Transamerica Field at UNCC holds a special place in my heart, as I know it does for lots of Charlotte Independence fans. It was the team’s first home for a few games at the beginning of our first season.

It’s where everyone in my circle of friends fell in love with the team.

For my friend Löchel and myself, it all started when we were walking to the Flying Saucer with my girlfriend PK… because we didn’t realize how far it was from the field. Jim McPhilliamy (the owner of the team) pulled up and offered us a ride to the bar. Löchel asked him 37 questions, and he patiently answered them all! At that bar, I had my first NoDa Jam Session which will forever taste like Charlotte Independence to me. We met a lot of cool Charlotte and Charleston fans that day, and we learned Jack’s Militia chants. The first ever goal in Independence history was right in front of us in the supporter’s section. We serenaded the team for 90+ minutes, and when the whistle blew, even though we lost 2–3, Löchel and I turned to each other and vowed to be season ticket holders for life!

Lochel, Myself, and PK left to right at the inaugural game.

For PK and another friend, Kyle, they fell in love a few weeks later when Marlon Hairston got elbowed in the throat and somehow HE got called for a foul! Kyle screamed so many obscenities at the refs and Louisville players; I won’t be repeating them here, but he was not wrong. PK probably did too, but they were all in Spanish so I don’t know what she was saying. They both became passionate fans then and there.

As for my friend Benji, he’s the dude in the brown shirt pictured below moments after Patrick Slogic scored the first ever goal that gave us a lead and eventually our first ever win in the same game as the Hairston foul. Needless to say, after that moment he was hooked. He currently drives from Greenville, SC to watch nearly every home game.

(Photo used with permission, credit: William Brown)

So, when we heard we would be coming back to UNCC for this season’s opening game, we were all thrilled! There was no better place to start the year, getting the band back together where it all began. So we all gathered at my place to carpool up to The Flying Saucer for pregaming. No walking this time for us, we learned that lesson, so we got our playlist ready. And because she is a wonderful woman, PK offered to be the DD for the night. So off we went to the pregame at The Flying Saucer!

Once we got to there, we had some drinks and caught up with folks I mostly just see on Twitter. Jim bought everyone a round of drinks, and I met Soccer ‘N’ Sweet Tea writers Alex Warren and Charles Houston in person for the first time.

I’m really excited for some things Jack’s Militia is going to be doing this year, so we went to the field and stood with them for the opener. They sung all kinds of songs that anyone can join in, even Truly, Madly, Deeply with no player names added in… I need to learn the story behind that one.

The first half felt like we were going to score at any moment. To me it seemed like Charleston played very defensively, and we had nearly all the possession. It looked like they had 17 defenders in the back the whole game. We kept putting passes together, but it felt like we were just one good pass away from setting up a goal. We had a few good shots, but folks around me seemed to all feel the same way: we need a quality striker. I have complete faith in the Independence to tweak things, and get this team playing at a playoff level, but it just felt like we were missing Caleb Calvert big time in this game. It also seemed like we weren’t winning any headers.

The Battery continued to play defensively in the second half, but they were better at taking their chances. They opened up the scoring when Romario Williams scored a goal midway through the second half, holding off a few defenders, and putting the shot away.

Immediately after that, the Battery’s backup goalkeeper started dancing and pointing at the scoreboard to us over at Jack’s Militia. This particularly angered Benji and Kyle, who started talking trash to the keeper. I’m not 100% sure why it happened. Some Jack’s Militia shouted at him and he waved back, but it honestly seemed friendly from both sides. Until that goal was scored at least.

The second goal came not too long after on a set piece: Forrest Lasso scored a header that Cody Mizell got a hand on but could not keep it out of goal.

Charleston ended up winning 2–0 which was a bummer, but I am so happy the team is back on the field. Independence announced that attendance was 2,048 which is one of our biggest crowds, so that’s awesome. The stadium felt full, and it was a great atmosphere. Jack’s Militia was loads of fun, the songs are family friendly now, and its quite an experience getting involved with them. I personally prefer sitting behind the away bench, focusing on the game, and talking junk to the enemy coach and players, but even if you feel like it’s not your thing, you really should go hang out with Jack’s Militia during a game at least once in your life.

(Photo Credit: Paulo Ramirez)

It was a loss on the field last night, but nothing is better than the season starting up again. I can’t wait for the next game, at Winthrop, on April 15th against Pittsburgh. See you there!