Call to Arms

This blog is the first of many that I'm planning on writing which are interviews of behind the scenes of the 3252. As I mentioned in a previous blog, the 3252 is the supporter group of LAFC, and within the 3252 there are a variety of LAFC supporter groups throughout southern California. As I mentioned as well, living in the Inland Empire I'm part of the Empire Boys. The first person I decided to interview was a founding member and one of the leaders of the Empire Boys Guillermo Melendez aka Willy, everyone who knows him, knows him as Willy. I chose Willy as the first to be interviewed because first he's part of the same SG I'm proudly part of, and he was one the first I met in the group and we hit it off right away, with our love for football and punk music, but as we sat down for the interview I found out we had more in common. Willy is also one of the supporters who was inspired to start the famous; "Call to Arms" chant that is done by pretty much the entire Banc of California Stadium, at LAFC matches. We decided to meet up at the Titled Kilt in Rancho Cucamonga (the sight of one of the best viewing parties I've ever attended last season), to grab a bite to eat and a cold beer. I hope you enjoy this. I really would like to interview someone from each support group, I really want to focus on supporter group culture in this blog.

LAFC Punk: How were you introduced to football?

Willy: My dad, he was a America (Club America) supporter, ever since he could remember he was a America supporter, football was in my blood.

LAFC Punk: What is your first football memory?

Willy: It's weird because I sill work in Fullerton, it was at Cal State Fullerton, it was America practicing there, I don't think they played there but they practiced there.

LAFC Punk: What year was this?

Willy: 93 I was probably 10 years old, I always played it, but to go watch professional players I was around 10 years old. Yeah one of my favorite players was Zague from Brazil, he was awesome he ran like a f***in gazelle, his head would move around like a gazelle.

LAFC Punk: What was first supporter group experience?

Willy: Club America, just going to watch them at the Rose Bowl against the Galaxy or some other Mexican League team and we would always go watch them, and just listening to the chants was just awesome. Personally that was the first thing, but seeing it at the stadium, that was the first time. My dad would always steal cable when we were kids, he had the black box so we would be able to watch English games and Italian games, and you could hear the chants and I was like what the hell is that, that's awesome, that was some of my first experiences with that.

LAFC Punk: To piggy back off the last question what drew you to SG culture?

Willy: Um the anarchy I think, it's very punk rock and grass roots, we don't want people to tell us how to do it, we just want to do it our own way, drink, party, be loud, just being drunk kids. We live our youth when we use to go to shows and s**t like that, just yell at the top of our f***in lungs and then go home and then do it again next week, for me that was it.

LAFC Punk: Yeah for me one thing I like about the 3252, is that we mix the English supporter culture along with the Latin America supporter culture as well, we are like family.

WIlly: Yes it is you turn around and you see tattooed guy and you cholo guys and goth people, skinheads (non racist skinheads), you see everybody and everybody respects everyone.

LAFC Punk: How and when did the Empire Boys get started?

Willy: We got started in 2016, I tried starting a SG in Orange County it was a one time thing we would talk about football, that never worked out. The OC group never really took off, and I was like f**k it, man. Then I don't how exactly I met Pepe I think it was online or something like that, then me and Pepe got together we had a couple of beers, and we said let's try to start a group out here in the Inland Empire, and we met Izzy and James and a couple other dudes. The first time we all got together it was around 6 guys, that would be James, Pepe, Izzy, and myself and a couple other guys. We met right here at Lamppost pizza in Corona, no there was a bar close by then we moved over to lamppost, and it kind of took off from there and we just said let's see what happens. We didn't take it too serious at first it was just kind of a hang out, drinking and watch football sord of thing.

LAFC Punk: Explain the Empire Boys...

Willy: So the logo has a lot to do with me and Pepe one of our favorite, not really club but ideology behind the the club is St. Pauli from Germany, where everyone is welcome no one is pushed away, it doesn't matter what; race, sex or nationality you are you are welcomed, and that's what we want to be. A lot people talk about but we want to be about it.

LAFC Punk: Why were you drawn to LAFC?

Willy: That's a good f***in question, um I just never, I just always wanted my own team to support, in MLS but I was never drawn to Chivas USA (being a Club America supporter) or the Galaxy. And when I saw LAFC come out, it had something to do with the name and the colors it had grass roots. They started emailing us I don't how I got on the list to get emails from them, bu they were asking us; what colors do you want, what name do you want, do you guys want a logo. I said you guys can be black white and red (side note I also received stuff like this from the team and I do remember something black and red). I told them it doesn't matter the colors as long as you keep Los Angeles Football Club that was one of my favorite things, that's what drew me to LAFC. 

