Written by Juan Pereira

Photo by Web Tilton

John Webster Tilton, commonly known as “Web,” has been there for the Houston Dynamo since the start, the only home game he has ever not been at was back in 2006 at the second ever Dynamo match. If you’re a diehard Dynamo fan, the name Web Tilton shouldn't be unfamiliar. Now, 18 years later, Web will be leaving it all behind as he will soon be moving to Spain. But if you know Web, you’ll know that he wasn’t going to make the night about himself. 

“When I went in, I didn't give it much thought because there was other stuff on my mind, Tilton said. “I was carrying all the jerseys that I had sold, my old jerseys from like 2006 on, and I had to find their owners and get those to the people.”

Tilton wouldn’t have a purpose to keep a big collection of Dynamo jerseys in another continent, so instead of hoarding it all, he decided to give back to the community. That’s why everyone loves Web; he’s given as much to the Dynamo as he’s received from them by being an example of the perfect fan. 

But now, Web will start a new era of his life, and he didn’t truly understand the significance of it until he left Shell Energy Stadium for one last time. He had been to games at Robertson Stadium and advocated for the building of the new stadium. He was there for the back-to-back MLS championships and both U.S. Open Cup finals.

“When I walked out, I walked out with some friends that I had sat next to at Robertson. And that was kind of cool, (but) when I saw the stadium from the outside, I was sad, because I was there when we were fighting to get the stadium built there, and I've watched it from the very beginning until now,” Tilton said. “And then riding home was really bittersweet, because I've known that ride through downtown on my bike for two years now, and it's become a part of my life.”

Web’s also showed up to matches when it seemed like the rest of the city forgot about the Dynamo. He had invested too much time and emotion into the team. He couldn’t run away. 

“Ever since the beginning, I felt a part of the team, and I have a connection with the players and with the team, the organization that I can't really explain, but I've always felt that from the very beginning,” Web said. “Even when the team was doing badly, which it did a lot of times, I still was rooting for the players and hoping that (they) would shine.”

So even though Web is saying goodbye, he hopes that his time here will inspire the next generation of Dynamo fans to get behind the team in both the good and bad times. 

“Everybody needs to be at the games, not just watching on TV or following along Online,” Tilton said. “They need to be at the stadium and give them their whole support.”

However, as much as Web will miss the Dynamo, this isn’t truly farewell; it’s more like a goodbye… for now.

“I really appreciate what the Dynamo have done for me since the very beginning and how much they have shown me that they appreciate me and they appreciate the fans,” Web said. “I will be here in spirit and hopefully in person someday (again)… Best of luck, Dynamo. Forever orange, forever orange.”