Matt Clare is an American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 soccer player currently playing for FC Tampa Bay in North American Soccer League.

Youth and Amateur

Clare, who did not play college soccer, played with elite youth team PDA in the USL Super Y-League, before going on to play for both the Charlotte Soccer Club, and later the St. Petersburg Kickers in the USASA

USASA

The United States Adult Soccer Association is a national organization and sanctioning body for amateur soccer in the United States...

-affiliated Florida Suncoast Soccer League.

Clare also played in the USL Premier Development League

USL Premier Development League

The USL Premier Development League is the amateur league of the United Soccer Leagues in the United States, Canada, and Bermuda, forming part of the American Soccer Pyramid...

, with West Virginia Chaos

West Virginia Chaos

West Virginia Chaos is an American soccer team based in Charleston, West Virginia, United States. Founded in 2003, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the South Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference.The team plays its home...

 in 2008 and Bradenton Academics

Bradenton Academics

The Bradenton Academics are an American soccer team based in Bradenton, Florida, United States. Founded in 1998, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Southeast Division of the Southern Conference.The team is associated with...

 in 2009.

Professional

Clare signed his first professional contract in 2011 when he signed with FC Tampa Bay of the North American Soccer League, ghaving trialed with the team during pre-season. He made his professional debut on May 11, coming on as a late substitute in a game against FC Edmonton

FC Edmonton

FC Edmonton is a Canadian professional soccer team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 2010, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....

. FC Tampa Bay announced that the club exercised its 2012 contract option on Clare on October 5, 2011. The new contract also includes a club option for the 2013 season.

Personal

Matt is the son of former professional soccer player John Clare, who played for the Fort Lauderdale Strikers in the original North American Soccer League

North American Soccer League

North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...

 in the 1970s.

External links

• Tampa Bay profile