From Team Bus Driver to Record Goalscorer

One day, he was just a volunteer bus driver. The next, he was on the field setting goalscoring records. This week, we look back at the incredible story of Tony Suarez, Charlotte's improbable soccer star in the ‘80s. Plus, we unveil our next Soccer Bus tour destination, unpack some miracles in Vermont, take a look at the largest painted tifo in MLS history, and much more.

This week’s stories:

• 🚌 The Soccer Bus at The Stacks in DC

• 🎞️ Got 1994 Footage?

• 📈 From Team Bus Driver to Record Goalscorer

• 🙌 Green Mountain Miracles

• 🗳️ Poll + Last Week’s Answers

• ➡️ And More

CLUBELEVEN
The Soccer Bus at The Stacks in DC

We’re making our way to the nation’s capital this Saturday, July 26th, for a special matchday block party ahead of DC United’s clash with Austin FC!

Join us for this exciting pre-game hangout, hosted by The Stacks, featuring our traveling shrine to American soccer, local bites, cold drinks, a live DJ set, interactive games, prizes, and more.

Step inside our renovated school bus to explore decades of soccer memorabilia from across the country, drop a pin on our fan map, snap a photo at one of our curated backdrops on the bus, and celebrate American soccer in all its splendor at this electric block party just steps from Audi Field. Plus, one lucky visitor will win a DC United kit!

RSVP (free!) and view more details here. 

OUR HISTORY
Got 1994 Footage?

If you do, this amazing vintage Jeff Hamilton World Cup 1994 jacket could soon be in your hands!

From the “Miracle in Pasadena” when the USMNT stunned Colombia at the Rose Bowl, to Ireland’s famous victory over Italy at the Meadowlands, to the first-ever indoor World Cup game at the Pontiac Silverdome, to Baggio missing that penalty in the final, USA 94 gave us countless indelible moments that we need your help in uncovering and preserving.

To honor that history, we’re teaming up with Short Corner Media on a project to relive the year that changed American Soccer — through the eyes of the fans.

We’re looking for videos, photos, or any other media you may have captured around that World Cup. If you’ve got an old roll of film, some scattered photos, VHS, DVD, or Hi-8 tapes related to USA 94 that have been collecting dust, we’d love to see them and bring them to the light of day. We’ll digitize select submissions and share these amazing stories with the community!

And as a special thank you for your help, we are giving away this amazing vintage Jeff Hamilton World Cup 1994 jacket to one lucky participant.

Just tell us your story here, and you’ll be entered.

COVER STORY
From Team Bus Driver to Record Goalscorer

In 1981, a volunteer bus driver became Charlotte’s first soccer superstar and led the Carolina Lightnin’ to an unforgettable ASL title.

How many times have we all had that dream? Suiting up for our local club and somehow becoming an overnight soccer sensation. Tony Suarez lived that dream.

After moving to North Carolina as a teen, he played at Appalachian State in college, and at 25 years old, he was looking for one last chance to make it at the pro level. So, he tried out for the Carolina Lightnin’, the region’s first professional soccer team and the top outfit in town playing in the ASL.

Unfortunately, Tony didn’t make the cut. But he didn’t give up. He volunteered to become the team’s bus driver and asked the coach if he could also be part of the training squad—anything to be near the team and one step closer to his dream.

The coach agreed, and after a plague of injuries on the first team, Tony got pulled up to fill in. They put Tony up front, and he was dynamite—scoring nine goals in his first twelve matches and quickly becoming a fan favorite. Fans would flock to the stadium just to watch him play, and he was instrumental in helping the city fall in love with the team. He finished the season with 15 goals in 22 games, setting the all-time Lightnin' single-season scoring record.

Most notably, he led the Carolina Lightnin’ to an ASL Championship, helping his local team defeat New York United 2-1 in the final in front of 20,000 fans at American Legion Memorial Stadium in Charlotte.

In just a few months, Tony had gone from being the team bus driver to becoming THE face of soccer in Charlotte.

Tragically, two knee injuries derailed his career, and the years after his retirement from soccer were turbulent. Tony struggled with depression, drug addiction, and spent two years in prison. Following his release, Tony worked in the Charlotte Observer mail room until 2006. In 2007, Tony died by suicide from carbon monoxide poisoning. In his suicide note, he wrote that he was tired of disappointing people, a heartbreaking reflection from a man who inspired a generation of soccer fans in the ‘80s.

