Growing the game is of the utmost importance to Aaron Matti. As president of the Akron (OH) chapter of the American Outlaws and co-founder of the Rubber City Brigade, Matti has dedicated his love of the beautiful game to getting more and more people exposed to the sport.
The Outlaws have been the driving force for promoting the American game for years, while the Brigade is a new group created to support soccer in the Akron community as a whole. Both groups strive to improve the fan experience and gain exposure for the sport we all love.
Matti himself supports the game at every level. He is an avid fan of the University of Akron, where Caleb Porter’s side has brought loads of success to Northeast Ohio. He has attended every game the last 3 seasons and even made flags for the AK-ROWDIES, the university’s student supporters group.
“I have a lot of respect for Porter,” Matti stated. “His development of players is incredible. He knows how to make them into pros.”
Matti is high on Crew academy product and UA sophomore midfielder Wil Trapp along with senior striker Thomas Schmitt.
“Trapp is incredible and Schmitt is a guy that just doesn’t stop,” Matti added. He also expects big things from Chad Barson and Scott Caldwell, last year’s captains.
He often attends Columbus Crew matches and even finds time to catch a glimpse of Ohio’s newest team, AFC Cleveland. And he catches every national team match he can get to.
Matti preaches patience when it comes to Jurgen Klinsmann and the USMNT. He knows the team is going to improve, but the long-term prospects are the most important. And he is just as excited about the U.S. women’s prospects at the London Olympics.
“They should win the gold,” Matti continued. “They have talent, but the world is catching up.” He admits that Japan and Germany will be tough foes for the American women. Matti even mentions that he enjoyed the 2011 Women’s World Cup more than the 2010 World Cup.
“There wasn’t as much diving or silly fouls,” Matti concluded. “I was amazed at how smoothly the game went.”
Matti’s interest in soccer doesn’t stop here in North America. He is also a loyal supporter of Northampton Town FC in England. Is it an odd choice for an American to love a team that finished 20th in the Football League 2 table? His fascination with the Cobblers began in 1999 with the FIFA Soccer video game. An unorthodox way to connect to a team, but a cool story nonetheless.
“It sparked my interest in the club,” Matti said. “First I bought a jersey. Now I listen to every match on the radio.”
Matti has joined with their supporters, interacting with them on social media with the hopes of someday taking in a real match. Interestingly enough Northampton Town has an American connection of their own, courtesy of former Rochester Rhino goalkeeper Neil Kitson.
The American keeper joined the Cobblers in January after playing in USL PRO and made 8 appearances on the season. Kitson created a splash and made history when he saved penalties in his first two appearances against Crewe Alexandra and Oxford United.
Whether it is college soccer, NPSL, PDL, MLS or the national team, Aaron Matti is there. You have to say that he is the ultimate supporter, always looking for ways to push the game forward. And it is working.
“The game in America is growing,” Matti said. “The younger generations have embraced the sport. We now have quality and quantity.”
But playing and enjoying soccer wasn’t always easy for Matti. His high school didn’t even have a soccer team and TV coverage of the sport was hard to come by. The 1994 World Cup got his attention and really raised his awareness for the global game. He started to follow the European leagues and began to fully appreciate the game played in every corner of the world.
In 2010, his love for the sport turned into action as he helped create a new chapter of the Outlaws in Akron. A few friends watching World Cup matches is now 60 active members and growing.
The beautiful game is in good hands with people like Aaron Matti, who work tirelessly to promote the sport. Whether it is organizing a tailgate party, swinging a flag, or sharing his knowledge of the game, Matti is a true ambassador of soccer.
Pelé is unquestionably the world’s greatest soccer ambassador, spreading his love of the Beautiful Revolution wherever he goes. He has become the game’s strongest supporter and has been the source of inspiration for millions around the globe. From the streets of New York to the fields of South Africa, Pelé Sports is a name synonymous with passion, creativity and innovating the game the way it should be played. A world without Pelé would be a world without soccer with millions missing out on the joy and the Beautiful Revolution we all love in this game.
Today’s supporters carry on the prestigious legacy of Pelé, growing and promoting the game in their own communities and passing the torch to a new generation of footballers. Mainstream media outlets have failed to give a face to these fans, people who do extraordinary things everyday and have stories that deserve to be told. Whether it is an Iraqi War veteran who is a passionate supporter of his favorite MLS side or a student making an impact on the college game, the concept of ambassadorship is alive and well here in North America. Today’s supporters are not hooligans or fanatics or even überfans, but rather gatekeepers to the true spirit of the beautiful game.
International Soccer Network, in conjunction with Pelé Sports, plans to celebrate the contributions of North American soccer fans every month with a new series of feature articles.
