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On Feb. 5, Emojipedia confirmed that we will have a flamingo emoji starting in 2019. Here at Forward Madison FC, we happen to think it's no coincidence that we're kicking off our inaugural season in 2019 as well. And we are EXCITEEEEEEDDDDD!!!!!

On Feb. 5, Emojipedia confirmed that we will have a flamingo emoji starting in 2019. Here at Forward Madison FC, we happen to think it’s no coincidence that we’re kicking off our inaugural season in 2019 as well. And we are EXCITEEEEEEDDDDD!!!!!

Forward Madison FC's first-ever home opener will take place on April 27 vs Greenville Triumph SC. Get tickets to see all of Forward Madison's  inaugural season at https://sportsengine-staging.go-vip.net/forwardmadisonfc/tickets.

Forward Madison FC’s first-ever home opener will take place on April 27 vs Greenville Triumph SC. Get tickets to see all of Forward Madison’s  inaugural season at https://sportsengine-staging.go-vip.net/forwardmadisonfc/tickets.

Forward Madison FC announced Thursday that it is launching its "Unlock Madison" campaign to give fans inside access to events across the city and exclusive perks on all things Forward Madison. The club's first 1,856 season ticket holders – Club 1856, named in honor of Madison's founding year – will receive pre-sale access to events at Breese Stevens Field, invites to town hall meetings around Madison, discounts on food and beverages at the stadium, discounts on merchandise and an exclusive Club 1856 scarf, among other benefits.

Forward Madison COO Conor Caloia appeared on Channel 3000 / News 3 Now Thursday morning to tout the upgraded package, which was developed with the help of fan input. In particular, two fan suggestions – a $25 food/drink credit and $1 off beers all season long – have been added in.

Forward's fans of music also have reason to rejoice, since Club 1856 members will get first shot at concert tickets at Breese Stevens Field. Greta Van Fleet, which kicked off the new series of Saturday Night Live in January, and country star Toby Keith are both set to come in June, with other big names set to follow.

Read through Forward Madison's season tickets FAQ and place your deposit here. FMFC's home opener will take place on April 27 against the Greenville Triumph.

Forward Madison FC announced Thursday that it is launching its “Unlock Madison” campaign to give fans inside access to events across the city and exclusive perks on all things Forward Madison. The club’s first 1,856 season ticket holders – Club 1856, named in honor of Madison’s founding year – will receive pre-sale access to events at Breese Stevens Field, invites to town hall meetings around Madison, discounts on food and beverages at the stadium, discounts on merchandise and an exclusive Club 1856 scarf, among other benefits.

Forward Madison COO Conor Caloia appeared on Channel 3000 / News 3 Now Thursday morning to tout the upgraded package, which was developed with the help of fan input. In particular, two fan suggestions – a $25 food/drink credit and $1 off beers all season long – have been added in.

Forward’s fans of music also have reason to rejoice, since Club 1856 members will get first shot at concert tickets at Breese Stevens Field. Greta Van Fleet, which kicked off the new series of Saturday Night Live in January, and country star Toby Keith are both set to come in June, with other big names set to follow.

Read through Forward Madison’s season tickets FAQ and place your deposit here. FMFC’s home opener will take place on April 27 against the Greenville Triumph.

The fans have spoken! After a close final voting round, separated by only 20 votes, Forward Madison FC fans have chosen the design for the exclusive Club 1856 scarf. The winning design, created by Brian Holz, can be seen below. 

Alongside his design being produced for the first 1,856 season ticket holders, Brian will also be watching our home opener from the sideline, and getting his picture taken with the team. 

The only way to get a Club 1856 scarf is to put down your season ticket deposit for our inaugural season! 

The fans have spoken! After a close final voting round, separated by only 20 votes, Forward Madison FC fans have chosen the design for the exclusive Club 1856 scarf. The winning design, created by Brian Holz, can be seen below. 

Alongside his design being produced for the first 1,856 season ticket holders, Brian will also be watching our home opener from the sideline, and getting his picture taken with the team. 

The only way to get a Club 1856 scarf is to put down your season ticket deposit for our inaugural season! 

The following article appears in the Jan. 31 edition of the Daily Cardinal, one of the two major student newspapers at UW-Madison. The author, Bremen Keasey, sat down with former Badger (and new Forward Madison signee) Carl Schneider to tell the story of his homecoming. The full article is available online at the Daily Cardinal's website here.

When striker Harry Kane scores a goal for his hometown team, Tottenham Hotspur of the English Premier League, Tottenham fans break into song, singing “Harry Kane! He’s one of our own!”

