RIFC’s only recognized supporter group, Defiance 1636, is ready for Hartford Athletic
Rhode Island. Connecticut. A rivalry among New England brothers will be renewed once again when Rhode Island FC takes on Hartford Athletic in their first-ever derby match at Trinity Health Stadium. While Hartford Athletic fans may be gearing up to pack their home stadium, so too are the Ocean State faithful. Luckily for RIFC, hundreds of supporters are making the trek to Hartford, including Rhode Island FC’s only recognized supporter group, Defiance 1636.
Defiance 1636 describes themselves as a barra brava — a passionate collective of people who love the game of soccer and gather together to support their Ocean State club.
“We are Defiance 1636, the only official supporter group for Rhode Island FC,” said Defiance 1636 President Ervin Vargas. “We’re the crazies behind the goal in Section 13. We’re the ones making the noise, chanting the loudest and singing our hearts out for our boys in amber and blue.”
The loudest section of Beirne Stadium was not something that happened overnight. It was a project that took years to build. The journey started when Vargas and now-Vice President, Joe ‘Sammer’ Samayoa, ventured off to a match in Toronto for a different soccer club and began talking there. When the Ocean State’s new club was announced before a name was even given, the pair decided to start their own supporter group and make a barra brava. That’s when the floodgates opened and Defiance 1636 was born.
The first aspect of the new collective that needed to be decided on was the name.
“The name was introduced to us by a focus group,” said Vargas. “We pieced together some of the names we were given and came up with and realized something significant. This team is up and coming and we are defying the odds right now when no one thought this would work. No one will tell us this isn’t going to happen. We are a small state but defy the odds. In 1636, Roger Williams came to Rhode Island and defied the odds in his own way. That’s where that aspect comes from.”
Once Vargas and his crew had their name and logo set, the group continued to organize and grow. As Rhode Island FC’s debut grew closer, the supporter group set out on a path to recruit more members and prepare everyone for the Ocean State’s only professional soccer team.
“We showed people what we were doing,” said Vargas. “We appeared at college tours, we went to bars and watch parties for any team, and we even went to local matches and brought our banners and drums. Wherever we went, we were just trying to recruit people and show them that this is proper football and that this is more community driven and grassroots.”
Now over 300 members strong, Vargas and Defiance 1636 turn their attention to Hartford Athletic. The group plans to show up in full force to support the club as it takes on its newest rival.
“It’s who can have the better support,” said Vargas. “Rhode Island FC and Defiance 1636 have the best supporter group in New England. We have the best supporter group by far. We are proper barra brava here to sing and dance for 90 minutes. We are here to yell, make some noise, show our colors and put soccer first.”
Saturday’s inaugural cross-state rivalry match means a lot to Defiance 1636 and the entire Ocean State fanbase. As the first derby match in history, an RIFC victory is all that matters.
“After the match against Louisville, we had all the players come towards us,” said Vargas. “All Defiance members were leaning against the rails in our section so we could talk to the guys. We said, ‘Listen. Next match is not a match. It’s a war. Represent these colors. We will be there for you for all ninety minutes.’
“We are the twelfth man out there and we will always be there, singing and chanting. But this is about bragging rights. We have to make sure we take care of business.”
Following the match in Hartford, RIFC returns to Beirne Stadium on Saturday, June 8 to welcome Detroit City FC at 7:30 p.m. Tickets to the next home match are available now at rhodeislandfc.com/tickets.
For more information on Defiance 1636, visit ridefiance1636.org.