LAFC Punk: Going back to the EB, what is your role with the EB?

Willy: Head beer drinker (laughter), no I'm kidding. I'm the guy who goes to most of the 3252 meetings and deals with away tickets and just kind of knows a little bit of the history of the 3252 and how everything works, I'm kind of the link between the Empire Boys and the 3252.

LAFC Punk: What does being part of the Empire Boys and the 3252 mean to you?

Willy: It means everything, man! I never believed that something so elementary drinking, watching football and hanging out with buddies was going to turn into something so big, it just means a lot more I ever thought it would be.

LAFC Punk: I can completely relate, Empire Boys and the 3252 is like family. I enjoy the viewing parties so much, because I can't afford to go to that many games. I love going to the games especially the tailgates because I've made so many friends within the the 3252, the guys from Defenders of the Banc, Josef from Heart of LAFC, along with others from different SGs. But the viewing parties are cheaper to go to and we have that family atmosphere, I've even called in sick for viewing parties. And the manager that I called in sick to the first time now attends our viewing parties and is a big LAFC fan.

LAFC Punk: What was the inspiration behind the "Call to Arms" chant?

Willy: So I can't take any credit for it, it's a Ajax chant that we took from them, but I just saw something so powerful in that one it was so simple, and everyone could do it, you didn't know what the words are or nothing like that. It was instant man, we talked about, we were drunk at Rowdy's one day, I told the guys listen to this, I started playing it one the drums (by the way Willy is one of our drummers at watch parties), by myself and they caught on, it was a couple of guys who were plastered, and they started doing it. 

LAFC Punk: I remember doing it at our first viewing party of the season. Then to the tailgate and finally to the stadium.

Willy: Yes you are correct. What's funny I wasn't there for the first time I was watching America, Izzy texts me; he was so excited, he was like did you hear the chant, did you hear the chant, I was no I'm watching America. And he was like the whole stadium is doing the chant!

LAFC Punk: How did you feel when you heard the entire Banc doing; "Call of Arms"?

Willy: Emotional man straight up emotional that's all I can say.

LAFC Punk: It's become one of the biggest chants! It's I was watching the KTLA morning news and Steven Beitashour was on, and they asked him about the 3252 and the chants and he mentioned him and the club love that chant, it's one of their favorites. I was blown away I was watching going I was there when it was born. And then it was happening at Dodger Stadium on LAFC night.

Willy: Yeah it's just simple and powerful that's what every chant needs to be, just super simple, catchy, powerful and repetitive and that's it. 

The Battle of Los Angeles

As a LA sports fan, one of my favorite aspects of being a sports fan in Los Angeles (the most underrated sports town in the country, we get a bad rap), in a large sports market we have lots of professional sports team and not to even count out UCLA/USC, so we get some awesome cross town rivalries. The newest rivalry in LA, and in my opinion the best one out of the professional teams is LAFC/LA Galaxy rivalry, I say professional because in Los Angeles nothing is bigger and historical as the UCLA/USC rivalry, but like I said I'm talking about the Los Angeles area cross town professional sports teams, and I will talk about each one and tell you why I think the "El Traffico" (I think the only thing LAFC and Galaxy supporters are united about is that the name of our rivalry is stupid), why this is the best rivalry in Los Angeles and one of the top rivalries in MLS.

Greater Los Angeles area is home to a total of 11 professional sports franchises; LAFC, LA Galaxy of Carson, LA Dodgers, LA Angels of Anaheim, LA Kings, Anaheim Ducks, LA Lakers, LA Clippers, LA Rams, LA Chargers of Carson and the LA Sparks (the only team without a cross-town rival). One thing that is very impressive about all these clubs is that even though people across the nation accuse LA sports fans of being fair weather and not showing up, most of these clubs are usually amongst league leaders in attendance even when the teams are not doing well (Lakers and Dodgers especially). For those born and raised in the Los Angeles area, we know how passionate we are about are teams; especially when your team plays their cross-town rivals, and I'm going to talk briefly about each one, but mainly talk about the LAFC/Galaxy rivalry.

