ANGEL CITY BRIGADE
Guide to Joining the ACB
I’d like to begin my second blog by sending out a heart felt “thank you” to all of the kind comments and replies to my FIRST EVER blog post. Sometimes it’s a bit tough to come up with something valid to write in the offseason. Having racked my brain for a good couple of days the only thing that came to mind was “Holy Hand Grenade!! I miss all of those bastards and bastard-ets from ACB!” Therefore I reminisced for about three pages then called it a blog post.
Just when I thought I was in the clear I received a message from Rudy (the fantastic architect of this website) telling me to write another. I decided to brainstorm with my new friend / accomplice / landlord who I happened to meet through ACB as to what to write about. After a series of shots of whiskey (I was, after all, celebrating my acceptance into a Masters in Education Program at the University of Redlands) we came upon the decision to write a “How to Approach AND Join the Angel City Brigade manual.” That’s right ACB familia! There is now an official “How To” manual concerning the ACB.
What should it be called? Angel City Brigade for Dumb Dumbs? Chicken Noodle Soup for your Supporter’s Group Soul? We ARE!!! THE BRIGADE!!! (out of touch Anti Nowhere League reference). Whatever. Personally I don’t care what it’s called. I’m far more interested in the idea of NOT intimidating newcomers to the ACB experience.
There you have it, that’s my thesis and I’m sticking to it. I’ve heard from people who I’ve met in person as well as people who have commented on the Angel City Brigade Board that people often feel intimidated by ACB’s close nit organization and physical presence in the stands. Listen, it’s true. ACB is an anomaly in today’s day and age. We all walked into this experience as strangers and are now brothers, sisters, best friends etc. This close bond of friendship and family can be VERY intimidating to people who have not been with the group in the first two years of it’s existence. All of us, new and old members MUST remember this. We are all representatives of this group. Therefore it is our duty to represent ACB in the best light possible at ALL times. Thus far our members have done this to the best of they’re ability.
That said here is my Guide to Joining the ACB.
-So you’re interested in joining the Angel City Brigade? Here’s what you do.
1). Join our boards!!!!! I can’t stress that enough. Please start an account in our new and improved forums. Read through the pages. Get a feel for what our members are like. Remember, the Galaxy usually only play once a week and only half of those games are home games. This makes the time in between the games important in fostering a relationship with other members. I’m still trying to wrap my brain around the fact that I feel like I’ve known members of the ACB for decades rather than two years. This is due to the fact that I’ve essentially communicated with them everyday for the last two years via our message boards. Most of our members go by they’re screen names so when you meet us in person you can ask “Who the hell is MotorJohn? Pox? Doughboy? Pibe? Skulls? Tubby? MDM? Brownie? B-Nasty” etc… trust me, we’ll know who you’re talking about (even my girlfriend calls me Pox).
Once you join our forums it is a must that you introduce yourself in the introduction thread. You’ll be greeted warmly, I promise. I also urge you to Private Message myself or any of the moderators or active members of the board. Simply tell us who you are and that you plan on coming to the next home game. We’re all nice I swear it. I’m sure we’ll all tell you that we’ll have a beer or some morsel of food waiting for you in Lot 13.
After you’ve joined our forums and introduced yourself it’s time to face real life, which leads us to step two.
2). Meet up with us in Lot 13. By this time you’ve introduced yourself on our message boards. You’ve figured out a few names in the ACB message boards and now it’s time to meet these strangers in real life. I can’t stress this enough. WE ARE GOOD PEOPLE! ACB was founded on the fact that we are an all inclusive group. No matter what your background or who you are you will be welcomed. We are NOT a firm/ hooligan group. What we are is a group of fanatical supporters who strive to support the LA Galaxy through passion, songs and tifo, through thick and thin. We love LA. We breathe the LA Galaxy and we strive for our colors.
3). Attend ACB Gatherings and BBQ’s. We try and have them semi-regularly. These activities range from benefit shows / fundraisers to soccer games and BBQ’s in the park. We also watch away games at the Off Campus Pub directly across the street from the Home Depot Center. I suggest attending these gatherings, as they’re a little more intimate in the sense that there are only about twenty to thirty ACB members there as opposed to two hundred at a typical Lot 13 tailgate. That way it gives you, the future ACB draft pick, a chance to have a more normal conversation with members and allows you to get to know them better. That and you’ll have fun.
If anybody has anything to add to this feel free to in the comments section.
Cheers,
Pox
P.S. Here’s a tidbit to warm your offseason hearts courtesy of the English Media and Steven Goff of the Washington Post/ Soccer Insider that can be found and read at http://voices.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/ but most importantly LANDON DONOVAN!!!!
From the Times of London…..
Their latest success may have been aided by Sunderland’s generosity but that should not detract from Everton’s growing sense of confidence in a season that had threatened to go off the rails. The addition of Donovan, an intelligent, thoughtful footballer whose lively movement off the ball was epitomized by Everton’s second goal, has clearly helped in this respect.
From the Guardian…..
Chants of “USA, USA” marked the American’s first goal for Everton, showing there is still a football ground on Merseyside where that is acceptable.
From the Sun…..
While it opened Donovan’s account following his short-term signing from America, the biggest surprise was he did not end up with a hatful against a backline as slapdash as this. Having said that, George McCartney does deserve praise for a wonderful goal-line clearance after Donovan had rounded Craig Gordon.
From the Daily Star…..
The American’s 19th-minute strike sent Goodison Park wild as he finally found his mark for David Moyes’ men.
From the Daily Mirror…..
They have not yet reached the promised land of a European place, but at least Everton saw the Landon they were promised. Landon Donovan scored his first goal for the Goodison club to set them on the way to a comfortable win over sorry Sunderland, to leave his manager David Moyes purring over a polished display from the American.
Home opener Saturday March the 27th Lot 13, all are welcome,….hell we will even accept the welsh, cant be friendlier than that, no excuses see you there, let the games begin.
Hey newbies, I can vouch for Pox as I followed those steps. I first joined the ACB boards, introduced myself and finally met everybody at lot 13.
I have not felt more welcome at any other place so don’t feel intimated! join us!!
See you in Lot 13 March 27!
I’ll be there tomorrow with a beer in hand ready to support the Galaxy!
Since I have not joined “officially” am I an “unofficial” member?