April 9, 2017 – Fort Lauderdale, Fla. – Today Fort Lauderdale Strikers independent supporters group Flight 19 are very proud to announce the formation of the Himmarshee Football Club. This new entity has been established as a non-profit corporation and will serve as the backbone of all activities relating to Flight 19’s support of the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, expand the scope of the group’s charitable efforts in the Greater Fort Lauderdale community, as well as pave the way for Fort Lauderdale’s first ever supporter-owned soccer team taking the field.

Named for the native Seminole word for the New River (“Himmarshee”, meaning “New Water”) – which runs through the heart of our community from the Florida Everglades through downtown Fort Lauderdale and on to the Atlantic Ocean – Himmarshee FC aims to be a driving force in the local growth of the sport of soccer, enhancing the lives of those in our community through supporting and playing the beautiful game.

The HFC crest features the New River flowing through the center of a traditional style soccer ball, with the iconic Red & Gold colors of Fort Lauderdale’s rich soccer tradition flanking the ball, emulating a military air service roundel as a nod to Flight 19. These elements are encircled by a subtle “S” which honors the championship heritage of the Fort Lauderdale Strikers[NASL (1977-83, 2011-Present?), ASL/APSL (1988-1994), USISL (1995-97)] and Fort Lauderdale Sun(USL, 1984-85).

In addition to continuing and expanding the charitable efforts that Flight 19 has done in the community since 2011, along with the unconditional support (and active campaigning for the return) of our historic professional soccer club the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, Himmarshee FC aims to field a fully-fledged adult men’s amateur side in a local league, beginning in 2017. This team will be operated and supported financially by HFC Members, who will have the opportunity to shape the club’s future through direct voting on various club decisions. Supporters can become a 2017 Member of Himmarshee FC by visiting the club’s official online shop at HimmarsheeFC.org/Shop.

The competitive side aims to begin play in the Fall of 2017 in the Gold Coast Soccer Premier League, competing during the traditional European football calendar so as not to conflict with any local professional soccer, as well as to take advantage of the perfect footballing weather we enjoy during the Fort Lauderdale winter. The GCSPL is an affiliate of the Florida State Soccer Association and United States Adult Soccer Association, and offers qualification to the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

In another effort to further connect the local soccer community, Himmarshee FC will encourage and help members who are among the tens of thousands of adults who play soccer in our area to organize their own recreational HFC sides for local tournaments, leagues and even pick up games. By creating a network of local players, who it is hoped will become friends, HFC aims to help cultivate a true family culture in the Greater Fort Lauderdale soccer community, and make it easier for locals to find (and feel like they are truly part of) a team, find a pick up game, get out and play soccer and have fun. The recreational soccer program is viewed as yet another avenue to foster local pride in our soccer culture – from casual weeknight kick-arounds, to 3v3 and beach soccer tournaments, to standing together in the stadium on a Strikers match day.

“We believe the formation of Himmarshee FC is a massive step in solidifying the foundation of the soccer culture in the Fort Lauderdale community,” said HFC president Derek Reese. “With this effort we aim to become more than just a supporters group who tailgates and cheers on match days. We hope that HFC will help lay the groundwork for a stronger organic support and player base for the game locally, and most importantly connect people from all walks of life who call Greater Fort Lauderdale their home through the sport we all love.”

“We are very proud of what we’ve accomplished in the stands and in the community as Flight 19 since our inception in late 2010, but I know we can be better and we can do more, and this initiative is a big step towards accomplishing that. We want to change the perception of what a ’football club’ can be, carry the banner of our local soccer tradition into the future, and continue to do something positive, both on and off the pitch, for our community.”

For more information and updates on Himmarshee FC or Flight 19, visit HimmarsheeFC.org or contact Info@HimmarsheeFC.org. For the latest news and updates from the club, follow @HimmarsheeFC across social media. For the latest snarky commentary & banter, as well as events relating to the Fort Lauderdale Strikers and the NASL / US Soccer, supporters and media can continue to follow @Flight_19 on Twitter.