For this week’s passion blog I am going to focus on the supporters culture that exists in America and more specifically Philadelphia. Get ready for an adventure…

From Wikipedia.com:

Supporter: independent fan clubs in association soccer with the implication that their enthusiasm is ‘beyond’ the normal.

Flashback to Philadelphia in 2007. Soccer in America was practically non-existent. Sure, there was a professional soccer league in the United States but it was barely staying afloat and there was no talk of an expansion soccer team coming to Philadelphia. Nevertheless, 2007 was the year that the Sons of Ben was founded. Their sole purpose: To support Soccer in the Delaware Valley. After three years of planning, petitioning, and tons of support, Philadelphia finally got their soccer team, the Philadelphia Union, and the Sons of Ben were behind them the whole time.

The Sons of Ben in their natural habitat, The River End.

If you ever go to a Union game you will notice that there is a particularly interesting section of the stadium. In this section, the fans do not sit, they play on loud drums and sing almost borderline offensive chants, all while wearing scarves, even in the humid summer heat. Those are the Sons of Ben. With over 5,000 members, the Sons of Ben are the fourth largest soccer supporters group in the United States. The Sons of Ben sit in what they coined “The River End”, which is the part of the Philadelphia Union stadium closest to the Delaware River. Their unwavering support through the sunshine and the rain, through wins or loses shows that they are ad finem fidelis (until the end, faithful).

The Sons of Ben logo. The lightning and key represent Benjamin Franklin while the colors represent the colors on the Philadelphia flag. The Latin on the bottom is translated: Until the end, faithful.

 The Sons of Ben not only support the Philadelphia Union but are also a non-profit organization. They can be found donating school supplies, food, and winter coats to inner city communities. They run three or four charitable events each year. This year they have already had two successful charity events. The first event titled Help Kick Hunger, raised over $10,0000 for the Bernadine Center in Chester, Pennsylvania. The annual charity soccer tournament they participate in every year also raised over $7,000 for an inner city children’s soccer club. When the Sons of Ben say that they are more than a supporter’s group, they really mean it.

The Sons of Ben and the Philadelphia Union front office participating in the annual River Cup, a charity soccer tournament benefiting low income children.

Personally, being a member of the Sons of Ben has impacted my life greatly. I have expanded my love of soccer and met lifelong friends who I view as family. When we are all cheering on our team in the stands, it doesn’t matter about our background or our lifestyle. It is all about cheering on a team of guys whom we believe in and will support through the wins and the loses. It is not always an easy job but I wouldn’t trade it for the world.