Rowdies prepare for season in England

TAMPA (FOX 13) - Next month, the Rowdies players will put a little spring in their step with a giant jump across the big pond, and there's no better place to prepare for the season than in England.

"The club's committed to preparing us the best they can and it's up to us to go out and put in the work and to prepare ourselves," said Rowdies forward Tom Heinemann.

Heinemann and his teammates will leave for an 11-day trip March 6.

They will play three games in England, including a match against Leicester City of the Premier League.

"It's going to be great for the guys," said first-year head coach Stuart Campbell. "Obviously England is the home of football, the home of soccer, so I wanted to bring them over there for them to experience playing against the English teams, the intensity, the difference."

This trip will be a homecoming for Campbell, who spent the early part of playing career with Leicester City.

"I started as a 12-year-old, as a young lad," said Campbell. "I was there through I think about 22. I've still got a lot of fond memories there and to see how well they're doing in the Premier League, it's absolutely brilliant."

Campbell's former team is currently at the top of the Premier League standings. For the Rowdies, where better and who better to play before kicking off the season back in the states?

"Yeah, even talking with some of the guys, it's a really neat occasion for us to be able to go," said Heinemann. "It's not going to do anything but prepare us better for April 2 when we open up the season."

World class training for what the Rowdies hope to be a top notch season.