The Fifteen Year Anniversary Super Schlaffle

Over the past 15 years, there’s several principles that have been consistent…but one of the most important in terms of people is “we take care of our own”.  Sometimes it’s a scarf for a kid of a member, paying for a beer for someone who did something good for the group, tipping the waitstaff at Schlafly or 2nd Shift heavily…but sometimes it’s more.  

We are faced with one of those situations where it’s more than a beer or tip.

Fifteen years ago, there were seven groups in section 20 at Soccer Park for AC St Louis games.  They all came together under the Louligan name, and eventually, it was just the Louligans.  As the years have passed, many of those original members did other things, stopped coming to games, etc.  One of those originals has been around since day one, although now he’s joined SLC Punk:  Preston.  If there was a Louligan who truly is the punk ethos, it’s Preston. But, you’ll still see him at the Street Party, or on the Schlafly lot post game.  He’s always one of us, and always will be.  

You may have seen us share the GoFundMe for Preston and his son, Duncan.  Duncan was born on September 19th, a beautiful and healthy little boy.  Tragically, Preston’s wife Jasa developed complications, and passed away on October 5th.  I personally can share the first time I met Jasa; at a Blues game during an intermission, I ran into Preston, and he introduced us, as they had just started dating recently.  She was sweet, kind, engaging, and you could tell they just were so happy together.  I clearly remember walking back to my seat, thinking how happy I was for Preston to have found someone that was truly wonderful, and made him a better person.  How he deserved this happiness, and how you could just tell they’d be together for a long time.  Every CITY game I’d see them, we’d talk, and it was if she’d been with Preston since AC St. Louis, they just FIT together so perfectly. 

Sadly, fate had other intentions, and now Preston is a widower, a single dad.  The pain has to be unimaginable, the once promising future now full of questions.  So many people have helped out through the GoFundMe and I know this is a big help.  But, as the beginning of this article said, we take care of our own.

I talked with the former GM of Saint Louis FC, Jeremy Alumbaugh, recently and was struck with the inspiration for this plan.  Saint Louis FC was the birthplace of a lot of the great Louligan ideas, and there’s so much history in the Louligans that Preston was an important part of.  Add in the fact that it’s our 15 year anniversary and Preston’s been there…what better time for a Super Schlaffle.  Not just any normal Charity Du Jour will do; 15 years, and Preston, deserve the biggest, most unique prize ever.    

So starting today, 11/3/25, at stlouligans.com/shop, you can purchase a Super Schlaffle raffle ticket.  Or as many as you want.  We will draw on Black Friday, November 28th, and announce the winner.  Every ticket will go into an online randomizer for the drawing; with any luck, maybe we’ll live stream it that day.  Or at least post the video to announce the winner, to show it’s on the up and up.  Since it’s through the website store, you’ll be able to pay with several methods, and get a confirmation email.  The list will be exported at midnight on Thanksgiving, 11/27, put into the randomizer during the drawing.  

So now, the question is, what’s in the Super Schlaffle?  

That’s where the history comes in.  And, since it’s the Louligans, it’s got to be a little bit different and fun.  We’re starting with a few unique items, and will announce more as the days go by.  We can’t reveal it all up front, that would be a boring wait for the next few weeks.  So we’re going to announce three items today, and add things randomly, so make sure you follow us on the socials to see what gets added.  

The first item is a Saint Louis FC hat signed by players.  This is a one-of-one item; there’s no other ones like this one out there.  I’m still deciphering the signatures on it, and probably will need some help…but there’s a lot of players on there. 

Speaking of Saint Louis FC players, one signature is completely legible: our captain, Sam Fink.  And Jeremy Alumbaugh, Sam Fink, and Lewis Hilton have combined for another incredibly unique item:  Jeremy had this artwork done, and signed by Sam and Lewis.  Literally, again, a one-of-one item.  And it’s not just any artwork: it depicts the LEGENDARY Sam Fink header in the US Open Cup against FC Cincinnati in 2019.  

Thanks to Jeremy, Lewis, and Sam for this..this is an item so cool, it’s exactly why we’re going to video the drawing: just in case I win. 😀 Because I want this, and I think many of you will as well.  

Of course, as we talk about supporting St Louis soccer, the current iteration of that is the last item we reveal today.  In discussing this Super Schlaffle with Peter Wood and Caleb Leon at Saint Louis CITY SC, I stressed the idea of this being unique items.  Anyone can get a signed shirt or picture.  Preston and Duncan deserve something special in their honor, something that the Louligans can say is a unique item.  Peter came through after the last game of the 2025 season: The corner flags used during that game on 10/18/25.  Soaked from the rain, Peter took them off the poles and handed them to me during Bricksgiving.  And since it was during Bricksgiving, Simon Becher, Henry Kessler, and Mykhi Joyner signed it.  So if you go to Apple TV and watch that game, you can say “that’s my corner flag!”.  

