# Florida Beach Soccer FC

Florida Beach Soccer FC was a professional beach soccer team based in South Florida, United States, active from 2009 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 fully-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. 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.
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.

## Coaching staff and players

Head Coach
Chris Antonopoulos led Florida Beach Soccer FC as its general manager and head coach throughout its existence. Initially played as the team's goalkeeper in its inaugural year but transitioned to coaching full-time after sustaining knee and shoulder injuries.
Players
The team included several players affiliated with the U.S. Beach Soccer National Team, though complete rosters are not publicly archived. Confirmed players include:
* Chris Antonopoulos a former goalkeeper for Florida International University and the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, he also served as a goalkeeper and assistant coach for the U.S. National Beach Soccer Team during the 2006 Concacaf Beach Soccer Championship and Beach Soccer World Cup 2006.
* Benyam Astorga, a veteran of the U.S. Beach Soccer National Team with experience in multiple Concacaf Championships and is the current assistant coach of Beach MNT.
* Oscar Gil, a multi-sport athlete who competed with the U.S. Beach Soccer and Futsal National Teams, with prior experience at Miami FC and Vasco de Gama.
* Francis Farberoff, who captained the U.S. National Team from 2003 to 2014 and participated in four FIFA Beach Soccer World Cups (2005, 2006, 2007, 2013) and was the assistant and head coach of Men's Beach MNT.
* Erich Kuhnke served as the President of Florida Beach Soccer FC and also contributed as a player. He played collegiate soccer at Coastal Carolina University.

## Competitive record

Florida Beach Soccer FC competed in numerous tournaments between 2009 and 2013, achieving the following results:
Championships and Key Results (2010–2013)
| Year | Tournament | Result |
| 2010 | North American Sand Soccer Championship | 3rd Place |
| 2010 | Clearwater Beach Soccer Tournament | Champions |
| 2011 | North American Sand Soccer Championship | Champions |
| 2011 | BagoSports Beach Football Invitational | Champions |
| 2011 | Clearwater Beach Soccer Tournament | Champions |
| 2012 | North American Sand Soccer Championship | Champions |
| 2013 | North American Sand Soccer Championship | Runners-Up |
| 2013 | Beach Soccer Championships (Oceanside) | Competed |
2010
* North American Sand Soccer Championship (NASSC), Virginia Beach, VA: Placed third.
* Clearwater Beach Soccer Tournament, Clearwater, FL: Champions. Part of the Major Beach Soccer National Championship Series sponsored by the United Soccer League.
2011
* North American Sand Soccer Championship (NASSC), Virginia Beach, VA: Champions.
* BagoSports Beach Football Invitational, Trinidad and Tobago: Champions. The team completed the tournament undefeated, securing the Caribbean Championship title with a 5–3 victory over Stokely Vale FC.
* Clearwater Beach Soccer Tournament, Clearwater, FL: Champions.
2012
* North American Sand Soccer Championship (NASSC), Virginia Beach, VA: Champions. The team successfully defended its title from the previous year.
2013
* North American Sand Soccer Championship (NASSC), Virginia Beach, VA: Runners-up.
* Beach Soccer Championships, 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 2012, Francis Farberoff co-founded along with Oscar Gil FBS FC, a youth soccer club based in Miami, Florida, dedicated to promoting and developing youth soccer in North Miami and South Broward. Farberoff continues to serve as the club's president.
* Miami United FC: In 2012, Erich Kuhnke co-founded Miami United, a professional soccer team based in Miami, Florida.
* 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.