Dodgers vs. Angels aka "The Freeway Series", the Dodgers have been in Los Angeles since moving from Brooklyn in 1958 and since then have always played in Los Angeles, the Dodgers played 4 seasons in the historical Los Memorial Coliseum, before moving into Dodger Stadium, which is still their home and still one of the most beautiful and best stadiums in baseball. Meanwhile the Angles played only 5 seasons in the city of Los Angeles, 1 season in Wrigley Field (yes there was a Wrigley Field in LA), they played 4 seasons at Dodger Stadium, which they refer in their history and when they played there as Chavez Ravine. In 1966 the Los Angeles Angels moved to Anaheim and changed their to the California Angels (that was their best name), to this day they are still in the same stadium, which has gone through remodels and name changes, but to Angel fans it is always the Big A. For 31 years the only time these two clubs met was in the pre-season, as a kid I loved going to the pre-season freeway series games. Then in 1997 MLB started inter league baseball, which meant for the first time when the Dodgers and Angels meet the games will mean something, in the regular season standings. Once inter league baseball started, you could no really longer be a Dodger and Angel fan, before inter league, I was one who liked both clubs, I stuck with the Dodgers. Even though the Angels lead the all-time series 70-54, the city of Los Angeles is a Dodgers town, it it's very evident whenever this series, is played at Angel Stadium, with Dodger fans taking over the stadium. Even though the Angels have won the most recent World Series (2002), the Dodgers have a much bigger fan base, that spans generations, and with their recent success, LA is a Dodger town when it comes to baseball. But being that this is a inter-league rivalry, it's really not a huge rivalry like Dodgers/Giants, which is why it's not the best rivalry in Los Angeles.

Lakers/Clippers rivalry has really never been a rivalry, especially when you consider the Lakers lead the all-time series 101-52, as well as having being 16 time NBA World Champions and 31 times conference champions. While the Clippers have 0 World Championships, 0 Conference Championships, and 0 Division titles. These two clubs have never met in the post-season, there really has never been a meaningful game between these two teams. Since 1999, the Lakers and Clippers have shared the same arena, Staples Center, but it has always been more of a home to the Lakers, although the Clippers are planning to build their own in Inglewood. Hopefully with the Clippers getting better, this turns into a real rivalry, but there are high schools in Los Angeles that are bigger rivals than the Lakers and Clippers.

Alright first off the Chargers should still be in San Diego, this is not a rivalry at all, there are Junior High Schools in the Los Angeles area that are bigger rivals than the Rams and Chargers, that's all I'm going to say about this LA rivalry.

The Freeway Faceoff; Kings vs. Ducks. Now in my opinion this use to be the best LA rivalry, it's now 2nd place, but a very close second place. The Anaheim Ducks entered the NHL in the 1993-94 season, the season after the Kings first Stanley Cup appearance which they lost in 5 games to the Montreal Canadians. These two teams become rivals from the get go, being that they were put in the same division, which meant playing each other multiple times during the NHL season. The all-time regular season series is lead by the Ducks in a slight margin 67-63-11 (there use to be ties in the NHL, hence the 11). This rivalry has always been huge in the stands, with Kings fans usually taking over the Honda Center when the teams meet in Anaheim. Then in 2007 Duck fans won huge bragging right as the Ducks become the first team of the two to win the Stanley Cup. But 5 years later after 45 long years of waiting the Kings fans were finally able to celebrate their first Stanley Cup Championship. In the NHL it's said there's no true rivalry until the two teams meet in the playoffs, and after years of Kings and Ducks fans waiting, it finally happened in 2014. The Kings and Ducks meet in the 2nd round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, in a hard fought 7 game series, with the Kings winning the best of 7 series, then going on that year winning their 2nd Stanley Cup in 3 years. Now a whole article could be written on this rivalry, but this is not a hockey blog.

One thing that football (soccer) is known for throughout the world are derbie matches, you've Real Madrid vs. Atletico Madrid, Manchester United vs. Manchester City, Inter Milan vs. AC Milan, just to name a few, there are tons. Now I'm not comparing "El Traffico" (let's just please change that name, my suggestion "The Battle of Los Angeles"), but this is by far one of the best rivalries in MLS, I think the best rivalry is the Sounders/Timbers rivalry, but the Battle of Los Angeles is in the top 3 even though it's technically only two years old. Now the Galaxy, who us LAFC fans refer to as Carson, because the Galaxy do not play in Los Angeles, Carson is 17 miles south of Los Angeles, the two teams actually play 12 miles from each other. Now the Galaxy have been around since the MLS first season in 1996, something they like to constantly remind us (since 96), they played at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, from 1996-2002, when they moved to Carson, to the at the time the Home Depot Center. Being that the Galaxy have been around since '96, they have a impressive history with 5 MLS Cups (something they like to constantly remind us about), 4 Supporter Shields, 2 US Open Cups, and 1 CONCACAF Champions Cup. They also have had some great players to wear the Galaxy crest, since '96; players like; Cobi Jones, Mauricio Cienfuegos, Jorge Campos, Carlos Ruiz, Landon Donovan, David Beckham, Robbie Keane, just to name a few. The Galaxy are the most decorated team in MLS history, and have accomplished everything a team can in MLS. Like I had mentioned this rivalry is only 2 years old on the field. But in October of 2014 it was annouced that their will be a new MLS club in Los Angeles and this club will be playing in the City of Angels. As soon as the club was annouced the club already started getting a following. As the next 3 1/2 years passed a team crest came out, they tore down the old LA Sports Arena and started building Banc of California Stadium. By 2018 LAFC had huge fan base, season ticket holders a entire supporters group, the 3252, and the Galaxy had a new cross town rival.

