With help of supporters’ groups, Hartford Athletic growing its footprint

Needham, Mass., native Harry Swartz gets embraced by Hartford Athletic fans. (Hartford Athletic)

Mike Peshka knew exactly what he and a few of friends needed to do shortly after the USL Championship schedule came out earlier this year.

They saw the eight-game road trip on tap to start the season. They knew they couldn’t wait two months to see their team play for the first time.

Their response involved a calendar and a pen.

“It was tough,” said Peshka, the founder of The 19th Regiment, the first Hartford Athletic supporters’ club. “That’s why we had to go to a game. We had circled a game. When the schedule first came out, we knew we weren’t going to see the team for eight games. We just circled one and went, like, we’re going.”