"We're not your average supporters’ group," stated board member Zack Williams of your average supporters’ group. “We watch other supporters’ groups do lame T.I.F.O and chants, but that isn’t our style. We don’t want to imitate them. We step it up to another level by doing everything that the Northern Guard does that the Timbers Army does that St.Pauli does.”
Photo: Paul Sableman
The supporters group formed over a common love of supporters groups at a dive bar called Dive bar which used to be the unofficially official meeting place of the supporters group.
While the Dive Bar dive bar has now closed, it is often remembered in vintage supporters group merchandise that you no longer can purchase.
In a wide ranging interview with The Nutmeg News, Williams illustrated what makes his group stand out.
“Look, nobody likes us and we don’t care, but we do have a number of charity initiatives that gained us some local praise and credit that we don’t like to brag about all the time, but will if necessary,” stated Williams. “We are a collection of socially conscious supporters who believe we should be far left and apolitical supporters who believe we shouldn’t bring politics into the group at all who have a moderately irreverent social media presence that traffics in light banter mixed in with reports on our previously mentioned and expansive charitable endeavors and passionate team entreaties.”
When it comes to membership, Williams was adamant that his group was not founded on exclusion.
“We believe that Black Lives Matter,” stated Williams, “And as soon as one joins our supporters group we will let them know that fact. Some of our members are pushing the team to release a pride kit, and we fully support that effort. We are not exclusive at all and we don’t require a membership; but we do have an inner process that we review for higher functions and responsibilities within the Supporters Group. And you have to be a dues paying member in order run for SG offices or access the exclusive scarf pre-sale or help with the display on Saturday."
When asked about their history with Women in the group, Williams said he never had a negative experience in the group.
“We would absolutely love to have more women in the group. It’s always great having more members. I’ve never experienced a toxic atmosphere at all, personally. We look out for each other like a family. For example, I always warn any women that come into the group about Dave… because… wow.. that guy gets wild sometimes. The best part is that there’s no drama. We just don’t get into drama unless we need to get into drama, and we already addressed all that other drama. I think everyone knows that I’m willing to stand up and accept those faults, but I don’t think I need speak further about that.”
The Nutmeg News will have more on this as an informal splinter group forms around the idea taking the supporters section back to their roots.