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GRASSROOTS FUNDED
ATHLETIC UNION
MADE FOR YOU & ME
The fabric of soccer in the USA is being woven with capitalist values, sterile control over match day atmosphere, and a profit over people perspective. Grassroots-level clubs are becoming more and more popular throughout the USA. These clubs are more connected to their communities and not worried about signing Messi or spending millions of dollars on glitzy stadiums.
Supporters will be able to help fund the club with affordable membership dues, extremely affordable ticket prices, donation drives, and merchandise fundraising. There will be 100 percent transparency in the Expenditure & Income reports.
WHY HAYMARKET?
The Haymarket Affair was an incident that included the bombing of a peaceful labor demonstration on May 4th 1886. Both workers and police suffered casualties. The location of this at the time was in Haymarket Square, a very popular commercial district just west of downtown Chicago. The non-violent demonstration was organized after the violent confrontation from the day before, where a striking worker was shot and killed by the police. The marches and speakers were fighting for an eight-hour workday and safer working conditions. It was considered the climax of the social unrest going on at the time, called "the Great Upheaval." The Haymarket Affair is considered the origin of making International Workers' Day or "May Day" on May 1st significantly celebrated worldwide. In short, arrests, trials, and a Red scare followed after the bombing. Eight defendants stood trial, four were sentenced to death, and one committed suicide in prison.
In 1992, The site of the bombing was designated a Chicago landmark in what is now the West Loop at the cross streets of Des Plaines & Randolph. Since 2004, there has been a sculpture depicting workers standing on a wagon giving a speech.
The Haymarket Affair Sculpture
The Haymarket Affair Sculpture
Des Plaines & Randolph Streets in Chicago, the site of the explosion.
Haymarket Martyrs' Memorial
Haymarket Martyrs' Memorial
The sculpture depicting Justice is located in Forest Home Cemetery
in Forest Park, IL
MORE Q&A ABOUT HAYMARKET UNITED ATHLETIC UNION
What Sports and Activities Will This Group Be Involved In?
What Sports and Activities Will This Group Be Involved In?
Fielding a Men's & Women's competitive association football team will be the main focus. Participating in either the Midwest Premier League or National Soccer League. Both are local amateur soccer leagues and have entry fees lower than $2000/season. Indoor leagues will help keep the club active during the harsh winter months.
One of the founding Principles of the group is we believe football is for everyone. Non-binary and pick-up games and leagues will be an option.
With the growth of the club and funding, adding other sports and social activities will also happen. Music & Art will be a big focus. Anything is possible with community organizing and fundraising.
Where In Chicago Will Matches Be And What Communities Will HMU Serve?
Where In Chicago Will Matches Be And What Communities Will HMU Serve?
We are expecting to start events and have a base in the McKinley Park/Bridgeport area on the Southside of Chicago. Fairly probable to see pop-up events throughout Chicago's many working-class neighborhoods from Albany Park, Avondale, and Rogers Park to Pullman, all the way over to Forest Park, IL.
What About Youth Soccer?
What About Youth Soccer?
Youth Soccer, especially during the summer, will be organized. The key is to make this extremely affordable and possibly even free. Coaches, demand for services, and funding will be needed to be able to expand this branch of the club.
What are the Founding Principles of this thing?
What are the Founding Principles of this thing?
Haymarket United FC Is A Working-Class, Anti-Fascist, Supporter-Owned And Operated Athletic Union.
No Tolerance For Hate.
No One Is Illegal.
There is Power In A Union.
Against Modern Football.
Why would you be "Against Modern Football"?
Why would you be "Against Modern Football"?
Money has become such a driving force in American sports, including the Major League Soccer creating a monopoly on the sport. In the MLS, teams are essentially owned by one entity. They aren't clubs, they are more like franchises. Promotion and Relegation doesn't exist in the USA, so teams can play horribly and be mundane with no real consequences of getting relegated down a league.
Support Local Football!
How Will This Organization Be Structured And Operated?
How Will This Organization Be Structured And Operated?
Head Over To THIS Page for a better explanation.
Basically, Membership will be anywhere from $10-$50+. You'll get a member card and a lapel pin. There will be three or four different levels of membership, each including different merch/ticket packages. $1 goes to the share in the club and the right to vote. Even if you donate $1500 a year to the club, you still get one vote.
There will be weekly newsletters and meetings. Participation is highly encouraged, but if you just want to pay the dues and come to matches, or support from outside the area, it's not the end of the world. Transparency of fundraising and spending is a fundamental aspect of our plan of action as well as our sponsors aligning with our Founding Principles.
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