The Northern Guard is arguably the most passionate group of sports fans in the US. They remain devoted to their team, Detroit City Football Club, even during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Detroit-based production house The Eightfold Collective has released a short documentary on DCFC and their eccentric fan base, The Northern Guard, entitled “City ‘Til I Die”.
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These are hard times for any professional sports team, in the US and elsewhere. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused for most sporting events across the world to be postponed or canceled. For the Detroit City Football Club, brand-new National Independent Soccer Association team, it means the entire season was canceled.
But for The Northern Guard, arguably the most passionate and enthusiastic group of sports fans in the US, it did not change how devoted they are to their team. The group, which usually stands and sings every minute of the match, faced a tumultuous year in the wake of the pandemic. The season may have been canceled, but their passion isn’t going anywhere. Season ticket-holding fans even took to Twitter to tell the club to keep the money.
The Northern Guard is an example of how sports, not just playing but watching, can be everything to some people. Even in the most unexpected corners of the nation. It doesn’t matter if the soccer world knows the name DCFC. To these fans, “City ‘Til I Die” is not just a saying–it’s a vow.
This is their story.
Produced by Eightfold
Director – Kurt Schneider
Producer – Nico Poalillo
DP – Ben Webber
2nd Unit DP – Jeff Sukes
1st AC – Emily Nichols
Location Sound – Gabriel Sayre
Sound Design – Tailorsound
Composer – David Chapdelaine
Color – Jacob McKee
Editor – Kurt Schneider
Assistant Editor – Evan Denomme
VFX – Ben Webber