For 9-year-old Ian Alexander, who recently lost his father, attending a Philadelphia Union game took on even more significant meaning, writes Mathew Ralph for brotherlygame.com.

Alexander attended a game with his Roxborough United teammate, Ben Franklin Mitchell.  The Mitchells, who knew Ian’s dad through his club involvement as a parent and coach, gave Ian the full game experience with the pregame tailgate and view from the Sons of Ben supporters section in the River End.

Sons of Ben member Bob King gave Ian an autographed soccer ball he had won earlier that evening.

“To me it was just trying to make his first Union game special,” said King, unaware Ian had recently lost his father.

Ian’s mom, Audrey Corkery, said her son could not stop talking about the game or about plans to go again.  Another Sons of Ben member gifted Ian a membership into the club to make him officially part of the group.

“He came home on Cloud 9 so full of life talking until 1 a.m. about it,” Corkery said.  “A lot of people have come out because they’re good people and showed that they care,” she said.

Read more about Ian’s Philadelphia Union experience here.

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