Florida Beach Soccer FC
| Full name | Florida Beach Soccer Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Florida Beach Soccer; FBS-FC | ||
| Founded | 2010 | ||
| Dissolved | 2013 | ||
| Ground | Fort Lauderdale / Miami, Florida | ||
| GM & HC | Chris Antonopoulos | ||
| President | Erich Khunke | ||
|
| |||
Florida Beach Soccer FC was a professional beach soccer team based in Miami, Florida, United States, active from 2010 to 2013. Founded by multiple U.S. Beach Soccer National Team players, the team achieved significant success in national and international competitions and winning multiple championships.
History
Florida Beach Soccer FC was 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]
The team also received national exposure through the winter edition of USL Breakaway on Fox Soccer Channel, which helped grow its visibility and expand the sport’s reach. Furthermore, the team entered into a five-year sponsorship deal with Admiral Sportswear, strengthening its business model and supporting its professional ambitions.[3]
Club leadership
- President: Erich Kuhnke
- Head Coach / General Manager: Chris Antonopoulos
- Team Captain: Francis Farberoff
Players
Notable Players (with confirmed US Beach MNT or pro affiliations):
- Chris Antonopoulos, Club original goalkeeper, head coach and general manger. He is a former FIU and Fort Lauderdale Strikers goalkeeper; U.S. National Beach Soccer Team (goalkeeper and assistant coach 2002-2006).[4]
- Erich Kuhnke, Club President and player; former Coastal Carolina and Miami Freedom player.[5][6]
- Benyam Astorga, veteran of multiple Concacaf Beach/FIFA Beach Soccer WC events; former head coach of Trinidad & Tobago Beach Soccer; current US Beach MNT assistant coach.[7][8]
- Oscar Gil, played for US Beach and Futsal National Teams; Miami FC, Vasco de Gama (beach).[9][10]
- Francis Farberoff, club captian, Former US Beach MNT player (2000-2014) and captain, 4x BS World Cup participant; current Bahamas Beach MNT coach.[11]
- Nick Perera, a key player in the 2012 US Open win; future US Beach MNT captain (2013–); indoor star.[12][13]
- Aldo Balsano, veteran US Beach MNT goalkeeper (2013–2016); founder of NBSL.[14]
- Betto Lima, Former Barry University and US Beach MNT player; CONCACAF beach soccer official; assistant Olympic coach for 2016 USA footvolley.[15][16]
Additional Squad Members:
- Gustavo Lopez
- Omar Jones
- Julio Alonso
- Chad Smith
- Marcos Amormin
- Daniel Fernandez
- Marcus Chantel
- Frank Rubio
- Erick Arevalo
- Alex Eixeira
Competitive record
Below is a chart summarizing the championships and key results (2010–2013).
| Year | Tournament | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | North American Sand Soccer Championship U.S. Open | 3rd Place | Held in Virginia Beach, VA; Florida Beach Soccer placed third in the professional U.S. Open division championship.[19] |
| 2010 | Clearwater Beach Soccer Tournament | Champions | Hosted in Clearwater, FL; part of the Major Beach Soccer National Championship Series by the United Soccer League. Won the title.[20] |
| 2011 | North American Sand Soccer Championship U.S. Open | Champions | Held in Virginia Beach, VA; secured the U.S. Open national championship.[21][22] [23] |
| 2011 | BagoSports Beach Football Invitational | Champions | In Trinidad and Tobago; went undefeated, winning the Caribbean Championship with a 5–3 final victory over Stokely Vale FC.[24][25][23] |
| 2011 | Clearwater Beach Soccer Tournament | Champions | Hosted in Clearwater, FL; defended their title from 2010, going back-to-back.[20] |
| 2011 | Beach Soccer Championship | Competed | Participated in Oceanside, CA. |
| 2012 | North American Sand Soccer Championship U.S. Open | Champions | Held in Virginia Beach, VA; successfully defended their 2011 national title, going back-to-back.[26][17][27] |
| 2013 | North American Sand Soccer Championship U.S. Open | Runners-Up | Held in Virginia Beach, VA; finished second, narrowly missing a third consecutive U.S. Open national title, losing to HRSC in the finals.[28][29] |
| 2013 | Beach Soccer Championship | Competed | Participated in Oceanside, CA. |
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 2014, Francis Farberoff and Oscar Gil co-founded FBS FC, a youth soccer club based in Miami, dedicated to promoting and developing youth soccer in North Miami and South Broward. Farberoff continues to serve as the club's president.[30]
- Miami United FC: In 2012, Erich Kuhnke co-founded Miami United. Which made it to the quarterfinals at the 2014 NASSC U.S. Open.[31]
- 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.
