ST. PETERSBURG, Fla – On Friday, the Tampa Bay Rowdies today announced the acquisition of midfielder Charlie Dennis for the upcoming 2023 USL Championship season. Dennis arrives in Tampa Bay via transfer from fellow USL Championship side Oakland Roots SC for an undisclosed fee.
Dennis joins Tampa Bay following a strong debut USL Championship season with Oakland in 2022. The 27-year-old bagged four goals and two assists in 34 appearances to help Oakland earn a postseason berth as the seventh seed in the Western Conference. Dennis helped Oakland knock off the two-seeded San Diego Loyal SC in the first round of the playoffs with the opening goal in a 3-0 upset.
“Last year gave me a good taste of what the USL Championship is about,” said Dennis. “I’m feeling confident coming into this next year. The Western Conference was definitely a strong one last year, and it’s exactly the same with the East. There’s a lot of competitive teams. We’re gonna have to work that bit harder to separate ourselves from other teams to create the winning mentality within the team that we’re gonna have next year.
“Tampa Bay’s going to be a team that I think every year they’re going to be pushing to win trophies and ultimately that’s what I want to do. I want to do well for myself and well for the team. I’m really looking forward to this move.”
Before signing with Oakland, Dennis made a name for himself as a standout in USL League One, recording 12 goals and 17 assists in 67 regular season appearances in stints with South Georgia Tormenta FC and FC Tucson. Dennis was also teammates with Rowdies veteran Conner Antley during Tormenta FC’s 2019 campaign.
This move brings Dennis back to Florida, where he played two seasons of collegiate soccer for Palm Beach Atlantic University. Prior to making the jump across the Atlantic, Dennis spent several years as part of English side Southampton FC’s youth system.
“Charlie has shown a real desire to come to play for the Tampa Bay Rowdies, which for me is the first and most important part of our recruitment,” said Rowdies Head Coach Neill Collins. “On top of that, Charlie has a lot of attributes that will help us improve as a team. I also believe we can help Charlie fulfill his potential and become a top player in this league.”
The schedule for the 2023 USL Championship season is expected to be unveiled in the new year. In the meantime, fans can secure season tickets by visiting rowdiessoccer.com/seasontickets. Fans may also contact the ticket office by emailing tickets@rowdiessoccer.com or calling 727-222-2000 during regular business hours. Holiday Packs, which include two tickets for the Rowdies 2023 home opener are also available for purchase at rowdiessoccer.com/holiday-pack.
Current 2023 Rowdies Roster:
Goalkeepers: Raiko Arozarena
Defenders: Aaron Guillen, Conner Antley
Midfielders: Jake Areman, Sebastian Dalgaard, Charlie Dennis, Yann Ekra, Leo Fernandes, Dayonn Harris, Zach Herivaux, Lewis Hilton, Nicky Law
