The core formed on the chest of Anyang soccer fans melted down for the first time in 11 years. Anyang FC's hero narrative that created a miracle at the end of frustration

Nov 03, 2024

Courtesy of the Korea Professional Football Association

'Frustration, patience, and finally the glory that's been recovered' FC Anyang's promotion to K League 1 included all elements of 'heroic narrative'.

FC Anyang, which was launched as a civic team in 2013, finally achieved its dream of 'promotion to K League 1'. It has been 11 years since its foundation. Anyang drew 0-0 against Bucheon FC in the 38th round of the 'Hana Bank K League 2 2024" at Bucheon Stadium on the 2nd, completing one point needed to 'Self-Winning'. With this, Anyang achieved its dream of entering the K League 1 by confirming the championship early with one game left.

As soon as the game ended with no wins against Bucheon, Anyang fans who came to cheer for the away game with joy. A festival of joy was then held around Anyang Sports Complex, its home stadium. Anyang supporters brought up a unique 'Red Flame'. The team returned after confirming the victory in the away game and welcomed the team with a flush. In the shouts and red smoke, Anyang soccer fans stood for a long time.

Anyang was the home of Anyang LG Chitas, formerly called the 'K-League prestigious'. LG moved from Seoul to Anyang in accordance with the government's policy in 1996 and produced numerous great games until 2003. During this period, he won the K League 1 championship (2000), the FA Cup (1998), and the Super Cup (2001).

However, Anyang soccer fans suddenly lost their soccer team in 2003. LG moved to Seoul and transformed into FC Seoul. Although it is officially called 'Return to Yonsei University', for Anyang soccer fans, it was an incident in which they lost their cheering team overnight. Looking back, this ordeal was a prelude to the birth of FC Anyang's hero narrative.

Anyang citizens and soccer fans tried to create a `Citizen Club' with the sadness and regret of losing their affiliated team overnight. It took 10 years. Eventually, in 2013, the civic team 'FC Anyang' was launched. It was a true 'Anyang's team' made by the hands of Anyang citizens without borrowing the power of large companies.

FC Anyang Kim Sung-dong and Kim Da-sol are cheering when they tied 0-0 with Bucheon in the 38th round away game of 'Hana Bank K League 2 2024" at Bucheon Gymnasium on the 2nd. Courtesy of the Korea Professional Football Association

But the moment of glory did not come soon. The financial situation of the civic team is inevitably worse than that of other professional teams supported by the parent group. I have been trying hard to overcome this, but the march of hardship continued. The moment of frustration with the glorious stage in front of my eyes was repeated. Got to the elevation playoffs in 2019 and 2021 and 2022, but kept slipping.

However, the FC Anyang squad and Anyang supporters got back on their feet whenever they collapsed. In the end, he won the K League 2 title this year, 11 years after its foundation, and will be on the K League 1 stage from next year. FC Anyang's history over the past 11 years is a hero's narrative itself, which finally regained its strength and returned to the position of glory after experiencing a wide range of 'trial and frustration, patience and pain'. This is why both Anyang players and Anyang supporters are not lacking to be called Hero.

wman@sportschosun.com