The Galactics Story 

GALACTICS-Clearwater International F.C. is a non-profit 501c3 corporation dedicated to the task of promoting and enhancing the culture of soccer in Florida. We are a multi-cultural soccer club and have, as of 2008, over 500 members from 39 different countries of the Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia.

The club's major accomplishments in only 2 years (as of May 2008) are the following:

• 501c3 non-profit tax exempt corporation as of August 2007

• One-of-a-kind club house facilities with 7000 square feet, big screen TV, luxurious leather seating, foosball tables, shuffleboard, beautiful VIP Room, meeting room and administrativeoffices.

• 13 qualified administrative staff members working in managing, fundraising, promotion and registration

• 13 experienced coaches - all former professional soccer players

• Over 500 members in less than 1 year

• 12 active youth and adult teams of all levels and ages

• Daily practices from 5:30pm to 10:30pm

• Weekly competitive games in such leagues as FSSL

• Successful pilot indoor season in Fall 2007 with 6 teams participating

• FSSL Season 2007/2008 Champions in three divisions - 1^st Division, 2^nd Division & 3^rd Division (First club ever to achieve this)

• Championship and Runner-up titles in such major tournaments as:

  -  Florida State Cup, Naples, FL, May 2007 – President's Cup & O40 Cup Champions

  -  Lowcountry Soccer Festival 2007, Charleston, SC, May 2007 – Men's O40 Champions

-  1^st Galactics Cup, Oldsmar, FL, August 2007 – Men's Open Champions

- Treasure Coast 7-Aside Soccer Tournament, Stuart, FL, August 2007 – Men's Open & O30 Champions 

-  Disney's 7vs.7 Soccer Challenge IV, Orlando, FL, August 2007 – Men's O40 Runner-ups

- GASA Jekyll Island Gold Cup, Jekyll Island, GA, September 2007 – Men's Open & O40 Champions

- Disney World Soccer Classic XV, Orlando, FL, January 2008 – Men's Open & O40 Champions

- US Men's Open Florida Cup 2008, Jacksonville, FL, April 2008 - Florida National Champions

- Florida State Cup 2008, Naples, FL, April 2008 - Florida Cup and O40 Cup Champions and President's Cup and Chairman's Cup Finalists

-  Lowcountry Soccer Festival 2008, Charleston, SC, May 2008 - Men's O40 Champions and Women's Open Finalists

-  USASA Region 3 Cup, Orangepark, FL, May 2008 - Men's Open Champions

• Annual events for members and friends, such as Halloween and Valentine's Day parties

• A great 1^st Anniversary Celebration at the Joe DiMaggio Complex in Clearwater in June 2007 with bouncy houses, raffles, great food and music and more than 1000 attending.

• Our first highly successful and acclaimed Galactics International Soccer Festival in December 2007 with 20 international soccer stars, such as Tab Ramos, Marcelo Balboa, Fernando Clavijo, Carlos “El Pibe” Valderrama, Jeff Agoos and Harold Lozano among others, participating in a world-class exhibition game before an enthusiastic crowd of better than 2000 enthusiastic spectators from all walks of life.

        Established in May 2006, Galactics F.C. is very young, yet it combines more than two dozen lifetimes of soccer passion from across four continents .  It all started a few years back in 2003 with a big dream, accordingly far-flung goals and just two local soccer teams run by three soccer enthusiasts, Jose Serrano from Spain and Pedro Gil and Francisco Tellez from Mexico.  Already then, the name Galactics was born, the original Galactics logo conceived and plans drawn up for a bigger and brighter soccer future in Clearwater. Joined by former Metro Star Reserve Team coach, Ecuadorian Javier Robalino, and fellow soccer player and enthusiast, German Ralf Gerhardt, professional coaching know-how and administrative power entered the picture.

        Soon, this small group, led by their combined passion for the sport, began taking the first steps to realize what became known as the Galactics Dream.  A local soccer club, open to everyone, no matter the race, color, social status or creed - Galactics F.C., would only be the first goal of many. In spring 2006 the ideal club house premises were located in downtown Clearwater and extensive rennovations began to turn the formerly crammed office rooms into the beautiful, open 7000 square foot space it is today.  By September 2006, Galactics was signing up its first official members and the ball has been rolling since.

        Now, just 1 ½ years later, Galactics Clearwater International F.C. has a memberbase that stands better than 500 strong, with 26 dedicated administrative and technical staff, including 13 coaches - all of which are former soccer professionals, and 12 adult and youth soccer teams in various local leagues.  The next goal is big, both literally and figuratively – a soccer complex with a 25,000 seat stadium, four full-sized soccer fields, an indoor facility, new club offices, recreational facilities and more, to house the future Galactics Pro Team and play host to national MLS- as well as international soccer games.

        Just recently the Galactics top team won 1st place in the FSSL (Florida Suncoast Soccer League) 1st Division, championed the Florida State Cup, the National Cup of florida and recently the USASA Region 3 Cup (Southeast US), which makes them the best amateur team in 11 states and qualified the team to participate in the prestigious and highly competitive Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.  With this Galactics moved into a whole new realm; a tournament where USL (United Soccer Leagues) 1st Division, 2nd Division and PDL (Premier Development League) teams and ultimately MLS (Major League Soccer) teams enter the picture.  On Tuesday, June 10, Galactics faced the USL 2nd Division team, Charlotte Eagles, in Charlotte, North Carolina, for the 1st Round of the Lamar Hunt Cup.  The team had a great game, playing at the highest level ever.  After a 1:0 lead of the Eagles, Galactics tied the score and then moved up to a 2:1 lead at the beginning of the second half.  The Eagles were able to tie again at 2:2 and then pulled forward after a one-hour rain break with three more goals.  Despite this defeat, Galactics prooved that they were not just another amateur team, but as one Charlotte game commentator put it, "These guys show that they belong here (in the professional level)."  By far exceeding USL expectations and putting on a good competition for the Eagles, Galactics prooved to be ready for the next level - the pro level.

        But, the Galactics Dream is only as big as the passion and dedication of the people that are living it, the entire Galactics team - members, staff, sponsors, advocates and future new members alike, because don't forget: our soccer club is for everybody, no matter the color, race or creed. We’ll keep playing the game, because there’s always that goal, gleaming on the other side of the field.

Let’s get the ball in!