Memphis expands sports options, draws crowds

Memphis expands sports options, draws crowds

901 FC, Express getting support in early going from local fans

sports@theeveningtimes.com

Here in the Mid-South, we know all about the Grizzlies, the Tigers and the Redbirds, but there are a pair of new teams vying for regional sports fans’ attention this spring, and if the early going is any indication, they have been successful, with with both a new football and fútbol (you might know it better as “soccer”) making waves in the local sports scene.

In front of a sold-out crowd of 8,062 fans at AutoZone Park, the all-new Memphis 901 FC brought the passion for pro soccer back to the City of Memphis last Saturday night.

Despite a 1-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Rowdies, the atmosphere was electric from the moment gates opened Saturday evening in downtown Memphis.

From the first whistle, the sounds of drums and chants showered 901 FC players as they took the pitch for the very first time.

Tampa broke through first in the fourth minute after an early penalty call. Midfielder Sebastián Guenzatti converted from the spot to put the visitors up 1-0.

An aggressive Memphis attack kept creating chance after chance with midfielder Wes Charpie nearly converting a bicycle kick to equalize deep inside the box.

Near misses by forward Rashawn Dally and Elliot Collier kept Tampa on its toes for much of the first half as the visitors took a 1-0 lead into the locker rooms.

Memphis came back into the second half and resumed physical play on both sides of the pitch.

Goalkeeper Jeff Caldwell showed off his athleticism with save after save, but it wasn’t enough as Memphis fell in the end.

Despite the final score, 901 FC head coach Tim Mulqueen saw progress in his young squad.

“I think it’s unfortunate, the goal we concede three minutes in, but I’m very pleased with the effort,” Mulqueen said. “If we compete and play like this, most nights we are going to walk out with three points.”

Team captain Marc Burch was struck by the atmosphere in the first match.

“It was great,” Burch said. “Really, you just look around and everybody was involved before the game.

“Just hearing people cheer and at the end still standing and cheering us on. We’re looking forward to coming back and getting a win and some goals scored for them next week.”

David Copeland, a West Memphis resident and ardent sports enthusiast made the short trip across the river to catch the game.

“It was live, packed house and I was really impressed,” said Copeland.

“It was a good atmosphere, that’s for sure.”

The 901 boys will be back at AutoZone Park this Saturday, when the club welcomes Loudoun United FC to town. Kickoff for that match is slated for 7 p.m.

Across town at the LIberty Bowl, the Memphis Tigers are in off-season mode, but you can still hear referee’s whistles and the sounds of the fans in the stands on weekends this spring.

The Memphis Express are halfway through their inagural season in the Alliance of American Football.

The Express haven’t exactly been on a roll, going one 1-4 to open the season, but with the exception of a shut-out loss to open the season on the road in Birmingham, the games have all been close.

And the fans seem to be on board. Memphis has drawn around 12,000 fans to its home games, and while those numbers are far less than some AAF teams are seeing, bad weather can certainly shoulder some of the blame.

Last Saturday, the Scorpions’ “Rock You Like a Hurricane” blared from a speaker, the Coors Light flowed from cans to mouths and a group of two dozen frat boys declared themselves the “Express Mafia” to anyone who passed by.

That was the scene outside Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium about two hours before the city’s newest attempt to support a pro football franchise began.

“We could lose all 10 games and I’ll be back next year,” said Memphis native and Ole Miss student Duncan Fletcher. “We got pro football in Memphis.

How long have we waited for this?”

The Express blew a 2018 lead late in the game, taking a loss to the Arizona Hotshots. But still, the crowd was enthusiastic and there appears to be a market for the AAF. Still, it would be nice to win.

“Hopefully, we showed something tonight that’s worth coming to watch,” Express coach Mike Singletary said after the game.

“It’s great,” Kim Jasper said who braved the cold to catch the game. “Memphis is a big sports town and all we need is an event to have a party.”

By the Times Sports Staff