Welcome to The Locals SG
Thank you for your interest in joining The Locals SG - an independent, not-for-profit, dues-paying, member-run organization.
All Are Welcome
WHO is a Local? ANYONE can be a Local - any age, any background, any preference, any history . . . anyone. As we like to say, if you are here with us, YOU are a Local.
While anyone CAN be a Local, some people have found that The Locals is not the right Supporter Group for them.
Before committing to a membership, read up a little on who we are and what we believe in to make sure The Locals are a good fit for YOU.
Am I a Local?
Watch this video. It was created in 2019 by Steve Brockhoff, the member who gave us our name, and the first President of The Locals SG. The team may have changed but the ethos remains the same.
People, Community, Soccer
These are the three main pillars of our soccer supporter group (SG). Yes, our passion for the beautiful game is what brings us all together. But it is the PEOPLE and our COMMUNITY that always come first. When you are surrounded by quality people in a loving, supportive community we can find enjoyment in social events, our philanthropic endeavors, as well as our game day experiences - regardless of the results on the pitch.
Put People First:
In everything we do, we believe that people come first.
Historically, sporting culture in the United States tends to tolerate, excuse, and sometimes celebrate toxic behavior by fans - especially toxic behavior directed towards opposing players, officials, and opposing fan groups.
We actively stand against this concept and work toward changing the culture from within.
Participating in sport as a supporter does not give anyone the right to harass, intimidate, and abuse other human beings. We don’t accept that behavior in other areas of life, we shouldn’t tolerate it in the sport we love. Instead, we generally encourage positive, supportive interactions with all individuals at all times. If you can’t do that, stay quiet. If you can’t do that, it’s probably best to stop reading now. You’re likely not a good fit for this group.
Putting people first means we also have to be willing to take a stand when we see others failing to uphold this principle. In the past, others who didn’t approve of our stances have called us political, leftist, anti-facist, and a whole host of other labels. We don’t care how others choose to identify us. We call it respecting human rights. It is the very core of our community.
Building and Strengthening Our Community:
Our immediate community is our soccer supporter group. For most of us, we think of The Locals SG as a large extended, soccer family. For some of our members, their entire family network is part of our SG. Every SG function is a family event. For others, the SG has become their second family - giving them a place to feel welcome and supported.
Our SG is also part of the tapestry of several larger communities: our local soccer community, our local San Diego civic community, our wider network of SG’s across the US and the world, and our overarching US Soccer Community. We believe it is our duty to create a lasting and positive impact wherever we can.
On match days, our rivals are only our rivals for the 90+ minutes of the match. Friendly banter CAN be a fun and lively part of sporting events. Friendly banter, though, happens between friends. Therefore, while we may be competitors with opposing fan groups during the 90 minutes of the match, we strive to be allies off the pitch. Outside of the match, we are all part of the same SG community - working together toward being a positive force in growing the game and strengthening our local communities.
Dedicating ourselves to constant community improvement means that, at times, we have to be willing to take a stand - especially, when gatekeepers of the game in our country, or our city, fail to properly prioritize the communities they are supposed to represent.
Enjoy the Beautiful Game Your Own Way:
We are all here because we love soccer. We come from all backgrounds, all walks of life, and all corners of the globe. And each member celebrates their love of the game in their own special way.
Some just like to like to attend our events and social gatherings. Some like to participate in the discourse on our Discord server. Some like to volunteer to help out with our day-to-day operations or our philanthropic efforts. Some like to create content for the rest of the group to enjoy. Some like to just watch games from the comfort of their own home. And others like the in-game experience of attending a live soccer match - whether it’s sitting comfortably in the seats with friends and family or standing and singing shoulder-to-shoulder with your fellow brothers and sisters in the designated supporter section.
For those that DO want the visceral experience of standing and singing in the designated supporter section for matches, you have come to the right place. Match tickets for the designated supporter section are generally reserved exclusively for members of official supporter groups.
We here at The Locals SG are an army of LOUD and PROUD San Diego soccer supporters. We are always looking for passionate soccer supporters to join our ranks. We stand, drum, chant, and sing, non-stop, for 90+ minutes every match, without fail.
We believe our role is to SUPPORT our team: celebrate the good times, lift the players up during the down times, and keep the party going at all times.
So, Do The Locals Seem Like a Good Fit For You?
If so, we’re excited to have you become the newest member of The Locals SG.
Our love of the game is what brings us together. The work we put in to strengthen and build this community is what keeps us together.
