Better Know A Supporters Group Photo Essay: Section 8

Chicago Fire training pitch. Toyota Park in the background.

We had to take a brief respite from our weekly series featuring profiles of Major League Soccer supporters groups, because, well, several of them haven't returned their questionnaires yet (you know who you are!).

That being said... we were digging through the dark room at FBM HQ and we came across a bunch of photos we've never featured on the site. Last October we had a chance to catch a game in "Section 8", the supporters section of Chicago Fire the night before the USMNT international friendly against Poland.

Growing up in Wisconsin, the Fire were the closest MLS team for us to travel to so we frequented their games as they played all over Chicago-land; Naperville, Soldier Field, and finally, in their own digs, Toyota Park.

The late fall match pitted Chicago Fire against their arch-rivals, Columbus Crew, and though the home side was starring down a post-season-less 2010, the supporters (and not a supporters group, but an "independent supporters association") were in full voice and in the mood to put a dent in the Eastern Conference leading Crew's march to the playoffs.

The weekend also happened to coincide with the 13th anniversary of the birth of Chicago Fire so the fans were in a festive mood to celebrate their club's accomplishments despite the lack of them that season.

The night was the truest definition of what it means to be a supporter of American soccer; no matter what.... they were behind their club. True support. True passion.

Section 8 Chairman Tom Dunmore

View from the "capo".

Celebrating (?) the other "Great Chicago Fire"

A parade of past successes. 

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