Timbers Army

Timbers Army

I got into Portland late the night before the game. Luckily for me, it was the 1st night of the Rose Festival, so I went down to the riverfront, had my fill from the amazing food trucks and local breweries, and enjoyed an evening of fireworks. The next afternoon, after enjoying a Voodoo Doughnut, It was time to get ready for the game.

As I got closer to Jeld Wen Field, I could hear the crowd gathering and bagpipes playing, and I could feel the energy building. Today is a big game, Portland Timbers take on a local rival in The Vancouver Whitecaps. 

As charter buses drive by to the visitors entrance, Timbers fans are not shy about how they feel towards their visitors from the north.

With 20 minutes before the gates open, I decide to head in early to get my bearings before the crowd pours in. What a beautiful stadium… 

It's the MLS's version of Wrigley Field or Fenway Park. No matter how hard these new stadiums try, you can not build character like this. It's earned through decades of use.

This character and passion is reinforced by the Timbers Army; by far the loudest soccer crowd I have experiences.To be fair to other supporter groups, I don't know if the Timbers make more noise, or if they make a lot of noise that is amplified in these friendly confines. Either way, as a visiting team, when you play the Timbers, you know you are in the Timbers' house.

As the game kicks off the Whitecaps fans, which have good numbers, are easily drowned out by Timbers Army…

"Portland Timbers – We adore you
Portland Timbers – For you, WE SING!
Lo lo-lo-lo lo-lo-lo… " 

sung to the tune of Korobeiniki or the Tetris theme.

I have to admit I love and hate this chant. It's fun and full of energy, but it does not leave your head. Days later out of  nowhere I start chanting Lo lo-lo-lo lo-lo….. (I love it.)

As the match goes on (like any good rival game) we have many ups and downs, and these fans wear it all on their sleeves.

 Singing a players praise

Letting the ref know where to stick it

And asking for a yellow card.

Then the unexpected… It was suppose to be a clear evening, but mother nature did not want to be upstaged by Timbers Army, and the rains came in sheets. 

You could hardly see from one side of the field to the other as the 1st half came to the end. The rains managed to slow down the game with a 10-20 minute extended halftime due to the lighting and downpour… That didn't stop the Army though. 

As the rain violently came down and the thunder cracked, the Timbers Army just sang louder making sure everyone, even mother nature, know This Is Their House!

Second half starts, and Portland takes the lead in the 67th minute thanks to a goal by Boyd.

This brings us to another unique and time honored tradition… Timber Joey. (Originally Timber Jim, created in 1970 while the Timbers were in the NASL) Whenever the Timbers score, Timber Joey starts up his chainsaw and cuts a ring off a log. 

That disk of log is then paraded around 

and passed through the Army. 

As the game goes on, the Timbers have a number of opportunities to score a second goal; this one going just wide.

                        

In the end, The Timbers end up unlucky as the Whitecaps score on a counter attack to tie it up. 

The game ends in a disappointing tie, but no-one left defeated. 

                                                                As for this little fan...

 With the respect these players show towards these fans… A bond is created with a future Timbers Army member, and the tradition of passion and unwavered support will continue. 

Emerald City Supporters

  The north west corner of the United States is where my journey starts. The consistent size of the crowds in Seattle and Portland in addition to the strong supporter culture draws me in like a magnet. I think to myself, if there is any place in this country that will give me the energy of a European match, it will be here.

On May 20th I flew into Seattle. I took a few days to drive around Olympic National Forest before returning to Seattle on the 23rd. That afternoon, I went to the square where the different groups that make up the ECS come together... I have no way to describe the euphoria I felt at that moment. It was like a school bell went off for the last day of school. Supporters all at once started pouring out of the pubs, and gathering in front of a banner. With army precision, in a matter of moments, the bars were emptied and the ECS were marching through the city singing and chanting.

The fact that they were downtown made their voices echo between the building. I knew to expect this march, but the roar was beyond my imagination. I tried to take a little video, but my adrenaline was pumping so much, I couldn't keep my camera steady.

As the ECS marched down the streets, more and more people filed out of bars along the way and joined the march. These supporters were ready for battle. They were ready for 90+ minutes of nonstop singing, dancing, chanting, and drinking. They were ready to make it miserable for the traveling Columbus Crew while simultaneously giving the Sounders that extra push of energy and support.

"Burn destroy wreck and kill, Whoa, Whoa
  Burn destroy wreck and kill, Whoa, Whoa
  Burn destroy wreck and kill, Seattle Sounders surely will!
  Whoa, ooohhh, oohh!"

I wish the visiting team was forced to see this march. It is intimidating to see 100's... dare I say 1000+ people march towards the field in unison while screaming at the top of their lungs, "Burn destroy wreck and kill."

Once inside the stadium, The Emerald City Supporters take it to the next level. The shear volume of people in the crowd is overwhelming (larger them most MLB crowds.) As the starting 11 are announced, the ECS raise their scarves to show their support.

As soon as the National Anthem has finished, the chants resume and the kickoff starts the game.

From the individual to the masses they do their part to get behind their team.

Now I have been to other MLS games, and the supporters section standing and singing is common, but when I turned around to look at the rest of the crowd, I noticed something different... They were all standing! An American Football stadium, filled with fans, all standing for their team... I have never seen anything like this before. I haven't even see this on tv, watching european games. I am amazed. This is the perfect start for my project.

As the game comes to an end, the Sounders are trailing 2-nil. Even so, the ECS are not defeated.

"I'm Sounders 'til I die
  I'm Sounders 'til I die
  I know I am, I'm sure I am
  I'm Sounders 'til I die"

Win our lose, they support their team with pride.

8 Days

I have 8 days till my 1st shoot for this project. It's getting serious. Flights are booked, car rented, still working on hotels. I just set up a new laptop for this project (granted my other one is 8 years old.) I've been running around trying to pick up as many freelance jobs as I can to help pay for this adventure. Eight days out and today I had a camera go down... Looking into a small loan or rental options right now instead of finding ways to fill a few free days between games. I also need to do post work for some clients, so they are all taken care of before I go.

Even with all this chaos around me with gear issues, a ton of work, and not being as prepared as I wanted to be (yet,) my hopes are high. In the near future, I will be walking into two of the most electric venues in the United States. I can't wait to do my part to help grow the game, and give the supporters the respect they deserve for pushing this sport to the next level.

Entry 1: The Project

The Project "The American Soccer Supporter" is a photo essay on the growth of the American Soccer Supporter. I'm not talking about the average fan who goes to a game. I'm not even talking about the average season ticket holder. I am talking about the person who lives and dies with the team. I am talking about the men and women who stand up the whole game to sing and cheer, to beat on drums, who wave banners and flags, and travel hundreds of miles for an away game.

These fans are the heart of the team. They create the atmosphere and noise that the players feed off of. They create an electric environment that makes others think, I want to join in on the fun. Without these fans, the "Beautiful Game" would not have grown to the popularity it has today.

My project will span the United States documenting the local club supporters. I will be looking at the USL-PDL, the USL-PRO, the NASL, and the MLS. From supporter groups made up of 20 people, to stadium ends full of supporters; I plan on documenting all I can to honor these supporters for what they do for soccer in America.