But as I said, we’ll keep announcing more and more as the days go on.  Not everything will be this unique; since I’m funemployed, I’m going through the three giant totes of Louligan history I have, and pulling out some interesting items we will include.  We’ve also got some items donated by other soccer luminaries, and more surprises.  

It wouldn’t be the Louligans without a fun story shared, and I think there’s two that are appropriate for Preston’s time with the Louligans.  

The first was the first ever road trip.  The Lions were playing Des Moines Menace in Des Moines to start the season; it was our first season with the Lions after AC St. Louis folded, and we decided to make the trip to Iowa.  Brad DeMunbrun and Mark Gardner (of Your Electric, 314-814-3897, both commercial and residential electric services) got their wives’ minivans, and we piled into them for the trip.  Everyone is bringing coolers, snacks, scarves, ready to go for this exciting first trip.  Preston shows up with…a box of Girl Scout Thin Mints, a box of Franzia wine, a can of Coke that when he’s finished with it will become his wine glass, and a carton of Marlboro Red’s.  The man knows how to pack for a trip.

The other was a year later, when someone had the great idea for a Louligan indoor soccer team.  And by great idea, I mean incredibly stupid.  But, we decided we’d do it anyway and relieve our more fit days.  Every game, without fail, Preston would take his first shift, struggle, come off the pitch, and puke in the trash can nearby.  Once he puked, he was GOOD.  Before puking?  Not very good.  It got to the point where I tried to talk him into starting every game so he could puke early and be good for more of the game.  😀 

Every game for the past few years, seeing Preston and Jasa in the Schlafly lot after a game at CITY Park (no I will not call it Energizer Park, just like Riverport) was comforting.  The group would be standing around, bitching about the game (listen, winning was a while ago…let’s not pretend this season was successful).  Preston would be having a smoke or 10 with Brad, and we’d all commiserate until we were worn out and headed home.  Preston and Jasa walking off together…That’s the way I’m going to remember her: making Preston feel better after a shit game.  

So for Jasa, for Preston, for Duncan, and for the Louligans, thank you for 15 years of silly.  Thank you for 12 years of giving.  Lets do this one big, and honor them and our history together with this Super Schlaffle.  Preston will always be #OneOfUs, and we’ll always have his back.

MAKE SURE YOUR CONTACT INFO IS CORRECT SO WE CAN CONTACT YOU IF YOU WIN. If it’s wrong, we’ll require a 500 word essay on why CITY needs to “Embrace the Pink” better in the kits in order to collect your winnings.

ITEM UPDATE 11/5/25

Adding new items today as promised!
These items come from OG Louligan Nicole and her family…and they are VERY old school Louligan!

From the beginning, we have three items! A signed Season Ticket Holder Ticket sheet from AC St Louis, and one from St. Louis Athletica! There are some superstars on that Athletica one, names you’ll recognize…And no, I don’t see Claude Anelka on the ACSTL one.

There’s also a signed ACSTL vuvuzela; spittle not included.

Moving to the next iteration of the Louligans, a signed 2013 St. Louis Lions poster! Look at baby Jonny Brown on there! No, that’s not a height comment, it’s referring to how young and innocent he looked. I said LOOKED, not played. Nothing innocent there.

Stay tuned, and thank you for all your ticket purchases!

UPDATE 11/24

OK, was supposed to do more stuff last week, but the stupid job that actually pays me got in the way. So we’ll just go bigger today!

FOUR SCARVES…but not just any scarves.

First, a Thieves scarf signed by the entire 2024 St. Louis CITY SC team.

Next, a rare collector’s item…the Centene-CITY scarf handed out when the naming rights to the stadium were announced, where Centene was sponsoring the stadium. (Remember that short lived name? Insert “I still call it Riverport” joke here.)

To round it out, we’re keeping it rare and very “back to the beginning”: A St. Louis Athletica Season Ticket Holder scarf, and an AC St. Louis Season Ticket Holder scarf. Both still in bags, so the tears, sweat, and spilled beer of Louligans back then didn’t touch the scarves. Although they could be added for authenticity for an additional donation.

Last week, so more to be announced this week to bring the Super Schlaffle to a close on Friday, November 28th!

11/27/25 UPDATE

Last day of ticket sales!

Going to have TWO drops today…one later on after dinner when we’re all fed up with that one uncle bringing up his ignorant takes on politics, and the old aunt who wants to talk to you about her incredibly awkward health issues. Good way to close out the holiday, eh?

