Adrian, that’s very interesting to read about Ipswich. Unfortunately that’s often how things work here too — promises made by the men in charge rarely seem to filter down to ground level, unless those executives are willing to get their hands dirty once the season starts and make sure of it.

The interesting aspect of MLS is that supporters’ groups have fought a fairly successful battle to be allowed to do much more than is permitted in English football stadiums in terms of standing, singing, instruments, banners and so on. It’s been a long struggle, but that culture is getting embedded, at least in some cities.

Unfortunately, instead of clubs building on this, we seem to now be fighting a battle to stand still too often. In Chicago, we could have done so much more to build the supporters’ culture and that ultimately would have been more profitable for the Fire and more fun for everyone. Instead, inept decision-making and short-sighted thinking too often hamstring us.

I went to the Fire’s twelfth anniversary party we helped organise last night, and the videos of the Fire’s double-winning celebration in their inaugural year and the speeches by two key members of that club, Ring of Fire members Frank Klopas and Peter Wilt, reminded me why we do this. I just hope Andrew and the Fire’s ownership feel the same way and want the same thing. They sure should.

From the UK it appears you still have relative freedom in the MLS, the displays, pyro etc, but I have read more and more about over zealous private security, incidents of racism from the security and for the clubs still playing in NFL stadia, security who for the most part have a dislike of ‘soccer’ even before a supporter ever entered the stadium.

The beautiful game is being tugged from our, the supporters’, grasp. In its short life the MLS has for the most part shown a passion from the terraces long lost in British football, and clubs like Chicago, new boys Seattle, Toronto and the up and coming Portland look like finally educating the American people that it’s not really a ‘World Series’ when you’re the only country in it and the global game is Association Football. Without the failings of the NASL the MLS looks to become a permanent fixture alongside the big four of NFL, MLB, NBA and NASCAR. It’s imporatant the the supporters, without whom the league simply would not exist, continue to be an organic part of the development of the sport in the US. That right should be a given, but globally we are now wrestling with the businessmen to retain our grip on it. To all those like Tom fighting the fight, keep up the good work, and if my club lost that surfer I’d be gutted, it was a thing of beauty!

As the great Jock Stein (Celtic FC) said… Football without fans is nothing.

Adrian Ludbrook
Section 6 Ultras – No al calcio moderno!

A very thoughtful and well considered letter. I would suggest taking the swear words out of it (appropriate on Big Soccer, not so appropriate in a business letter), but a great letter.

Overall, very well put. You want to consider having a section on the letter to allow other supports to sign off on it, as well, much like a petition is done. You are the author and others are signatories (thus, demonstrating their agreement with the letter).

Good job.