Once the dream of going pro becomes real, the next phase of that dream for many players is to see their family in the stands at a game.

Vancouver Whitecaps defender Tim Parker got that in a big way when his team traveled to face New York City FC recently. Parker, a native of Long Island and a second-year professional in MLS, had a very special (and large) cheering section there for him -- and the Whitecaps documented the occasion.

It wasn’t Parker’s first time traveling to the New York City area; last year about 100 of his family and friends came out when the Whitecaps faced the New York Red Bulls, but he didn’t play.

This time around, however, Parker was a starter for Vancouver and it was something special. Watch the heartwarming mini-documentary below: