Brian Messman
The great Scottish player and coach Jock Stein once said, “Football is nothing without fans.” Presenting #WhyImFlockEnd: a weekly series highlighting members of Forward Madison FC’s Independent Supporters Association, The Flock. Don’t miss a chance to join us in the Flock End this season; get your season tickets here!
Brian Messman
#WhyImFlockEnd
Photos: Brian Van Wyk
I was born and raised in Madison. During the Summers, I played soccer, volleyball, tennis and diving. During the winters, I skied competitively for Devil's Head racing team. I started playing soccer at the age of 5 for a team called the Breakfast Optimist Soccer Club. When that team disbanded, I tried out and started playing for the Madison 56ers. I also played for the Madison West soccer team my freshman and sophomore years of high school. My soccer career was cut short when I was injured in a car accident in June of 1992. During my senior year of high school, I reached out to the brand new coach of the varsity boys soccer team at West to see if I could participate as a manager for the team. Instead, he asked me to be one of his assistants. That was a blessing to me! I attended all practices and games that year. Unfortunately, we fell one game short of making it to state.
I never really followed soccer much growing up. I do remember begging my parents while on vacation to get copies of USA Today in 1990 when the US was playing in their first World Cup in 50 years. In 1994, I started watching soccer, because the US was hosting the World Cup and all the US games were on regular, non-cable TV. Throughout College, I watched United States Men's National Team games and US Women's National Team World Cup matches, but did not follow any club teams. In 1998 , that changed when I found the UEFA Champions League. The first game I watched was between Manchester United and an Italian team. I did't know much about either team at the time, but I chose to root for Manchester United, because they were the English-speaking team. United went on to win a thrilling final against Bayern Munich and that cemented my love for Manchester United! I also follow Preston North End in the English Championship League.
A few years ago, when I was working and living in Waukesha, I attended an International Friendly in 2015 between Atlas FC and Newcastle United FC at Miller Park. Around that time, there were rumors of an investor group that wanted to bring a professional team to Milwaukee. I thought that if there was a professional team in Milwaukee, I would get season tickets.Unfortunately that didn't happen, but soon after I move back to the Madison area, the professional team was announced. There was no way I was missing out on getting seasontickets!
What are your hopes for the new Forward Madison season?
I love the march to the match, where people are waving flags and we all are singing!
Who's your favorite FMFC Player and why?
Connor Tobin. On the field, he is our captain and plays his heart out every match. Off the field, there are two reasons: first, I had brought a jersey to a game that I wanted the entire team to sign. After the game, which was a difficult loss, I asked him if he could get each player to sign it and he did. Secondly, if anybody made their way over to the Essen Haus last year, he always made himself available by coming over to the fans to chat.
Do you have any favorite memories from the 2019 season?
Is there anything that can beat getting up at 3 a.m. to catch a bus at 5 a.m. for a 10 hour + round trip ride to/ from Lansing, MI with a 2-hour soccer match victory in between, that clinched a playoff spot?
What song or album is on your heavy rotation right now?
If I'm not listening to a U2, Coldplay, or Switchfoot album, I am usually listening to Sirius XM's 80s on 8, rock hits. I've got to get my 80s hair band fix.
What's your favorite or most memorable soccer match that you've been to?
There are actually two. Both involve the same teams. In February 2001, a few friends of mine and I drove from grad school in Kentucky to Columbus Ohio to watch the United States defeat Mexico 2 - 0. It was 18 degrees at the start of the game. In September 2013, I drove down from Wisconsin to Columbus Ohio to meet up with the same friends to watch the United States defeat Mexico 2 - 0. Both these games were World Cup qualifying matches.
What's the best vacation you've ever had?
In 2001, I was in grad school and just happened to have the same Spring Break as my mother, who was working in the Madison metropolitan school district as a nurse. My sister was studying for a semester at the University of Preston in England, so my mother and I went to go visit her for 10 days. We met my sister at Heathrow, in London and traveled through Canterbury, Bath, Oxford, Birmingham, Stratford-upon-Avon, Bourbon-upon-the-water, Warwick (including the castle), Lake Windermere in the Lake District, Preston (where I was able to see Deepdale, the stadium of Preston North End), Manchester (where I was able to take a tour of Old Trafford), Liverpool, and ending up back in London. All in all, we traveled over 1,200 miles.
What's your favorite place to hang out with friends in Madison?
Evenings during the summer... The Union. After Badger football victories... The Union. After Forward Madison games, I like going to Robinia, The Brass Ring, or Vintage Brewing Company.
Which of the new Forward Madison players announced are you most excited to see play
I cannot wait to see our version of Robert Lewandowski, AKA, Wojciech Wojcik!
What makes you excited to be a part of The Flock this year?
Last year was an amazing year for our first year as a supporter group. It was an incredible experience to meet people and root for the ‘Gos! I cannot wait to see what things we will do this year, based on what was learned from last year. I am excited to see new flags, tifo, to learn new songs and to meet new people.