“There’s a great echo in the stadium that makes everything seem louder,” Burt said. “It creates a good atmosphere.”
That’s the general positive consensus among many of the players on FCTB. They are ready for a successful second year since the Rowdies name was revived last year after 10 years without professional soccer in Tampa Bay.
Now simply known as FC Tampa Bay, the team is also in its first year as a member of the newly sanctioned North American Soccer League (NASL). It is their first season under head coach Ricky Hill and their first year in their new home of Al Lang Field in St. Petersburg.
“This field is wider and more open for the players to play on, and we’re not scared to cross the ball into that dirt anymore,” Burt said.
Burt was born and raised in St. Petersburg and graduated from Northeast High School. He attended the University of Tampa where he played on the UT Spartans soccer team alongside current teammate and Lakeland resident Pascal Millien. While playing for the Spartans, Burt simultaneously played for the MLS’ Colorado Rapids Under 23 team and later for the Atlanta Silverbacks’ U23 squad.
“I’ve played on other teams and it just feels right about being home,” Burt said. “I’ve been all over the place, so it’s been hard for [my family and friends] to get to games.”
Burt made his professional soccer debut with the Milwaukee Wave in 2008 and played with current teammate and Tampa native J.P. Rodrigues in Major League Indoor Soccer. When he joined the Rowdies in 2010, his family and friends were thrilled to be able to see him play professionally in his hometown.
“It’s really nice to be able to see his games,” Burt’s father, Hans Burt, said. “When he played in Milwaukee, we only got to watch him on the computer. Now we get to go to all his home games. We plan our day around it.”
In his spare time, the younger Burt works with his father as an assistant director of coaching at Strictly Soccer FC, a St. Petersburg-based youth soccer organization that he played for growing up. It offered him the opportunity to train year-round, which he could not have done playing high school soccer. At every home game, a large group of his players and fellow coaches from Strictly Soccer come out to cheer on their coach. They all wear shirts with 77, his jersey number, drawn on them.
“I have a little following,” he said. “It’s good for them to come out and see a higher level of soccer being played in the community, and then we talk about what they saw on the field.”
Facing Burt while he is taking shots from just outside the 18-yard box is goalkeeper Jeff Attinella, a Clearwater native. Attinella is a Countryside High School graduate and was the starter for the Bulls all four years of his college career at USF. He led the team to four NCAA Tournament appearances, including a trip to the Elite Eight. He was also named Big East Goalkeeper of the Year in 2009.
Attinella, who is currently backing up starting keeper Daryl Sattler, is excited he can also play with family and friends in attendance.
“It’s always nice to be around your family,” he said. “They came to all my college games—home and away—so knowing that they can still come to games here and support me helps. It’s good for local players to have people come out and support them and the team.”
Many players and fans enjoy the environment downtown St. Petersburg has to offer and are glad that pro soccer has become part of the community.
“I just love it here,” Burt said. “[This] is a phenomenal area, and I’d love to stay here the rest of my life.”
By Colin O’Hara, contributing writer
