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SOCCER in Florida + David Beckham’s Inter Miami team

  This is a soccer resource page for Florida. Photo below is David Beckham talking to Patricia Kawaja, publisher of this website, at the first February 2014 press conference for his future InterMiami team. Becks and Patricia Photo by Robin Hill (c)

 

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July 16, 2023….UTTERLY WONDERFUL NEWS!! WORLD SUPERSTAR LIONEL MESSI MOVES TO MIAMI AND SIGNS A CONTRACT TO PLAY WITH MLS INTERMIAMI. David Beckhan stood next to the Argentinian star at the press conference to welcome his friend.  “I promised such signings 10 years ago when I started my dream of owning my Miami MLS team”,  said Beckham.  Read full details with photos on www.intermiamicf.com  

 ►  TO  WATCH PREMIER LEAGUE, UEFA cup, and WORLD CUP SOCCER IN FLORIDA live by satellite, in a pub or bar with fellow fans: Go to the PUBS page on this website and phone the pubs in your Florida city. They show the matches or will tell you which local bars do.  ALSO:   In Miami,  they are holding a massive watch party for all World Cup 2022 fans at a local stadium. For info/tickets see www.worldcupmiami2022.com  

HAPPY SOCCER NEWS:   FIFA announced on June 16, 2022 that Miami will be a host city for the  2026 World Cup.  FIND ALL INFO/SCHEDULE on:  www.fifa.com

►  You can watch the Premier League matches live in Florida on any TV set, broadcast by NBC Sports Network.  See www.nbcsports.com

►   DAVID BECKHAM’S TEAM called INTERMIAMI CF is currently based at their Ft. Lauderdale stadium. See www.intermiamicf.com for details and season fixtures . To read some of the long Miami stadium saga scroll down to the bottom of this page.  Photo below is of David talking to Patricia Kawaja at the first February 2014 press conference.  GREAT NEWS:   On April 29, 2022 the Miami city commission finally voted to approve the building of InterMiami’s soccer stadium in Melreese Park, near Miami Airport.  Follow progress reports on  www.intermiamicf.com Becks and Patricia Photo by Robin Hill (c)

  ► ALSO Go to the Major League Soccer website www.mlssoccer.com and find the Miami team to sign up for MLS emails.  

 ► IN ORLANDO Weekly Soccer training camps. See details on www.soccernextgen.org

►  LIVERPOOL F.C. SUPPORTERS CLUB of Florida is run by Liverpudlian ex-pat Roy Yates who is based in Ft. Lauderdale. Lots of local members in all parts of Florida and this club has been going for years. Call Roy on [954] 942-7330 for details.

► MIAMI:   TO PLAY SOCCER WITH FELLOW ADULT BRITS IN MIAMI call Eric Gast [305] 905-2681. He runs a team of assorted Brits—varying abilities!  Good way to make male Britpals too.  Or send email to etgast9@yahoo.com►  FOOTBALL FACT:   English football is probably the oldest team sport in the world.  In 1863 the Football Association in London established the first  official regulations for a game that British boys had been kicking around for centuries.   

►   MATCH RESULTS:  On  www.thefa.com  find ALL English football info and results 24/7, plus all World Cup, FIFA and news on international matches .        

► MIAMI UNITED Football [Soccer] Club. It has some British players.  To get involved as player or supporter call President Roberto Sacca on [305] 318-2026. INFO on www.miamiunitedsoccer.com

MANCHESTER UTD SUPPORTERS CLUB in Miami. Go to their Facebook page to connect with fellow local fans. https://www.facebook.com/Miamireddevils/

►  MIAMI FC Soccer Club.  Office [305] 371-9760 British Manager Paul Dalglish, [son of Kenny!]. DETAILS ON  www.miamifc.com  

 ►  MIAMI SOCCER ACADEMY arranges coaching for kids and young adults. British owned and operated. Call Scottish owner Alan Georgeson on [305] 393-5230.  See www.soccer5usa.com   

