What is Olde Fields Battalion?

Q: What is the Olde Fields Battalion?

Olde Fields Battalion is the Supporters Group for the Tallahassee Soccer Club. We are a group of soccer loving people who love the idea of supporting our local club and community. We are diehards. We'll be there through the good, the bad, and the ugly. Mostly, we're just a group of people who came together around supporting the Battle Lions and became more like a family.

Q: How did it get started?

Olde Fields Battalion started with a few friends at Happy Motoring (RIP), excited to see a soccer club come to Tallahassee. Shortly after the team was announced, a few of us gathered to brainstorm a new supporter’s group. Inspired by the club’s homage to the old Dale Mabry airfield and the city’s role in WWII, the group settled on the name Olde Fields Battalion. Olde Fields being the Muskogean translation for Tallahassee and Battalion being a play on battle lion. Our crest shows a blimp, which Dale Mabry commandeered, a soccer ball, a lion, and a tree, symbolizing our city's beautiful canopy roads. Our motto “disturb the game” was born during our first away game against AFC Mobile. Our small number of traveling supporters were making noise and supporting our club when a Mobile supporter turned around and shouted “there’s only a few of you, and you’re disturbing the game!” The rest is history.

Q: What do you do at matches?

We "disturb the game". By that, I mean that we chant, sing, drum, and generally cause a commotion before, during, and after the match to give hope and metaphorical fire to our players, and to disturb, demoralize, and disrupt the opponents. We also try to have a lot of fun while doing all of that.

Q: Do you really bring drums to EVERY game?

We do! It’s a lot easier to disturb the game with drums and a megaphone without one. We welcome anyone who wants to join us on an ongoing basis or even for one match. If you have experience with percussion instruments, that is even better.

Q: Who comes up with the chants?

Most of the group has contributed to that in one way or another. Often, it’s a traditional soccer chant that has been adapted to our club. Other times, it’s a wholly original chant we’ve developed. Sometimes they are made up on the sport based on the opponent or what is happening in the macth. We try to keep them simple enough for anyone to join in. No studying required.

Q: What do you think is the best way fans can support the team?

I don’t think there is a “best” way. Obviously, showing up and cheeping for the club is very important. It’s also one of the most enjoyable ways to support the team. Financial support through donations, sponsorship, season or single match tickets is also incredibly important. Spreading the word about the club, or even better, bringing your friends to a match helps grow our local soccer community. Honestly, there’s not much else as enjoyable for the price. Finally, we’d love for more people to join the Olde Fields Battalion. There’s no dues, no formal paperwork, or anything like that. If you want to hang with us, drum with us or chant with us. You’re welcome to do so!

Q: Is there anything you’d like to add?

Only that we appreciate all that come out to watch and support the club that we love. It truly is a great community, and we want that community to grow.