Yes, yes... you've heard it all now. The home support for the Portland Timbers is awesome. Maybe they even equal to their northwest rivals, Seattle Sounders. That's not for us to say.
True to our mission, however, to document the wonderful culture that is American soccer, comes this video, courtesy of Juliet Zulu (who's also shot some nice Nike commercials) covering the action of last Saturday's Timber's match against Columbus Crew from the field, the Timbers Army supporters section, and a local bar.
A great mini-feature and all shot and edited within 18 hours!
Shorts like this continue to support our thesis that American soccer culture is truly the best in our domestic sports world and the number one factor in luring soccer newbies. There should be no doubt that just seeing this video should make most non-soccer fans think twice about passing up on a soccer game in Portland and elsewhere in the nation.
PTFC Perfect from Juliet Zulu on Vimeo.
Get the NEW Free Beer Movement "Pint Glass" shirt! Only from Objectivo.com
Showing posts with label Timbers Army. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Timbers Army. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Portland Gets an Top-Tier Team, Its Fans Get a Top-Tier Beer
 |
| Photo Credit: Free Beer Movement |
The city earned the nickname "Soccer City USA" for it's great support of the sport in the 1970s, but since then has earned another reputation; that of craft brewing quality. Portland, and the whole of the state of Oregon has led the way in a national revival of high-quality brewing.
The return of top-flight soccer to Portland meant yet another opportunity for beer and soccer to mix.
 |
| Opening night in Portland. (Photo Credit: Portland Timbers) |
The beer, called "Portland Pale Ale" is a tribute beer for the Army and its long-standing symbolic representative, Jim Serrill (aka "Timber Jim"). Art Larrance, Cascade's owner, is a long-time Portland sports and soccer fan, and the brewer that brought the Portland brew to life.
Larrance started Cascade Brewing Co. in 1994, after leaving Portland Brewing Co. another brewery he helped start in 1985. Today Cascade brews nearly 1800 barrels of beer a year available at both the brewer (the Barrel House) and their restaurant, the Raccoon Lodge and Brew Pub. Larrance is considered one of the "Fathers of Craft Brewing" in Portland along with the likes of the city's other brewing heavy hitters, Brideport and Widmer Brothers.
“I chuckled, in 1985," Larrance recalled. "Wait til those little babies that are just born now are drinking our beers. That means they would have grown up with our craft beers their whole life. Those are who are drinking our beers today. Those who have grown up with our movement, accepted it, and it’s a part of their life.”
Since brewpubs were legalized in Oregon in 1985, Portland is now home to 30 microbreweries, and with 46 microbrew outlets, has more breweries and brewpubs that any other city in the United States. Beer is a part of Portland's culture, and now, so is professional soccer.
For Larrance rolling out a tribute beer for soccer's return to the city was a no-brainer.
 |
| "Timber Jim" takes a swig of Portland Pale Ale. (Photo Credit: Brewpublic.com) |
Not only was it a tribute, but Timbers Army had a hand in helping make the beer a reality, designing the label that graces each 22 oz. bottle.
"Portland Pale Ale" is an original recipe from Larrance's days back at Portland Brewing Co.
Larrance describes the beer, which clocks in at 4.5% ABV:
“A nice easy-drinkin’ pale ale. It’s one that you can drink more than one or two or three. It just goes down real easy. It’s not over hopped, it’s balanced. A nice blend of the sweets of the malt and the bitterness of the hop. And to me that’s what beer is about; the blending of the elements.”
The Cascade Brewing Co. owner's history with beer (he started as a home brewer) is just a bit shorter than his history as a soccer fan in Portland.
"I'm a sports fan to start with," said Larrance who also has had courtside tickets to the Trailblazers NBA team for 40 years. "I can remember standing six or seven hours in line in 1975 to see the Portland Timbers."
With legends like Giorgio Chinaglia and Pele coming through town, the Timber's inaugural season in NASL saw them run all the way to the championship game only to fall to the Tampa Bay Rowdies, 2-0.
 |
Art Larrance and "Timber Jim" enjoying their beer. (Photo Credit: Brewpublic.com) |
Larrance owned season tickets for several years, but after the NASL left town he saw just a handful of games as the Timbers organization floated through the lower echelons of American soccer.
Now that America's top league, this time as Major League Soccer, is back, so is Larrance.
He said with a laugh, “I did jump back on the bandwagon and have tickets to share with the employees as well as myself.”
For Larrance beer and soccer just makes sense.
“It’s just a part of watching sports," he said.
“I think the people that play soccer; after a game you want to have a beer. So when you’re watching somebody else sweat it feels good to drink for them ‘cause they can’t drink one right now.”
In Portland both beer lovers and soccer fans have something new to cheer about.
Support the Movement. Get the Free Beer Movement T-Shirt. Only from Objectivo.com
Monday, February 21, 2011
Better Know A Supporters Group - Timbers Army
We're starting a new feature on the Free Beer Movement site to expand our coverage of American soccer culture. It's called "Better Know a Supporters Group" just like Steven Colbert's "Better Know a District" from "The Colbert Report".
Our goal: to feature each of the MLS teams' supporters groups. We've sent e-mails to each and every SG in Major League Soccer and soon you'll be able to check all what each is all about and what awesomeness they have to contribute to our growing American soccer world.
When we devised this idea a while back it was cool to be able to see what each supporter group is about, but in light of the terrible, one-sided, anti-American, condescending profile of Philadelphia's Sons of Ben SG by the British GQ (not even going to link to it to give them the site hits) we think its all the more important to give supporters groups in Major League Soccer the proper exposure and voice they deserve.
Today it's the Timbers Army out of Portland, Oregon and the SG of the Portland Timbers, newbies to MLS.