Every fan of every sports team feels a connection to their players, especially local ones. Badger football fans love players like Tyler Biadasz, who grew up in Wisconsin and starred for their university, but there’s a special connection in soccer. International clubs build lifelong relationships with players through their youth academies and junior teams, allowing fans to literally watch the stars of the future grow up. The process produces a connection between the fans and homegrown players that American professional sports teams typically cannot match.

USL League One’s newest team, Forward Madison FC, is attempting to replicate that bond with a player Madison-area soccer fans will already be familiar with: Madison native and former Badger Carl Schneider.

“I played club [soccer] in Madison in high school, college and even in the summers between college seasons in Madison, so it definitely makes a lot of sense I would usher this team into the city,” Schneider said.

Forward’s inaugural season kicks off on April 6 against Chattanooga Red Wolves SC, and while they’ve signed another Wisconsinite — Milwaukee native JC Banks — Forward Madison managing director Peter Wilt knows that having a Madison native like Schneider in the team goes a long way to making immediate ties between fans and players.

“We want to be an aspirational team for kids growing up here, so when they see Forward Madison play, they can think to themselves realistically, 'That could be me someday,'” Wilt said.

Schneider, who grew up on the East Side of Madison, signed up for soccer in kindergarten and continued to play since then. In fourth grade, he tried out for the local club team the Madison 56ers, where soccer began to “ramp up.”

“We were traveling all over the region, and all the 56er coaches were super advanced,” Schneider said. “We stopped just kicking the ball and learned to pass and play possession.”

As a kid, Schneider loved basketball as well. But after breaking his arm in seventh grade halted that path to stardom, Schneider began to star at La Follete High School in soccer, playing for the varsity team as a freshman. 

In his senior year, Schneider was named Wisconsin State Journal player of the year and to the second team All-State as he helped lead La Follete to their first Big Eight Conference title in 2010 with a perfect 9-0-0 record in conference play. 

Schneider received offers from Northern Illinois and UW-Milwaukee after starring in high school, and he felt pretty set on going to UWM, but after he had a “really good camp” during a summer camp at UW-Madison, coach Keith Tiemeyer expressed interest in having him on the team.

Schneider grew up watching the Badgers football team on TV, which made his choice clearer.

“As soon as the Badgers showed interest, I knew that was what I wanted to do over UWM,” Schneider said.

Schneider redshirted his first year, which was pretty “tough on him.” After being a starring man at La Follete, where he frequently was forced to be an offensive threat from his central defender position, he now couldn’t travel with the team. Instead, Schneider said he and his fellow redshirts would go to the McClain training center and spend whole afternoons kicking the ball around in order to grow.

After playing in five games during his sophomore year, Schneider finally made the breakthrough in 2013, starting 15 games and helping the Badgers reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time this century. Since most of the other starters were older, Schneider didn’t have the pressure to dribble through a crowd of players to make a play. 

“I knew my job was to just be a lockdown defender. Since I wasn’t worried about overplaying, I think it actually resulted in me making some pretty good plays,” Schneider said. 

During the Badgers’ remarkable 2013, season Schneider’s favorite memory was a 4-3 win in their Big Ten home opener against the defending champion Indiana Hoosiers. Wisconsin came back from two goals down twice to win in front of a sold-out McClimon Soccer Complex.

“We had [about] 2,000 fans there, and everyone ran out onto the field [after the win]. That was special,” Schneider said.

After that season of triumph, the Badgers struggled in 2014 and 2015 as they started to rebuild. Schneider now took on more of a leadership role, trying to maintain positivity in the locker room even with all the new freshman playing. 

“I never wanted to encourage other people in the locker room when things were going bad,” Schenider said. "I always wanted to be the person who was not afraid to say ‘[The negativity] isn’t helping us; we need to stay positive.’”

After his Wisconsin career, Schneider traveled to Sweden, where he played for sixth division team IFK Åmål. While it was a pretty smooth transition in terms of culture shock, Schneider was a bit surprised by the lack of intensity. Most of the players were part-time players, so Schneider had to learn to “push himself.”

His team won the sixth division title pretty handily, earning a promotion into the next tier up, but Schneider didn’t feel challenged. After hoping that back at Wisconsin coach Trask wouldn’t “run the team into the ground, ” the American defender would occasionally run sprints after the games to try and keep his fitness levels up. 

After another Åmål earned another promotion, Schneider then got word from Madison that Forward Madison was starting to form. IFK Åmål was hoping to keep him, but the pull back to his hometown was too much to turn down. 

Schneider is excited his family will be able to watch him play more than just once a year, and he’s excited to spread the word about the team. 

“I’m just really excited to spread the word about the team,” Schneider said. “It would be pretty cool to talk to locals and be like yup, I went to La Follete, I lived on the East Side.”

