Minnesota United is blessed with a plethora of fantastic Supporters’ Groups. Leading up to the home opener on March 17th, we will try to profile each Supporter’s Group. If you have not heard from me, and want to have your group profiled, please direct message me on Twitter @kolson716. Today we will be covering Fists of The North Star.

How did your group get started?

ON THE WAY TO THE 2017 MLS HOME OPENER (AKA “THE SNOWPENER”), A MAN NAMED ALEC SUGGESTED TO HIS STRONG AND GOOD FRIEND BRENDEN THAT THEY START A SMALL MNUFC S.G. CALLED “FISTS OF THE NORTH STAR,” DERIVED FROM THE TITLE OF A JAPANESE ANIMATED SERIES AND FILM FROM THE 80s. BRENDEN WAS FAMILIAR WITH THE REFERENCE, BECAUSE WHEN ALEC FIRST MOVED TO MINNEAPOLIS IN 2009, THE TWO FRIENDS HAD, ON AT LEAST ONE OCCASION, CONSUMED EXTREMELY LARGE BEERS WHILE WATCHING THE 1986 “FIST OF THE NORTH STAR” FILM.

What is the story behind your name?

SEE ABOVE. PEOPLE ASSUME WE’RE ANIME SUPER FANS, BUT WE REALLY JUST THOUGHT THE NAME OF THE SERIES/FILM WAS THEMATICALLY PERFECT FOR MNUFC. THE HISTORY OF THE FILM IN OUR FRIENDSHIP MADE IT THAT MUCH MORE FITTING.

How would you describe your group?

WE ARE STRONG AND NICE PEOPLE WHO LOVE SOCCER AND WANT TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE GROWING MNUFC SUPPORTER CULTURE IN OUR OWN POSITIVE WAY. THERE ARE ALSO A FEW DESIGNERS IN OUR GROUP SO IT HAS BECOME SOMETHING OF A DESIGN COLLECTIVE, GIVING US A GOOD EXCUSE TO CREATE OUR OWN MNUFC EPHEMERA.

WE BELIEVE STRONGLY IN THE POWER OF WAVING FLAGS. WE DO SO TO INSPIRE THE TEAM ON THE PITCH, AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO, EVEN IF DAD CAN’T SEE THE MATCH AND CHOOSES TO VERBALLY ABUSE US.

ALTHOUGH WE AREN’T OVERTLY POLITICAL, OUR MEMBERS TEND TO ALIGN POLITICALLY WITH RED LOONS. FOTNS DESPISE RACISM, HOMOPHOBIA, XENOPHOBIA AND SEXISM, AND NOTHING OF THE SORT WILL EVER BE TOLERATED IN OUR GROUP.

Where do you watch away games?

WE OFTEN WATCH AT NEW BOHEMIA LAKE STREET, BUT OUR SMALL NUMBER OF MEMBERS AREN’T ALL BASED IN SOUTH MPLS, SO WE CAN BE FOUND AT OTHER WATCH PARTIES THROUGHOUT THE CITIES.

What are your pre/post game activities?

WE BIKE TO MOST MATCHES WITH OUR FLAGS AND POLES IN TOW AND CAN BE FOUND PRE-GAMING AT THE NOMAD, TOWN HALL, BAR LUCHADOR, ETC. DEPENDING ON THE DAY.

How does someone join?

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