Rowdies Win Fair Play Award

The Tampa Bay Rowdies are the recipients of the 2014 North American Soccer League (NASL) Fair Play Award, which is given annually to the team that compiles the best discipline record during the regular season.

The Rowdies have now won the Fair Play Award three times in the first four years of the NASL Modern Era, also picking up the honors back in 2011 and 2012.    

"I'm delighted that the players have been recognized for the third time in four years with the Fair Play Award," said Rowdies head coach Ricky Hill. "It shows that they are a committed group that plays within the rules and stays disciplined and focused. It's commendable that they haven't had many moments of dissension."

The Rowdies were the least carded team in the NASL this year, receiving a league-low 43 yellow cards and two red cards in 27 regular season matches.

"Sometimes during games, the referees have a difficult job and they don't always get every decision right," Hill said. "Credit goes to our guys for being disciplined and focused, and trying to regroup instead of being overcritical of the referees. I’m glad that the squad is being recognized with this honor, but I’m disappointed that we didn't have the season that we expected."

Picking up 30 points over 27 matches this year, the Rowdies finished in seventh place in the NASL Combined Standings.