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Southsiders!!! Spend some time with the Vancouver Whitecaps mostly benevolent supporter army.

If you’ve been to a Vancouver Whitecaps game at BC Place I trust you’ve had a good time.

If you’ve been to a Vancouver Whitecaps game at BC Place I trust you’ve had a good time. It’s a great product at a good price (a tough find in Vancouver), and with the team so much more competitive in only their second MLS season, fans have had a lot to cheer about. I also trust that if you’ve been to a Vancouver Whitecaps game at BC Place you haven’t failed to notice the large group of chanting, singing, and flag waving men and women in the Southeast Corner. Those folks are the Vancouver Southsiders, the largest supporters group in Canada, and they’re having an incredibly good time.

Formed in 1999 by a group of Vancouver 86ers fans, the Southsiders have grown from their humble roots in the south end of Swangard Stadium and currently boast over 700 members. Starting off as most clubs do, as a small collection of like-minded individuals the club has become an incredibly organized and well-oiled machine dedicated to promoting The Whitecaps and the city of Vancouver both at home and on the road. It’s all here in the charter. They believe strongly in community, and accountability among their members and if any of you reading this have images of hooliganism dancing in your heads you can let those fall happily by the way side. In the early days, when they encountered difficulties with security, senior representatives worked directly with the Caps front office to ensure that they could continue to enjoy the games in a way that reflected their values and their passion but that everyone (security included) could be comfortable with. So basically, they’re the Alex P. Keatons of Hooliganism.

I decided what I really wanted to do was get the whole game day experience which I was happy to discover would require me to visit Doolin’s pub. The pub was already wall-to-wall blue and white scarves and jerseys when I arrived and the excitement was palpable. “This is where the Southsiders come to warm up”, I was informed. “Warm up”? I asked. “This is where the Southsiders come to have drinks” came the smiling reply. And so it went with more than a few friendly faces, telling stories, working on new chants and songs to sing special for Mr. Beckham. Several were signing a large banner bearing the image of Davide Chiumiento, a player who had recently been transferred to a European club and which was to be sent to him as thanks from the club and as a memento of his time in Vancouver. Every club member I talked to talked about being drawn to the club initially out of a love for football, but being drawn in by the real sense of community and shared experience that the club works so hard to foster. They wear that passion on their sleeves, and their chests and heads as well. Something I’d bear witness to about an hour later when I followed them on their pre game march down Granville Street to Robson, and then east to Terry Fox Plaza before entering the stadium. The march is loud, and it’s exciting frankly. People notice it, and stop what they’re doing to take it in. The club makes it clear that Vancouver’s reputation for quiet and passive participation is not for them.

Inside the stadium it’s more of the same. The Capo’s (like band leaders) take up positions at the front of the stands and from there lead those assembled in a selection of songs and chants, some of which are brought out special for Mr. Beckham who was subjected to of “Olympic Reject”, and “Too old for Olympic Gold”.  You’ll recall that I referred to the Southsider’s earlier as a mostly benevolent army. The singing and cheering goes on non-stop the entire game and I note at one point that no one ever seems to sit down. I learn later that they can’t… it’s in the charter. Overall, the experience of seeing a game this way was as amazing as I had hoped it would be, though I’m sure it didn’t hurt that we were treated to a pretty amazing match which ended somewhat disappointingly in a 2-2 draw when Vancouver allowed two late goals after dominating the bulk of the evening. The Southsiders bring a sense of community and connectedness that is lacking in professional sports generally. A feeling which doesn’t appear lost on the Whitecaps front office (who work with, and in support of the club), or on the players, more than a couple of whom visited the southeast corner to wave and acknowledge their supporters before leaving the pitch.

I can’t do the experience justice in such a small space to be honest and strongly encourage you to get out to a game if you haven’t. If you’re interested in sitting in a supporters section some things to know:

  1.  Officially the club occupies sections 249 through 254 although it certainly seemed to me that people were participating well beyond that border.
  2. It will be loud…there will be singing and chanting which will not stop until the whistle which signals the end of the game.
  3. You may hear a swear word or two.
  4. If the singing and the swearing don’t bother you, you’ll have an incredible time.

Membership in the club is $30 for new members, and includes a pile of great stuff including a scarf, a five-dollar donation to charity, and a membership card that will score you discounts at a number of spots around town. You can find information about the club (including information about their charitable work with the Vancouver Street Soccer Association) online . They can also be found on Twitter @Southsiders and of course on Facebook.

I’d like to thank Club President Chris Deal, Director of external communications Brenton Walters and club Ombudsman Brett Bird for being generous with their time in answering my questions and helping me set this up. Thanks are also due to Brandon Timko of the Vancouver Whitecaps for arranging credentials for me on game day which gave me an incredible vantage point from which to view both the club and the game. Thanks!!