What goes better together than popcorn and butter, Salt-N-Pepa, or chips and guacamole? I’m sure we all have our favorite pairings, but in soccer one can’t talk about Detroit City FC (DCFC) without talking about their supporters group, Northern Guard Supporters (NGS). NGS is a vocal boisterous active group that is proud of their home team. Social media and games are their most active domain to express their love for DCFC. NGS states on their website, “DCFC is our passion, and we support them every way, and everywhere, we can.” This passion doesn’t stop with their newly moved up USL Championship men’s team, but their women’s team as well.

Detroit City FC women play in the inaugural USL Women’s League (USLW). Last season they played in the UWS. Both the men’s and the women’s team migrated to the USL this season. Per the USLW press release, Co-Owner and CEO Sean Mann. “A successful and equitable women’s side is what our supporters demand, and it’s what our players in rouge and gold deserve. We see joining the USL W League as a natural next step in becoming the most inclusive, community-focused, and supporter-driven club in the USA that we strive to be. We look forward to seeing what our returning head coach Sam Piraine and his staff and players will be able to accomplish with this new challenge.””

In the USL W Great Lakes Division DCFC women play against Racing Louisville FC’s lower division team, Indy Eleven’s women’s team and a number of other regional competitors. Both men’s and women’s teams will play in Keyworth stadium. This is a demonstration of their commitment to equity, many other clubs have their women’s teams playing games at the “nice” training facilities.

With another professional team in Detroit would there ever be a doubt that NGS wouldn’t extend their passion to the womens’ team? No. Their passion for the rouge and gold clearly extends to anyone that puts on the crest to represent their city, their club. As a member of NGS, Pamela Wall, states, “When DCFC announced that there would be a women’s side, I cried the most joyful tears because it was a testament to the FO’s belief that women can do what the men’s side does—play the beautiful game at the highest level. I am so grateful they showed that faith in the ladies and I believe it was an incredible move. So, I am of course just as rabid about the women’s side 1) because the ladies on the pitch deserve the same cacophony the men get, but 2) it’s a message to other clubs that having a women’s side is the right thing to do.”

The feeling is mutual between the players and the supporters. Being able to play in front of a full stadium gives you pride, you want to step up and perform, making the supporters proud. Megan Miles, a player for DCFC knows this is true, “Everyone with DCFC knows hands down we have one of the best supporters groups who support us on and off the field. The cheering and the smoke bombs make it more fun… They mean a lot to us and we mean a lot to them. They play a fun and crazy role with us.” A rowdy atmosphere just makes everything better in sports. To have the same support from the fans is truly a demonstration of equity among the teams, not just from the front office. Players clearly recognize this. They feel the love.

There are a lot of things that are the same from the previous season and there are a lot of things that have changed. The team has a core group of players that returned from the UWS team. Practices are held a few times a week. Competition includes a few familiar faces and some new teams to play against. The crest is still the same, but there is a unique feeling putting on the same jersey and uniforms that your men’s team has and knowing you are in a professional space.

“It’s crazy to think about when I was in school, never in my head would I have thought about all this. It used to be playing on random teams. Now getting a jersey, schedule, and treating us like a professional even though we don’t get paid. If we wanted to go pro you would have to go overseas. This league bridges a gap when you finish college, having a place to play. For young players going pro is not far-fetched nor out of reach.” My feelings exactly Megan. Going overseas wasn’t even a realistic option when I was graduating college 22 years ago (please don’t do the math!). This is what equity feels like. This is just the start.

The next generation of players on DCFC may be competing as a professional where they receive payments equal to the men. We know the stories and can see this every time a young player attends a match. Strides are made every day in this sport. From the supporters perspective, Wall shares, “When I see supporters bring their daughters to the women’s matches, and I see their little faces take in these absolute powerhouse ladies, I see little me watching my momma and her team. And it fills my heart with such hope that there will be more women in the future who don’t doubt what they are capable of.” Never doubt.

Those young faces are capable of so much. Miles knows the same is true, “It’s special to play here. Now coaching it’s more special because I have an eight-year-old team who wears the same colors as me. They are coming to the games.” They future holds so much promise, especially with those like Wall and Miles who are making history in both realms as they continue to move forward in to this next stage in women’s soccer. Maybe, the players she coaches will have more supporters at their games than the men’s team when they go pro?

A DCFC team is not a DCFC team without the Northern Guard supporting them at games filling the stadium, sharing the same support they do with the men’s team, chanting, screaming, smoke bombs, and general sporting event chaos. Genuine passion for women’s soccer is what is happening in Detroit. They are setting the stage and leading the way yet again in another soccer space.

What is happening in Detroit is special. The supporters know it’s special. The players feel it’s special.

I want to leave you with a quote from Wall.

“So I sing (and scream) for the Gals in Gold because I am so unbelievably grateful they’re out there and I don’t want them to ever doubt for a second that they are beloved and that them wearing the Detroit City Crest is an act of tremendous badassery.”

Danielle Gawronski