Schneider likely won’t be the last former Wisconsin Badger to suit up for Forward Madison, at least if Peter Wilt can help it. Wilt has a close relationship with UW head coach John Trask, and Wilt said there are plans for scrimmages between Forward and the Badgers, along with the possibility that some Badgers will be able to play for Forward’s affiliate team in Green Bay in the USL League Two, a summer league for college players.

Either way, Carl Schneider is happy his journey in soccer brought him back home to Madison, and he hopes casual fans enjoy this first season.

“I think it’s gonna be a party,” Schneider said.

The following article appears in the Jan. 31 edition of the Daily Cardinal, one of the two major student newspapers at UW-Madison. The author, Bremen Keasey, sat down with former Badger (and new Forward Madison signee) Carl Schneider to tell the story of his homecoming. The full article is available online at the Daily Cardinal’s website here.

When striker Harry Kane scores a goal for his hometown team, Tottenham Hotspur of the English Premier League, Tottenham fans break into song, singing “Harry Kane! He’s one of our own!”

Every fan of every sports team feels a connection to their players, especially local ones. Badger football fans love players like Tyler Biadasz, who grew up in Wisconsin and starred for their university, but there’s a special connection in soccer. International clubs build lifelong relationships with players through their youth academies and junior teams, allowing fans to literally watch the stars of the future grow up. The process produces a connection between the fans and homegrown players that American professional sports teams typically cannot match.

USL League One’s newest team, Forward Madison FC, is attempting to replicate that bond with a player Madison-area soccer fans will already be familiar with: Madison native and former Badger Carl Schneider.

“I played club [soccer] in Madison in high school, college and even in the summers between college seasons in Madison, so it definitely makes a lot of sense I would usher this team into the city,” Schneider said.

Forward’s inaugural season kicks off on April 6 against Chattanooga Red Wolves SC, and while they’ve signed another Wisconsinite — Milwaukee native JC Banks — Forward Madison managing director Peter Wilt knows that having a Madison native like Schneider in the team goes a long way to making immediate ties between fans and players.

“We want to be an aspirational team for kids growing up here, so when they see Forward Madison play, they can think to themselves realistically, ‘That could be me someday,’” Wilt said.

Schneider, who grew up on the East Side of Madison, signed up for soccer in kindergarten and continued to play since then. In fourth grade, he tried out for the local club team the Madison 56ers, where soccer began to “ramp up.”

“We were traveling all over the region, and all the 56er coaches were super advanced,” Schneider said. “We stopped just kicking the ball and learned to pass and play possession.”

As a kid, Schneider loved basketball as well. But after breaking his arm in seventh grade halted that path to stardom, Schneider began to star at La Follete High School in soccer, playing for the varsity team as a freshman. 

In his senior year, Schneider was named Wisconsin State Journal player of the year and to the second team All-State as he helped lead La Follete to their first Big Eight Conference title in 2010 with a perfect 9-0-0 record in conference play. 

Schneider received offers from Northern Illinois and UW-Milwaukee after starring in high school, and he felt pretty set on going to UWM, but after he had a “really good camp” during a summer camp at UW-Madison, coach Keith Tiemeyer expressed interest in having him on the team.

Schneider grew up watching the Badgers football team on TV, which made his choice clearer.

“As soon as the Badgers showed interest, I knew that was what I wanted to do over UWM,” Schneider said.

Schneider redshirted his first year, which was pretty “tough on him.” After being a starring man at La Follete, where he frequently was forced to be an offensive threat from his central defender position, he now couldn’t travel with the team. Instead, Schneider said he and his fellow redshirts would go to the McClain training center and spend whole afternoons kicking the ball around in order to grow.

After playing in five games during his sophomore year, Schneider finally made the breakthrough in 2013, starting 15 games and helping the Badgers reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time this century. Since most of the other starters were older, Schneider didn’t have the pressure to dribble through a crowd of players to make a play. 

“I knew my job was to just be a lockdown defender. Since I wasn’t worried about overplaying, I think it actually resulted in me making some pretty good plays,” Schneider said. 

During the Badgers’ remarkable 2013, season Schneider’s favorite memory was a 4-3 win in their Big Ten home opener against the defending champion Indiana Hoosiers. Wisconsin came back from two goals down twice to win in front of a sold-out McClimon Soccer Complex.

“We had [about] 2,000 fans there, and everyone ran out onto the field [after the win]. That was special,” Schneider said.

After that season of triumph, the Badgers struggled in 2014 and 2015 as they started to rebuild. Schneider now took on more of a leadership role, trying to maintain positivity in the locker room even with all the new freshman playing. 

“I never wanted to encourage other people in the locker room when things were going bad,” Schenider said. “I always wanted to be the person who was not afraid to say ‘[The negativity] isn’t helping us; we need to stay positive.’”