►  ORLANDO CITY SOCCER CLUB has a British co-owner Phil Rawlings,  British coaches and players.  Their stadium is in downtown Orlando. They are an MLS [Major league soccer] team.  They regularly bring over UK Premier League teams in the summer for friendlies.  Orlando SC invited me up from Miami as a VIP guest for a Newcastle United match  a few years ago.  For current fixtures/events consult their website www.orlandocitysc.com  or phone their front office [855] ORL CITY.  Club involved are/were: British coach Adrian Heath the ex-Everton player + Co-owners Phil Rawlins and Brendan Flood are directors from Stoke City FC and Burnley FC.  OCSC plays home games at the Citrus Bowl.  Many Brits drive from all over Florida for these matches.  INFO call the Club tollfree 1-855-675-2489 or visit   www.orlandocitysc.com

► EVERY SUMMER English Premier League send teams over to play in the Florida cup in Orlando, like Arsenal, Everton, Newcastle  and others.   Visit www.floridacup.com for current  information.

► ARSENAL SUPPORTERS CLUB:   1] Gathers in Miami to watch their team play in the English Premier League.  Host locations change,  so phone M.A.S.C. British president Chris Allen on [786] 390-2835 for current info.  2] ORLANDO.  The Arsenal club there is [oddly] called the Orlando Gooners. Tel. (407) 641-4791 or find their Facebook page. Email your name and phone to orlandogooners@gmail.com to get on their email list.

► ORLANDO:    THERE IS A SOCCER ACADEMY established by ex-professional English football player Steve Crane.  Established in 2012. Call Steve on [407] 595-2095.   Website  www.soccerinorlando.com

►   SCOTTISH FOOTBALL MATCHES–Glasgow Rangers and Celtic.  In Ft. Lauderdale watch Rangers matches at the King’s Head Pub in Sunrise [954] 572-5933  Call Derek Walker of Rangers Supporters Club [954] 296-3374.  Naples   Rangers Supporters Club watch Rangers matches live at the English pub in Naples–call Club secretary Peter  Hull on [239] 404-6137.   Orlando  Rangers Supporters Club meets to watch matches and in Orlando/Kissimmee and was established in 2006.  For details phone Colin Bowman 407-536-9732.     CELTIC:    1]  In Orlando the Celtic Supporters Club watch all Celtic matches live at the Lucky Leprechaun Irish Pub, 7032 International Drive, Orlando.  Call President John Howley on [386] 451 4645.     2] BROWARD CELTIC SUPPORTERS CLUB Call Club President  John Paton 954-249-5842

 ORLANDO BRITS:    ENGLISH FOOTBALL–watch it played locally in the Orlando/Kissimmee area with fellow Brits. Call British president Paul Allen (407) 376-4120.

►   BRITS OF ORLANDO + KISSIMMEE AREA   Are you interested in playing competitive Sunday League football?  The team called Real Winter Garden, with several Brits on the team, play in the Central Florida Soccer League. We have a Premier League Team and an Over 30’s team.  If you’re interested, contact fellow Brit Paul Blake at  https://www.facebook.com/RealWinterGarden

PALBEACH ex English Premier League professional players Ian Bishop and Gary Walker are amongst the top coaches at the Palm Beach Soccer Academy. Coaching for children and adults. Phone for info [561] 252-6729.    

  BELOW THESE ASTERISKS READ THE BECKHAM TEAM SAGA, ongoing about 9 years now…or what I can be bothered to post.—PK

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On February 5, 2014 David Beckham,  announced that Miami would be his choice for his Major League Soccer [MLS] soccer franchise.  I attended that Miami press conference. See photo below of David answering my question.  Thousands of us resident South Florida British soccer fans were so stoked.  Alas, the Miami stadium saga has been dragging on since then—7 years with no resolution in sight! The team is fortunate to have a brand new Ft. Lauderdale stadium to play in meanwhile, but Beckham’s dream was big city MIAMI not provincial Ft. Lauderdale.      

►  DAVID BECKHAM’S TEAM INTERMIAMI CF is currently based at their Ft. Lauderdale stadium. See full details and season fixtures on www.intermiamicf.com   You can sign up to get there to get the club enewsletter.  DAVID BECKHAM’S MLS Miami team officially launched January 29, 2018 at the Miami press conference I attended, with Beckham present.  The team is called Inter Miami CF.    The first match against the LA Galaxy, Beckham’s old MLS playing team, was played March 1,  2020 in Los Angeles, with David and Victoria present.  Since then, home matches are played at their new Ft. Lauderdale training facility until the Miami stadium is built.  Miami  first played  [British co-owned] Orlando City FC in August 22, 2020.  