The first time these two clubs would met was on March 31, 2018. On March 23 the Galaxy signed Swedish international star and their newest desiganated player Zlatan Ibrahimovic (who has been a huge thorn in the side of LAFC). LAFC got to a quick 3-0 lead, and looked to completly dominate the game and win the first game of this rivalry. But then in the 2nd half Zlatan who literally had just landed in LA came in as a sub, scored 2 goals, including a 45 yard volley goal, which Tyler Miller along with LAFC fans still see in their nightmares, and the Galaxy won 4-3. Here's what I remember about this game, I had to work that day, but I was able to watch the first half, it was 3-0 when I left for work. When I went on my lunch at work I checked my phone just to see the final the score, and to my shock and surprise I see the final score of 4-3, a Galaxy win.

In the 2018 season, the two clubs would go on to play each other 2 more times, with each being a tie. The one that hurt the most was the match on July 24, 2018, known to us LAFC fans as the "Horta Match". LAFC was up 2-0, with 10 minutes left in the match when in the 82 minute Alessandrni scored a nice goal to make the game 2-1. Then in he 86 minute LAFC newest DP Andre Horta, made his first touch making a beautiful through pass to Ola Kamara, who was wearing the wrong jersey, he scored the tying goal for the Galaxy, the game ended in a 2-2 tie, but it felt more like a loss. The two clubs would meet again Carson, with that match ending in a 1-1, once again Zlatan scored against LAFC.

As I write the day before the second match of The Battle of Los Angeles, the clubs have met once this season on July 19, 2019, and once again Zlatan beat LAFC all by himself, by scoring a hat trick and the Galaxy coming off victorious 3-2, with two goals by Carlos Vela. I do not like to give predictions (I'm afraid of jinxing the team), but I will say this, all they need to do, to beat Carson is stop Zlatan, earlier in the season I saw Portland beat the Galaxy 4-0, I say watch this tape and see how to stop him. As both teams enter this game LAFC has 61 points, while Carson has 41 points, LAFC is a better team than Carson, but for some reason, they seem to allow Zlatan to intimate them. This is the biggest monkey (I'd call it gorilla) that LAFC needs to get off their back, is beating the Galaxy. I really wish I could be there but tickets are crazy expensive, but there will be watch parties, I'll be spending the days with my wonderful amazing daughters, then watch the game at home. Everyone have fun, enjoy the game, behave, don't do anything stupid, and be loud. Let's show the world how great this rivalry is.

I thought about going into detail about all the stuff that has happened between both club's supporters off the field, but this about our team that we love and support, and about the Battle of Los Angeles.

LAFC Game review August 17

On August 17, 2019 LAFC went into Utah and took all 3 points in a 2-0 victory over Real Salt Lake. One of the highlights of the match was our beloved captain netted his 24 goal of the season giving him a combined 39 points for the season breaking a MLS record, with 9 games remaining in the regular, so Carlos Vela is definitely going to break this record. So a big congratulations to Carlos Vela, but we all know that Carlos Vela is a true team player and his ultimate goal this season is win the MLS Cup for LAFC.

As for the match I’ll just focus on a few key points to the match (I’m writing this on my iPhone today in between my two jobs). LAFC has their usual starting 11, to begin the match, with only 17 dressed players instead of the usual 18. Now I watched the game at the Empire Boys watch party so I was not able to hear any audio from the match, but I’ve been told the only supporters you could hear was the 350 LAFC supporters who traveled to Sandy, Utah to cheer on the black and gold, awesome job to all those supporters.

The first half was scoreless, but one significant event that did occur in the 17 was that Walker Zimmerman who was playing in his first game back from yellow cards suspension, received a very tick tack yellow card. Yes it should have been a foul, but in my opinion it was not worthy of a yellow card at all. This would come back to hurt both Walker Zimmerman and the team as in the 48 minute of the match Walker would recurve his second yellow card of the match equaling in a red card, putting LAFC down a man for the remaining of the match, also resulting that Zimmerman will miss the next match on Wednesday night at the Banc against the San Jose Earthquakes.