After his Wisconsin career, Schneider traveled to Sweden, where he played for sixth division team IFK Åmål. While it was a pretty smooth transition in terms of culture shock, Schneider was a bit surprised by the lack of intensity. Most of the players were part-time players, so Schneider had to learn to “push himself.”

His team won the sixth division title pretty handily, earning a promotion into the next tier up, but Schneider didn’t feel challenged. After hoping that back at Wisconsin coach Trask wouldn’t “run the team into the ground, ” the American defender would occasionally run sprints after the games to try and keep his fitness levels up. 

After another Åmål earned another promotion, Schneider then got word from Madison that Forward Madison was starting to form. IFK Åmål was hoping to keep him, but the pull back to his hometown was too much to turn down. 

Schneider is excited his family will be able to watch him play more than just once a year, and he’s excited to spread the word about the team. 

“I’m just really excited to spread the word about the team,” Schneider said. “It would be pretty cool to talk to locals and be like yup, I went to La Follete, I lived on the East Side.”

Schneider likely won’t be the last former Wisconsin Badger to suit up for Forward Madison, at least if Peter Wilt can help it. Wilt has a close relationship with UW head coach John Trask, and Wilt said there are plans for scrimmages between Forward and the Badgers, along with the possibility that some Badgers will be able to play for Forward’s affiliate team in Green Bay in the USL League Two, a summer league for college players.

Either way, Carl Schneider is happy his journey in soccer brought him back home to Madison, and he hopes casual fans enjoy this first season.

“I think it’s gonna be a party,” Schneider said.

The following article appears in the Feb. 5 edition of the Badger Herald, one of the two major student newspapers at UW-Madison. The author, Harrison Freuck, sat down with former Badger (and new Forward Madison signee) Carl Schneider to tell the story of his homecoming. The full article is available online at the Badger Herald's website here.

University of Wisconsin soccer alumnus Carl Schneider is the newest signee of Forward Madison FC, Madison’s first ever professional soccer team.

Schneider is a unique player compared to the other early signees of the club, as he’s the first player signed by the club to be born and raised here in Madison.

Schneider played for local La Follette High School from 2007-11, leading the school’s soccer team to their first ever Big Eight Conference title his senior year. The team finished 21-2-1 overall (9-0-0 Big Eight) under Schneider’s leadership. Schneider was also a four-year All-Big Eight Conference honoree, before choosing to pursue soccer in college at the UW.

After redshirting his freshman season at UW, Schneider played defense and midfield, starting in 51 games and appearing in another 10 from 2012-15. Overall, Schneider compiled nearly 4800 minutes of playing time and also finished with two goals and an assist in his career.

Following graduation, Schneider went on to play in Sweden for IFK Åmål. In Sweden, Schneider helped the team get promoted twice in three years to the division above. He has now returned to where it all started, having been announced as the newest Forward Madison FC signee Tuesday.

Schneider said he’s most excited to play in his hometown again because he gets to play in front of those he knows and loves. Not many fans showed up to his team’s games in Sweden, so he said Madison will be a nice change of scenery, as the city has always been welcoming to new sporting events.

Schneider went on to say that he feels his “career has come full circle, having played in Madison on every level.”

He is also excited to be playing at a higher level in a place he’s always wanted to play professionally. His goals for this season include locking down a starting spot, being a part of one of the top teams in the league, and with that, a team promotion to a higher level of the United Soccer Leauge by the end of the season. 

When asked about what made him personally choose to play soccer professionally instead of pursuing a career in his area of study, psychology, Schneider said he’s always been passionate about playing soccer.

As a natural pick to be the hometown favorite, Schneider feels he’ll have an edge on opponents visiting Madison.

With many people watching from here in Madison, it’s easy to see why Schneider could become an instant fan-favorite, even if he doesn’t play the most flashy position on the field as a right back.

“If anyone is questioning whether or not to get tickets to the games this season, all you need to do is look at the Mallards,” Schneider said. “This crowd is going to be the same people, and it is going to be a party.”

The following article appears in the Feb. 5 edition of the Badger Herald, one of the two major student newspapers at UW-Madison. The author, Harrison Freuck, sat down with former Badger (and new Forward Madison signee) Carl Schneider to tell the story of his homecoming. The full article is available online at the Badger Herald’s website here.

University of Wisconsin soccer alumnus Carl Schneider is the newest signee of Forward Madison FC, Madison’s first ever professional soccer team.

Schneider is a unique player compared to the other early signees of the club, as he’s the first player signed by the club to be born and raised here in Madison.

