With the sale of the WNY Flash and the creation of the North Carolina Courage, a new opportunity arose for soccer fans in North Carolina. The Courage have two supporters groups Oak City Supporters (to be featured on a future spotlight) and Triangle Soccer Fanatics. Prior to this year, Triangle Soccer Fanatics primarily cheered for North Carolina FC (previously Carolina RailHawks) but now will be lending their support to the Courage as well. TSF President W. Jarrett Campbell shared some more information about the group ahead of the Courage’s first home game this weekend.
When did Triangle Soccer Fanatics start and why?
I started TSF in 2003 shortly after our moved to the Triangle in 2003 as a way to meet other soccer fans in the Raleigh-Durham area. Primarily, we just met up in bars to watch US national team games and other professional soccer on TV. Then, in 2007, when the Carolina RailHawks began play, we became an independent supporters club of the local men’s team. When the NC Courage relocated from Western NY to Cary, it was an obvious extension to our organization to start supporting the NWSL team as well.
What are some things you do on game day or prior to game day?
TSF tailgates before every match in the parking lot just outside the player’s locker room. We greet the players when they arrive on match day and wish them luck, and then grill out and share a few “adult beverages” with our friends before heading into the match.
Where can people find you before/during the game?
Triangle Soccer Fanatics and Oak City Supporters (another NC Courage supporters club) stand together in the South Stand underneath the giant video scoreboard.
What can people expect if they join TSF for a game?
We are active supporters group, chanting, singing, and waving flags for the full 90 minutes. Folks can expect to have a great time urging on the Courage and make lots of new friends in the supporters section.
What is your favorite part of being in a supporters group?
There are so many things that I love about being in the supporters section, but in particular three things stand out. First of all, it’s the camaraderie with other fans. Match day for me is not about a couple of people heading out to a soccer match, it’s more like a family reunion of sorts where I see hundreds of people I know and enjoy watching soccer with. My favorite event we do as a supporters club is twice a year, TSF hosts a picnic lunch for the players where we prepare and serve a meal to the team after a practice. This is a great way for us to meet the players and form a bond that lasts not only through the season but even beyond a player’s time with us here in Raleigh-Durham. The other part of the supporters club I enjoy is our community involvement. Each year TSF undertakes a number of charity and community activities, many of which are inspired by causes that are important to the player’s themselves.
You can find Triangle Soccer Fanatics on Twitter https://twitter.com/TriSoccerFan, Instagram http://instagram.com/trisoccerfan, Facebook https://www.facebook.com/trisoccerfan and at their website http://www.trisoccerfan.com
If catching a game down in NC, check them out and check back weekly for more info on Supporters Groups around the NWSL!