This completely changed the dynamic of the game and strategy of how LAFC will play the rest of the match, for the time being. Now for myself and for most of the LAFC faithful we would had been happy with a 0-0 draw, being down a player on the road. But then in the Diomande made a perfect pass to Vela, to give Vela a breakaway and a great scoring chance when he was pulled down by RSL defender Aaron Herrera, getting a red card, making it even 10 on 10, and also being that it occurred inside the box, Carlos Vela was rewarded a PK. And Carlos Vela, being Carlos Vela, buried the ball in the top left corner of the net past Nick Rimando, giving LAFC a 1-0 lead in the 64 minute.

As I mentioned earlier Zimmerman’s red card completely changed the dynamic of the match, but now the same thing can be said when Aaron Herrera recurved his red card, evening the playing field to 10 on 10, and after this LAFC just started attacking and pressuring the RSL defense.

In the 68 minute Lee Nguyen came into the match for Diego Rossi. Lee Nguyen could easily be a starter on any other club in the MLS, but we have so much depth in the midfield we get to have him coming if the bench and the the scarf said on Defenders of the Banc in their latest podcast, he is kind of our version of the NBA 6th man, so I guess he’s our 12th man. As much as I feel he deserves to start, it was awesome to have a player like Lee Nguyen coming off the bench. In this match he did not disappoint, right away he gave LAFC scoring chances. Then in the 82 minute he assisted in a goal by Diomande, speaking of Diomande he could have easily had a hat trick, including hitting a post in the first half. This goal made it 2-0, this pretty much sealed up the victory for LAFC.

This victory for LAFC was very significant being that, they became the first club to clinch a playoff spot in MLS this season. This victory also gave the club 58 points for the season surpassing their point total from last season of 57 points. Now to one of the most impressive stats of the season, LAFC now has a goal differential of a plus 42, that’s incredible. The club that’s the most close to them is Atlanta United at a plus 15, which is good, but LAFC is at a plus 42, meanwhile Cincinnati is a minus 35. Well I hope you enjoyed this, as I wrote this on my phone. Please for me on Twitter and Instagram at TheLAFCPunk on all platforms.

LAFC Game preview August at Real Salt Lake

Tonight August 17, 20019 LAFC will be in Sandy, Utah at Rio Tinto Stadium to take on their Western Conference foes Real Salt Lake. LAFC has already beaten twice this year, the first match being at Banc way back on March 23, with 2-1 regular season win. LAFC also faced Real Salt Lake on June 11, in the US Open Cup and won 3-0, in Utah. RSL currently sits 4th in the Western Conference with 40 points, currently in a playoff spot, with a goal differential of +6. Meanwhile LAFC currently is not only the 1st place club in the West, they are also leading the MLS, with 55 points, and an amazing goal differential of +40. If LAFC wins tonight they will surpass there point total from last season of 57 points. Those 57 points LAFC got last season was a MLS record for most points by a expansion club. LAFC can also clinch a playoff spot this evening, but let's not focus on that, because this club will be in the playoff, most likely as the number 1 seed in the league.

RSL in unbeaten in their last 6 league matches, in their last match they beat the Seattle Sounders 3-0, so this club should not be taken lightly even though LAFC, is 2-0, against them this season. And all us LAFC fans, know this is the club that ended our season last year, by winning a playoff game at the Banc. On a side note RSL fired their coach Mike Petke this past week, for reasons we will not get into today, but it was justified, that's all I say right now, because lets focus on this match. There's one player I'd really like to focus on, in this preview due to the respect I have for him and his amazing MLS career; Nick Rimando.

Nick Rimando started his MLS career way back in 2000, with the Miami Fusion (A team that contracted after the 2001 season along with the Tampa Bay Mutiny). Back then there was 12 clubs in the entire league, then from 2002-2004 there was only 10 clubs in the entire MLS, compared to 24 clubs now, with more clubs coming. Here are some stats of Nick Rimando, he pretty much has every record a goalkeeper can have in the MLS... 506 regular season appearances, 219 wins, 151 shutouts, 1679 saves. As a football (soccer) fan I have nothing but respect for Nick Rimando, I don't see anyone else breaking these records, this is his final season, as he will be retiring at the end of this season. With this being said, I believe he is the key to this match, when he's in the zone RSL is a tough club to beat. The key to winning this game is to get good quialty shots, but do not count Nick Rimando out, he's stat wise the best GK in MLS history. RSL has another long time MLS vet who has been around the same amount of time as Rimando and that's Kyle Beckerman, who also started out his career with the Miami Fusion (I actually own a Miami Fusion jersey, found it at Ross for $15 many many years ago. Beckerman is a MF, and is another player to keep your eye own, he doesn't stand out as much since he cut his dreads, but he can still set up goals, so don't leave him open.

