Georgia Fan Club Trying to Lift Off
Erik Richards
Tuesday January 20, 2004
So it was born.
The Force Fanatics fan club is off and running, and receiving great leads three weeks before the first kickoff. Club organizers Dane Booth, Matt Kunkel & John Crule are just a few of the fanatics that have taken the lead on this joint venture and brought reality to life.
“It’s just like anything when you are first getting started,” said Mike Williams, a charter fanatic. “We all had assignments to gather as much information as we could from other fan clubs and consolidate our ideas. I was fortunate enough to have the Birdfans from Indianapolis. Wow, what an organization they have!”
Other organizations were a big help along the way, too. Many other fan clubs pitched in with advice and ideas as well. Some of the groups that were especially helpful said Fanatic Chairman Dane Booth “were the StormSurge, SabreClaws and Los Angeles’ own Avengerfans.”
Once all the information was compiled at the local watering hole, which happens to be about a stones throw from the Gwinnett Arena, the group then pitched the idea and bylaws to Force management, and they were then given the go ahead by the team to press forward with their new endeavor.
“Now we have to take this group to new heights,” said member Timcanes1, as he is known on the message boards.
All are in agreement of one thing: no turning back! Other members have joined in with enthusiasm, and from the looks of things other AFL groups will be very proud of what’s cooking down south in Hotlanta.
“I believe, with the new acquisitions of Vince Dooley, Herschel Walker and Kevin Butler, that the front office is doing their part,” said John Leroux, also a club member. “Now we have to do ours.”
And so you have it. The Force Fanatics are ready for lift off.
Erik Richards is a resident of Duluth, Ga. and is the owner of a Transmission franchise in the Atlanta area. Erik is former Marine and is president of the Gwinnett Football League, the largest youth football league in Georgia with over 8,000 participants. Erik is an avid follower of arena football, and he tries to go to as many road games as he can for his local team, the Georgia Force.