NOW:  Alas, this Miami stadium location  saga has dragged on for over 10 years and I chronicled it closely from Day 1 press conference I attended. [Scroll down to very bottom of this page to see].   Photo left WAS a proposed plan for Beckham’s new stadium in Miami.  Voting/final  decision by Miami City Commissioners was due in September 2019 but delayed, delayed, delayed!  Scroll down to the bottom of the page to read some of the Beckham team saga!  As Miami-based publisher of this website and life-long soccer fan, I have experienced it firsthand.


►►► January 2018.  The team stated it is “due to start playing in 2020.”  On January 29, 2018 at a major press conference in Miami the MLS confirmed the team is now definitely an MLS franchise.  David Beckham attended.  [So did !—PK] See my hand up photo below, with David answering my question.  Becks and Patricia Photo by Robin Hill (c)See full report and video on www.mlsoccer.com   ATTENDING were  Don Garber, MLS Commissioner,  David Beckham, Global Soccer and Cultural Icon, Former MLS Player Marcelo Claure, CEO of Sprint, Jorge Mas, Chairman and co-founder of MasTec, José R. Mas, CEO of Mas Tec, Masayoshi Son, Founder and CEO of SoftBank,  Simon Fuller, Entertainment Entrepreneur and Manager, Carlos A. Giménez, Miami-Dade County Mayor, Francis Suarez,City of Miami Mayor.  See also their new website   www.FutbolMiamiMLS.com.  and sign up there to receive latest Miami updates to your Inbox.  FOR LATEST NEWS:  The twists and turns of this stadium location saga beggar belief, as this Miamian knows first hand. The Miami Herald follows every development, so do this:  Go to www.miamiherald.com and do a Search by “David Beckham stadium Miami.”  That keep you up to the minute.

 

►►►  In 2014 David Beckham decided on Miami as his choice to bring his Major League Soccer [MLS] soccer franchise to Miami. Thousands of us British soccer fans living here—are sooooooo stoked!

 

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  ….ABOUT DAVID BECKHAM’S PROPOSED MIAMI TEAM…..follow the saga below :

May 16, 2017 :   NO BECKHAM TEAM TILL 2021.   The first rendering of a 25,000-seat soccer stadium planned by Miami Beckham United in Overtown was revealed at a Town Hall meeting May 16, 2017 in Miami. . This is a privately funded project. Total cost will exceed $500 million, Beckham representatives said.  Completion has been pushed back until 2021. 

June 2106.  David Beckham.  LATEST OFFICIAL UPDATE:   At a June 9, 2016 event in Miami,  David Beckham’s Miami attorney told Patricia Kawaja officially that the first ball won’t be kicked till 2018.    NOTE:  We look forward to the day that Orlando City Soccer Club will play Miami Beckham United!  The Sunshine’s State’s “local derby” as we Brit soccer fans call it.  Beckham’s people are still resolving issues with investors for the stadium site/city of Miami.    

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BUY  the STICKER ABOVE—[now sold out].   The exclusive Brits of Miami Support bumpersticker was designed and created by Patricia Kawaja in 2013 as soon as David Beckham  announced Miami was his new stadium choice.   I wanted to show David’s people that the huge Miami British community–his future ticket buyers and a significant soccer market–were behind him.  I sent one to David’s office, his business partner Marcelo Claure, his sports management company in California, his attorney in Miami, the British Consul in Miami and other key figures to display in their offices. Beckham has one in his London family home. 

MIAMI BECKHAM UNITED  called MBU on this page from now on.   May 7, 2016:   Front page article in Miami Herald about legal snafus between the City and Beckham’s people about the stadium.  This is delaying proceedings and building cannot go forward until agreements are reached.  Beckham has been back in Miami early May 2106 for meetings and seen about town. Read article below http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article76065727.html

♣  December 5, 2015—It’s official!!  Miami Beckham United announces it has FINALLY found its stadium site,  north of the Miami river in Overtown.
Find full story in Miami Herald–search by ” Beckham announces site in Overtown for stadium.”