Schneider played for local La Follette High School from 2007-11, leading the school’s soccer team to their first ever Big Eight Conference title his senior year. The team finished 21-2-1 overall (9-0-0 Big Eight) under Schneider’s leadership. Schneider was also a four-year All-Big Eight Conference honoree, before choosing to pursue soccer in college at the UW.

After redshirting his freshman season at UW, Schneider played defense and midfield, starting in 51 games and appearing in another 10 from 2012-15. Overall, Schneider compiled nearly 4800 minutes of playing time and also finished with two goals and an assist in his career.

Following graduation, Schneider went on to play in Sweden for IFK Åmål. In Sweden, Schneider helped the team get promoted twice in three years to the division above. He has now returned to where it all started, having been announced as the newest Forward Madison FC signee Tuesday.

Schneider said he’s most excited to play in his hometown again because he gets to play in front of those he knows and loves. Not many fans showed up to his team’s games in Sweden, so he said Madison will be a nice change of scenery, as the city has always been welcoming to new sporting events.

Schneider went on to say that he feels his “career has come full circle, having played in Madison on every level.”

He is also excited to be playing at a higher level in a place he’s always wanted to play professionally. His goals for this season include locking down a starting spot, being a part of one of the top teams in the league, and with that, a team promotion to a higher level of the United Soccer Leauge by the end of the season. 

When asked about what made him personally choose to play soccer professionally instead of pursuing a career in his area of study, psychology, Schneider said he’s always been passionate about playing soccer.

As a natural pick to be the hometown favorite, Schneider feels he’ll have an edge on opponents visiting Madison.

With many people watching from here in Madison, it’s easy to see why Schneider could become an instant fan-favorite, even if he doesn’t play the most flashy position on the field as a right back.

“If anyone is questioning whether or not to get tickets to the games this season, all you need to do is look at the Mallards,” Schneider said. “This crowd is going to be the same people, and it is going to be a party.”

Forward Madison FC has signed 26-year-old fullback Carl Schneider, who becomes the club’s first-ever born-and-raised Madison native player. Schneider, who played club soccer in Madison growing up, represented the Madison 56ers, La Follette High School and UW-Madison before most recently moving to Sweden with IFK Åmål.

Forward Madison announced Schneider’s signing Tuesday at a convocation at La Follette High School, where he was named  Madison boys’ soccer Athlete of the Year in 2010 by the Wisconsin State Journal. Schneider said it was a dream-come-true to sign for his hometown team.

“Signing for Forward Madison feels almost surreal,” Schneider said. “I've been in the Madison soccer community for so long and always aspired to play professionally. I never thought my first pro contract would come in that same Madison community where I learned the game.”

According to Forward Madison Managing Director Peter Wilt, Schneider’s signing shows how the club is building connections to the Madison community.

“We’re pleased to add a player who played his high school, club and college soccer right here in Madison,” Wilt said. “Carl serves an important role as an inspiration to local youth players aspiring to play professionally in their hometown.”  

Schneider is primarily a right back, but can play anywhere on the defensive line. He impressed Head Coach Daryl Shore at FMFC’s invitation tryout in November with his work rate and ability to contribute both offensively and defensively. For Schneider, this moment is the culmination of a long process.

“From club soccer tournaments to the college recruiting process to European soccer, I've always felt like an underdog,” Schneider said. “As the first Madisonian on the team, I feel like I beat the odds to some extent, and hopefully for kids growing up and playing in Madison, they can feel now that the odds aren't so stacked against them.”

Fans and media are invited to meet Schneider in person at the Madison Nomad World Pub at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday night.

Carl’s signing will be confirmed pending league and federation approval. Follow Carl on Twitter at @c7schneider and Instagram at @flatbuckycarl. Get tickets to see Carl in Forward Madison FC's inaugural season at https://sportsengine-staging.go-vip.net/forwardmadisonfc/tickets.

Forward Madison FC has signed 26-year-old fullback Carl Schneider, who becomes the club’s first-ever born-and-raised Madison native player. Schneider, who played club soccer in Madison growing up, represented the Madison 56ers, La Follette High School and UW-Madison before most recently moving to Sweden with IFK Åmål.

Forward Madison announced Schneider’s signing Tuesday at a convocation at La Follette High School, where he was named  Madison boys’ soccer Athlete of the Year in 2010 by the Wisconsin State Journal. Schneider said it was a dream-come-true to sign for his hometown team.

“Signing for Forward Madison feels almost surreal,” Schneider said. “I’ve been in the Madison soccer community for so long and always aspired to play professionally. I never thought my first pro contract would come in that same Madison community where I learned the game.”

According to Forward Madison Managing Director Peter Wilt, Schneider’s signing shows how the club is building connections to the Madison community.

