Columbia, SC (WLTX) -- A new semi-pro soccer team is headed to Columbia.
Soda City FC will play year-round in the Southeast Division of the United Premier Soccer League (UPSL).
Friday night, the team unveiled their first official jersey, and fans went wild.
The team hosted a summer launch party at River Rat Brewery. The event is one step closer to the start of their season this September.
"The turnout here is a great example of how excited we think Columbia is about soccer here," said Andrew Richardson, General Manager of Soda City FC.
The creators of Soda City FC say they recognized a need within the community and decided to make big moves.
"[The fans are] just telling us they've been craving this. The city has really wanted a team to support and to showcase their local talent," said Patrick Burnette, the Vice President and Head Coach of Soda City FC. "The support has been amazing."
Player experience ranges from high school experience up to former professionals. Coach Burnette says over 100 players attended tryouts.
"We did have to have an extra tryout and we actually had to have an ID camp to whittle it down even further because there was so much talent," he said.
"There are so many youth players who are coming up and want to have players to strive towards," said Richardson. "Everyone loves a Messi and Ronaldo watching the World Cup right now, but we want those players to want to be like a Nestor Jaramillo from Columbia, a Graham Jermstad from Irmo. We want them to have players that they've watched progress be able to come out and watch them continue their careers."
Nestor Jaramillo is the new center midfielder for Soda City FC.
"I was literally hiking in the mountains when I was 4 with my parents," he explained, when asked how his love for soccer began. "There was this soccer ball we had, and I just started running around, and my parents were like, 'Ok, so this guy can run and play with the ball!' After that, my parents were very supportive, put me on a team, and I had a great passion for the game."
Jaramillo is originally from Mexico, but moved to Columbia with his family when he was 8 years old. He played for Cardinal Newman, then Wofford College in Spartanburg before coming back to play in the city he calls home.
"We already have a lot of support even before our first game," said Jaramillo. "So I can't imagine the first game just having a lot of people, having families, the whole community coming together to watch us play. It's gonna be awesome."
Team officials tell News 19 they couldn't be where they are today without the constant support from family and friends.
"Just to be a true, passionate fan and an advocate for the game since I was a little kid, to have something you can create from nothing and to be involved around soccer, to be involved around the city and family-oriented, you can't ask for anything more than that," said Burnette. "It's really a special place in my heart to be a part of this and I'm looking forward to the future."
Within the next week, we will learn where Soda City FC will play their home games. Team officials tell us families can expect a kids area with bouncy houses at the games, and even a beer garden for adults.
For more information on Soda City FC, click here.