We had just won the game versus RSL. A resounding victory against our newfound foes from Utah, a rematch of the heated final played not even a year before in Seattle where many of us ventured only to watch our team lose in an emotional penalty kick scenario (which no final should ever be decided by I might add). I was blessed to be able to help capo in the second half of the match against RSL, a full time position during ACB’s first year in existence. I remember looking up and not being able to see the top of our section, just a sea of white shirts all jumping in unison to ACB’s trademark “LA LA LA Let’s Go.”
“Fucking remarkable…” I thought to myself as I stood on the bench staring straight up to the top of our section. Sergio comes and grabs my shoulder right before the song was getting ready to end and points up at HDC’s jumbotron. On the screen for the entire stadium and FSC audience to see was ACB taking over all but two rows of Section 121 jumping side to side in perfect synchronization. When I watched the game later that week Christopher Sullivan actually commented on us, saying that we add much to the game and atmosphere, saying that that’s something straight out of Brazil and Argentina’s Barras.
A huge sigh of relief.
The entire week leading up to that moment was churned into some giant stress ball that had me questioning whether or not I even wanted to go to the game. A stress ball being the summation of front office meetings, penalties made against ACB and later retracted, security claims and overall bad news. While a minor victory was made in our attempts to see some of the wrongs committed against ACB and our members were won, subsequent weeks would see those victories deflated.
However, one thing was made clear. We have grown into a beast. ESPN recently procured a picture of Angel City Brigade’s honorable and enthusiastic “Young Guns” and listed us as a major reason for attending a Galaxy game. Groups around the league had pledged their support to us when talks of boycotts and protests were under way. For one weekend it had all come together. And there before me stood two years of hard work, dedication and major attempts at recruiting not just fans but friends who understood what ACB was about, fans who would carry the torch and represent us in a way the we were meant to be represented.
Talking with some of the original members we all came to one conclusion. The amount of growth that this group has seen is dumbfounding. We are hitting goals set for this group about two years earlier than anticipated. We are the largest supporter’s group in Los Angeles. Our game day presence is bigger than all of Galaxy’s supporter’s groups as well as Chivas USA’s. But not only have we grown in numbers, we’ve grown in quality. Members have consistently stepped up to meet the tasks and challenges that need to be seen to, whether that be merchandising, events, membership cards, game time equipment or simple acts of kindness and friendliness to brand new recruits. We have managed to grow a beast not only formidable inside the stadium but outside as well. We are establishing a tradition in this group as being the most passionate and loud supporter’s group in MLS. But we are buttressing it with open hands to other supporters groups around the league. I have no doubt that by the end of this year we will consistently be filling section 121.
So take part in Angel City Brigade’s early history. Help us build and grow this tradition till we have the entire north end of the stadium. Invite people you know and trust to partake in this unique experience. Flyer your college campuses. Talk to your glory hunting modern football fanatics who refuse to take heed of American Soccer and prove to them that what we have in they’re own backyard is better than any experience sitting on a couch watching Manchester United obliterate Sunderland.
What I saw at the end of the RSL game was a sea of white bouncing in perfect unity to one of our trademark songs, filling up section 121. The vision only fed my fire to one day (SOON) see the ENTIRE north end of HDC dancing in perfect unity and singing out in one massive voice. We can do this. We will do this. We need all of you to help with this goal.
Cheers, Pox
