Philly fans are the best in the world. The Philadelphia Union knows, the Philadelphia Independence knows it, the whole country knows it. Here’s a look back at Philly fans supporting the Union, the Independence and the USMNT in 2011, courtesy of Philly Soccer page photographers Daniel Gajdamowicz, Earl Gardner, Michael Long, Paul Rudderow and Nicolae Stoian, as well as contributing photographers Garrett Field and Nate Monahan.

The Philly soccer fan is a dedicated sort…

They’ll travel to the Expansion Draft
Photo: Nicolae Stoian

They’ll go to morning training session during the work week
Photo: Nicolae Stoian

You can see them at reserve games
Photo: Earl Gardner

You can see them in DC
Photo: Garrett Field

They’ll travel to Chicago and points beyond
Photo: Nate Monahan

You’ll see them at the WPS Final in Western New York
Photo: Michael Long

And you’ll definitely see them in New York
Photo: Earl Gardner

They’ll bring songs
Photo: Nicolae Stoian

They’ll bring smiles
Photo: Nicolae Stoian

They’ll bring food
Photo: Earl Gardner

And, yes, they’ll probably bring some drinks
Photo: Earl Gardner

They’ll also be bringing a little bit of Philly, too
Photo: Garrett Field

Sometimes it’s the players who are the fans in the stands
Photo: Earl Gardner

Sometimes it’s players and fans
Photo: Earl Gardner

And, often enough, the fans are part of the story
Photo: Nicoale Stoian

Fans work hard to turn this…
Photo: Earl Gardner

Into this
Photo: Paul Rudderow

Fans connect with the players
Photo: Michael Long

And they connect with each other
Photo: Nicolae Stoian

Creating memories that will last a lifetime
Photo: Nicolae Stoian

Fans can be reverent
Photo: Earl Gardner

And fans can be irreverent
Photo: Earl Gardner

They can be quietly attentive
Photo: Earl Gardner

And they can be loudly attentive
Photo: Paul Rudderow

They will speak their mind
Photo: Earl Gardner

And they will feel the pain
Photo: Paul Rudderow

And if on a few very rare occasions a few outsiders try to ruin it for everyone
Photo: Paul Rudderow

All of us know it’s really all about this…
Photo: Earl Gardner

And this…
Photo: Michael Long

And this…
Photo: Earl Gardner

And this…
Photo: Daniel Gajdamowicz

This…
Photo: Nicolae Stoian

This…
Photo: Earl Gardner

And this.
Photo: Nicolae Stoian

Is it next season yet?