“We’re pleased to add a player who played his high school, club and college soccer right here in Madison,” Wilt said. “Carl serves an important role as an inspiration to local youth players aspiring to play professionally in their hometown.”  

Schneider is primarily a right back, but can play anywhere on the defensive line. He impressed Head Coach Daryl Shore at FMFC’s invitation tryout in November with his work rate and ability to contribute both offensively and defensively. For Schneider, this moment is the culmination of a long process.

“From club soccer tournaments to the college recruiting process to European soccer, I’ve always felt like an underdog,” Schneider said. “As the first Madisonian on the team, I feel like I beat the odds to some extent, and hopefully for kids growing up and playing in Madison, they can feel now that the odds aren’t so stacked against them.”

Fans and media are invited to meet Schneider in person at the Madison Nomad World Pub at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday night.

Carl’s signing will be confirmed pending league and federation approval. Follow Carl on Twitter at @c7schneider and Instagram at @flatbuckycarl. Get tickets to see Carl in Forward Madison FC’s inaugural season at https://sportsengine-staging.go-vip.net/forwardmadisonfc/tickets.

When Connor Tobin signed for Minnesota Stars FC in 2012, he wasn’t doing it for the money. Back then, Tobin didn’t even know if the team would be around for much longer. It would still be another year before businessman Bill McGuire purchased the team, rebranding it as Minnesota United and sending it on a trajectory to Major League Soccer. Back then, Tobin just wanted to play soccer.

“It wasn’t the best of situations financially for players, but what was special about that group is that we didn’t really let that stand in our way,” Tobin said. “It was like, ‘Oh well, let’s go play, we love playing.’ I think at one point we had five guys living in a two-bedroom apartment. For a little while I had a mattress right behind the couch that I put a sheet up over.”

Tobin was still fairly new to the professional game at that point, playing in just his third pro season. Minnesota had offered him a contract the year before, but he’d turned it down in favor of playing in Rochester (where one of his teammates was current FMFC forward J.C. Banks).

When he arrived in the Twin Cities, though, Tobin recognized quickly that something about the soccer scene there was unique from where he’d been before. The Dark Clouds, a supporters’ group originally formed in 2004 to cheer on the Minnesota Thunder (hence the name), provided an atmosphere that Tobin felt came from the grassroots.

“I have really special memories of Minnesota, and a lot of them stem from that 2012 season,” Tobin said. With the Dark Clouds, we might have been getting two-or-three-thousand fans per game, but you could feel that it was special. It was unique, it was different, it was funky and I think it was something we as players really fed off. It felt organic.”

When Connor Tobin signed for Minnesota Stars FC in 2012, he wasn’t doing it for the money. Back then, Tobin didn’t even know if the team would be around for much longer. It would still be another year before businessman Bill McGuire purchased the team, rebranding it as Minnesota United and sending it on a trajectory to Major League Soccer. Back then, Tobin just wanted to play soccer.

“It wasn’t the best of situations financially for players, but what was special about that group is that we didn’t really let that stand in our way,” Tobin said. “It was like, ‘Oh well, let’s go play, we love playing.’ I think at one point we had five guys living in a two-bedroom apartment. For a little while I had a mattress right behind the couch that I put a sheet up over.”

Tobin was still fairly new to the professional game at that point, playing in just his third pro season. Minnesota had offered him a contract the year before, but he’d turned it down in favor of playing in Rochester (where one of his teammates was current FMFC forward J.C. Banks).

When he arrived in the Twin Cities, though, Tobin recognized quickly that something about the soccer scene there was unique from where he’d been before. The Dark Clouds, a supporters’ group originally formed in 2004 to cheer on the Minnesota Thunder (hence the name), provided an atmosphere that Tobin felt came from the grassroots.

“I have really special memories of Minnesota, and a lot of them stem from that 2012 season,” Tobin said. With the Dark Clouds, we might have been getting two-or-three-thousand fans per game, but you could feel that it was special. It was unique, it was different, it was funky and I think it was something we as players really fed off. It felt organic.”

Tobin became a starter for the team, featuring in all five of Minnesota’s playoff games in 2012, but still thought the Stars would fold after losing the North American Soccer League (NASL) championship game on penalty kicks. It was only after the match, when Tobin had sunken into the locker room with his teammates, that NASL commissioner Bill Peterson told them McGuire had saved the club.

Looking back on it, Tobin said that he saw the roots of a Minnesota United team whose supporter culture is now thriving, with an average attendance of nearly 24,000 fans per game last year.

“With Bill [McGuire] coming in and injecting some resources, I think that gave the platform for that organic and fan-driven culture they have there to really explode,” he said. “I felt privileged to have been a part of it in some respect and hopefully played some role in helping the fans direct where that club’s going.”

