolina University.[11]
Competitive record
Florida Beach Soccer FC competed in numerous tournaments between 2009 and 2013, achieving the following results:
Championships and Key Results (2010–2013)
| Year | Tournament | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | North American Sand Soccer Championship | 3rd Place |
| 2010 | Clearwater Beach Soccer Tournament | Champions |
| 2011 | North American Sand Soccer Championship | Champions |
| 2011 | BagoSports Beach Football Invitational | Champions |
| 2011 | Clearwater Beach Soccer Tournament | Champions |
| 2012 | North American Sand Soccer Championship | Champions |
| 2013 | North American Sand Soccer Championship | Runners-Up |
| 2013 | Beach Soccer Championships (Oceanside) | Competed |
2010
- North American Sand Soccer Championship (NASSC), Virginia Beach, VA: Placed third.
- Clearwater Beach Soccer Tournament, Clearwater, FL: Champions. Part of the Major Beach Soccer National Championship Series sponsored by the United Soccer League.[12]
2011
- North American Sand Soccer Championship (NASSC), Virginia Beach, VA: Champions.[13]
- BagoSports Beach Football Invitational, Trinidad and Tobago: Champions. The team completed the tournament undefeated, securing the Caribbean Championship title with a 5–3 victory over Stokely Vale FC.[14][15]
- Clearwater Beach Soccer Tournament, Clearwater, FL: Champions.[16]
2012
- North American Sand Soccer Championship (NASSC), Virginia Beach, VA: Champions. The team successfully defended its title from the previous year.[17]
2013
- North American Sand Soccer Championship (NASSC), Virginia Beach, VA: Runners-up.[18]
- Beach Soccer Championships, Oceanside, CA.[19]
Post-development
After their active years from 2009 to 2013, key figures from Florida Beach Soccer FC pursued new ventures within the soccer community:
- FBS FC (Futbol, Beach Soccer, Futsal Club): In 2012, Francis Farberoff co-founded along with Oscar Gil FBS FC, a youth soccer club based in Miami, Florida, dedicated to promoting and developing youth soccer in North Miami and South Broward.[20] Farberoff continues to serve as the club's president.
- Miami United FC: In 2012, Erich Kuhnke co-founded Miami United,[21] a professional soccer team based in Miami, Florida.
- Chris Antonopoulos: Following his tenure with Florida Beach Soccer FC, Antonopoulos shifted his focus to private youth coaching, contributing to the development of young soccer talent in the Palm Beach region.
See also
United States Beach Soccer National Team
North American Sand Soccer Championship
References
- ^ By (2011-11-06). "Getting their kicks in the sand". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved 2025-03-04.
- ^ "Breeding Beach Soccer Talent". Beach Soccer Worldwide. 2014-03-18. Retrieved 2025-03-04.
- ^ By (2011-11-06). "Getting their kicks in the sand". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved 2025-03-04.
- ^ "2007 FIU Men's Soccer Media Guide by Ivan Irizarry - Issuu". issuu.com. 2008-05-21. Retrieved 2025-03-04.
- ^ "APSL 1993 Season". a-leaguearchive.tripod.com. Retrieved 2025-03-04.
- ^ "CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship 2006 by Concacaf - Issuu". issuu.com. 2013-12-18. Retrieved 2025-03-04.
- ^ "Breeding Beach Soccer Talent". Beach Soccer Worldwide. Retrieved March 4, 2025.
- ^ "U.S. Men's Beach Soccer National Team Head Coach Francis Farberoff Names Final 12-Player Roster for 2024 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in United Arab Emirates | U.S. Soccer Official Website". www.ussoccer.com. Retrieved 2025-03-04.
- ^ "Oscar Gil (soccer, born 1983)", Wikipedia, 2025-02-25, retrieved 2025-03-04
- ^ "Francis Farberoff Named Head Coach of U.S. Beach Soccer National Teams". U.S. Soccer. July 2020. Retrieved March 4, 2025.
- ^ "All-Time Rosters" (PDF). 2006.
- ^ "Soccer Invades Clearwater Beach". Clearwater, FL Patch. 2011-07-19. Retrieved 2025-03-04.
- ^ By (2011-11-06). "Getting their kicks in the sand". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved 2025-03-04.
- ^ "Beach football team places third in T/dad Invitational tourney". Stabroek News. 2011-11-23. Retrieved 2025-03-04.
- ^ "Top players for BagoSports beach tourney". Trinidad Express Newspapers. 2011-11-08. Retrieved 2025-03-04.
- ^ "Soccer Invades Clearwater Beach". Clearwater, FL Patch. 2011-07-19. Retrieved 2025-03-04.
- ^ "Getting their kicks in the sand". Sun Sentinel. 2011-11-06. Retrieved 2025-03-04.
- ^ "North American Sand Soccer Championships in Virginia Beach". News 3 WTKR Norfolk. 2013-06-13. Retrieved 2025-03-04.
- ^ "Florida Beach Soccer competes in annual Beach Soccer tournament in Oceanside, CA | Soccer tournament, Soccer, Florida beaches". Pinterest. Retrieved 2025-03-04.
- ^ "FBSFC | Soccer Club and School, Miami FL". fbssoccer. Retrieved 2025-03-04.
- ^ "Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2025-03-04.