Mike Ambersley Highlighted by the St. Petersburg Times

The St. Petersburg Times took a moment to breakdown FC Tampa Bay, as the club is half-way finished with its pre-season schedule and spoke to the team's new forward, Mike Ambersley, about the new coach, Ricky Hill.


"Hill, a Rowdies player/coach in the early 1990s, is in his first American Division 2 head coaching job. He promises to offer a style of play that will be "very pleasing to the eye."


"Also, Hill's mild-mannered approach is endearing him to players. "Ricky is a great motivator," forward Mike Ambersley said. "He's really positive. You know if you make a mistake, he's not going to dog you. He's a calming influence."


Ambersley was also highlighted as one of the three newcomers to watch this season, stating: 


"The 5-foot-9 forward, who scored 11 goals last year for hometown team St. Louis, will be fun to watch. He is quick, creative with the ball at his feet and moves well without it. His style is a good fit for Hill's system, so he should get plenty of opportunities to score."

Mike Ambersley Signs with FC Tampa Bay

FC Tampa Bay announces the signing of forward Mike Ambersley, who previously played for A.C. St. Louis during the 2010 season in the USSF D-2 Pro League. Ambersley, a St. Louis native, signed a one-year deal for 2011 with a one-year club option for 2012.

While with St. Louis, Ambersley received top honors, including USSF D-2 Player of the Month in July and A.C. St. Louis Offensive Player of the Year. Ambersley ended the 2010 season ranked sixth in USSF D-2 for goals scored with 11. 

“Mike is a talented and hard-working player, which we witnessed firsthand during our 2010 season,” said Executive Vice President, Technical Director and Director of Player Development Perry Van Der Beck. “We look forward to having a player of his caliber join our organization.”

“I’m thrilled to be joining such a quality and professional organization,” said Ambersley. “I’m looking forward to being a part of this historical club and working towards winning the 2011 NASL title with FC Tampa Bay.

Mike Ambersley Interviewed by Floodplain Footy

S&E Entertainment client Mike Ambersley was recently interviewed by A.C. St. Louis supporters group The Floodplain Footy.


Read the full interview here: Floodplain Footy


A few excerpts from the article:


"The inaugural season for AC St.Louis is over now and the team definitely had it’s ups and downs on the field and off. There were a few bright spots for the team, that’s for sure,  and one of them was Forward Mike Ambersley. Mike recorded the teams first hat trick, was named the USSF Div II Player of the Month for July and ended the season among the division leaders in goals scored with 9, a personal best for his professional career. He was also awarded the St.Louligan 2010 Offensive Player of The Year Award, which was presented by us here at the Floodplain Footy."


"FPF: Besides your hat trick, what was the highlight of the season?

MA: I would have to say advancing to the third round and having the opportunity to play the Galaxy in the Open Cup was pretty special for our team."

Mike Ambersley Wins Supporter's Offensive Player of the Year

S&E Entertainment client Mike Ambersley has been honored by the A.C. St. Louis supporters group, the St. Louligans as their Offensive Player of the Year.


"If you missed the last game, you missed the first annual St. Louligan awards. Over the course of the last several home games we took an unscientific poll at the tailgate parties and elected our players of the year. We decided that the players had given so much to us over the course of the season that we wanted to reward a few of them. So, even though it was "fan appreciation" day at AB Soccer Park- we decided to celebrate our special day by appreciating our team. A few of us talked online and worked to get some sponsors to pay for the awards and we made a few phone calls to get on the program. Without further ado, I present our award winners."


"Offensive player of the year was a near unanimous decision. Mike Ambersley embodied the offense and killer instinct of our first year. He won a special place in our hearts early this season when he scored a killer goal in Portland and mocked their crowd with a little Lumberjack dance of his own. That's how the St. Louligans like it. Great to score, but even better to taunt your victims. Floodplain Footy's Steve Rusnack and Nik Cameron presented Mike with the award. "

American Chronicle (St. Louis Post-Dispatch) Profiles Mike Ambersley

The American Chronicle through the St. Louis Post-Dispatch profiled S&E Entertainment client Mike Ambersley:

"The challenge for Schilly and his team has been to find someone to pair up top with Mike Ambersley. Though Ambersley is a quality goalscorer, the team has just one goal in its past three games.

