Heartbeat Of The Team

David Palma, Charlotte, USA

Charlotte FC supporters have proudly showed up for their team both at home and on the road since the team played its first match in 2022. We share the stories of two fans who traveled to Mercedes-Benz Stadium, with the support of Ally, to rally around Charlotte FC as they took on rivals Atlanta United. David Palma, Vice President of the Carolina Hooliganz and current Capo, has been plugged into the supporter scene since day one. 

My name is David Palma and I am 26 years old, born in Mexico and raised in North Carolina. I live in Bessemer City, a small suburban city 25 miles west of Charlotte, and work as an Assistant Store Manager for a company called Leonard Truck Accessories. 

My brother, Bryan, and I also have our own media brand called CLTFC YETI CLAN and we create match day vlogs that we upload to YouTube. We also keep fans updated on Charlotte FC news through our Instagram page. 

I am currently serving as the Vice President for the Carolina Hooliganz, which is an official supporter group for Charlotte FC. A lot of my time is spent editing photos and videos that I capture on game days. I also host a podcast called Hoolitalk that records every Tuesday. Almost everything I do involves soccer somehow.

Futbol has always been something I have been very passionate about. I would have to thank my dad for instilling in me the love and passion I have for the beautiful game. As a young kid, I remember my dad watching his favorite team, Club América, and seeing how passionate he was for his team made me fall in love with the sport. 

That passion for the game continued to grow as I did. I played club soccer growing up and was fortunate enough to travel and play soccer around the United States. My career was cut short unfortunately because I broke my leg twice on separate occasions, but that did not stop my love for the game. 

Soccer has brought me some of the best memories in life and I have also met some great people along the way - some of which I now consider family. I love how soccer can bring people together. 

Something Special

My journey with Charlotte FC started on March 5th, 2022 at our inaugural home match at the stadium. When I saw that there were over 75,000 people in attendance, it gave me cold chills and I knew immediately that this was something special. 

I fell in love with the atmosphere, the chants, the crowd and everything Charlotte FC had to offer. My brother and I share a love and passion for this team and we always go to the games together. We have been to every home game and do not plan on missing any games either!

Every year we try to go to at least two away games. We have been fortunate enough to travel to America First Field, Red Bull Arena, Audi Field, Geodis Park, and the Mercedes Benz Stadium. 

One of my favorite moments with this club would have to be when Inter Miami came to Charlotte for the final game of our second season. With 63,000 in attendance and the greatest player of all time, Lionel Messi, on the field, I was fortunate enough to be Capo and lead the chants in front of all those people. Most importantly, we got the win!

Yeti Clan

One of my pregame rituals for Charlotte FC matches is always getting a fresh haircut for every game! Shout out to my barber Brian Blendz, blessed by the best! 

My brother and I always take a big cutout of Bigfoot with us and we have a bunch of Charlotte FC stickers and supporter group stickers on it. Before we started CLTFC YETI CLAN, me and my brother played in competitive video game tournaments. We chose YETI CLAN as our team name and used Bigfoot as our logo. 

Fast forward to March 5th, 2022. Our parents were not able to make it to the home opener for Charlotte FC, but they were going to be watching it on TV. They wanted us to take something to the game that would stand out so that they could see us on TV. We were thinking of what we could take, but we felt everything would just blend in with the mass of people showing off their scarves or flags. 

My dad then remembered the Bigfoot cutout I had hanging in my room. It was the perfect thing to make us stick out in the crowd. We slapped a few Charlotte FC stickers on it and wrapped a scarf around it - it was perfect. 

People loved seeing the YETI so we kept taking it to the games. They also love holding it and taking photos with it. Now it has a collection of stickers on it from multiple supporter groups as well as local Charlotte businesses. We wanted our Bigfoot to have more meaning, so we tell people that it is a symbol to believe. Some people do not believe in Bigfoot, and they do not have to, but we use it to show that we believe in our team. 

Finally, I always have to have my crown on at the games. That is something I started doing this year and it has brought us good luck. I like showing people that King David is here! 

The Royal Family 

Charlotte FC supporters as a whole are called the ‘Royal Family’, and that is what they have become to me - family. We call the stadium ‘The Fortress’ because we try to make it a difficult place for our opponent to come and play. 

We show up to The Fortress for one reason and that is ‘For The Crown’. We may be part of different supporter groups, but once we are in The Fortress, we are the Royal Family. 

What makes our supporters so special is that we have a huge variety of people from many different places around the world and we all come together on game days. We bring a piece of our soccer culture into Charlotte and it brings a different experience on game days. It makes you want to come back for more.

Thrill Of The Unknown

An away match is a thrill of the unknown, the anticipation of new stadiums, different cultures, and the camaraderie of the traveling Charlotte FC fans. Away matches offer a chance to explore new cities I have never been to, connect with fellow Charlotte FC supporters and experience the unique atmosphere of rival stadiums. It is an adventure that adds an extra dimension to my passion for the game.

Ally Through Thick And Thin

Club partners play a crucial role in enhancing the experiences of fans. Their support not only contributes to the financial stability of the club but also enables them to provide better facilities, services, and engagement opportunities for fans. 

When club partners, like Ally, stick with the team through thick and thin, it demonstrates a commitment to the community and helps foster a sense of loyalty among supporters.

Ally has done a good job of that inside our stadium with the stations set up where you can take photos or the stations where you can win some Charlotte FC gear. On away trips, they have given out some cool stuff as well.

Fans First

My photos were taken in the supporter tailgate lot we had set up in Atlanta. My main focus was to capture the essence and atmosphere we bring to away matches. 

Showcasing the excitement of our fans, the intensity of the game, and the unique environment of the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. I tried to capture the adventure around supporting a team on the road.

I consider almost everyone in the photos family as this team has brought us together and we are all there for the same reason - to cheer on our team to a victory.

Their unwavering support and love for this club make them an integral part of the soccer experience, and their presence adds depth and richness to the game.

They are the heartbeat of Charlotte FC, driving the energy and atmosphere into the stadium.