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BEHIND THE STRIPES

Vera Zeigler

By Atlanta United FC

April 10^th, 2018

Walking through the bass-thumping barbecue haze of an Atlanta United tailgate, you can see Vera Zeigler from a block away. Maybe it’s her booming laugh, the gravity of her personality that seems to draw in everyone around her. Or perhaps it’s the giant King Peach adorning the back of her handmade jacket.

It’s fitting, because the King Peach, the iconic secondary kit that made its home debut for Atlanta United this weekend, came from her mind: a Georgia peach, with a crown perched on top – an image originating on an Atlanta United tifo.

“We’re the kings of the south,” she says. “It’s about the culture. We’re a hub, from the airport to the railroads to the culture, it comes from Atlanta. We are very much a central piece to the South. Because we have something to say, there’s a draw here.”

Growing up in Atlanta, Vera found her love for the beautiful game at Lithonia High School, where she tried out for the school soccer team. While the season wasn’t a success, a seed was planted.

“I was the goalkeeper and our team was terrible but I loved it, and have been hooked ever since. The passion is what really got me into the game. I love a lot of sports, but there’s something with soccer where the passion is so evident. It shows and it moves through the people and the sport.”

Growing up in the college sports hub that is the South, Zeigler went to a smaller school without a major sports team. So she says she rooted for Atlanta, whether that be the Hawks, the Braves, the Falcons or the Dream.

“Now with Atlanta United, I’ve finally got a soccer club. I fell in love with them as soon as they were announced and once we got the logo and the colors, it was full blast. I started making jackets, crafts, signs, anything I could get my hands on.”

Vera started creating, because that’s what she is: a creator. She went to school for art and considers it her passion, and the city of Atlanta is her muse. The confident ease and the freedom to embrace who you are – it’s these elements that define the city and inspire her. So when Atlanta United was finally ready to take the field, she knew what her role had to be.

“The tifos are my heart. Working on the tifos, that’s where I felt I could give my piece to the club, the city and Atlanta United. That’s my skillset, that’s my passion.”

So that’s what she did. From the ATLiens tifo to the powerful locomotive that decked out the stands versus Columbus, she designed them. But one stood out for year one: a peach with a crown, unfurled for the entire world to see.

“We just wanted to make a statement as a club and as a city:

"We’re here. You’re going to hear us, you’re going to feel us and you’re going to see us."

"That crown represents owning your culture, owning who you are, owning your influence. That’s what Atlanta has to give, not just to the country and the South but to the world. And we’re doing it match by match.”

So when the King Peach made its debut, she says she was shocked but also humbled. She says it’s a dream for any artist to inspire people with your work, and to have it inspire your favorite team is something she could hardly dream of. But most importantly, she says, was that the club was listening to the fans.

“I think Atlanta was just yearning for something that the people were fully behind and could be a part of."

"As much as I love the other teams, and I truly do, we’ve never been a part of the growth of a club at the very beginning. Now we’re a part of the team for that 90 minutes, with our atmosphere, we’re there for them.”

As she looks out over the bustling tailgate, with the wave of supporters gathering for the march to the stands, she says this is something she and so many others have been anticipating for a long time.

“This is the time, this is the culture, the passion that I’ve loved for so long, and now I get to be a part of it and own it for myself and for my city.”

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