'A big part of it is,' Schilly said, 'do we have the right partner for Ambersley up front because the guys we're having to play against are bigger, stronger, faster than Mike and it's hard for him. And at the other end, who's the ideal partner for Zach (Bauer) in the center of the back? How are we going to stop them from scoring?'

The problem is that the ideal partner for Ambersley, someone bigger who balls could be played to and who would force opposing defenses to concentrate on, may not be on the roster. Much of the time, Ambersley has to go it alone up top.

'We may not have the answers. I don't know if we have the answers,' Schilly said. 'When he gets his chances, those are the moments where the guys have played the right ball at the right time and Mike's made the right run. Against good teams, it takes a lot of work for us to create chances when it looks like it comes easier for other teams. Mike can get his chances becuase he works so hard but everything else has to fall into place. The right run, the right pass, the right timing, the right weight on the pass.'

'If he has a partner, now he becomes more dangerous, a guy who can pick and choose his moments.'

Mike Ambersley is a professional soccer player from St. Louis, Missouri, currently playing for A.C. St. Louis, which is competing in its first season in the USSF Div. 2 league in the United States.

Mike Ambersley Named USSF Div. 2 Player of the Month

S&E Entertainment client and AC St. Louis forward Mike Ambersley has been named the U.S.S.F. Division II Pro League’s Player of the Month for July. Ambersley helped lead AC St. Louis to a record of 3-3-2 for the month as he scored four goals, including two game-winners.

“It is an honor to be named Player of the Month,” said Ambersley. ”Now that our team is winning and climbing in the standings I look at this award as an honor, not for me, but for our entire team and what we are accomplishing. I was just happy to be able to contribute with some goals, and I hope to continue this success here in August.”

Ambersley netted the game-winner on July 24 at Crystal Palace Baltimore in a 1-0 win. The St. Louis area native then finished off the month with a hat trick against the Portland Timbers on July 28 at The Anheuser-Busch Soccer Park. Ambersley now has six goals in league play this year, and eight goals in all competitions. Ambersley also scored twice in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, both goals being game-winners.

Tim Velten and Mike Ambersley Shine in A.C. St. Louis Win.

S&E Entertainment clients Tim Velten and Mike Ambersley helped A.C. St. Louis to a win over Crystal Palace Baltimore in USSF Division 2 action over the weekend.  The win propelled St. Louis out of the bottom of the table, passing Miami FC into fifth place in the NASL Conference.  A.C. St. Louis is now within three points of Baltimore in the standings and back into playoff contention.

"The St. Louis offense got off to a go start in the oppressive heat that the East Coast is experiencing. An early free kick by Luke Kreamalmeyer in the third minute, and a sixth minute chance by Tim Velten helped establish a better AC St. Louis attack than seen in the previous two games."

"Mike Ambersley finally broke through for St. Louis getting them onto the scoreboard in the 74th minute. Ambersley’s tight angle shot found its way under goalkeeper Evan Bush and into the side netting. The goal was Ambersley’s fifth of the year in all competitions and third in league play."

Mike Ambersley Signs with A.C. St. Louis

S&E Entertainment client, Mike Ambersley has signed a 1 year contract with his hometown team, A.C. St. Louis.  Ambersley, 27, is a forward who has previously played for the Rochester Rhinos.

"It’s good to be playing professional soccer back here in my hometown," Ambersley said. "This is a dream come true for me. I just want to help AC St. Louis in any way I can during this first season.”

Ambsersley, who prepped at DeSmet High, played collegiately at Indiana University, where he won back-to-back national championships with the Hoosiers. He was voted Indiana team MVP his senior season and was named to the All-Big 10 Freshman Team.