First games are often a memorable occasion no matter the sport, but for 9-year-old Ian Alexander who recently lost his father, attending the Philadelphia Union game against the Seattle Sounders took on an even more significant meaning.
Alexander attended the game with his Roxborough United teammate Ben Franklin Mitchell, who if you’ve ever sat in the River End at a Union game needs no introduction as the son of super fan (and 2018 co-supporter of the year) Jeff Mitchell.
The Mitchells, who knew Ian’s dad through his involvement with the club as a parent and coach, gave Ian the full game experience with the pregame tailgate and the view from the Sons of Ben supporters section in the River End that was noticeably fuller than it’s been for some time.