CHAPTER 1 NASHVILLE LEAPS TO MLS Walker Zimmerman was in unfamiliar territory As a center back he wasn’t used to scoring goals But there he was in the penalty area awaiting his chance to change the game And it wasn’t just any game It was the first Major League Soccer MLS game for Nashville Soccer Club SC The new team was hosting Atlanta United on February 29 2020 The free kick came in from teammate Hany Mukhtar Zimmerman moved toward the ball meeting it with his head At first it looked like he’d misplayed the ball Instead of darting toward goal the ball hit down toward the ground But Zimmerman knew what he was doing He played the ball to himself He was in perfect position to poke it past Hany Mukhtar celebrates the first MLS goal in Nashville SC history 4
Atlanta goalkeeper Brad Guzan When it crossed the goal line the crowd of 59,069 roared Two years earlier a crowd that size the largest ever to see a soccer game in Tennessee would have been unthinkable The team’s origins were in a grassroots supporter-led team Eventually moving up to the second division the newly named Nashville SC played its first friendly February 10 2018 also against Atlanta United By then Nashville was already ticketed for MLS a whirlwind process that went from an idea to a real MLS team on the field in less than four years NASHVILLE’S PARTY Though Nashville fans didn’t have to wait long for a team excitement had quickly built up in the Music City Nashville’s first MLS game turned into a huge party Fans started gathering near Nissan Stadium early in the day grilling food and kicking around soccer balls It’s no surprise that in a city known for making music musicians served as the opening act With fans still making their way to their seats local band Judah and the Lion played a pregame concert On the setlist was the song they wrote with the team to serve as the official club anthem Never Give Up on You 6
Soccer fans in Nashville found different ways to get fired up for the club’s first MLS match Hey brother hey sister I’ll never give up on you were the opening lyrics Fans joined in singing the anthem Then they joined in on another anthem The Star-Spangled Banner The crowd’s participation grew as the song went on with some fans holding up their team scarves The players took notice LET MY PEOPLE GOAL 7