Other players to keep an eye on for RSL are Albert Rusnak who leads the club with 9 goals, they also have Jefferson Savarino who leads the club 5 assists along with 6 goals of his own. Keep in mind RSL is fighting to stay in a very tight Western Conference playoff race, their 40 points are currently good for 4 place in the West, with Dallas being in 8th place with 36 points, just 4 points behind RSL.

As for LAFC we will see the usual lineup, one good thing is that Walker Zimmerman will be back after is yellow card suspension. Also we probably still will not see Brian Rodriguez in the line up of 18 being that the club is still working on his paper work to play in this country the same goes for Diego Palacios, who from last I heard is still in Ecudar. I also heard there will be around 300 LAFC supporters in Utah cheering on our boys. For a lot of us, myself included we will be at viewing parties, I will be with the Empire Boys at Jerseys in Corona. If your looking for a watch party just check all SGs social media accounts, there are watch parties all over the Los Angeles area. Alright everyone enjoy the game, have fun, be loud, and jump for LA Football Club, ole, ole.

The 3252 and The Empire Boys

I have been a football (soccer) since 1994, and even before that if you count going to LA Lazers games back in the 80's. But due to the FIFA World Cup being held here in the United States I feel in love with what they call "The Beautiful Game." Now I would watch matches on TV and I would attend games, and I was always intrigued by what they call the "supporter sections" of the clubs mainly when I would watch LIGA MX games and EPL games which was what I was mostly watching when I first started watching football.

So watching the games you couldn't help but not notice the "Supporter Sections" of all these clubs throughout the world. When I would go to matches I would consider heading over to these sections and joining in with the songs, chants, dancing and jumping, but I never did. I even considered joining one of these groups, the Black Army was one of them many years ago.

One of the main reasons why I never joined a supporter group was because I live in the Inland Empire which is around 50 miles from Los Angeles, so going to games every week and watch parties was just way too long of a drive.

Then in 2018 the club I had been waiting for since 2014 joined the MLS, and on July 15, 2018 I attended my first LAFC match at Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles, CA. The thing that I was watching the most was the 3252, the North End of the stadium and the famous supporter section of LAFC. I had never seen anything like it, 3252 people chanting the same songs in unison, before the match, during the match and after the match, it was amazing. As I looked down at the 3252 I couldn't help but notice all the different flags of various supporter groups; District 9 Ultras, Los Cuervos, Black Army, Empire Boys, Expo Originals, Lucky Boys just to name a few that were there in the beginning of the 2018 season.

On my way home from the game on the metro I sent a Twit out to the 3252 asking if there was any supporter group in the IE, and they directed me to the Empire Boys.

So I hit up the Empire Boys right away and they were based right in my backyard in the Inland Empire (Rancho Cucamonga, Upland, Ontario, Fontana, Corona, Riverside). I went to my first watch party which was a match against the Carson Galaxy, now being that the game was at the Banc it was a small turnout, half the people there were Daniel Figuera's family. Let's not talk about the game (the Horta game), but I had fun. The next watch party I attended was the famous watch party with the Black Army, The Tigers and Empire Boys at The Titled Kilt in Rancho Cucamonga. For anyone who was there this one was off the hook crazy, the place was packed out it was literally like being in the 3252, here's a video clip I found in my google photos.

Well after that watch party I went to as many watch parties with the Empire Boys as I could, at Goals, The Falconer, as well as meet and greets. I finally got to experience the 3252 at the Banc with the Empire Boys on October 12, 2018 against the Houston Dynamo (the famous weather delay game). Now all you die hard supporters remember this game, it was awesome, even with a almost 2 hour weather delay all of us in the 3252 did not go home, in fact the players and Bob Bradley mentioned us in the press conference. As the season went on I kept attending the watch parties I was able to make it to.

Before the 2019 season started I became an official member of the Empire Boys and I received my scarf, I know this sounds funny but this scarf means so much to me, I'll explain in a bit. I loved the feeling I had when I received my Empire Boys scarf, it made me feel like I was part of something. Let me tell being part of any supporter group you are part of something. The Empire Boys have become my second family, especially these past few months. But being part of a supporter group is so much more than just supporting our favorite football, it's about family, community, brotherhood, sisterhood, and even lending a hand. All the supporter groups in the 3252, join together to help communities, schools, shelters, the homeless, the poor and do fundraising throughout the season and during the off season. There are so many people I'd love to mention in the Empire Boys who have become like brothers and sisters, but I'd feel bad if I forgot someone, and hey we even have a Empire Momma who does so much work at our tailgates and watch parties. Joining the Empire Boys and the 3252 (yes I am official member of the 3252 as well), is one of the best things I have ever done.

