They are the noisiest fans in the stands at Vancouver FC home games, and their turf is the supporters鈥� group section, behind the southern goal in the Willoughby Park stadium.
It's known as "the valley" to the people who bang drums, chant and cheer, wave flags and release coloured smoke matching the team colours during games to encourage the players.
Several hours of full-throated yelling can be hard on the throat, valley regular Andrew Harley said.
"I mean, there's a lot of times where you go to work the next day and you can't talk."
Originally, the informal group of fans called themselves the Fraser Valley Fanatics (FVF), pushing for pro soccer before there was a professional team, but after they helped bring a Canadian Premier League club to play in the Fraser Valley, based in 91原创, the name became the Vancouver Football Club Fans & Fanatics group.
On days the Eagles are playing at home in 91原创, Harley, an Abbotsford resident, will pack up a barbecue and fixings in his truck and head in early for a parking lot get-together with fellow fans.
"We do pregame tailgates where we'll go out and we'll barbecue and have a social event, essentially," Harley told the 91原创 Advance Times."
A former midfielder in the Alberta leagues before he moved to B.C., Harley doesn't play on the field any more, but, in soccer, it is still possible to participate.
"Football is kind of unique [compared] to the rest of the sporting world, where there is entertainment value outside of the actual playing field," Harley observed.
"Fans and supporters do bring atmosphere to it, whereas you don't necessarily see that in sports like hockey or baseball, per se."
It's quite common for players to come over and say hi to the valley.
"I think we're there to help lift them up and obviously, they appreciate that," Harley said.
After a rushed start to the first season, Harley thinks this year's squad is a lot better than it was last year.
However, the stadium "needs some work in my opinion," Harley said.
"I don't want to give them too hard of a time. But, I mean, Willoughby Park is nothing to brag about, and that's not a draw for people."
It would be nice if there were better food options and some shade would be good, too, he thinks.
"Standing in the sun for two and a half, three hours is a little tough."
It still doesn't deter the hard-core fans, who simply pack sunblock with their flags and drums.
"We've got about 40 season ticket holders, give or take," Harley estimated.
"We're all over the Lower Mainland. We have season ticket holders out in Chilliwack, all the way to North Bend."
Anyone interested can contact the group online at , or, better yet, just drop by on game day.
"The best way, is definitely to come out to a tailgate pregame, or just come join us in the stands," Harley said.
There are three home games remaining in the season: Fri, Sept. 6, against York United (7 p.m.), Saturday, Sept. 21 against Forge (3 p.m.),and Sunday, Oct. 13 against Valour (2 p.m.).
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