After spending another season in Minnesota, Tobin moved to the Carolina RailHawks (now North Carolina FC), where he built connections with the community and even started his own charity event with the Oak City Supporters group. When he heard about Forward Madison’s project, though, it piqued Tobin’s interest. In particular, he saw a resemblance to that unique culture he’d felt back in Minnesota.

Forward Madison’s fan connection, for Tobin, was obvious from the start. The club’s name, colors and crest were all developed through fan input. Its supporters’ groups, including The Flock and La Barra 608, have taken inspiration from groups such as the Dark Clouds, and are starting to gather together fans of all shapes and sizes across the city. The team is led by Managing Director Peter Wilt, who Tobin said has a reputation in soccer circles for being especially fan-friendly.

“To be honest with you, that was probably the most appealing thing about Madison,” Tobin said. “From my perspective, football without fans is nothing. You can see the enjoyment and the sense of community [soccer] can provide, and I wanted to be a part of something that had that organic feeling again.

“There have been a lot of clubs that have formed in the last five, 10 years since I’ve been playing, but some of those clubs have struggled to create that organic feeling. My feeling, how I interacted with Peter [Wilt], the players, the coaching staff — with Madison there is real potential to do this in a way that aligns with how I see football clubs.”

Tobin himself has gotten used to making friends with supporters wherever he’s gone. Minnesota United fans called him "a hero" when he returned to play against them in 2014. North Carolina FC labeled him a “fan favorite” when the team re-signed him in 2018.

Now in Madison, Tobin will have the opportunity to make a new impact, and to build something that, akin to the project in Minnesota, he will be able to look back on with fond memories of being there when it was all starting.

“I hope to play my part in creating something that’s fan-centric, that’s really unique, that’s different, that connects an entire community,” Tobin said. “Something that can have that funkiness when I was there in Minnesota in 2012 that felt so special.”

Tobin became a starter for the team, featuring in all five of Minnesota’s playoff games in 2012, but still thought the Stars would fold after losing the North American Soccer League (NASL) championship game on penalty kicks. It was only after the match, when Tobin had sunken into the locker room with his teammates, that NASL commissioner Bill Peterson told them McGuire had saved the club.

Looking back on it, Tobin said that he saw the roots of a Minnesota United team whose supporter culture is now thriving, with an average attendance of nearly 24,000 fans per game last year.

“With Bill [McGuire] coming in and injecting some resources, I think that gave the platform for that organic and fan-driven culture they have there to really explode,” he said. “I felt privileged to have been a part of it in some respect and hopefully played some role in helping the fans direct where that club’s going.”

After spending another season in Minnesota, Tobin moved to the Carolina RailHawks (now North Carolina FC), where he built connections with the community and even started his own charity event with the Oak City Supporters group. When he heard about Forward Madison’s project, though, it piqued Tobin’s interest. In particular, he saw a resemblance to that unique culture he’d felt back in Minnesota.

Forward Madison’s fan connection, for Tobin, was obvious from the start. The club’s name, colors and crest were all developed through fan input. Its supporters’ groups, including The Flock and La Barra 608, have taken inspiration from groups such as the Dark Clouds, and are starting to gather together fans of all shapes and sizes across the city. The team is led by Managing Director Peter Wilt, who Tobin said has a reputation in soccer circles for being especially fan-friendly.

“To be honest with you, that was probably the most appealing thing about Madison,” Tobin said. “From my perspective, football without fans is nothing. You can see the enjoyment and the sense of community [soccer] can provide, and I wanted to be a part of something that had that organic feeling again.

“There have been a lot of clubs that have formed in the last five, 10 years since I’ve been playing, but some of those clubs have struggled to create that organic feeling. My feeling, how I interacted with Peter [Wilt], the players, the coaching staff — with Madison there is real potential to do this in a way that aligns with how I see football clubs.”

Tobin himself has gotten used to making friends with supporters wherever he’s gone. Minnesota United fans called him “a hero” when he returned to play against them in 2014. North Carolina FC labeled him a “fan favorite” when the team re-signed him in 2018.

Now in Madison, Tobin will have the opportunity to make a new impact, and to build something that, akin to the project in Minnesota, he will be able to look back on with fond memories of being there when it was all starting.

“I hope to play my part in creating something that’s fan-centric, that’s really unique, that’s different, that connects an entire community,” Tobin said. “Something that can have that funkiness when I was there in Minnesota in 2012 that felt so special.”

MADISON, WI — Forward Madison FC has signed 31-year-old center back Connor Tobin, who becomes the club’s first-ever defender. Tobin, who made the Best XI of the North American Soccer League in 2017, is a seasoned veteran of the American lower divisions, having developed a reputation as a fan-favorite at Minnesota United and North Carolina FC.

