A European Tradition Grabs American Soccer by the Neck



Ruffneckwear.com is bringing a classic European football tradition to soccer fans across America. Baseball fans have their team cap, American football fans have their team jersey and soccer fans have their team scarf. The soccer scarf is not your ordinary scarf for keeping your neck warm. These two-sided scarves are a "badge" for hardcore soccer supporters designed with team colors, logos and often with a catchy slogan. Ruffneckwear.com has several photos of supporters wearing and raising their scarves with pride online at http://www.ruffneckwear.com/index.html.

Ruffneckwear.com founders Jeff McIntyre and Erin O'Brien came up with the idea of bringing soccer scarves to America after attending a football (soccer) game in Liverpool, England.

Jeff McIntyre said, "I walked into Anfield and saw 50,000 fans with their red and white scarves raised high in the air while singing, and I knew that I had to bring this same passion to the game in America. We felt this was our opportunity to promote the game and allow the American fans and players to have more fun and passion for their teams." Ruffneckwear.com is now selling thousands of scarves each month.

The supporters are the soccer fans that understand the tradition that Ruffneck is selling. These fans support clubs from Major League Soccer, United Soccer Leagues and all levels of NCAA soccer. Steel Army, a supporters group for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, is a prime example of a group of soccer fans that understand the tradition and designed their scarves with Ruffneckwear.com. Ruffneck has a "Supporters Wall of Fame" that displays the most passionate customers, including the Steel Army, with their scarves. http://www.ruffneckwear.com/Supporters.html

Even though the supporters "get it", youth soccer and high schools are also catching on quickly. Custom soccer scarves are a new and innovative way for youth clubs and school booster clubs to conduct fundraisers. "The majority of the youth soccer programs we work with get better than 100% return when using the scarves in a fundraiser program. We sell 150 scarves for $8.50 each and the clubs typically turn around and sell them for $20 each," claims Erin O'Brien. "A custom club scarf is a more spirited and longer lasting way to promote the club than a candy bar sale."

Ruffneck has come up with unique ways to promote the game they love and spread the word about their European-style scarves. They have teamed up with a non-profit organization, Soccer Without Borders, to create a "Scarves for Change" program. Ruffneck donated 500 scarves to Soccer Without Borders to use as gifts to donors. More information on Soccer Without Borders is available at http://www.soccerwithoutborders.org/.

Promoting the game is the number one objective in the Ruffneckwear.com mission statement and understanding the tradition and passion that their product represents is what drives Jeff and Erin to do what they do.

Grab your scarf and listen to the Ruffnecks when they say, "Wrap it or Raise it!"

Ruffneckwear.com is based in Seattle, Washington and specializes in custom soccer scarves for supporters, youth soccer, colleges and high schools. Custom soccer scarves are designed to be used as club merchandise, team spirit, fundraisers and promotions.





A European Tradition Grabs American Soccer by the Neck




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