From signing autographs to going to visiting schools, The Tampa Bay Sun (Football Club) FC is building community for young fans.
By Emily McLaughlin
TAMPA, Fla. — Since last season’s Super League title match, the Tampa Bay Sun FC played their well-known rivals Fort Lauderdale United FC on Oct. 4 again with a tied score of 0-0 at Suncoast Credit Union Field. Throughout the game, both on and off the field, the community support, specifically with young fans, shone through and through.
These young fans are not just spectators but dreamers; they watch their heroes up close, realizing that their own soccer ambitions can come to life.
For the players within the Tampa Bay Sun FC, the connection to the next generation is one of the most rewarding parts of playing.
“The opportunity to see these amazing women play, to be in the front row to watch them live. It’s what I wanted growing up,” Head Coach Denise Schilte-Brown said to The Minaret in a post-conference. “Without that vision, you don’t put in the extra work sometimes, because it just doesn’t seem tangible. But now that they see them live, and they’re like, wow, these women are phenomenal. I think they’re just going to practice a little bit earlier. They’re staying a little bit longer. They’re putting in the work as their dream can be reality, and these women are making that come true.”
No. 35, Sydney Nesello, said that being on the team and branching out to the community is the best part of the job.
Nesello said, “There’s a kid that says that I’m her twin, and she said to me, ‘I didn’t want to be a forward, but now I do, because I come here and I love watching you play,’ and I just love that and take that to heart.”
During the post-game conference, Brooke Hendrix, No. 15, said that when she was younger and watched women’s soccer, she would think the world of them. As a player herself, she explains how amazing it is to actually talk to the young girls with the close community they have.
“We are accessible,” Hendrix said. “We’re able to talk to them about the game and get to know their names. It’s really cool to be able to not only meet them and sign their shirts but also be a part of the community and show we’re real people too.”
The heart of the players and staff extends beyond their playing. The Tampa Bay Sun players are active within the community, hosting free youth soccer clinics, visiting schools, and showing fans that the professional athletes they watch are also approachable and real people.
The fan support for the Tampa Bay Sun is a core part of the team’s identity and value.
“Without them, we really are nothing, and the job is not as fun,” Nesello said. “We try to give back to the community any way we can, and if that’s a five-second interaction after a game, letting them know that we’re here and we see them, we’re gonna do that every single time.”
The Tampa Bay Sun has become more than just a team; it has become a beacon of hope for the young, inspiring athletes. By showing up in the community and proving that professional soccer is growing and developing, the Tampa Bay Sun is here to stay, and for the better.
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Photo courtesy of Hannah Walls.