The man behind Orlando City’s transatlantic fanbase

Orlando City SC are enjoying a historic season in MLS.

When the club joined the league in 2015 they initially struggled, failing to make the playoffs in any of the first five seasons. But Orlando’s fortunes changed in December 2019 when Oscar Pareja was appointed as head coach. Under his guidance they have secured four consecutive seasons of playoff qualification, along with an Open Cup triumph in 2022.

Taylor Williams has followed Orlando City from inception, but has an unusual perspective on their MLS journey. Taylor lives in Warwickshire, England and is the founder of supporters group Orlando City UK.

Orlando’s post-season journey continues on Saturday as they take on free-scoring Columbus Crew, the first playoff semi-final in club history. As part of the Passion of the Playoffs series, AS USA caught up with Taylor to talk about his love for American soccer, Orlando supporter culture and his MLS Cup dreams...

British links in Orlando

Last year more than 800,000 Britons visited Orlando, a city with a population of just 316,000 permanent residents. Central Florida draws tourists from all around the world but, outside of North America, the British contingent is by far the largest.

Growing up in the UK Taylor’s family travelled to Orlando for vacations and it was there that he first found a love for American soccer. As an Arsenal-supporting child he owned a Seattle Sounders jersey with Freddie Ljungberg on the back but, when it was announced that Orlando would be getting an MLS franchise, he knew that they were the team for him.

“Orlando is an American city swirling with Brits every year,” Taylor explains. “I can’t think of another club in all of MLS that has that sort of population coming in. We always encounter people who go to their first game [on vacation], discover us and it just goes from there. It’s certainly a unique club.”

He set up Orlando City UK in 2015 to bring together like-minded soccer fans in at home in England. They organise watch parties, fan events, End of Season Awards and generally share the experience of following Orlando from afar.

Taylor has now made around a dozen trips to watch the team, becoming a familiar face among match-goers Orlando supporters. Now, when he travels over to take in a game he is offered everything from airport collection to complimentary pyrotechnics, a testament to the impact that he has had on the team’s fans.

“They’re all amazed, they’re always like ‘Why is this English guy interested?’”

“We look after our own”

The first five years were difficult for Orlando supporters but the arrival of Pareja as head coach has transformed the team’s fortunes. They have made the playoffs in every season since he joined and last year picked up the first piece of silverware in team history.

Little was expected of Orlando in 2022 but they found form in the US Open Cup, thumping New York Red Bulls 5-1 in the semi-final. This set up the tantalising prospect of a cup final but, having only recently returned from his honeymoon in Orlando, a return to Exploria Stadium seemed unfeasible.

But as the big day approached, Taylor discovered that his American counterparts had a surprise in store for him. More than 50 Orlando-based supporters had clubbed together to raise the funds to fly Taylor over for the game, ensuring that he would not miss this milestone event in the club’s history.

Orlando triumphed in the final, beating Sacramento Republic 3-0 at Exploria Stadium. It was a historic moment for the team and a first taste of success for the Orlando City fanbase. For Taylor it was further proof of the sense of community felt by Orlando supporters, from those on the other side of the Atlantic to his own English outpost.

“The thing that has kept me going throughout has been the memories of being over there. In the early years we had big players like Kaka and Nani, but the thing that I keep coming back to is the one constant: our supporter culture.”

“We’ve had top stars but we’re not a massive club. We look after our own.”

Orlando compete with “polar opposites” Inter Miami

Head coach Oscar Pareja has built Orlando from the ground up, blending seasoned professionals with talented young stars. Peruvian Pedro Gallese has been one of the league’s top goalkeepers, while Robin Jansson has been an ever-present in defence. Further forward, Facundo Torres and Duncan McGuire rank among the most dangerous attacking talents in the league.

They ended the regular season as Supporters’ Shield runners-up, Orlando’s best-ever MLS finish, despite having the lowest wage bill in all of MLS. The are reaping the rewards of incremental growth, developing a team and a squad that can compete with the very best in the league. But further down the coast their Florida rivals are pursuing a very different approach.

Inter Miami’s mid-season capture of Lionel Messi has brought global attention to MLS and a first piece of silverware for the club. Messi was joined by fellow World Cup-winners Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets, while Luis Suarez is expected to be the next edition to Miami’s cadre of Champions League-winning former Barcelona stars.

“We are polar opposites,” Taylor explains. “We are the blue collar team whereas Miami, with Beckham and Messi, are the glitz and the glamour. It’s two different approaches to finding success in the league.”

Inter Miami are already being tipped for MLS Cup glory next year. Once their illustrious recent arrivals have adjusted to the league they will be difficult to stop. But this year, few would bet against Orlando City going all the way to become the first Florida team to lift MLS Cup.

“I believe that we’re going to win it, I really do feel like it is our time,” Taylor says. “The team is more balanced this year, with people that have been in the locker room for three or four years and continuity with the manager.”

“I think that they believe. And as a result, we as supporters believe as well.”