The Carolina Railhawks Are Born

In 1897, a small meeting at a pub in England's industrial heartland heralded the inception of one of soccer's most historic teams. Having maintained their footing in the upper echelons of the professional game for over a century, Sheffield Wednesday FC arrived in North Carolina this week to witness a modern day sporting birth in stark contrast to their humble beginnings.

Welcomed warmly to Cary's SAS Park, the touring English Championship team, who once played against an XI that included Oliver Cromwell, earned a hard-fought 0-0 draw with the United Soccer Leagues (USL) all-stars before a crowd of over 5,000 fans. It was at half-time, however, that the real excitement took hold, as the league's newest expansion team was introduced to the triangle.

In a tone reminiscent of the most epic blockbuster movie trailers, a pre-recorded public address delivered the news with breathtaking fanfare. "Over 150 years ago, steel struck iron and the railroad system across North Carolina was cast, " began the voiceover. "The tireless and dedicated work of our forefathers would form the original infrastructure of this great state."

As the dramatic message reached its crescendo, the moment arrived for the highly anticipated unveiling of the team's name. Chosen by a panel of team officials and representatives of the local media, the winning entry was selected from over 1,000 entries, in a competition offering two lifetime season tickets to the winner.

Celebrating the pivotal role of the railway in the economic development of North Carolina, along with the predatory bird that roams the expansive horizons of its big blue skies, Jarrett Campbell's entry was said to reflect both the unique heritage of Cary and the masterful physical attributes of the new team.

As heavy metal guitar riffs whipped the crowd into frenzy, the moment had finally arrived. "Tonight, here at SAS soccer stadium, we honor two powerful and meaningful icons of the great state of North Carolina, by giving you your Carolina Railhawks!"

Ozzy Osbourne's "Crazy Train," an ode to disaffected hedonism, seems an unlikely choice, but looks set to musically marry the franchise for the foreseeable future. It's hardly "Carolina in my mind," and James Taylor has probably never bitten the head off a bat, but the innate excitement of the record is clever branding. A fresh approach to soccer could well boost its appeal in the triangle area.

The Railhawks will enter USL Division One competition next April, with the impressive SAS Park as their home base. Facing competition from the likes of Miami FC, Toronto Lynx and Atlanta Silverbacks, elite soccer will make a welcome return to the triangle area and feed a growing interest in the sport from grass roots level.

As fireworks illuminated the Carolina skies to celebrate the birth of soccer's youngest team, the presence of Sheffield Wednesday seemed particularly apt. Although the circumstances were very different, their beginnings helped spark the burgeoning popularity of soccer in England. The Railhawks will hope they can do the same for the sport in North Carolina.