A staple of every Minnesota United home game is a patchwork flag, hung from the main stands. Stitched together are the flags of England, Ethiopia, the United States, and Minnesota United FC. That patchwork is the Lilly family, the product of immigration, adoption, and a love of soccer. Minnesota United FC released a 22-minute feature on the Lillies as part of a new “From the North” series.
The Loons’ Director of Video Production, Brad Baker, explained the idea behind the project in a recent email: “There are soccer-related stories outside of just us in this community, whether it be fans, youth clubs, schools, etc., and I wanted to tell those stories, too.”
The feature video is an emotional one, telling the beautiful story of a family coming together that happens to also love soccer. Baker said he hopes “That people will see these little films and understand that soccer isn’t just about Saturdays at 7pm at NSC, but about a culture, a way of life, and something that brings people together.”
Baker came across their story from an open call put out via social media and Steve Lilly responded. Baker said, “I think the hook for me was when he described how he used soccer to instantly connect and bond with Efrem the day they met. Efrem didn’t know English, and soccer became the universal language by which they bonded. That’s so beautiful, and hit perfectly at the heart of why we want to tell these stories.”
The second video in the From the North series will debut in the coming months. Baker said, “It’s about the Faribault High School boy’s soccer team, and their incredible journey over the last few years. Our goal is to release it before the end of the school year, so all the Seniors on the team have a chance to enjoy watching it together.”
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