Decades later, with the Carolina Lightnin’ recently taking center stage thanks to Charlotte FC’s archival kits, many in the local community have taken the time to remember what this ASL team and Tony meant to the city. Without him—Charlotte’s first true soccer superstar—the sport in the Carolinas would not be what it is today.

*In 2022, Tony’s sister, Anna, launched a charity focusing on suicide prevention and mental health. You can support here.

GRASSROOTS
Green Mountain Miracles

After last week, I’m convinced that Virtue Field in Vermont is one of the most magical soccer venues in the country.

Eleven days ago, Vermont Green won their first-ever USL2 Division title in dramatic fashion after scoring two improbable goals in injury time.

Now, in the playoffs, they mounted two incredible comebacks at home on Friday and Sunday. The most recent comeback saw them score three goals in eight minutes to revert a 0-2 deficit against FC Motown STA, sending them to the Eastern Conference Final.

Vermont Green will be hosting that one too, so if you’re in New England, you should definitely consider making the drive! It’s one of those soccer destinations you have to experience at least once in your life, and there’s really no better time than now.

CLUBELEVEN
The Supporters Section

Let us know which one is your first and share a cool memory from it! We’ll highlight your best answers next week.

CLUBELEVEN
Aggregates

Icon: Amazing to see this legend of the game get honored at the ESPYs. Incredibly well-deserved!

Yes, It’s Been That Long: Can’t believe this club just celebrated half a decade of life. It feels like they were announced just yesterday.

USL W League Champs: Utah United lifted the title over the weekend after a lopsided win in the championship game.

Brutal Forfeit: Imagine fielding an ineligible player after forgetting to put him on the gameday roster the night before. Nightmare scenario over at the Spokane Velocity.

Gio on the Move: Reyna appears destined for a transfer to Italy this week. Stay tuned.

LITERATURE
Soccer Mystery Chronicles

Last summer, I had the chance to meet Tomek Krzyzostaniak, an educator, coach, and youth advocate with a passion for storytelling, at a soccer trivia night at Legends Bar in New York City.

Over a quick drink, he told me about Soccer Bedtime Stories, his podcast where he takes listeners on enchanting storytelling journeys that blend the magic of soccer with the wonder of bedtime tales. You have to give it a listen, it’s incredible.

Now, Tomek is releasing his latest project, a middle-grade novel titled Soccer Mystery Chronicles - The Haunting of St. Mary's Stadium.

The novel follows two sisters who have relocated to Southampton, England, with their family, and are excited to support their new hometown team. However, they discover mysterious forces at work when Southampton fail to win any of their opening home games in the new St. Mary's stadium. All loosely inspired by Southampton's actual losing streak in their new stadium and the Wiccan priestess they hired to expel 'evil' spirits. Imagine Goosebumps with a soccer theme.

The paperback edition will be available on August 10th, but you can pre-order the e-book now right here.

I might just have to grab a copy for my youngest brother!

ART
The Largest Painted Tifo in MLS History

What a way to celebrate 50 years of history.

Props to everyone at the Timbers Army for creating this incredible piece of art to mark such an important occasion.

You just have to see it to believe it.

CLUBELEVEN
Your Takes 🗯️ 

Last week, we asked you: What did you think of the Club World Cup? Here are some of your answers:

• “Meh. The concept did not do well enough to feel either international nor American. Went to three games and outside of the PSG-Bayern Semi-Final, the rest were exceptionally forgettable. It also doesn't help that it simply isn't affordable for growth if that is the goal. No way any stakeholder recouped.” - Jeremy

• “I liked it. Seeing the South American fanbases and others from around the world show up in the way they did was dope, and it was better than I expected.” - JD

In the poll, “Meh” finished first with 47% of the vote, while “I liked it” followed in second with 38% of the vote.

UP NEXT
Summer Run - Leg 2

We’re gearing up for a fun run of stops with the bus in August, so keep an eye out here to see where we’ll be next!

D.C. up next to close out this month, but more to come soon 👀

Enjoying This?

Make sure to forward this email to a friend and help us spread the soccer gospel far and wide! We’ll see you next week with even more untold stories of soccer.

Have a great Tuesday!

Pablo