Leo, Aless, Gigi, and Hector: Why We're Flock End
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!
Leo, Gigi, Aless, and Hector
#WhyImFlockEnd
You might recognize Leo Rodriguez and his cousin Hector Gomez from matchday photos in the Flock End and in USL1’s mini-documentary ONE: Madison Goes Full Mingo as #LosPrimosMingos (their inflatable flamingo costumes). Leo and Hector are originally from Honduras, and before discovering Forward Madison could only regale Alessandro and Gigi with tales from their younger years of going to the stadium on matchdays. After moving to Wisconsin, Leo thought it would only be a dream to have his kids experience the fun and excitement of live local football.
Enter Forward Madison, and the supporters section which quickly won over Leo and Hector, and soon after Aless and Gigi. “Now my kids will grow up knowing this experience; this culture. And that’s really cool,” says Leo. Shortly after the season started, Leo fabricated the large flamingo you’ll see bandied about on a pole on the stadium march and in the Flock End on matchdays, “That thing weighs about 35 pounds, you’ve gotta earn it!”
What makes you excited to be a part of The Flock this year?
Leo: We work as a group for a single cause, support our local team. We get to chat, march, sing, jump and cheer together. Sounds like a lot of fun to me. Trabajar en equipo para una sola causa, apoyar nuestro equipo local. Nosotros cantamos, marchamos y saltamos todos juntos. Eso suena muy divertido para mí.
Aless: The energy in the Flock End is insane and how the people participate.
Hector: The expectations are even higher than last year, since now we know each other’s potential, and are able to feed off one another.
Where did you grow up, what's your hometown like, and what brought you to Madison?
Leo: I'm from Tegucigalpa(Capital), Honduras. My hometown is a beautiful soccer loving city that is surrounded by mountains. That's were I went to watch my first soccer match in a Stadium when I was a young boy. I chose Madison as my city to live in to escape the big city life, I was living in Miami, FL previously. Yo soy de Tegucigalpa(Capital), Honduras. Aparte que es una ciudad muy hermosa y esta rodeada de montañas nos gusta mucho el fútbol y fue ahí donde asistí por primera vez a un partido de soccer en un estadio cuando era un niño. Me moví para Madison de Miami, Florida para escapar de la vida en una ciudad grande.
Hector: I’m originally from Honduras, which main sport is fútbol. I came to Madison looking for a better opportunity and even found my beautiful wife.
Who's your all-time favorite footballer and why?
Leo: The Argentinian Diego Armando Maradona. When I was growing up he was the guy to watch. Very popular player and me being a young boy, I used to get excited to even hear his name being mentioned. El argentino Diego Armando Maradona. Cuando yo estaba pequeño esa era el jugador que uno seguía, hasta me emocionaba cuando escuchaba su nombre.
Hector: Pelé, someone that even overcame society and society’s plan, because he was able to come from very humble beginnings, to reach the pinnacle of the sport.
What are your hopes for the new Forward Madison season?
Leo: I hope more people join the Flock, come to the marches, tailgates, etc. Let's fill Breese Stevens up in 2020! Espero que más gente se una al Flock, que se unen a las marchas, que asistan a los tailgates. Me gustaría que llenaramos Breese Stevens en el 2020.
Aless: To win the League.
Gigi: My hopes for the new Forward Madison season is to see more people come to Breese Stevens to support the team.
Hector: Well even though the team did very good on their inaugural season, my hope is that the team is able to come together and put up a better show this year.
We’re Flock End
Because we work as a group for a single cause; support our local team. We get to chat, march, sing, jump and cheer together.
What's your favorite part of matchday?
Leo: My favorite part of match days is the precious time I get to spend with my Family and friends and we all get to perform from the tailgating, the march, the "shalla lalala FMFC" and marching through the field as we enter the Flock End. Omg is it time yet? Mi parte favorita de los días que hay partidos es el tiempo precioso que compartimos con mi familia y amigos desde el momento que estamos en el tailgate, la marcha, cuando llegamos al estadio cantamos el "shalalalalalala FMFC" y cuando marchamos por el campo hacia el Flock End. Ya es tiempo?
Hector: The entrance to the stadium, with all of the supporters have to be my favorite part of match day
Where did you grow up, what's your hometown like, and what brought you to Madison?
Leo: I'm from Tegucigalpa(Capital), Honduras. My hometown is a beautiful soccer loving city that is sorrounded by mountains. That's were I went to watch my first soccer match in a Stadium when I was a young boy. I chose Madison as my city to live in to escape the big city life, I was living in Miami, FL previously. Yo soy de Tegucigalpa (Capital), Honduras. Aparte que es una ciudad muy hermosa y esta rodeada de montañas nos gusta mucho el fútbol y fue ahí donde asistí por primera vez a un partido de soccer en un estadio cuando era un niño. Me moví para Madison de Miami, Florida para escapar de la vida en una ciudad grande.
