They’re die-hard. They drink hard. It’s impossible to miss them. They’re Ralph’s Mob, and The Tampa Bay Rowdies couldn’t ask for a better bunch of fans.
On Wednesday, Sept. 19, the support group showed up to the team’s last home game of the regular season in full regalia and high spirits. Rowdies’ green and gold were abound on flags, banners, knee-high socks, and shirts that read “Sons of Pirates.” They blew bubbles. They cheered and jeered. And oh, the singing. From the second the match commenced until its closing moments, the hooligans kept up a constant clamor of game songs and chants.
Everyone knew the words, and they were surprisingly synchronized. The group’s current president, mallets in hand, kept impeccable time on an appropriately colored kick drum. Others stamped and wielded tambourines. There was a song for any scenario of the game imaginable.
The stands were less than half-full that night, but that one little section at the north end of Al Lang made up for all the empty seats. Their din of sounds resounded like cannon fire in the stands. It was enough to intimidate the bravest of guest teams. Nevertheless, the Railhawks managed to tie up the game 1-1 in the last 30 minutes, much to the chagrin of the mob.
Undiscouraged, they will be back for the Rowdies’ semifinal game on Oct. 13, just as they have always been there since the team was resurrected three years ago.
“We started the group as soon as we learned we were getting a team in 2010. We’ve been organized since the very beginning,” said Charlie Cole, their third president.
They are what is known as a tifo in football culture—a choreographed, organized supporter group. It started out as just a few excited fans, but membership has swollen by the game and the season. Some casually join in for a night, while others go the official membership route, which costs as little as $20 a year. The mob is named after the original Rowdies mascot, Ralph Rowdie. There is no official mascot today, but Ralph’s Mob happily maintains his presence and attitude.
Although they do love soccer, Mob members are in it for much more than that. They’ve created a new local culture.
“We do it for the comradery and the friendship, mostly. The beauty of it is that it brings a lot of people who initially aren’t into the sport. Then they learn to love the game,” Cole said.
After matches, they can usually be seen heading towards Crowley’s Irish Pub on Central Avenue—a staple pilgrimage of Mob culture.
A few more rounds of comradery won’t hurt.
Game info, membership inquiries and even a list of the chants are available at ralphsmob.com.
