2015 Memberships Available Now

AND MEMBERSHIPS ARE FREE!

Every once in a while we get an uptick in “followers” or “likes” via social media. When that happens I like to trot out a new version of the same song we’ve been singing for years. We’re glad you found us- we hope you enjoy what we’re doing and will want to be a part of it.

As we ramp up to the 2015 USL-Pro & Saint Louis FC season and Saint Louis FC gives us some promotion, more and more people are finding us every day. Thanks for clicking and reading. We get asked by a lot of new people, “How do I join?” Here it is, all you have to do is declare yourself a member. We want people who are excited to support our local team. We don’t charge anything because we don’t want $20 to be a barrier for anyone. Show Up, Make Noise, Have Fun. That’s it. Ideally you’ll buy a t-shirt or scarf or chip in if we ask for donations to help us raise funds to do things like tailgates, tifo, podcast, etc- but it’s not mandatory. We follow a punk D.I.Y. ethic. People tend to do what they enjoy and what they’re good at and it usually works out for the best. We’re a hive mind- if you’re doing something wrong somebody will call you out, if you’re doing something right you’ll get praise. You never know what little thing will strike a chord and rally people to our cause. I encourage you to do what comes natural and you’ll find your niche. (Even if its just drinking a beer and talking to other fans about soccer.)

We’ve been around since 2010 back when AC STL played in the newly re-born NASL. When they folded we moved on to the St. Louis Lions in USL-PDL. We went to PIASA games (PASL) for fun in the off seasons. We also attended some Fire & Ice SC games in the WPSL. Last season some of us supported FC Bordo in NPSL. So we’ve been at the various levels of Amateur & Pro soccer in St. Louis for the last 4 years. 2015 marks the return of Professional Outdoor Soccer in the form of Saint Louis FC and we’re expecting a big influx of new fans that have been waiting for this. No matter when you started following us or when you decided to join- we welcome you all. We don’t have Platinum members or Gold Star members, we’re all equals here. You get out what you put in.

Whatever your level of soccer knowledge or history with the game or our group we hope you’ll have fun and stick around. For this season with Saint Louis FC all you have to do is buy General Admission tickets and gravitate toward the corner in Section 8. How close you want to get is your decision, but I guarantee it’s fun at the center. Occasionally you’ll hear some colorful language (but I’ve heard worse at Rams/Blues/Cardinals games). There will also be beer. Some people don’t like getting splashed when a goal gets scored, but in the heat of a match beer tends to fly in celebration. I get that not everybody loves a beer shower, maybe they’ll be more comfortable on the edges of the throng. Singing & chants are also part of the deal. You’ll get over any fear of public singing after you’ve learned the songs and have done it a couple of times (but no one will force you to sing). Taunting the opposition (cleverly with humor, not mean spirited) is also part of the plan- you don’t have to join in, but I bet you’ll laugh at some of the things that get said. Believe it or not, opposing players appreciate this and usually give us a thumbs up for a good zinger. It’s not uncommon for somebody we’ve ridden all game to come over and shake hands after the game. And most importantly, what we do inspires our own players. They thrive off the energy the crowd puts out. It can push them on when they’re tired or frustrated. After a goal they’ll head to our corner first to celebrate and after the game they’ll clap for us as much as we clap for them. There’s a reason that the club is working with us to make sure we’re there and a part of the game day festivities, they know having a strong supporter section is good for their players and for their marketing efforts. They put us by the scoreboard so everyone in the stadium sees us standing and making noise in the hopes that our passion will engage the rest of the park.

So back to membership. I personally invite you to become a Louligan because you love the game or because you want to have fun or because you want to be a part of what we’re building here in St. Louis. Again, it costs nothing. Benefits include special team perks for the Supporters Section, Co-branded things like the pint glass we got last weekend at our info event. Special giveaways. Scarves. Roadtrip packages. Use of the team facilities for Tifo days or Chant practice. First notice of big news and special events. And other things we’re constantly working on. But without a doubt, the biggest benefit are the friendships you’ll make. Friends I’ve made through this group over the years are my best friends in the world. It’s not uncommon for us to get together to celebrate birthdays, play pinball, drink a beer or just hang out when soccer isn’t even involved. I love my Louligan family and I hope to add more people to that list.

As this group grows we may change how we do things. We may one day have to charge for memberships or have elections for officers- but right now all we ask is that you come around and be yourself. There’s a place for you no matter who you are. So, buy tickets and join us in the corner. We can always take over the next section if we need more room.

To stay up to date with all of our events and doings please follow us on Twitter, “like” us on Facebook. Sign up for the newsletter. Participate on our forum. Listen to our podcast. And support the team.