Vancouver FC is proud to bring an authentic, professional, Canadian football experience to the Lower Mainland. A true football team would be nothing without their fans and supporters’ groups who fill the stands. As with many traditional football stadiums, VFC’s new home at Willoughby Park will allocate a supporters’ group section, which will have a capacity of just under 1,800 spectators. 

One of the groups in charge of bringing the energy, flags and colour to the South Grandstand is the Fraser Valley Fanatics (FVF). Zachary Meisenheimer, a FVF member, is just one of the many people who helped to create a dedicated fanbase that will be at every match, including the historic home opener on May 7th.

“Just really excited about a football club coming here,” said Meisenheimer. “Just passion about bringing people together, creating a community where we can get people together to support the club.”

If there’s one thing COVID-19 made evident, it’s that sporting events without fans is like having a party without guests. Meisenheimer firmly believes that a supporters’ group is “the heart” of any football club, “I believe you actually have an impact on what actually plays on the field by, both encouraging your own players and maybe occasionally discouraging the other players.”

How to support

For those who are attending a supporters’ section for the first time, or are not familiar with football culture in general, these are some of the activities that can be expected before, during and after matchday.

Hands-on. In addition to wearing VFC’s colours, supporters’ groups have meetings to organize and prepare special chants or visuals for a match. Some of the members take the initiative to create banners and flags that will be used as an attractive visual display when the team jumps onto the field. 

Preparation time is key for any supporters’ groups. Some pre-match tasks may include handing out hundreds of flags, setting up a main display, and/or rehearsing chants that’ll be used in-game. Each match is different but ample time to make VFC’s stadium as daunting as possible for the visiting side is necessary.   

It’s going to be loud. FVF’s goal is to show their support during the whole 90 minutes, drumming and singing nonstop. They aren’t afraid to get loud and they hope that, eventually, the rest of the fans will join in with them.

Prepare to be standing. Although each attendee has their assigned seat, supporters’ groups rarely put them to use. Just like the chants, FVF members invite the whole stadium to clap, sway, bounce or jump to keep the energy flowing.

Don’t leave after the final whistle. No matter the result, the supporters’ group will show the team their appreciation for their efforts on the field with more chants or claps. Likewise, the players will recognize the support in the stands by coming over and there may even be a chance to snag a quick picture with a Vancouver FC player. 

A group for everyone

FVF’s mission is to become a group of friends that get together to watch football. They will stand for nothing less than creating a safe and fun space to enjoy the entertainment, no matter a person’s background.

“You’ll find it’s like a kaleidoscope of world views, life experiences and preferences,” comments Meisenheimer. “But the thing we come together around, that unifies us is that we wanna lift up Vancouver to victory, that’s the bottom line.”

For Chris Endersby, another FVF member, football is a celebration of joy that can help connect with others like no other sport can, “It’s just a sporting atmosphere that for me is really special and that helps me get through the mundane parts of just a normal work week.”

Even if fans aren’t seated in the South Stand, there are other ways they can showcase their support for Vancouver FC. Some FVF members will be seated in the West and East Stands and will continue their supporter’s duty of chanting and clapping for the full 90 minutes. Others show their support off the field through means of spreading the word to promote the club, joining the community events, and/or helping with the creation of visuals and flags.

Season opener in Victoria

It is difficult to be a supporters’ group when the team is on the road but there is no doubt that one of the best displays of fan support so far this season was at our season opener against Pacific FC in Langford. More than 100 black and red flags were flying with an impressive banner of an eagle with the phrase “Sweet dreams” written across the front. During the first five minutes of the game, this beautiful “tifo” was accompanied by the chant, “Sweet Dreams are made of this. Black and red on the field of green. We travel the world in the salish sea. To cheer on our eagles to victory,” with the rhythm of the original song by Eurythmics.

Leading into VFC’s home opener, Endersby believes the FVF can easily top what happened in Langford, “Everybody is working hard behind the scenes. I hope we have the best stuff in the whole league and hopefully that inspires the players on the pitch as well.”

This Sunday will be a historic moment for Canadian football when Vancouver FC plays its first home match in Willoughby Park. If you want to be part of the big celebration on May 7th, make sure you get your tickets here before it’s too late.