Chants, screams and musical instruments echoed throughout the grounds of GCU last Thursday night as new United Soccer League club Phoenix FC finished out its 1-0 victory over Antigua Barracuda FC.
Moments after the Wolves scored the late winner to capture their second victory in as many matches, the team trotted over to the sidelines to greet the conundrum of noises, which were coming from portion of the stadium dedicated to the team’s independent fan group, La Furia Roja 1881.
Wolves coach David Robertson has quickly gotten used to this kind of fanaticism from the group in the club’s inaugural season, which hosts its games at ASU's Sun Devil Soccer Stadium and — during the rare instances of a scheduling conflict in Tempe — at the GCU Soccer Field.
“They generate such an atmosphere,” Robertson said. “No other club has got the same support as we’ve got. It’s like a European or South American atmosphere.”
Robertson knows from experience — the Scottish international spent time with top clubs in both the Scottish and English first divisions during his playing career.
“The support we have is fantastic, because I know that other clubs that I’ve been at as a player in Europe, they quickly turn their back on you,” Robertson said.
LFR 1881 director Greg Spradlin agrees with Robertson that the group is different, which only adds to the charisma it gives to the team.
“We are there for the full 90 minutes chanting, making a ruckus and urging our boys on,” Spradlin said.
The 1881 in the name is for the year Phoenix was incorporated as a city, but the group is much younger than that.
Founded on April 10, 2012 by the Phoenix chapter of the American Outlaws, La Furia Roja 1881, which in Spanish means "The Red Fury 1881," was set to support a potential professional team moving to the Phoenix area.
The group first followed the Phoenix Monsoon of the National Premier Soccer League, but the team lasted only the 2012 year before disbanding.
Thankfully for LFR 1881, it was announced on July 2, 2012 Phoenix was being awarded a team in the American third division USL Pro League for the 2013 season.
The group, which started out in single digits, quickly blossomed as a result, and by the Wolves’s opening match, had at least 250 people in their support section, Spradlin said.
Spradlin said the support has remained steady throughout the year and that the players have noticed.
“We get a lot of feedback from the players on a regular basis appreciating what we do,” Spradlin said. “It looks like it makes a difference in some of the games.”
Midfielder Tommy Ramos, a 21-year-old local product out of Pinnacle High School, scored the late goal on Thursday and believes LFR 1881 does play a major role in the outcome of the home games.
“The fans are great at every home game,” Ramos said. “They always have drums and are making noise and are rowdy. They are great fans and it’s a wonderful experience to be a part of.”
The inaugural season though hasn’t gone so well for the Wolves, who currently sit in 11th place in the 13-team USL Pro League, but Ramos said the unwavering support from LFR 1881 is outstanding nevertheless.
“It’s very comforting,” Ramos said. “We started off really bad, but every game you will see them on Twitter and social networks and they are always excited about every game and think we are going to win every game. They always have our backs.”
The results are slowly coming in now, too.
The Wolves two-game win streak doubled their win total on the season and with only six games left in the regular season, sit only nine points out of the final postseason spot.
Spradlin is happy with the team and group’s success in the first season but has bigger plans moving forward.
“I’ll pretty much run into someone every day who doesn’t know we have a team here,” Spradlin said.
Spradlin says that if the Wolves start to win games in bunches, the buzz around the team will grow and LFR 1881 as a result.
“I think if we close the season strongly, it will only increase our membership and the general attendance in the stands,” Spradlin said.
Robertson, like Spradlin, knows that attendance is very result-based and he and the team are making every effort to boost it for the rest of this season and years forthcoming.
“Results go a long way for people coming out,” Robertson said. “It’s amazing how many people in Phoenix don’t even know we exist. We need to get the word out that we will be back and better next year.”
Regardless, Robertson is proud to have the support of such a loyal fan group like LFR 1881 and can’t wait to hear “Red Fury Scare” and the other chants at the next Wolves’s home game.
“Whatever happens this season, I know they will be back for next season,” Robertson said.
Reach the reporter at dsshapi1@asu.edu or follow him on Twitter @Danny__Shapiro
