Tifo runs throughout full stadium and includes images of players from across all eras of Portland Timbers' history
Prior to the Portland Timbers’ match tonight against Minnesota United FC, on a gorgeous summer evening where the club celebrated their 50th anniversary, the Timbers Army – the club’s diehard supporters’ group – unveiled the largest painted tifo in MLS history.
The tifo was massive and covered the entire north end, most of the west side and had elements sprinkled throughout the east side with a 1975 banner and south end with a presentation of roses. It was a full 360 of storytelling that celebrated the Timbers’ and Soccer City U.S.A.’s long history in North America.
The west side covered the earlier years of the team’s history with Clive Charles – a Timbers All-Time XI selection and Ring of Honor member – prominent along with North American Soccer League (NASL) era teammates Jimmy Kelly, Ray Martin and Graham Day celebrating a Peter Withe goal on the left side of the tifo. Vic Crowe – the team’s first head coach in the NASL – also is featured along with an original NASL team crest.
The right side of the west side tifo covered the team’s United Soccer League (USL) history with former Japanese international and World Cup veteran Takayuki Suzuki juggling the ball as well as Byron Alvarez – the team’s USL all-time top scorer – leading a group of players that includes including USL appearance leader Scot Thompson along with Alan Gordon, Hugo Alcarez-Cuellar and Brian Winters.
Centrally on this mural was also a picture of MLS-era great and All-Time XI member Jack Jewsbury, bandaged and bleeding from a match, showing his full commitment to the club. Above him is a statement presented in a newsprint-inspired design from the Portland paper of record, The Oregonian, that said, “A history etched into the heart of the city”
Running along the North End was an enormous sail of a tifo comprising of the team’s modern era. “A future built by those who transcend into legends” was printed along the top with a crest-like feature in the middle comprising of crossed axes, a rose, the years 1975-2025, City of Portland flag elements as well as Cascadia flag elements.
Players representing the MLS era included All-Time XI members Diego Valeri, Sebastián Blanco, Fanendo Adi and Liam Ridgewell on the left along with All-Time XI and current player Diego Chara prominently on the right with MLS Cup-winning teammates Alvas Powell, Darlington Nagbe – another All-Time XI player – plus Lucas Melano and George Fochive.
