A fascinating aspect of soccer, one that distinguishes the soccer culture from that of other professional sports, is the role of supporters groups (sometimes referred to as SGs). I haven’t read a handbook or researched the history of supporters groups, but having watched countless hours of soccer in the last five years, I am starting to learn a bit about them. Long established European clubs like Liverpool and Real Madrid have dozens of local supporters groups and hundreds worldwide. FC Dallas officially recognizes five SGs on their website. Every supporters’ group is unique in its own way, but most SGs are alike in that members are legitimate diehard fans and there is a very real group wide obligation to support the club as intensely as possible. Supporters’ groups are known for organized marches to the stadium before a match, evocative tifo displays during the procession, and smoke-bombs, drums, flags and flares during the match itself. SGs own their section in the stadium, they literally purchase all of the tickets, so the only way to sit in an SG section is to become a member of that SG. It is common for supporters’ groups to establish a presence behind goal and celebrate with players after a score… or throw stuff at the opposition when taking a corner.

I have always been intrigued by the supporters’ culture in soccer, but despite my love for FC Dallas, SGs have never been for me. To be a valued member of a real SG one must pay dues, attend matches at all personal and financial costs, and commit a ton of personal time to SG activities beyond the games (those tifos don’t paint themselves!) – none of these are things I am willing to commit to. That being said, I do enjoy attending a live soccer match with friends sandwiched by trips to the pub. So as a casual Austin Aztex fan, I’ve come up with an idea for a new supporters group, one that just might fit my style.

Soccer Therapy proudly presents
The Eastside Aztex: an unofficial and unorthodox SG

WHO ARE THE EASTSIDE AZTEX?
In one sense, mine will be just like every other supporters group out there. My SG will consist of members uniting for the sake of a soccer club and it will then be defined by those members’ values and actions. We will also have our very own section! – sort of. On the other hand, Eastside Aztex will differ from traditional SGs in that we will not be committed to attending every match or staying for the entire 90 of those that we do attend. Like I said, this is a group for the casual supporter. Many SGs live by a code of Community, Club and Country, but my “three Cs” would be more like Casual, Cheap and Convenient. I am sure any genuine Ultra out there reading this would be scoffing, but clearly, I was not cut from the same cloth as a traditional Ultra. For a look at the current supporters group scene in ATX, scroll way down to the bottom of this post and check out the graphic with Amplifier Austin and Eberly’s Army (featured in the image below: the group with the flag).

The Aztex are not my favorite club, but they are Austin’s club and Austin is my favorite city. I like the Aztex, I really like soccer, and I love a good time with friends on a great Austin night. This group is just as much about rallying people together around a scheduled event as it is about soccer or supporting the club. As such, if/when it is officially founded, it will lack organization and continuity. Maybe one day we will make some shirts and get a group of 20 out to a game. And if I can get 20 Eastside Aztex out for a match, that’ll warrant a custom commemorative scarf, but that’s a long way off.

THE NAME
The idea behind the name is simple. At House Park, the Aztex’ home venue, fans situate themselves in the west stands, taking up most of the good seats on that side of the stadium. The east stands are more open and my experience is that it’s easier to get a front row, center of the pitch seat there rather than squeezing in with the home fans on the west side. Our priorities are far different from most SGs, which relentlessly support their clubs with jumping, screaming and singing for 90 minutes straight. Our goals are to get people out to the match, watch some live soccer and, most of all, enjoy ourselves. When we sat in the east stands at previous matches, it was more than a onetime decision, it was a representation of who we are. We like easy, comfortable, good viewing, but sitting amongst the home crowd means little to us. Plus, Eastside Aztex has a nice little ring to it.

Below, I’ve begun drafting a constitution. I know, the word constitution in itself contradicts the supposed casual nature of this SG, but it’s mostly just a title I am putting on a list of things that need to be written down.

Constitution

Membership Details: Attend one Aztex game in which you drink all of three Steins at the Tavern: (1)prior to first kick, (2)at halftime, (3)a night cap after the match. This process, once honestly completed, earns a lifetime membership. It is roughly a $30-$40 investment and a really fun two hours.
***The only exception to this rule is a brilliant opening 45’ in a significant match such as a US Open Cup tie or a late season top of the table showdown. In that event, if you don’t want to jeopardize missing some of the action with a halftime trip to the Tavern, then we understand. Your membership will still be valid if you enjoy a beer by some other means – shotgun in the parking lot, a beer from the vendors, or take in a second night cap over at the Tavern etc.***

• Goal #1: Have fun
• Goal #2: Build membership numbers by getting people out for a match. This goal serves two purposes: (1)We will do our part to help the Aztex become become more relevant to the city of Austin and assist their upward movement in the United States Soccer Pyramid. Getting people out to games helps their cause with a few extra ticket sales and improves the drab atmosphere of their matches. (2)The larger our group grows, the easier it will be to reach our first goal – to have a good time.
• Goal #3: Gameday plans will be easy, flexible and cheap – remember the “Three Cs.” If you prefer to sneak in a flask or shotgun a beer in the parking lot to save a buck, you will not be judged. If it is better for you to show up 20 minutes late or leave 20 minutes early, we understand, and thanks for making it out to the game.
• Dues: none beyond paying for your tickets and beer, no commitments – financial or any other sort
• Responsibilities: Demonstrate a willingness to embrace the local club and support them by attending a match and occasionally mentioning our group to your friends, coworkers, or through social media (as rare as you want it to be, and never forced or salesy).
• Being an Eastside Aztec should never feel like a burden. There are no true, tangible commitments. If you can make a game, great. If you pick up an Aztex shirt or just wear some blue out to the match, great. If not, we really don’t care – perhaps that can be our motto going forward > The Eastside Aztex: We just don’t care.

Mark your Calendars!
The complete Aztex 2015 home schedule is posted below. For a look at Austin’s marquee home matches this year, check out Soccer Therapy’s 2015 Calendar and see when you’d like to officially become an Eastside Aztec.

The current supporters scene in ATX is described in the graphic below. I scanned this out of the program for the ATX Pro Challenge tournament that was played in February. I’ve become quite familiar with Eberly’s Army, but know little about Amplifier Austin. From what I can tell, they are a new SG, but will have an impressive presence at House Park this season – I can certainly say that the Eastside Aztex believe in the Amplifier mission. As for a third SG in Austin currently? Well, I certainly hope someone else is closer to establishing one than I am with this blog post (but I am borderline serious with all of this). Cheers, and I hope to see some readers out at House Park in 2015.