If you didn't hear --- we actually won last week!!!!!!
Here's hoping to make it two in a row as we face Canadian opposition, Montreal.
The Third Rail will be at our usual spots - the Dugout and Billy's and look forward to pre-gaming with you there.
Game kicks off at 7pm on Saturday the 13th of June.
See you at the game!
Check out the atmosphere, and some sweet goals, from the NYCFC games so far.
By Third Rail Member Eric Barber
This is an opinion piece from a member and not all members of the Third Rail might agree with the following opinions.
The NYCFC website says that the band they have hired, City Beats, is there to help “enhance the fan’s match-day experience.” In more ways than one they are doing the opposite. Along with the other great supporters sections, we the Third Rail sing and chant throughout the game in the general admission bleacher sections 235-238. These sections are the home of the most passionate NYCFC fans, but in my mind we are being overshadowed.
When we cheer in the bleachers, we are singing as loud as we can and we even have a couple of drums, but the sound of the loud marching band instruments is something that we can not compete with. The acoustics of Yankee Stadium are already not great (that’s another story), and adding to the noise is horns and double the amount of drums we have in our sections that the club has designated to us.
Friends have told me that when they watch the games on TV, they can’t hear any chanting or fans. The only thing they hear is a marching band. That’s just TV. Members of our group who happen to sit in other sections of the stadium have said that City Beats makes a lot of noise and they can’t hear us.
We are the Third Rail. We are there to power our team on throughout every game. Not only do we want to let the opposing fans know that we have a presence, but we want to motivate our own players. This is not possible, however, with our noise being drowned out. Now I’m not saying that I dislike City Beats. They play some great songs, and they bring an upbeat musical presence. But the club’s front office has to make some changes for the band to work out and to make the supporters truly happy.
First, they should not be playing throughout the game. Soccer, unlike most other sports here in America, plays continuously for 45 minutes 2 separate times. At baseball or football or even basketball games, there are timeouts and inning and quarter breaks. City Beats would be great in situations like that, but soccer is not a sport that works like that. They are a good musical group for halftime and before and after the games, but when the players are on the pitch, that is not the time.
Second, City Beats does a lot of work before and after the game right outside the stadium. That works very well. People of all different ages think its cool to see them outside. That is something that maybe they can pre record and show on the jumbotron.
Third, in our supporter’s section we have some very talented drummers. There is even a group that plays cool music called the Templados. Possibly there could be collaboration between City Beats and the Templados. It would be great interaction between the club and its supporters. Possibly we could lead a chant for the whole stadium. We could work with the club on getting a leader or just straight up Templados drummers on the big screen and have the stadium do one of our signature chants. It could be almost like a Fireman Ed thing that the Jets had for awhile.
Look, I’m not trying to say that the club should disband City Beats. Just the concept needs improvement. They drown out most of our sound, they distract the TV viewer, and most importantly it is unpleasant for most people around the stadium. They are good in little doses, but that is it. Right now there is some disconnect between the club and the supporters on a number of different issues. The City Beats issue is one that is easily fixable. The mindset that I have is not set in stone. The ideas for improvement can change, but one things for sure, as long as the Third Rail is in the bleachers, doesn’t matter if there is City Beats or Not, win or lose we will always follow NYCFC.
To say that the team has not played well of late is an understatement, but we, as supporters of NYCFC, will be there all the way -- win, lose or draw!
This Saturday at 7pm EDT, New York City FC take on Houston at Yankee Stadium in search of that elusive three points.
The Third Rail will be meeting up from 4pm onwards at Billy's and the Dugout behind Yankee Stadium.
Come join us for what will definitely be a lot of fun - and you never know...we might even get a win!
Here is a collection of the best moments from the Third Rail section at NYCFC's game at home to Seattle Sounders.
Photos taken Ryan Leone. www.ryanleonephoto.com
@Ryanjleone on Instagram
It's been a rough few weeks for New York City FC, but despite the results the supporters community keeps on getting stronger and stronger.
This week, we take on Seattle and the team needs all the support they can get.
The Third Rail will, as always, be at Billy's bar from 4pm onwards. Join us!
If you have not got a ticket yet, make sure to do so here.
Also, for the game, we have a new Chants and Songs PDF for you to download.
Ross Cranwell is the Director of Marketing. An Irish native, Ross has been living in NYC for over a year now and works in marketing for a tech company. Ross loves NYCFC, Serie A and plays pickup. Reach out to him on twitter to chat!
What a cracker!
Ross Cranwell - Director of Marketing
As you all might have heard there have been a few reports of some very questionable and inappropriate conduct in the supporters section and we would like to take a moment to address this.
We would like to share the Yankee Stadium security phone number with you. That number is 917.746.0088. We ask that you remain above the fray if such actions continue and to use this number. If you choose to respond, you are likely to be ejected and/or will make the situation worse.
We are the Third Rail and we are out there in the bleachers to have fun but most importantly, be there for our team EVERY step of the way.
I will leave you with this...
Chance Michaels, our Third Rail President had the following to say with regards to inappropriate conduct a week ago:
"There is no room for it in our sections. There is NO room for it."
As a Board we completely agree with Chance and ask that you use the phone number we provided above and let Yankee Stadium approach and deal with situations, should they arise in the future.
--
Third Rail Board
Name: Robert Hobson
Where You Live: Ridgewood Queens
Where You Are From: Ridgewood Queens
What Other Teams You Support: Chelsea
Why You Support NYCFC: This is a team born in NYC playing in NYC for New Yorkers. I love Chelsea F.C. but a guy across from me on the train is wearing a Liverpool scarf. Now we can both rock our NYCFC scarfs and support and love the same team.
A little bit about yourself: I have been married six months this February 2nd. I live in Ridgewood, Queens, the heart of Queens with my wife, stepdaughter and our dog.
I work for Time Warner Cable as a Customer Service Professional. I actually don't have any hobbies to speak of at the moment. I am hoping to get more involved with the Third Rail to take up my time. Also my wife and I are trying to get pregnant so while her hormones are... adjusting I have been advised to get out of the house and do something. I think the Third Rail will be perfect for me.
Why You Love the Third Rail: There is nothing about watching a football match better than hearing everyone scream YEAH!!! at the same time. You grab the person next to you, high five them, a hug if they are cool with it and you celebrate.
I want that with the Third Rail.
I want to be around a group of folks who love my team as much as me and who are my friends as well. I love the amount of faith we all have in a team that is still in its growing stage. Mostly I love the Third Rail because they will love me.
P.S. Rob also created a MLS fantasy league for the rail. To join go to
http://fantasy.mlssoccer.com/ and use league code 272925188
We didn't get the result we wanted, but we still had a great night out. #hailtherail
Photos curated by Analucia Castillo.