►    November 2015.  More twists and turns re settling on a stadium location.  One of MBU’s investors Tim Leiweke has now become the official spokesperson to media and issues statements on the latest developments.  Just go to www.miamiherald.com and search by Tim Leiweke and/or Miami Beckham United.  

►     July 17, 2015   Nothing is signed, sealed, and delivered, but Miami Beckham United appears closer than ever before to securing a stadium for a future MLS expansion club.  After a meeting with Beckham United ownership, Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado announced on Friday a tentative deal with the club to construct a privately financed stadium near Marlins Park, at the site of the old Orange Bowl, which a Beckham United spokesperson called “another step forward.”   “Today’s meeting with Mayor Regalado was another positive step toward bringing a world-class soccer club to Miami,” the spokesperson said in a statement. “We’re still in the early planning stages and several viable options still exist, but our preferred stadium location is the former Orange Bowl site. [The ownership group] is thrilled by the initial outpouring of support we’ve received from our fans and we’re excited about sharing our plans with the City, County and community soon.”    The news came following a video conference between Regalado and Sprint CEO Marcelo Claure, a leading figure in the Beckham United ownership group, along with former LA Galaxy star David Beckham and entertainment impresario Simon Fuller.  FOR LATEST INFO  go to Miamiherald.com and  Search for David Beckham Stadium and Miami Beckham United.

►►►  March 24, 2015—-Things are moving again!! Yaaay!  Beckham was in Miami again a few days ago for more talks about his stadium site.  Read article below in Miami Herald for full details. HEADLINE:   Soccer’s Miami push revving up again.
By DOUGLAS HANKS    DHANKS@MIAMIHERALD.COM  Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article16177331.html#storylink=cpy

►►►   January 2015—-RADIO SILENCE FROM HIS PR COMPANY in MIAMI and CITY of MIAMI officials  and Miami Beckham United [his working team name]. His PR company is keeping my office apprised so watch this space.—–

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►  On May 22, 2014  New plans for the proposed non-port stadium location were revealed at a press conference at the Inter-Continental Hotel in downtown [which I attended].  To see the renderings and read a full report read the May 22 full page article BECKHAM REVEALS ANOTHER SITE  by Patricia Mazzei in the Miami Herald below:   http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/05/22/4131088/david-beckham-team-to-reveal-soccer.html

 

►►  BECKHAM’S STATEMENT TO BE PERSONALLY COMMITTED TO MIAMI:   On May 9, 2014 in a sit-down meeting with the  Miami Herald Editorial Board David Beckham stated his commitment to Miami:  Read Michelle Kaufman’s excellent article below:    http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/05/09/4106067/david-beckham-on-miami-mls-team.html

 

[ Photo Credit:  by Robin Hill Miami ]  From Union Jack Newspaper Florida Column March 2014 issue by Patricia Kawaja   Your columnist about to ask David Beckham a question at the Major League Soccer Press Conference February 5, 2014 in downtown Miami.  With him on the podium were the Mayor of Miami and MLS President Don Garber.  Beckham was in town to officially announce he has chosen Miami over every other USA city for his new soccer team.  Triple Yaaay!!  We Miami Brit footie fans are uber stoked.   I witnessed Beckham being swarmed [like the Pope on a visit to South America] wherever he went that week. One arranged visit to South Miami to meet a local  youth team and sign footballs, had to be abandoned midway because Becks couldn’t push through the crowds.  It was getting risky for him as police were undermanned but he smiled tolerantly like the class act he is.  His starpower in a city always dripping with celebrities cannot be over-stated, because Miami is a soccer mecca.  THE LATEST:  Beckham’s people are now viewing site options in downtown Miami to build a custom soccer stadium, required by the MLS.  This ongoing story is crucial to Florida Brits and too vast to cover in my statewide column,  so I’ve created a dedicated source to read Beckham team updates.  Find it on the top menu of  www.britishflorida.com.  Also read the Miami Herald’s accomplished soccer columnist Michelle Kaufman on www.miamiherald.com  I’m a fan of her column!  Beckham has not chosen his team name but MIAMI UNITED sounds ideal to me!

► May 16, 2014 NAME OF BECKHAM’S MIAMI TEAM:  TBA “Not chosen yet. We will probably let the people of Miami help us choose” Beckham’s people told us told us at May 16, 2014 press conference.

