Who are the Clearwater Chargers?

LAKEWOOD RANCH — At the end of this month, hundreds of youth soccer players from across the state will converge at the Premier Sports Campus in Lakewood Ranch for the Florida Youth Soccer Association boy’s state cup challenge round of 16.

But even as he makes the final preparations for the campus’ inaugural tournament, Clearwater Chargers President Rob O’Nan still isn’t quite sure how the community is going to react.

After all, it’ll be the first event the Chargers will host since they announced they were bringing their premier soccer program to Lakewood Ranch as the new anchor tenant for the Premier Sports Campus.

“We thought it probably would create a little stir in the area, but that wasn’t the intention,” O’Nan said.

“We’re they’re for the right reason, and in the long term, I think people will be impressed. Are we going to make mistakes? Yes. Are we going to be perfect? No. But I don’t know too many clubs that can say both.”

HISTORY OF WINNING
The Clearwater Chargers organization was found in 1975 as a men’s soccer program, but within a few years it transformed into a youth program, becoming one of Florida’s first competitive youth soccer organizations.

Today, the club is home to about 420 competitive players and about 1,000 recreational players. The club offers both TOPS and recreational soccer programs as well as competitive and academy leagues.

In the past 35 years, the organization has developed into one of the premier clubs in the state. Its teams have reached the national finals 11 times, and hundreds of its players have continued to play at the college level and even professionally.

“I think our history speaks well for itself,” O’Nan said. “We tend to develop our players. For us it’s about more than just wins and championships. Our club is very rich in championships and we have a history of winning, but we’re just as proud of the hundreds of players who have gone off and played (soccer).”

INTENTIONS OUT EAST
Although the Chargers’ announcement as Premier’s anchor tenant just came last month, the organization’s history in Lakewood Ranch stretches back further. The organization had hosted tournaments at the Sarasota Polo Club in years past, but with Premier, it finally has a home to bring more of its programs to the East County.

In addition to a variety of tournaments, the Chargers plan to offer a daily soccer program, recreational and competitive leagues and the U.S. Soccer Development Academy at the new Lakewood Ranch facility.
O’Nan said he first learned about the Premier Sports Campus last November.

“It just kind of worked out very nicely,” O’Nan said. “They’re (Schroeder-Manatee Ranch) great people to work with. I’m kind of surprised the local clubs didn’t jump in on their own. It was kind of a nice surprise that they chose us or the others chose not to (get involved).”

In addition to the FYSA boy’s state cup challenge round, the Chargers host three tournaments every year: the International Easter Tournament, the SCI Labor Day Showcase and the Clearwater Thanksgiving Challenge.

Aside from its own tournaments, the Chargers are looking to bring other tournaments and events, such as the Sun Bowl, to the complex along with other sporting events such as lacrosse and Frisbee, among others.
“With the size of Lakewood Ranch and the growth potential, it’s nice to be on the ground floor and help it grow in a positive way for years to come,” O’Nan said. “It’s brand new. It’s exciting. Everything you want is right there in Lakewood Ranch.”

Following its first tournament, the Lakewood Ranch Chargers will begin holding tryouts for their soccer academy and competitive leagues. Tryouts for the soccer academy will be held May 4, with competitive league tryouts scheduled for May 31.

The club also plans to start a recreational soccer league for players, ages 4-19 this fall. In addition, the Chargers will also be hiring coaches for its Lakewood Ranch programs.

“We’re very selective about the coaches that we bring in and those people will be instrumental in running the complex down there,” O’Nan said. “The unique thing is that we’re starting from scratch, but we’re in it for the long haul.

“Our intention is just to bring our program that’s been successful here all of these years and try and replicate it here in Lakewood Ranch,” he added. “Our intention is not to go in and cannibalize the local clubs. It’s to build the complex and build a club that everyone would be proud of.”

For more information on the Clearwater Chargers visit the organization’s website at www.clearwaterchargers.com.

Contact Jen Blanco at [email protected].

UPCOMING
The Clearwater Chargers will host the 64-team Florida Youth Soccer Association tournament April 30 at the Premier Sports Campus.