ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - They're known for standing, banging drums, singing and chanting during St. Louis FC games, and letting off smoke bombs when their team scores. But last week the Louligans reached a milestone that has nothing to do with goals or saves.
The soccer team's fan club passed the $100,000 mark in funds raised for local charities.
"I just think it's important that we use our platform for a little bit more than getting drunk and watching soccer," says Louligan Brad Demunbrun. "Though we enjoy doing that."
They also enjoy helping local organizations like food banks and other charities fighting cancer.
Demunbrum says the idea to raise money at their pre-game tailgate parties came during a road trip to Oklahoma in FC's first season, five years ago. "We went to a game in Oklahoma and they were raising money for a charity that day. They were saying, 'if you want to contribute you can eat food you can drink at our tailgate' and I just thought 'well, we can do that.'"
He says it started as just putting out a bucket and hoping to get, as he says, "A hundred dollars here, a hundred dollars there."
But over the years that bucket of money has grown, with a little help. "Thanks to World Wide Technology and St. Louis FC, they've done a lot of matching contributions. Shlafley Beer, they've contributed a lot of things to us to raffle. The players are great, giving us signed boots or signed shirts."
Demunbrun says the Louligans will continue putting out the bucket at its tailgate parties and keep the tradition going when the new MLS team begins play here in 2022.