Why I'm a fan of Minnesota United FC

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Growing up I was not interested in soccer. At all. Seriously... I couldn't stand the sport. However, I did have a brother who liked soccer, and Manchester City was his favorite team.

Now for me, liking soccer started to change back around 2009 - 2010 when the Minnesota Thunder folded. I saw in December of 2009 that they (and with them, professional soccer in Minnesota) folded. In January, NSC Minnesota was founded, and I decided that I was going to follow them a bit.

As a sports fan of all different kinds, I like going and watching sports of all kinds. Whether or not I like it, I just like to say I've been there. Soccer was no exception. And with one team down (The Thunder) and the second team being not so high budget, I didn't know how much time I had left to see the team play.

As time rolled on, I watched as NSC Minnesota moved to the NASL. I stuck with them while they changed their name to Minnesota Stars FC. With the team (and professional soccer) seemingly on its last legs in Minnesota I planned to see a Stars match, but I could never make it in person.

The following season in 2013, the Stars became Minnesota United FC, and I was finally able to make it to a match. On a Saturday night in August, my brother and I headed out to Blaine to watch Minnesota United FC take on the Atlanta Silverbacks. United would fall that night 1-0 (even though it looked a lot worse) to the Silverbacks.

I hadn't planned on going to a specific​ match in 2014, but when I found out that a doubleheader would happen at TCF Bank Stadium with my brother’s Manchester City Squad playing Greek side, Olympiakos, followed by Minnesota United taking on the Ottawa Fury. My brother and I headed out for Minneapolis for both games. After sitting through the opener, it started raining and continued to get worse. In the downpouring rain I stood at the bottom of the upper deck at midfield standing the entire match. As I was standing and hearing the Dark Clouds chant through the rain and watching United take it too the Fury in what would be a 2-1 win, I realized​ that United was my club.

I would follow MNUFC and make it too as many matches as possible in 2015. I took the next step when I bought season tickets in 2016 and renewing in 2017.

And that's how I became a fan of Minnesota United FC and soccer itself.

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