There are several subgroups within the Timbers Army; as a whole generally identified by what section within the TA are they sit. 108 Lazy Eights, Fighting 106th, 105th Howitzers, but all identify as Timbers Army.
Location with PGE Park: Sections 101-108
The Meaty Questions
What are the origins of your name?
The Cascade Rangers were founded in 2001 by two brothers Steven and Jim Lenhart in the run up to the Timbers returning as a professional team to gather in the pub pre-match to sing, chant, and drink. Some Glasgow Celtic supporters who wanted to participate took offense to the name and due to the sectarian connotations the name was changed to Timbers Army shortly thereafter. We still pay tribute to the original name and in our crest you’ll notice the CR underneath the rose, which is homage to the Cascade Rangers.
Favorite chants/songs?
Korobeinik, Bury Me in Timbers Green, Onward Rose City
Why is sitting in the supporters section the “best seat in the house”?
We create the atmosphere. It’s a 90 minute party. You won’t find a greater collection of people committed to their team and their town anywhere else in North America.
Brag. What makes your SG one of the best supporters groups in MLS?
We have a 3,600 seat supporters section that we are expecting to be sold out every match. Arguably we’ll be the biggest supporters section in North America by a long shot. We may be new to MLS but we’re not new to supporting our team as we’ve been doing it for a decade already. We’re bigger, we party better, and we’re going to bring it bigger than anyone in North America has seen when supporting our boys on the pitch.
Greatest game(s) in team history?
There have been so many memorable games it’s hard to pick one. One that has special importance and is still a strong memory is the final home game of last year against Puerto Rico. We have a tradition of singing “You Are My Sunshine” in the 80th minute in honor of our retired mascot Timber Jim’s daughter Hannah Serrill.
The Timbers Army was encouraged to bring sunflowers to the match to give to the team. During the singing of “You Are My Sunshine” in the 83rd minute Ryan Pore headed in a ball to put the Timbers up 1-0. It sent the Army into pandemonium and many into tears of joy.
The goal is now known as “The Sunflower Goal” and was the final goal scored in PGE Park before the remodel started. I’m attaching a video here. While it may not be the greatest win in team history it certainly meant a lot to the supporters.
Squeak into the playoffs and upset a higher seed in the first round.
Why Major League Soccer? Why American soccer?
Most of us follow other leagues. For me I have an EPL team that I support and a club in the Bundesliga. Of course they play better soccer. Neither of those clubs occupy the space in my heart where the Timbers reside. If you can’t support your hometown club you don’t like soccer.
As told to the Free Beer Movement by "107 Independent Supporters Trust" Board Member Garrett Dittfurth.
The Basics
MLS Club: Portland Timbers
Stadium: PGE Park
Any other SGs apart of your section?
The Basics
MLS Club: Portland Timbers
Stadium: PGE Park
Year Founded: 2001
Any other SGs apart of your section?
There are several subgroups within the Timbers Army; as a whole generally identified by what section within the TA are they sit. 108 Lazy Eights, Fighting 106th, 105th Howitzers, but all identify as Timbers Army.
Location with PGE Park: Sections 101-108
The Meaty Questions
What are the origins of your name?The Cascade Rangers were founded in 2001 by two brothers Steven and Jim Lenhart in the run up to the Timbers returning as a professional team to gather in the pub pre-match to sing, chant, and drink. Some Glasgow Celtic supporters who wanted to participate took offense to the name and due to the sectarian connotations the name was changed to Timbers Army shortly thereafter. We still pay tribute to the original name and in our crest you’ll notice the CR underneath the rose, which is homage to the Cascade Rangers.
Favorite chants/songs?
Korobeinik, Bury Me in Timbers Green, Onward Rose City
Why is sitting in the supporters section the “best seat in the house”?
Brag. What makes your SG one of the best supporters groups in MLS?
We have a 3,600 seat supporters section that we are expecting to be sold out every match. Arguably we’ll be the biggest supporters section in North America by a long shot. We may be new to MLS but we’re not new to supporting our team as we’ve been doing it for a decade already. We’re bigger, we party better, and we’re going to bring it bigger than anyone in North America has seen when supporting our boys on the pitch.
Greatest game(s) in team history?
There have been so many memorable games it’s hard to pick one. One that has special importance and is still a strong memory is the final home game of last year against Puerto Rico. We have a tradition of singing “You Are My Sunshine” in the 80th minute in honor of our retired mascot Timber Jim’s daughter Hannah Serrill.
The Timbers Army was encouraged to bring sunflowers to the match to give to the team. During the singing of “You Are My Sunshine” in the 83rd minute Ryan Pore headed in a ball to put the Timbers up 1-0. It sent the Army into pandemonium and many into tears of joy.
The goal is now known as “The Sunflower Goal” and was the final goal scored in PGE Park before the remodel started. I’m attaching a video here. While it may not be the greatest win in team history it certainly meant a lot to the supporters.
Predictions for this season?
Why Major League Soccer? Why American soccer?
Most of us follow other leagues. For me I have an EPL team that I support and a club in the Bundesliga. Of course they play better soccer. Neither of those clubs occupy the space in my heart where the Timbers reside. If you can’t support your hometown club you don’t like soccer.
If you scoff at American soccer and don’t care about its growth you ignore MLS. Most Timbers Army members get that idea.
Interested in learning more and/or joining the Timbers Army? Check out their website at: TimbersArmy.Org.
Support the Movement. Get the Free Beer Movement T-Shirt. Only from Objectivo.com.
Interested in learning more and/or joining the Timbers Army? Check out their website at: TimbersArmy.Org.
Support the Movement. Get the Free Beer Movement T-Shirt. Only from Objectivo.com.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)