► LOCATION of SOCCER STADIUM in Miami:     TBA…ongoing saga sadly due to Miami’s usual politics and self-interested naysayers. Beckham and partners want a downtwown waterfront locations. His first two choices have been vetoed by city officials, so effective June 11, 2014 it’s back to the drawing board.  I am absolutely 100 % FOR a downtown waterfront location or anywhere  DOWNTOWN ONLY.—-Patricia Kawaja [ex-Londoner ] publisher of this website.

►  DAVID BECKHAM’S OFFICIAL PUBLIC RELATIONS company in Miami is TADD SCHWARTZ Media
Call [305] 858-3935.  www.schwartz-media.com    

►  DAVID BECKHAM’S OFFICE in Miami:    TBA on this page when team is named etc.   

TIP:   The marvellous Miami Herald is closely covering the David Beckham MLS soccer team story almost day by day!  Go to their website  www.miamiherald.com and search by David Beckham. That will pull up every bit of current info there is.

——–Patricia Kawaja
Publisher of www.britishflorida.com

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BELOW IS ACTUAL LETTER I EMAILED TO MIAMI HERALD, which they published on December 13, 2013. See it scanned above on this page.  

November 27, 2013 

 SIR:

As a downtown resident British businessowner, I see Port of Miami as the ideal Major League Soccer stadium choice for David Beckham’s British-Miami investors consortium. [Herald front page November 27].  Unlike the Marlins fiasco in the shabbier outskirts of town, this location works because: 

*  The stadium needs only 25,000 takers—-the Brickell-to-Omni resident population of soccer lovers [Latins galore, Brits, French, Germans, Italians can fill those seats alone!  None needs to get their cars out. 

*  Add the thousands of year-round visiting Brits from cruiseships and South Beach who will take in a nearby match. [1.3 million annual visitors come here from the UK—many to Miami].

*  Ditto armies of visitors to Bayside from the world’s soccer-loving nations who could walk to this MLS stadium. 

*  Ditto international guests at downtown Miami’s many hotels.

*  European soccer-loving nations like the UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy and others have their Consulates situated downtown and will entertain their national constituents at MLS matches.

*  There is ample downtown public transportation [Metromover/City Trolley/several city buses stopping near the Port/herds of yellow cabs. This transportation pipeline already works on packed Heat nights. 

 The over-riding advantage to the Port location is that it can be filled by walkers not drivers!

 Situating the MLS stadium there would be a shrewd approval by the City of Miami, atoning for past headscratching ones!

 —PK  

£ £ $$   TIP:  WANT TO SAVE WHEN TRANSFERRING over UK CURRENCY?   DON’T USE YOUR BANK!  Use Moneycorp.  [ I use Moneycorp myself–FABB President.]   The pound is shaky.  That affects all expats in Florida who still have UK dealings. To transfer your precious funds, we highly recommend you use the services of Moneycorp.  At lower rates than any bank!  This will save you fees and grief, as we Londoners say!  What your own bank won’t do is save considerable  exchange fees, like Moneycorp.   NOW is an advantageous time for you to transfer any funds you have.  THE BEST WAY:   Moneycorp, the UK company with an office in Florida and droves of satisfied Florida clients. It is the only UK currency exchange company licenced to deal in 50 states.  Many expat Brits here have used this currency service for years and report huge savings and satisfaction. TO FIND OUT MORE:    Phone Moneycorp’s Kelly Cutchin on  [863] 207-6616 at their USA HQ in Orlando to ask all your questions.  Or email your query to Kelly Cutchin  kelly.cutchin@moneycorp.com for details.  Moneycorp’s HQ is in England.   Posted by the Florida Association of British Business [FABB].  Moneycorp have been trusted members since 2005.  

OTHER

► ARE YOU A BRIT LIVING IN FLORIDA?  OR A UK-BASED BRIT WITH FLORIDA PROPERTY?  Sign up for our eBritnews email—invitations to local British events and info relevant to expats.  Send email to britishbusinessflorida@gmail.com  On subject line put:   Receive Florida eBritnews.  IMPORTANT:   Include your city !   

 

 
Immediate Unity