Cape Coral, August 21, 2016 - On August 20 the first Orange Family Event of the 2016-2017 season was organized by FGCDL FC for the parents and players of the Youth Academy.
The parents and players gathered around noon at Jim Jeffers Park for departure. Upon arrival they could purchase the new Orange Family t-shirt to make sure the whole group was dressed in orange to make a striking appearanc
e in Tampa.
After a bus ride we arrived in Saint Petersburg. Because of the heavy rainfall the clinic in Al Lang Stadium wasn't possible anymore but the Tampa Bay Rowdies staff came up with an alternative program with a clinic at their (perfect) training complex. The clinic was led by the Tampa Bay Rowdies Assistant Coach and was full of passing and shooting and the players enjoyed it.
After the clinic the whole group had some food and everyone received their tickets for the match Tampa Bay Rowdies vs Edmonton. At seven o'clock, the players were ready for a unique experience in stadium: they were the "High Five Human Tunnel" for this exciting contest when the players came onto the field. Supported by loud applause from the supporters, but especially the Orange Family, the players received their high fives. Accordin
g to Jackson Smith, player of the FGCDL FC U8, it was an amazing experience!
After that, the parents, players and staff watched the game, which turned out to be pretty exciting. Unfortunately, the match ended in a 1-0 victory for the away team, but the parents and players still had a lot of fun. After the game the young Lions had a chance to get autographs from the pro players of both teams, which put a big smile on their faces.
Brandon Johnson, father of Drew, said this about the Orange Family Day: " I really enjoyed the Orange Family atmosphere around the event. Drew and I had the opportunity to bond with his teammates, parents and coaches, which is really valuable in building a strong team chemistry".
We want to thank the organization of the Tampa Bay Rowdies for their hospitality and help. We also want to thank the parents and players for their enthusiasm during the day.
