I was most likely watching a crime drama on a quiet night in February 2019 when I got a call from Steve Arters. We were part of a group chat with a number of other San Antonio FC (SAFC) supporters and fellow members of the Crocketeers supporters group. A topic that always resurfaced in the chat was derbies. At that time, El Paso Locomotive FC and Austin Bold had just joined the USL Championship. On that call Steve and I started talking about derbies, Cascadia Cup, potential names, all the important exploratory topics. That was the moment Copa Tejas went from a hope and a prayer to being a reality.

I immediately went to work doing some digging on Google. In today’s modern age any name must be run through an internet and social media search. Early contenders on names were Cactus Cup, Lonestar Cup, Lonestar Trophy, Texas Cup, Bluebonnet Cup, Yellow Rose. In Texas everything is named Lonestar, youth soccer teams, car sales, banks so those names were eliminated.

Copa Tejas resonated with us as we saw it embracing our Hispanic community. We immediately took all the social media handles (@CopaTejas). Plus, in searches it was relatively clean and not associated with anything negative. One of our initial ideas had some pictures of hunters with their “trophies”.

While it’s easy to assume that I played some junior role in this project, it’s important to highlight women in leadership positions in soccer. Steve and I have been full business partners in the process and execution, from the beginning. It has always been a team effort to execute three trophies in one season, and this year it was 3 short months. Part of the execution is traveling to each market every season. This year we visited all 6 Texas teams. We both bring strengths that complement each other to make it all possible.

The Cascadia Cup had initial beginnings with NASL in 1974 and multiple iterations until it was formalized in 2004 by supporters from Seattle Sounders, Vancouver Whitecaps, and Portland Timbers. We learned lessons from them. For example, there was a trademark lawsuit involving the front offices of the three MLS teams, MLS, and the supporters groups. We immediately trademarked the name to prevent fallout among the parties with a vested interest.

It was decided that the Copa Tejas format will be similar to the Cascadia Cup. Points will be earned during the head to head play during the regular season – three for a victory, one for a draw and no points for a loss. The team that accumulates the most points during the regular USL season, excluding possible U.S. Open match ups and playoffs, will be awarded the trophy in October and will keep it and bragging rights for a year. If a tiebreaker is necessary, it will be determined from goal differential and other criteria.

Our earliest partners were with podcasters who were actively promoting their clubs on Twitter, particularly those newest to USLC: Seriously Loco in El Paso, Down in the Valley for RGV Toros, SA Soccer Roundtable for SAFC, and The Boldcast in Austin. Through the podcast connection we engaged with the supporters groups of 8th Notch in El Paso and Eberley’s Army and la cinco doce in Austin. “The timing is perfect for Copa Tejas and it’s going to give matches between the Texas teams an added edge right away, not only on the field, but in the stands between all the supporters and fans,” said Steve Arters.

The goal is that Copa Tejas will encourage fierce competition on the and off the pitch, it also will encourage camaraderie between the various supporters groups across Texas. SAFC Supporters, known for their large, loud and entertaining tailgates, will invite visiting supporters to party with them prior to home games in San Antonio and be looking to join other supporters’ tailgates when traveling with SAFC.

In the first year, 2019, the trophy was awarded to the Austin Bold. It was quite the on-field celebration in the club’s first year with supporters, staff, and players. The following season, as momentum was growing, COVID caused regional competitions. El Paso was moved out of the Texas region. The Supporters' many voices were unanimous: We either ride together as 4 Texas teams in a fair round-robin format to crown a true champion or we do not ride at all. So, Copa Tejas sat out 2020 and no trophy was awarded. If you ever get a chance to look at the trophy you will see there is a plaque that names COVID as the 2020 winner.

El Paso had a tremendous run of form in 2021 and took the Copa Tejas USL trophy as well as the Copa Tejas Shield in a sweep. In 2022 SAFC won the first trophy in club history when they secured the Copa Tejas at their game in El Paso. Currently, they sit at the top of the standings with Austin FC close behind in the Shield race.

The Supporters groups of MLS, USL Championship and NWSL formed Copa Tejas Shield to be awarded at the end of the 2021 regular season to the Texas team with the best record among the Division 1 and Division 2 men’s and women’s soccer teams. This is similar to the Independent Supporters Council Shield in MLS. This competition is the first of its kind to cross leagues and genders - MLS, USL Championship and NWSL. It’s believed this award will take a step in a new direction for soccer in America and bring the leagues together to determine who’s really the best in Texas.

In 2021 Austin FC was kicking off their first season in MLS. They were joining a long time and fierce rivalry between FC Dallas and Houston Dynamo, Texas Derby. The Texas derby celebrated its 50th edition this year. The participating supporters groups in the MLS markets are: Dallas with El Matador and Dallas Beer Guardians, Houston Dynamo with The Surge, Bandera Negra, and Texian Army, in Austin it’s Los Verdes and Austin Anthem.

“With Austin FC starting its first season, the timing is perfect for Copa Tejas in MLS and it’s going to intensify the rivalries between the Texas teams,” said Arters. “Houston and Dallas, of course, already have a historic rivalry, but adding a third team to the mix turns up the heat both on the field and in the stands with the fans and supporters groups.”

FC Dallas won the first Copa Tejas among the MLS teams in 2021. El Matador and Dallas Beer Guardians celebrated with Ricardo Pepi and the rest of the team. In 2022 Austin FC won on the field and Los Verdes and Austin Anthem won in the stands. What’s unique about the MLS trophy is that it was handcrafted by Dallas business Bohlin and funded by the supporters.

Bohlin custom made the trophy personalizing details from the star like the San Jacinto monument on the top of the lid, the blue bonnets engraved delicately on the body, the tornado-esque stem, and the base forms the outline of the state of Texas.

In a season filled with games this competition gives meaning to specific games to see who will claim the award for Best in Texas. It’s the fans who bring the atmosphere to life and root on their players. Fans are travelling to see their team compete in this derby. This is fully supporters led and supporters driven. It is an independent trophy not set up by any league or front office. This trophy has built bridges between leagues as supporters want to see who will win it from other leagues.

Each team and supporters group in Texas is unique and different, but they are all passionate about soccer, their city, and their team. It has been a joy to tailgate and celebrate that Texans just do it better.

For more information check out the website: https://copatejas.com/

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at: @copatejas

- Danielle Gawronski