It will be an emotional homecoming for Chicago House president Peter Wilt when his Windy City amateurs meet MLS’ Chicago Fire – the club where he won four Open Cup crowns.
Wilt led the then-brand new Chicago Fire to four Open Cup titles between 1998 and 2006. And he’ll now face off with that very club he helped birth in the tournament he loves best.
His new project, the all-amateur Chicago House AC, are making huge waves in the current edition of the Open Cup. They upset pro side Forward Madison of USL League One (another club Wilt helped bring into existence) to set a date with the Fire in the rarest of Windy City Derbies – one that spans all four tiers of American soccer.
The Chicago Fire (MLS) versus Chicago House AC (USASA/MWPL/Ill.) US Open Cup Third Round game is at 7 PM CT at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois. Get tickets from Ticketmaster.
And what a Nuccio DiNuzzo photo from the Chicago Tribune!
St. Louis Part of National Independent Soccer Association Rollout
St. Louis Part of National Independent Soccer Association Rollout
The National Independent Soccer Association (NISA), a new independent third division professional soccer league, announced eight markets today that have submitted applications to be part of the league’s inaugural season in 2018 (or 2019) subject to US Soccer sanctioning, which is part of the process to launch a professional soccer league. The markets with applications are: Charlotte – Chattanooga…
On Saturday something awesome and liberating happened in Indianapolis on Saturday, April 12th. Previously stuffed into pubs on Saturday and Sunday mornings, or on a European Tuesday, Wednesday or even Thursday afternoon, their cheers heard by only the fellow fans and other patrons. They inhabited Chatham Tap and Union Jack but had no real venue to bellow over goals and bemoan penalty decisions.
The game itself was very entertaining. I didn’t have a ticket but watched it on TV, which was cool that I could even do that. A perceived lack of overall technical ability for those accustomed to watching Europe’s elite leagues or international competition lent itself to a fun ping-pong battle in midfield that made for a very entertaining match. Those in attendance were treated to two goals in the 1-1 draw with the Carolina Railhawks, eight year veterans of the North American Soccer League.
The striking thing about the game to me, however, was the atmosphere created by the Brickyard Battalion and the other people in attendance. They unfurled a wonderful banner at the beginning of the game, and their din didn’t die down for the entire match. The most obvious song they sang over and over was the following rendition of “C’mon You Bhoys in Green” led in the video below by a badass little Celtic fan looking like he’s having the time of his life as capo.
Much of the speculation surrounding the founding of Indy Eleven, even until last week before their inaugural kick-off, was focused on whether or not this NASL franchise could be a success where others had failed. In a state dominated by basketball and a city dominated by the Indianapolis Colts, it’s a valid point to bring up. Some would probably wonder if the loyal and vociferous core of footy fanatics around the city could translate their passion for European league teams and the U.S.M.N.T. into support for the Eleven and inspire other around them.
On Saturday night, however, the BYB and all others who raised their voices to celebrate the momentous first touch on the ball had to bring a smile to Indy Eleven president Peter Wilt’s face. Charged with turning this fledgling franchise into an NASL success (and possibly beyond), Wilt has been a man about town promoting the franchise and even brought a former World Cup champion, Brazil’s Kleberson, into the side.
With a stadium full of fans whose songs came from the hallowed halls of Parkhead in Glasgow and whose banners were reminiscent of some of the most loyal supporters’ groups in Italy, Wilt had to have been bolstered by the support he saw. It is up to the fans to keep turning out for the side throughout the heat of the summer and into the cool nights of autumn to keep this dream alive. But after their great start out of the gate on Saturday, the future of footy is alive and well in Indianapolis.
Is pro soccer coming to Indianapolis? If Peter Wilt has anything to say about it, they'll have a team come 2014.
A local ownership group is researching the feasibility of launching a professional soccer team to play in the North American Soccer League, beginning with the 2014 season. Your help is needed to pick a team name reflecting the history, culture and people of Indiana.
Inspired by Bill Veeck, Peter Wilt fostered an authentic fan culture as president of the Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer. But after a new corporate owner forced him out, Wilt discovered that his passion for "a real sense of tribalism" has made him unemployable in a vastly expanding league.