Legacy
Florida Beach Soccer FC played an important role in the development of beach soccer in the U.S., winning at least five documented titles and contributing to the growth of the sport in South Florida. Their success coincided with efforts to professionalize beach soccer in the United States. The team's participation in media coverage through Fox Soccer Channel and a sponsorship deal with Admiral Sportswear reflected the increasing visibility of beach soccer as a competitive sport.[3]
References
- ^ By (November 6, 2011). "Getting their kicks in the sand". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved March 4, 2025.
- ^ "Breeding Beach Soccer Talent". Beach Soccer Worldwide. March 18, 2014. Retrieved March 4, 2025.
- ^ a b "Sand and the Beautiful Game – International Soccer Network". Retrieved March 6, 2025.
- ^ "CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship 2006 by Concacaf - Issuu". issuu.com. December 18, 2013. Retrieved March 4, 2025.
- ^ "Erich Kuhnke | SoccerStats.us". soccerstats.us. Retrieved May 16, 2025.
- ^ "1992 Miami Freedom Division II and III soccer Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com. Archived from the original on December 7, 2021. Retrieved May 16, 2025.
- ^ "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 March 4, 2025.
- ^ Sanchez, Luis F. (May 15, 2006). "Dramatico triunfo de Miami". El Nuevo Herald (in Spanish). p. 30.
- ^ "Gil's Late Goal Lifts Miami". The Miami Herald. May 15, 2006. p. 44.
- ^ "Francis Farberoff Named Head Coach of U.S. Beach Soccer National Teams". U.S. Soccer. July 2020. Retrieved March 4, 2025.
- ^ "Stats - Major Arena Soccer League". www.maslsoccer.com. Retrieved May 16, 2025.
- ^ "Soto Names 12-Player Roster For 2019 FIFA Beach Soccer World". www.ussoccer.com. Retrieved May 16, 2025.
- ^ "Beach Soccer National Team Gathers for Second Camp of 2019 in California". www.ussoccer.com. Retrieved May 16, 2025.
- ^ "Betto Lima - Men's Soccer". Barry University Athletics. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
- ^ "FROM BOBCAT TO OLYMPIAN: MELONY POVIONES TO COMPETE IN RIO". St. Thomas University Athletics. February 19, 2025. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
- ^ a b Curreri, Gary (July 15, 2012). "Local beach soccer team repeats as national champs". Sun Sentinel.
- ^ By (November 6, 2011). "Getting their kicks in the sand". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
- ^ "2010 US OPEN" (PDF). www.sandsoccer.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 16, 2011. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
- ^ a b "Soccer Invades Clearwater Beach". Clearwater, FL Patch. July 19, 2011. Retrieved April 7, 2025.
- ^ "2011 COOP North American Sand Soccer Championships - FINAL RESULTS" (PDF). www.sandsoccer.com. July 16, 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 16, 2011. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
- ^ By (November 6, 2011). "Getting their kicks in the sand". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved April 7, 2025.
- ^ a b "Getting their kicks in the sand: Champion beach pro soccer team heading to the caribbean in quest for another title". SunSentinel.com. November 6, 2011.
- ^ "Beach football team places third in Trinidad Invitational tourney". Stabroek News. November 23, 2011. Retrieved April 7, 2025.
- ^ "Top players for BagoSports beach tourney". Trinidad Express Newspapers. November 8, 2011. Retrieved April 7, 2025.
- ^ robbie123 (March 7, 2025). "The Legacy of Beach Soccer Pioneer Chris Antonopoulos". Pro-am Beach Soccer. Retrieved April 7, 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "2012 Tournament Results | North American Sand Soccer Championships". sandsoccer.com. Archived from the original on January 13, 2013. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
- ^ "North American Sand Soccer Championships in Virginia Beach". News 3 WTKR Norfolk. June 13, 2013. Retrieved April 7, 2025.
- ^ "U.S. OPEN Schedule / Results | North American Sand Soccer Championships". www.sandsoccer.com. Archived from the original on June 13, 2013. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
- ^ "FBSFC | Soccer Club and School, Miami FL". fbssoccer. Retrieved March 4, 2025.
- ^ "McDonald's U.S. OPEN". www.sandsoccer.com. Hampton Roads Soccer Council. July 12, 2012. Archived from the original on July 24, 2014. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: others (link)