They have songs. They have scarves. And they have a name that says everything about their “caws” — Crow Collective.
And come Wednesday evening at B.C. Place, they’ll also have all the feels when Vancouver Rise FC — the team they’ve come together to support — hits the field for game one on day one of the historic Northern Super League launch.
“I’m just trying to stay hydrated because I’m probably going to cry later,” said Mel Bostrom, Crow Collective member. “We needed this so long ago, and to have it now is giving me goose bumps.”
“I’m just so excited to have a professional women’s team,” said Laura Yazedjian. “I mean, we all follow the Whitecaps, and that’s great. But to have a women’s team and a national league where all the girls who play soccer can see this… is amazing.”
Crow Collective was formed by a group of friends who follow women’s soccer and wanted to bring the supporters group ethos of community, fun, friendship and celebration to Rise F.C. games.
In a few short weeks, membership has swelled from 15 to 200, and counting, earning an endorsement from Rise management as the team’s official supporters group.
Bostrom said there are no barriers to joining.
“We are an inclusive group; we do not discount anyone who, if they’re a day one [fan] or if they’re like me, many decades into their supporter’s life,” she said. “Our community is so good — the camaraderie that comes about from being in a supporters group for a women’s team.”
The name Crow Collective was inspired by the nightly crow migration to Burnaby, including over Swangard Stadium, home field for the Rise, once opening night is done.
Keeping with the theme, corner kicks at Rise games have been christened “caw-ner” kicks, according to the group’s website.
Canadian soccer legend and co-owner of Vancouver Rise FC joins Andi Petrillo to discuss the NSL’s momentous kick-off. Check out the full interview on the web.
And unsurprisingly, Parachute Club’s 1980s hit Rise Up has been lyrically repurposed to include the line “soccer is for everyone.”
For opening night at B.C. Place, half the Crow Collective membership will be at Terry Fox Plaza for player arrivals, with the other half coming together for the traditional pregame march down Robson Street.
“We really are hoping that this is going to be absolutely a new era of professional sports in Vancouver and in women’s sports,” said Yazedjian. “We just want to get as many people out as we can, because obviously that makes the atmosphere great when you have so many people out supporting and cheering and chanting and singing.”
Kickoff between the Rise and Calgary Wild FC is 7:00 p.m. PT. The game is being streamed live on CBC Gem.