Head Coach Daryl Shore said Tobin will play a key role in leading Madison’s back line.

“Connor is a player who has a vast amount of experience in the USL and we are ecstatic that he is joining our team,” Shore said. “Connor is a major addition to our roster, which we expect to compete for the League One championship this year.”

According to Tobin, the fan-friendly, start-up atmosphere at Forward Madison reminds him of the early days of Minnesota United before it gained expansion to Major League Soccer. Forward Madison currently has an affiliation agreement with Minnesota.

“I was attracted to Madison because I wanted to be a part of something that had that organic feeling again,” Tobin said. “I think the club’s already laid a great foundation, and I hope to play my part in creating something that’s fan-centric, that’s really unique, that’s different, that connects an entire community.”

For Tobin, who has been playing soccer professionally since 2009, signing for Forward Madison also represents his chance to win a championship, which has eluded him for his entire career thus far.

“I’m getting on the later side of my career now, and I’ve started to realize I won’t have many more of these chances,” Tobin said. “My expectation is to win a championship. For me, that’s the only thing that matters.”

Connor’s signing will be confirmed pending league and federation approval. Follow Connor on  Twitter and Instagram at @TurboTobin13. Get tickets to see Connor in Forward Madison FC's inaugural season at https://sportsengine-staging.go-vip.net/forwardmadisonfc/tickets.

MADISON, WI — Forward Madison FC has signed 31-year-old center back Connor Tobin, who becomes the club’s first-ever defender. Tobin, who made the Best XI of the North American Soccer League in 2017, is a seasoned veteran of the American lower divisions, having developed a reputation as a fan-favorite at Minnesota United and North Carolina FC.

Head Coach Daryl Shore said Tobin will play a key role in leading Madison’s back line.

“Connor is a player who has a vast amount of experience in the USL and we are ecstatic that he is joining our team,” Shore said. “Connor is a major addition to our roster, which we expect to compete for the League One championship this year.”

According to Tobin, the fan-friendly, start-up atmosphere at Forward Madison reminds him of the early days of Minnesota United before it gained expansion to Major League Soccer. Forward Madison currently has an affiliation agreement with Minnesota.

“I was attracted to Madison because I wanted to be a part of something that had that organic feeling again,” Tobin said. “I think the club’s already laid a great foundation, and I hope to play my part in creating something that’s fan-centric, that’s really unique, that’s different, that connects an entire community.”

For Tobin, who has been playing soccer professionally since 2009, signing for Forward Madison also represents his chance to win a championship, which has eluded him for his entire career thus far.

“I’m getting on the later side of my career now, and I’ve started to realize I won’t have many more of these chances,” Tobin said. “My expectation is to win a championship. For me, that’s the only thing that matters.”

Connor’s signing will be confirmed pending league and federation approval. Follow Connor on  Twitter and Instagram at @TurboTobin13. Get tickets to see Connor in Forward Madison FC’s inaugural season at https://sportsengine-staging.go-vip.net/forwardmadisonfc/tickets.

The world's game, Madison's team. Forward Madison FC is inviting its fans to meet-and-greet the team's first player born and raised in Madison on Tuesday, Feb. 5 at 6:30 p.m. at Nomad World Pub Madison. Nomad is located at 418 E. Wilson St.

RSVP to the meet-and-greet on Facebook!

The event gives Forward Madison fans the opportunity to meet a player who not only went to high school in Madison, but also played for UW-Madison during his collegiate career. The identity of the player will be revealed earlier in the day during a convocation at his former high school.

The new player will be available to talk to fans, sign autographs and take photos. The club will also have merchandise available for sale. This event was originally scheduled for Jan. 30, but moved due to weather concerns.

Forward Madison FC's inaugural 2019 season is kicking off this spring! Get your tickets now at https://sportsengine-staging.go-vip.net/forwardmadisonfc/tickets.

The world’s game, Madison’s team. Forward Madison FC is inviting its fans to meet-and-greet the team’s first player born and raised in Madison on Tuesday, Feb. 5 at 6:30 p.m. at Nomad World Pub Madison. Nomad is located at 418 E. Wilson St.

RSVP to the meet-and-greet on Facebook!

The event gives Forward Madison fans the opportunity to meet a player who not only went to high school in Madison, but also played for UW-Madison during his collegiate career. The identity of the player will be revealed earlier in the day during a convocation at his former high school.

The new player will be available to talk to fans, sign autographs and take photos. The club will also have merchandise available for sale. This event was originally scheduled for Jan. 30, but moved due to weather concerns.

Forward Madison FC’s inaugural 2019 season is kicking off this spring! Get your tickets now at https://sportsengine-staging.go-vip.net/forwardmadisonfc/tickets.