Empire Boys watch Party August 3, 2019

Now if you're considering joining a supporter group here are some recommendations. First if you're a LAFC supporter (most of reading this are), join the 3252. It's $30 you become an official member, you get a scarf, a pin, Soccer Stores 20% discount card, discounts at the LAFC team store, as well as you help pay for tifos, drum repair, all the money goes back into the 3252. Now to look your support group. What I highly recommend is to join a group that is located in the area you live. So that way you can easily go to watch parties, carpool to the Banc, make fellow LAFC fans that live in your area. Also when joining these groups the same thing applies as to the 3252, membership fees, but you get some cool stuff, and that money also helps your group. Another thing you can do is go to a Saturday or Sunday game and get there early (Hours early) and go to Christmas Tree lane and get to know all the supporter groups (we all there). Each group is always welcoming, there's tons of food and tons of beer. Find a group that you feel comfortable with, trust me the other groups won't be offended, because in the end we are all the 3252 and we are all there to support our club, Los Angeles Football Club.

Jump for LA Football Club at a watch party

Watch party August 3, 2019

My Introduction to Football and LAFC

If you haven't heard there is a new Football team in Los Angeles and I'm not talking about the Rams or the Chargers, I'm talking about LAFC (Los Angeles Football Club). LAFC is the newest club in MLS (Major League Soccer), and yes I am a LAFC supporter aka fan.

Now before I really get into the love of new soccer (football club) LAFC, let me share with you about how I became a fan of the beautiful game. We are going to go way back to the mid 80's, when I was a kid in elementary school there was not really a professional outdoor soccer league in the United States. As a kid growing up I loved and still do love sports. I wanted to be a professional athlete as a kid, then as I got older I desired to be a sports journalist. Alright back to pro soccer in the United States, there was one league I followed MISL and my team was the Los Angeles Lazers. I loved going to Lazer games, I even attended the 1987 All-Star game. The Lazers folded in 1989, so there really wasn't any soccer to watch in Los Angeles, so I just became disconnected with soccer. 

Then in 1994 the FIFA World Cup was in the United States, and I watched every game I could, especially if the United States or Mexico was playing, but even after the US and Mexico got eliminated I watched the entire tournament. Because of the World Cup I wanted to keep on watching soccer. So being born and raised in Southern California and being half Mexican on the weekends there was always the Mexican league on TV. I needed a team to cheer for in the Mexican league so I asked my dad what part of Mexico my grandpa was from, he said Guadalajara, and I noticed there was a club called Chivas from Guadalajara, so they became my Mexican team.

At the time I had no idea that Chivas were the most popular and most hated team in Mexico, kind of like the Cowboys, Yankees and Celtics are in the United States in football, baseball. and basketball. I enjoyed watching the games, but I just wanted a LA team, also being 2nd generation Mexican and half Mexican I did not speak or understand Spanish.

In 1996 soccer in America changed forever, MLS had it's first season. Being that I've always supported my local Los Angeles sports teams (Kings, Dodgers, Lakers, Rams), I was a Galaxy fan, in fact I had season seats during their last season at the Rose Bowl (2002), but driving to Carson was just way too far, and the ticket prices sky rocketed my seats went from $15 a game to $60 a game. In 2005 the league added Chivas USA to MLS, so being a Chivas de Guadalajara I became a supporter of Chivas USA, I even had season seats in 2007 (their best season), but the drive was again just too far driving all the way to Carson. Make a long story short, Chivas USA had terrible ownership and the club folded in 2014. Now I did consider going back to being a supporter for the Galaxy, but the rivalry between Chivas USA and Galaxy just caused me to not go back, plus with the fact, a member of one the Galaxy support group pissed on my leg in the restroom at Home Depot Center as I was at the urinal, so I was to put it lightly a little bitter towards the Galaxy.

Right after Chivas USA folded MLS granted Los Angeles new expansion club, set to play in 2018, under new ownership (thank God), the new owners were and are a LA celebrities (Magic Johnson, Will Ferrell, Nomar Garciaparra, Mia Hamm, Ruben Gnanalingam). The name of this new club, Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC). So of course this would eventually become my new MLS club. During this time I didn't really watch too many MLS matches. But as 2018 MLS season was approaching the PR department and those who work for LAFC, were doing an amazing job promoting the club. Owners like Will Ferrell were on talk shows promoting the club. Also there was a stadium being built, LAFC would not be sharing the StubHub Center with the Galaxy, which Chivas USA did, and that was one of the many things that hurt Chivas USA (I could literally write a whole blog and the disastrous ownership of Chivas USA). The new stadium was being built on the same location of the old LA Sports Arena in Exposition Park in Los Angeles right nest door to the historic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, right in the heart of Los Angeles.

