Two questions arose right after a sellout crowd of 4,618 watched FC Naples and the Chattanooga Red Wolves play to a 1-1 draw in our area’s first-ever pro soccer match on March 8 at Paradise Coast Sports Complex: How would the brand-new team perform in future matches, and would fans continue to support the squad? The answers to both have been highly positive.  

 FC Naples became the second club in USL League One history to begin its inaugural season with eight matches unbeaten across all competitions, and is currently in strong contention to make the league playoffs. After 14 home matches through Aug. 9, attendance has averaged about 4,000 — even with rain before and during several of them, and two taking place during holiday weekends.  

 The solid performance by the team has been a major factor in building and maintaining this strong fan base and so quickly establishing a go-to area attraction. Another has been a personal touch between the team and the community that’s been applied in many ways, both at and outside the stadium. And perhaps the most dramatic example takes place right after the final whistle of each home match. 

 After 90-plus minutes of rigorous play in dour humidity, FC Naples players, win, lose or draw, don’t rush off to rest — they meet with fans along the first row of the stadium stands.  

 Season ticket holders Glyn and Louise Goodman-Williams positioned their three children, Imogen, Luke and Madelyn, to have their FC Naples jerseys signed by Luka Prpa, Karsen Henderlong, Ian Cerro and others on Aug. 9.  

 “They love their soccer,” said Glyn, assistant coach of both the Azzurri Storm club boys’ and girls’ teams. “They all have their favorite players and talk about them a lot, especially on game days.” 

 “The soccer community comes together here,” Louise added. 

 “We love it. They have a blast,” said Marc Dickson, after he and his wife’s five children each had selfies taken with Julian Cisneros. That capped the third home match the family had attended. 

 Many fans have given their favorite players some star treatment, buying team jerseys with player names adorning the backs and wearing them both at games and around town. 

 Members of area organizations, special groups, employees of team sponsors and others have been allowed to get their kicks in on the field at halftime. Participants during the 15-minute breaks have ranged from the Barron Collier High School boys’ soccer team to local firefighters, police officers and paramedics during a First Responder Night. There also was a life-changing event as Andres Paz and Romy Andrea Rodriguez became engaged during halftime on April 26.  

 Fans celebrating their birthdays at home games have been receiving public address shoutouts accompanied by a generic graphic on the scoreboard, averaging several per game. Also, the approximately 15 groups that attend each home match are listed on the scoreboard.  

 Then there’s the constant drumbeat, flag-waving and cheering by Barra de Naples 239 members. Formed a year ago by local Argentine supporters, the group has grown organically and helped inspire the club’s first-year success. They march in before each home match and assemble behind the north goal, and have been embraced by the team and other fans. 

 Team members have been out in the community, as well. FC Naples and Publix Super Markets combined to conduct six two-day soccer camps for 300 children from the Marco Island YMCA and Grace Place for Children and Families in June at Paradise Coast Sports Complex and North Collier Regional Park. The youngsters received training from players, along with equipment and food. All camp participants also received two complimentary tickets to and halftime recognition at FC Naples’ home match on July 12. A back-to-school supply drive with fans donating items also took place during that game. 

 FC Naples CEO Roberto Moreno and several players visited Physicians Regional Medical Center Pine Ridge.  

 “It meant a lot to our patients and was also great engagement with our staff, to salute the great work that they do,” said Scott Lowe, Market CEO of Physicians Regional Healthcare System, title partner of the team. 

 Employees of team sponsors attend home matches as part of sponsorship packages and share their enjoyment of the experience with others.  

 “They are a hot commodity,” Lowe said of tickets provided for employees, so much so that due to interest outdoing their allotments, Physicians Regional worked with the team to obtain extra tickets for some of the home games thus far. “It’s been team-building for us, as well, outside of the work atmosphere; a great opportunity to provide such a benefit to our staff.”  

 The company has its name on the front of player game jerseys. Further, Physicians Regional is providing, in its most direct definition, the personal touch to the players themselves; supplementing team doctors, physical therapists representing Physicians Regional are on the sidelines of all home games and practices to help players.  

 It makes them feel “even more like they are part of the team,” Lowe said. 

 Matches update 

FC Naples’ next two home matches will be against league rivals Westchester SC on Saturday, Aug. 30, and Greenville Triumph on Saturday, Sept. 6, both at 7 p.m.