Chargers Soccer Club One Club, Three Communities

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The Chargers Soccer Club provides soccer opportunities to players throughout the Tampa Bay region with programs and fields in our Clearwater, Lakewood Ranch and Tampa communities, covering all sides of Tampa Bay. We are one club comprised of three communities in three different counties (Pinellas, Manatee & Hillsborough) that primarily draws players from six contiguous Bay Area counties (including Pasco, Sarasota & Polk counties).

The Chargers Soccer Club has over 3800 soccer players, 90 competitive teams, MLS Next Program, UPSL Program, three recreational programs totaling about 2,500 players utilized at 3 campus locations in Clearwater, Lakewood Ranch, and Tampa.

The merger that formed the Chargers Soccer Club brought together a pair of clubs established in the 1970s – the Clearwater Chargers Soccer (encompassing the former Countryside Lightning Soccer Club) and Fusion Futbol Club of Tampa Bay (formerly Black Watch Soccer Club and the New Tampa Soccer Association). “This was a great opportunity for two of the longest-standing clubs in Florida, let alone in the Tampa Bay area, to come together combining our resources to continue to provide local opportunities and player development with additional regional, national and international-level opportunities across the whole club,” said Jim DiNobile, Fusion FC Director of Soccer Operations.

The merger also brought together a Soccer Director staff with an unprecedented level of experience for the Tampa Bay region. And through their direction, the Chargers Soccer Club soccer programs are some of the best in the state.

The Chargers’ logo proudly displays three stars signifying three national championships. Fusion FC (formerly Black Watch SC and the New Tampa Soccer Association) captured the 1985 U18/19 Girls national championship, while the Clearwater Chargers (encompassing the former Countryside Lightning Soccer Club) captured a pair of National Championships (1995 & 1997 James P. McGuire Cup, U-19 Boys).

The Chargers Soccer Club offers various programs throughout the club. Information for each program can be accessed through the links in the blue menu bar across the top of this website. The programs are:

Recreational Programs: The Recreational Program is for players who want to play soccer in a fun and organized format. Players age 4 to 19 will compete in recreational leagues which are offered at each club community location. U5-U10 teams (player ages 4-9) participate in in-house leagues where U11-U19 teams (players ages 10-18) participate in recreational travel leagues.

Competitive Programs: Players ages 7 to 18 (U11/12-U19) that are chosen through an annual tryouts process, will play on competitive teams in these age groups at each club community location and will play in various local, state & national level leagues. Competitive players will also have the opportunity to be evaluated throughout the season for participation in various club wide tournament teams and/or for consideration for the MLS Next 9 Teams - U-11 (Pre-MLS Next), U-12b (Pre-MLS Next, 2 teams), U-13b, U-14b, U-15b, U-16b, U-17b, & U-18/19b. This evaluation process will regularly occur while players are playing with their club teams as well as at various player ID events that may be held throughout the season.

MLS Next: The Chargers Soccer Club is also one of only 80 clubs in the nation to serve as a United States Soccer Federation Development Academy for 7 boys t7 Teams - U-11/12b (Pre-MLS Next - 3 teams), U-13b, U-14b, U-15, U-16, U-17b, & U-18/19b.

Other Programs: The Chargers Soccer Club will also offer various other programs throughout the season at our club community locations. They include: Spring Soccer, Project Elite, Recreational & Competitive Camps, Specialized Training, UPSL, Etc.

Tournaments: The Chargers Soccer Club also manages a tournament series that begins each season with our flagship tournament, Chargers Labor Day Tournament then goes on to the Lakewood Ranch Champion Cup. These tournaments not only offer good competition for our competitive teams, but also provide financial proceeds that help offset club operating costs. Click here for more information about Charger Tournaments.

The club is governed by the Chargers Executive Board made up of experienced and dedicated elected volunteers. They are supported by Advisory Board groups at each community location. Members of the advisory boards are appointment by the Executive Board and have the purpose to assist the executive board and administrative professionals with issues unique to each club community and with maintaining uniform and consistent methods of operation between all the Chargers community locations.

The Chargers Soccer Club is a club where players of all abilities have a place to play, a club that stresses development of the soccer player, and a club that, along with good soccer, emphasizes personal character and strives to help make a player the best person they can be through the principles of integrity, honesty, dedication and commitment.