Also during this time, even before the club had played a game, supporter groups started forming; The Empire Boys (the group I'm part of), The Black Army 1850, District 9 Ultras, Expo Originals, The Lucky Boys, LAFC Cuervos, just to name a fewf. But together we are the 3252. 3252 is in the North End of the stadium, in consists of 3252 seats (except we do not sit, we stand the entire match), also 3+2+5+2=12, which represents the 12th man, and if you've ever been to a LAFC match, you know how loud the 3252 is. being in the 3252 is a experience in itself, you will lose your voice, you will lose some calories, by jumping for LA Football Club.

Trust me I know I've left some stuff out, like the signing of Carlos Vela, and drafting the team through the expansion draft, but I don't want this to go too long. But the long wait was over, the 2018 MLS season came. Due to the fact that Banc of California Stadium was not going to be ready until April, LAFC had to play their first 6 matches on the road, and they put up a remarkable 4-2 record, picking up 12 of a possible 18 points. In their first ever game they played the Sounders in Seattle (one of the toughest stadiums to win in, with some of the loudest supporters in the MLS and the defending Western Conference Champions). LAFC went in and beat the Sounders 1-0, with a beautiful goal (the first in LAFC history) by Diego Rossi.

Well after the first game I was hooked, and watched every game I could. Now I really wanted to go to a game, but just could not afford it (you've heard of putting your kids through college, I'm working two jobs to put my lovely wife through college). Well on July 15 as I watching the World Cup Final I received a message from an old friend Jacob Mann, asking if I wanted his tickets for the LAFC match against the Portland Timbers (thanks again). So I asked my wife if I could go and she said I could go if I clean the restroom and clean the kitchen (sometimes being married is like being a teenager, if you want to go out you have to do chores). So of course I cleaned the kitchen and restroom drove to the APU Metro goldline station and headed to LA to attend my first LAFC match. Needless to say the experience from walking into the stadium, pregame, and of course the match. The result was a 0-0 draw, but now I was even more hooked, and I knew next I had to be in the 3252. So I sent out a tweet asking if there were any supporter groups out where I live in the Inland Empire, and I was pointed to the Empire Boys.

Once I got hooked up to the Empire Boys I started going to viewing parties and a meet and greet and a local brewery. Then on October 12 I saved up some money and was finally able to attend a match in the 3252, with the Empire Boys. Needless to say this was not your ordinary match. When I arrived to the Banc, the weather was beautiful. I got their early had two $4 beers, in the 3252, sang the national anthem with the 3252 (which happens at every game), the at around the 32 minute rain came along with lighting, so because of the lighting the game was on a weather delay. We all thought it would not be that long, I was really hoping it wouldn't be long because I had to be at work in Rancho Cucamonga at 5am. During the weather most of the fans in the stadium, except for the 3252. During the entire weather delay the 3252, was still chanting, singing, jumping and banging on the drums. The match finally started up again, with LAFC being down 1-0, LAFC ended up winning the match 4-2, with one of the goals, being this beauty from Carlos Vela. 

That night I didn't get home until 2AM, but made it to work by 5AM, with just 2 hours of sleep, and it was totally worth it. Being part of a supporter group is amazing, it's a brotherhood and sisterhood. You can act like a total nut, by signing, chanting, jumping, and not look crazy because you have 3251 other people acting the same way. Before the game started someone asked me; "Is this your first game?" I said; "No I sat in section 222 earlier in the season." She said; "No that didn't count this is your first game." Well she was right! LAFC ended the regular season with 57 points, a expansion team record in MLS, the playoffs ended in a way that we may not have liked, but the future of this club looks more than great. Hopefully in 2019 I'll be able to attend more matches, money is still tight. If you're reading this and you have not attended a LAFC match I strongly encourage you to go, even if it's not in the 3252. You might bump into Will Ferrell like I did at the Houston match.

In closing I'm in the process of trying to do my own podcast called The LAFCPunk, it will be covering LAFC and throw a little punk music in there. I have no idea how to do a podcast. I'd love to interview different members of the 3252, game reviews, game previews. If you'd like to help me out let me know and contact me at jasonarellano77@gmail.com, I live in Alta Loma. 

Watch party with the Empire Boys and Black Army

Will Ferrell greeting the 3252

Pouring down rain and the 3252 is still going at it 

Victory Chant after every win