CoG Studios is now the temporary home of the Anthony Precourt Memorial Wooden Spoon Award after it was delivered by supporters of the Galaxy to the studio on February 17, 2018.
The Wooden Spoon is awarded to the team who finishes dead last during Major League Soccer’s 34-game season. In the 2017 year, that was the LA Galaxy. Going 8-18-8 for a total of 32 points, and winning one less game than DC United, the Galaxy finished at the bottom of the table for the first time in the club’s history.
According to the Independent Supporters Council (ISC) – the creators of the award – it was established because “the ISC member groups feel that MLS does a great job of celebrating their winners, but because of the nature of the league there seems to be little acknowledgement, or consequences, of teams, and the supporters who suffer, at the bottom of the table.”
Coincidentally, the Supporters Shield – given to the best record in MLS – was also created by the ISC to celebrate the successes in the league.
There are just three names on the Wooden Spoon Award as of 2017. The Chicago Fire are listed twice for the 2015 and 2016 seasons, followed by the Galaxy for the 2017 season.
The Award will be housed and displayed at CoG Studios, until such time as the supporters request it back, or it is time to go to the annual ISC meeting where it will be handed to another team (hopefully).
PRESS RELEASE – MARCH 6, 2016
The Independent Supporters Council of North America announced today on the eve of first kick the creation of a new trophy to complement the Supporters Shield which the ISC manages.
The Wooden Spoon trophy will be awarded to the team, and associated supporters groups, with the lowest point total at the end of the regular season.
The trophy, an actual wooden spoon measuring about X will be passed to the “winning” team at the annual ISC Conference and the holders of the Spoon must possess said spoon for the entire following season
“This is a trophy that no one wants, and it should be that way.” Said ISC President Jeremy Wright.
Unfortunately, the ISC member groups feel that MLS does a great job of celebrating their winners but nature of the league there seems to be little acknowledgment, or consequences, of teams, and the supporters who suffer, at the bottom of the table. This trophy is designed to highlight those who suffer in the shadows.
The Chicago Fire were the “winner” of the inaugural 2015 wooden spoon and the responsibility of creating the first spoon fell to Section 8 Chicago.
The ISC is aware that no supporters group wants this trophy therefore at the end of the year every group awarded the Wooden Spoon are allowed to do what they will with the trophy.