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.