Rivalries are a funny thing. Some places try to generate a rivalry based solely on proximity. Others generate it based on history. But in my opinion the best rivalries are born from fans and from the performances of the teams that play in the rivalry. That’s what Union Omaha and the Greenville Triumph have. A huge part (if not the biggest part) of this is the trophy, can we call it a trophy? Let’s call it what it is, The Belt, born from two supporters groups who have since become good friends and allies, when we’re not playing each other for those 90+ minutes that is. Today I am continuing our coverage of supporters groups across the League. This time it is with the President of The Reedy River Riot, Andrew Phillips.
Q: When/how did you start following the club?
I’ve been a fan of the club before they were even a thing (no joke). I was a part of a group that started a campaign to bring #USL2GVL via social media and petitions.
Q: How did your SG get its start?
We started after the announcement of the club, in our excitement we changed our campaign pages over to a SG in hopes of continuing to build excitement about the team.
Q: How may members do you currently have?
Currently we have 185 active members and have been growing monthly.
Q: What’s your goal as a SG?
Our main goal first and foremost to support and celebrate the club(s) by being ambassadors for them and spreading the love of the game. Secondarily, it’s to have a positive impact on our community. If we can successfully do this, we can help engrain the team into the fabric of the Upstate.
Q: What do you feel you add to the SG scene that differs from other SG?
I truly believe our SG does everything it can to have open arms to other SG’s. As a (SG) community we cannot thrive and grow without learning from each other. We’re certainly not the only SG that does this and we’re definitely not the SG that does it the best, but there are ALOT of gatekeepers out there and we are actively taking steps to avoid becoming that.
Q: Do you have a tailgate spot you want to let everyone know about?
Absolutely! Our tailgate happens directly across from the stadium on East Bramlett Rd.
Q: How does one join your SG?
Simply by going to www.ReedyRiverRiot.com and clicking on membership OR by coming to speak to us under the big tent during a tailgate.
Q: What’s one thing you’d like to see from all of the supporters around your team?
Passion is all that matters. I don’t care how you support or where just as long as you do it with passion.
Q: Is there anything you’d like to see all of the SG do together?
Supporting league growth, without it we don’t have this beautiful game in our cities so let’s make sure we also support the source.
Q: Is there something we can do as supporters/SG pre-match to make the environment better for us all?
Not at all, continue being awesome, open, and passionate.
Q: Or to make the pre-match scene better?
Please see above.
Q: How much communication do you have with the Front office?
We are lucky to have frequent comms with the FO. As a separate entity it’s important that we maintain independence, however, without the team we don’t exist so if we can keep those lines open we can better understand how to support them.
Q: Anything you’ve wanted to do in stadium that isn’t allowed or isn’t logistically possible? And finally what’s on your ultimate goal?
A CAPO stand/area would be clutch, it would allow us to engage the entire stadium in a more focused way and that’s our main goal… to get the entire stadium chanting and singing along.
Q: If money/time we’re no issue, what do you want your SG to be?
All the smoke, all the drums, all the TIFOs, and a force in the community.
This club obviously means alot to Andrew and all of the people in The Riot. They are putting in the work to make the soccer world, locally and globally, better. For that, I respect them, but for those 90+ minutes on saturday I hope Omaha crushes the dreams of the Riot for their season. No matter what happens I know that the soccer world in Greenville is a better place with the Riot in it.
Who Gives A Hoot? 