It was just another large chunk of the day spent mindlessly scrolling through the now Elon Musk-owned Twitter. I knew full well that I had something more productive I could be doing, but I instead opted to immerse myself in the “Twittesphere” like the addict I am. The worst is when you scroll past a post you’ve already seen before.
Being the soccer lover I am, all of the content at my fingertips was beautiful game themed. Whether it be Premier League, MLS, USL, NWSL, or possibly even some grass-root greatness from across the pond, or here stateside – it’s all soccer. That’s how I like it.
But then I stumbled upon a pretty neat looking badge. You guessed it. The Tampa Bay Rowdies!
I kid. It was the pretty little Vermont Green FC badge, of course. The announcement of the club’s existence was liked by a fella I follow that runs a Tampa Bay Rowdies podcast called “The Unused Substitutes” though. I said something along the lines of, “huh, cool,” in my head.
Then I closed all my apps — because you’re weird if you don’t do that — and locked my phone, chucking it away from me to refrain from latching onto it like the fiend I am.
I went about my day. Or at least tried to before I grabbed my overused phone again like twenty seconds later.
Now, this new team called “Vermont Green FC” I said “huh, cool” about earlier, was getting some serious traction on that same post I already saw. It wasn’t just being liked by lower league-loving lads and lassies anymore, but instead by super notable people that I happen to Stan, as I’m a journalism nerd. I’ll spare you what would be insanely boring details. It’s Meg Linehan. And this time seeing an old post wasn’t the worst. My curiosity piqued. Not Gerard.
So it was settled. I was invested, intrigued, interested, and other words that start with an “I”. Itchy..? Always. I have a dry beard.
Let’s discuss those aforementioned I’s — apart from the itchy one as that’s TMI.
I was intrigued in the way that this cool, up-and-coming club had de-zombified me (certain that’s not a word). It got me off of Twitter and onto google. I had to know more about Vermont as a state.
Are there even people there?
Yup. Apparently 600,000 or so, it’s the second least populated state after Wyoming. That’s roughly three percent of the population of my home state of Florida.
Is it cold there?
Ooh doggy yes, it’s the seventh coldest state in the country.
What’s the capital? I’ve heard the word Burlington — like the coat factory — is that it?
No. It’s Montpelier. It’s one of the least populous U.S. state capitals, apparently. It’s also the only state capital without a McDonald’s.
Boy, was I down a rabbit hole.
Speaking of, are there rabbits there? I have a pet one named Cali that has made me adore them almost as much as soccer.
Why of course there are bunnies in Vermont, google replied. New England cottontails to be specific. But also the ol’ Snowshoe resides there too. And they turn white in the winter to blend in with the snow. Good thing as those black bears, gray foxes and bobcats may get hungry for some rabbit stew. They’ve got to blend in.
But my interest in the state of Vermont and this cool team VGFC mustn’t blend like the rabbit’s fur does with shrubbery or snow, I thought to myself. Let me learn a bit about the club.
What are they doing?
Well, evidently they’re just casually trying to save the world. That’s where my second “I” came in. Interested.
They put out a tweet saying how terrible soccer can be for the planet. And their mission was to be a catalyst for a more environmentally sustainable and socially just world. Meanwhile, my state was busy passing the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill, and refused to put wind turbines on, or anywhere near beaches as they’re an “eyesore.”
So not only was the badge cool. And not only did the state of Vermont interest me. But the values of VGFC just so happened to be pretty similar to mine. And in an often disingenuous industry of rich men pretending to care about things such as social and environmental justice when it can thicken their wallets, this new, youthful club seemed different. They seemed as genuine as their maple syrup. There’s a lot of maple trees in Vermont. The sugar maple is the most common tree there.
I wanted in. That’s where my third “I” came in. Not like the one Benedict Cumberbatch’s evil variant had in the new Doctor Strange movie.
I wanted to be part of the VGFC community. I got to know the cool, young soccer lovers that run it and continued to constantly engage on social media because I wanted them to know that I loved what they’re doing. I also dove into the online shop to seek out merch. I’m stuck between a ball cap and mug as we speak, and will probably wind up snapping up both to the detriment of my puny college student bank account. But it’s okay. Because I really like this club, and I want them and everyone to know it.
Being a young man, most teams have been around longer than I have, but I’m witnessing the birth of a green baby covered in a syrupy afterbir— you know what, I’m not even gonna finish what I was saying there. Sorry. That metaphor got away from me. You get my gist.
Even if I am about 1,453 miles, or 22 hours and 23 minutes of driving away from this awesome club, I am well and truly invested in it and what it stands for.
Consider this Florida man a fully intrigued, interested, invested, and sadly itchy fan from afar that will battle with that aforementioned minuscule bank account to get out to Vermont and see a match in the flesh sooner than later. Even if I have to walk there, as it’s more environmentally friendly. But no walking directions are available on iPhone maps, so I’m not sure how I’ll get there.
Perhaps I could just splash some cash and give a Vermont local a chance to watch the side as a proxy of mine by paying for a season ticket for them as that’s a promotion VGFC is offering. They’ve literally thought of everything.
Regardless, May 28 at Virtue Field will be a big one. A historic one. And me, my three I’s, and pet bunny Cali will be watching and cheering on this team that understands that some things are bigger than soccer.
Oh also, Ben & Jerry’s ice cream began at a gas station in Burlington Vermont.