Each home game, the Earthquakes select a Season Ticket Holder to be this week's Fan of the Match, presented by Avaya. The lucky fan is presented with the amazing opportunity to experience warmups from field level, sit on the team bench, get a bag of free Earthquakes merchandise, and last but not least, meet a player for a photograph right after warmups! This week's fan of the match is he Keith Doser (not pictured above).
SJEarthquakes.com:Tell us a bit about yourself and your history with the club.
Keith Doser: Season ticket holder since 1996. Started supporting the Earthquakes indoor in 1982. My first outdoor season was in 1983. That season the Quakes won every single home game except for the last home game in the playoffs against the Toronto Blizzard. I guess you can say I’ve been a season ticket holder since 1983. After the demise of the NASL, I followed them into the Wester Soccer Alliance and American Soccer League. After the world cup in ’94 (where I went to all of the games at Stanford), I anxiously awaited the start of the MLS in ’96! I was able to witness the very first MLS game at Spartan Stadium, watching Eric Wynalda score the winning goal!
SJEQ:What are some of your best memories as a Quakes fan?
KD: The top two games for me of all time were against the Dark Side, LA Galaxy! I can’t choose my most favorite. The first one is the come from behind 4-0 on aggregate at Spartan Stadium during the playoffs in 2003, What a game! The second was the come from behind win against LA where Shea and Alan Gordon scored the tying and winning goals. The tremendous roar of the crowd when Alan scored was the loudest I ever remember!! This year’s Clasico brought back those great feelings!
Another memorable game was the “Great Deluge” at Buck Shaw against Real Salt Lake. We lost that game, but that was one for only the true fans, not the fair weather ones, no pun intended. I thought it was great that the front office commissioned a commemorative button for that game. Sometimes I miss Buck Shaw ‘cause we can’t stomp our feet and make noise like thunder during corner kicks and close free kicks at Avaya.
SJEQ:Who are your favorite players?
KD: My favorite player of all time is Joe Cannon. My son and I had a chance to meet him at a season ticket holder event; I believe it was the one at Dave and Busters. He was just leaving the event, but he made the time to speak with us, as we told him we both play keeper, me with my over 30 coed team and he for his high school (at the time). He was just a real nice, down to earth type of guy who was easy to talk to. His relationship with the fans, especially with the Ultras, was just fantastic. I was very happy when he went into our Hall of Fame!
Wondo is my current favorite player, I understand he’s pretty down to earth, like Joe. He’s always working his butt off and keeping a great attitude, and he still can score!! Quincy and Tommy are next favorites.
SJEQ: Does your family enjoy coming with you?
KD: I go to the games with my daughter Krista, (she’s 26), and my son Kyle (23) and his girlfriend, Nina. My kids have grown up with the Quakes, I remember taking them to the games when they were small, sometimes it could be an adventure! We sit in section 102 near the 18 yard line. It’s been another up and down year for our dear Quakes, but I believe a true fan will always be there for their team. I wish there were more supporters like the Ultras to help get the team going, their cheers and drums add great atmosphere to the game.
