Sarasota Paradise is an American soccer club based in Sarasota, Florida, competing in the South Florida Division of

USL League Two USL League Two (USL2), formerly the Premier Development League (PDL), is a semi-professional developmental soccer league sponsored by United Soccer Leagues in the United States and Canada, forming part of the United States soccer league syste ...

. They began play in the

2023 season 3 (three) is a number, numeral and digit. It is the natural number following 2 and preceding 4, and is the smallest odd prime number and the only prime preceding a square number. It has religious or cultural significance in many societie ...

. The club is owned by Audigr Group Inc., a joint venture between entrepreneurs Marcus Walfridson and Kenneth Bethune. It plays at Charlie Cleland Stadium at Ihrig Field, on the campus of Sarasota High School. The club currently has no established

supporters' group A supporters' group or supporters' club is an independent fan club or campaign group in sport, mostly association football. Supporters' groups in continental Europe are generally known as ultras, which derives from the Latin word ultrā, mean ...

, but plans to form one ahead of the 2024 season.

History

It was first announced on October 27, 2022, that a team in Sarasota would be joining USL League Two for the upcoming 2023 season, simply known at the time as Sarasota USL. Owned by operated by Sarasota Professional Soccer LLC with support from Audigr Group Inc., the clubs' branding and identity was to be decided through a Name the Team contest, with the results announced January 2023. Club branding was announced by owner Marcus Wilfridson on January 14, 2023. Sarasota Paradise made their league debut on May 20, 2023, a 1–0 loss away at Miami AC. They made their home debut on June 3, 2023, defeating

FC Miami City Founded in 2014 by Ravy Truchot, FC Miami City (FCMC) is an American soccer club based in South Florida. The club is owned and operated by Strive Football Group, the leading private owner and operator of football clubs and academies. The club ...

2–1 in front of a crowd of nearly 500 spectators. The team finished 4th in the South Florida Division, 6 points behind division winners

Weston FC Weston FC is a soccer club in Weston, Florida competing in the USL League Two. They are also one of the largest soccer clubs in the country for youth soccer. The club was founded in 1998 as a youth soccer club. They have approximately 1,100 pla ...

. Defender Hosei Kojima was selected to the 2023 USL League Two Team of the Year. On July 13, 2023, Walfridson announced his hopes for the club to turn professional and join USL League One in either 2025 or 2026.

Stadium

Sarasota Paradise play their home matches at Charlie Cleland Stadium at Ihrig Field, located on the campus of Sarasota High School, just south of downtown Sarasota.

History

Stadium

Players and staff

Technical staff

Roster

Year-by-year

Honors

Player

References