June 6, 2015: Madison 56ers

June 6, 2015
Detroit City FC 5, Madison 56ers 0
Cass Tech Stadium
DCFC Cyrus Saydee (James Murphy) 32′
DCFC Tyler Channell (James Murphy) 41′
DCFC Will Mellors-Blair 66′
DCFC Will Mellors-Blair (David Edwardson) 73′
DCFC Matt Ybarra (Wade Allen) 90′
Attendance: 3,561

A new record crowd was treated to a blowout by the boys in rouge and gold.

At the previous home match against the Minnesota Twinstars, I noticed the immense crowd that paraded from Harry’s to the match. I recalled that two years prior, at the Midwest Great Lakes Divisional Final against Erie, I positioned myself at the southeast entrance of Cass High School to video the march as it passed. This evening I did the same. It is a good measure of how much the excitement for this team has grown in such a short time.

This was July 14, 2013:

This was tonight:

Tonight Le Rouge paid tribute to the Detroit Police Athletic League (PAL). Since 1969, Detroit PAL has helped build character in young people through athletic, academic, and leadership development programs, including youth soccer. During halftime it was Detroit PAL players who took to the pitch, for which the Northern Guard Supporters skipped their search for liquid refreshment and cheered the kids on as if DCFC were on the field.

The jerseys worn this evening by the team were then sold at silent auction during the game. For the first time, I scored myself a game-worn jersey, that of midfielder and University of Michigan player, James Murphy. Very cool.