Tampa Bay Rowdies Earn 2012 Fair Play Award

MIAMI, Fla. (Sept 27, 2012)  - The Tampa Bay Rowdies have earned the 2012 NASL Fair Play Award, given annually to the team that compiles the best discipline record during the regular season.  The winner of the award is determined by a weighted accumulation of yellow cards and red cards throughout the regular season.  This is the second consecutive year that Tampa Bay has earned this award.

Rowdies Coach Ricky Hill said, "I’m very delighted that the players have been recognized in this way.  The recognition is fantastic for the whole club in terms of the ethos of the club.  As a coach, I want my guys to play good, attractive football and win if possible. Of course everyone wants to win and that is the optimum goal for any side, but I’d like our side to win with a little bit of style.  I want our fans to come and be entertained and enjoy their experience of coming to Al Lang Stadium to see the Rowdies play.  I praise our players for the way they always go around about their work, not only on match days, but during the week and the discipline that they’ve shown throughout my time here.  They don’t get into dissent situations with referees or the players of other teams.  We don’t show any bench clearing and that’s all credit to them that they’ve taken that stance where they play hard, but know their limits.  And I must give credits to the players for their actions and their mannerisms since my time here."

For the second consecutive year, the Minnesota Stars finished as runners-up for the Fair Play Award.