FIRST drop is from the OG’est OGs, Liz and Keith Mayfield. Liz started Laclede’s Army, the supporters group for the Athletica, and was the first capo for the Louligans. “The Little Ball of Hate” married Keith, another Laclede’s Army/OG Louligan, and as such, they had doubles of almost everything, so Liz dropped off an amazing cache of cool.

First, a crazy Athletica drop. An unworn Athletica shirt (still in bag!) and socks. (Ask an OG sometime about the socks…funny story.). There’s also a thunder stick, pennant, rally towel, temporary tattoos, AND the program from the All Star Game/Championship Final including Liz’s ticket from the semi-final where the Athletica lost. So you know it’s authentic.

Next, a STLFC bottle koozy and the Kyle Grieg bobblehead, still in box. PLUS, a game worn and signed Illinois Piasa jersey! We couldn’t remember his name, we just called him “Obi Wan”, but Pat Ryan was able to tell us that #18 was Blake Ordell, who is now the head coach of the University of Minnesota-Morris.

Last, but far from least, Liz and Keith drop some of their extra scarves. An original Laclede’s Army scarf, a gameday special STLFC scarf, and TWO Louligan scarves, the 2018 “Mad Hatter” scarf, and the 2016 “Dance With Somebody” scarf.

Last, but not least…we have the infamous STLFC Ugly Sweater. But it’s not just ANY STLFC ugly sweater…this one was added by the hero we’re all here, for, Preston himself! If you had any curiosity why this is so meaningful to us…Preston is the type of good man that wanted to contribute to something being done for him and his son. Such a genuinely kind-hearted guy who pitches in naturally.

LAST DROP!

OK, I went through the totes, aka the Louligan Archives…and pulled out any doubles I could find (there’s a lot, so admittedly probably missed some stuff…), and a good chunk of it is stuff that was team give aways, gameday buttons, etc.

First up, a Saint Louis Sports Magazine from when AC St. Louis was announced. You see kids, this was big back then, getting something in a print magazine. Also, a 2011 St. Louis Lions team picture, our first year supporting the Lions.

Next, STLFC/Heineken, STLFC bottle, and Fire and Ice koozies. Not a lot of those F&I ones out there…

How about a Schlafly/STLFC metal bottle opener, and a green Kings’ Cup…cup? We had purple and green ones for the Kings Cup against Luhvul…

A bunch of stickers! Some STLFC, Brewligans, Louligans window sticker, Louligan St., a This is Silly sticker and magnet, and a 1st St. Louis CITY SC game sticker.

Gameday buttons! A bunch of them…including the ever popular John from Schlafly tow truck one.

A couple of STLFC give aways…a TW Constructors summer scarf, and a STLFC face mask. You never know the way the world is going, you may need those again…

CITY give aways! A dog bandana, apron, and the bucket hat.

First game of CITY? The pennant they gave out, and the card stunt card from the first TIFO.

And the Home Opener pennant from the 2025 season, and the infamous America’s First Soccer Capital rally towel. Cease and desist not included.

The team poster from the 2016 St. Louis FC season. (another shot of the Kings Cup cup and bottle opener holding it open that are listed above.)

We love our TIFO’s. Found a left over print from the Witch TIFO, signed by artist Jamie Toon. Was a limited run of those.

Was in the trailer the other day, grabbed a Louligan flag and a Catherine Cares Louigan summer scarf.

And to wrap it up, the 2024 scarf if you missed it, and both colors of the 2025 scarf.

Unless something comes in from anyone else that surprises me, this is the Super Schlaffle total. Ticket sales end at midnight tonight, 11/27…I will do the drawing on FB Live tomorrow…I’ll post the link here and we’ll share it on socials as well. We’ll post the link at 10:30, and probably draw around 11:45 to give everyone a chance to log in if they want. If I can figure out how to simulcast anywhere else, we’ll post it there, but I doubt it happens.

The hugest thanks to all who donated to the effort…Jeremy Alumbaugh, Sam Fink, Lewis Hilton, Nicole and Ben Trokey, St. Louis CITY SC (thanks especially to Peter Wood), Nancy and Patrick Carver, The Thieves, Liz and Keith Mayfield, and the man himself, Preston. I’ve told Preston several times, his tribe has his back. These good people, and you for buying the tickets, are going to help Preston and Duncan get set up for their future.

Fifteen years of silliness, fifteen years of good and bad times…but we’ve always taken care of our own: the players, staff, and each other. Thank you for every day of it, and hopefully this great effort changes our luck with soccer in St. Louis.