Hector: I’m originally from Honduras, which main sport is fútbol. I came to Madison looking for a better opportunity and even found my beautiful wife.
Who's your all-time favorite footballer and why?
Leo: The Argentinian Diego Armando Maradona. When I was growing up he was the guy to watch. Very popular player and me being a young boy, I used to get excited to even hear his name being mentioned. El argentino Diego Armando Maradona. Cuando yo estaba pequeño esa era el jugador que uno seguía, hasta me emocionaba cuando escuchaba su nombre.
Hector: Pelé, someone that even overcame society and society’s plan, because he was able to come from very humble beginnings, to reach the pinnacle of the sport.
What are your hopes for the new Forward Madison season?
Leo: I hope more people join the Flock, come to the marches, tailgates, etc. Let's fill Breese Stevens up in 2020! Espero que más gente se una al Flock, que se unen a las marchas, que asistan a los tailgates. Me gustaría que llenaramos Breese Steevens en el 2020.
Aless: To win the League.
Gigi: My hopes for the new Forward Madison season is to see more people come to Breese Steevens to support the team.
Hector: Well even though the team did very good on their inaugural season, my hope is that the team is able to come together and put up a better show this year.
Yo soy de Tegucigalpa
Aparte que es una ciudad muy hermosa y esta rodeada de montañas nos gusta mucho el fútbol y fue ahí donde asistí por primera vez a un partido de soccer en un estadio cuando era un niño
What's your favorite part of matchday?
Leo: My favorite part of match days is the precious time I get to spend with my Family and friends and we all get to perform from the tailgating, the march, the "shalla lalala FMFC" and marching through the field as we enter the Flock End. Omg is it time yet? Mi parte favorita de los días que hay partidos es el tiempo precioso que compartimos con mi familia y amigos desde el momento que estamos en el tailgate, la marcha, cuando llegamos al estadio cantamos el "shalalalalalala FMFC" y cuando marchamos por el campo hacia el Flock End. Ya es tiempo?
Hector: The entrance to the stadium, with all of the supporters have to be my favorite part of match day
Who's your favorite FMFC Player and why?
Leo: Paulo Junior. You gotta love a Brazilian soccer player. Also Connor Tobin, he was the first player that I talked to and I've had some cool conversations with him. El brasileño Paulo Junior. Tienes que tener amor para un brasileño que juega fútbol. También para el capitán Connor Tobin, que buenas pláticas he tenido con el.
Hector: Connor Tobin, team captain as long as he's here, in my book
Do you have any favorite memories from the 2019 season?
Leo: Omg Los Primos Mingos! Wonder what my grandkids are going to say about me when they see the pics of us in the Inflatable flamingo costumes? Los Primos Mingos. Siempre me pregunto qué van a decir mis nietos de mi cuando miren fotos mías en ese disfraz?
Hector: #losprimosmingos is my favorite part of the 2019’s season
What's your favorite place to hang out with friends in Madison?
Leo: Breese Stevens Field.
Hector: Pregaming with family and the rest of the crew. (The Flock)
What's the best vacation you've ever had?
Leo: Miami/Orlando 2019 trip with my kids, Mom and Cousin. El viaje a Miami y Orlando en el 2019 con mis Hijos, Mamá y mi Primo.
Aless: My favorite vacation I ever had was to Florida, there is a lot more to do in Florida then here in Madison.
Hector: We took a road trip with My cousin and his family, and one of the plastic Mingos was almost on every picture
What song or album is on your heavy rotation right now?
Leo: Beastie Boys - License to Ill & Ill Communication. Also Cypress Hill - Black Sunday
Aless: My favorite song right now is The Box by Roddy Ricch.
Hector: My favorite song would have to be, Ooo... Madison, Madison, Madison, Madison... Ooo..
What's your favorite or most memorable soccer match that you've been to?
Leo: Borussia Dortmund vs Manchester City @ Soldier Field in 2018.
Gigi: The most memorable soccer match I’ve been to is the game against Hertha Berlin because it was cool to see Forward Madison go against a team from Europe.
Hector: First Forward match, in full costume and snowing
Which of the new Forward Madison players announced are you most excited to see play?
Leo: Michael Vang
Aless: Mike Vang. He is young and talented and he can control the middle
What does being an FMFC supporter mean to you?
It's a great opportunity to build new friendships. The Flock End is a very special place that on match days we all come together as Family. Es una gran oportunidad para hacer nuevas amistades. En Flock End es un lugar muy especial que en los días que hay partidos todos nos reunimos como una familia.