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They broke off from the group near the third-base dugout and began making their way over; along the path around the curving row of sponsorship signs separating the grass from the warning track behind home plate and towards the first-base foul line. 

One in front, the other a few steps behind. The boss and the worker. The New Mexico United vice president and employee. More importantly, a father and his son. 

Clint and Paxton Gray arrived in front of the supporter section with time to spare and kept an eye on the clock. There were still a few more people to wait on to help make sure the field and its surrounding boundaries were pristine for United鈥檚 home match against Orange County last Saturday. 

But it gave the two Grays a few moments together to go over some of the who-what-when-and-where details of the setup, and for some opportunities to crack a joke or two at the other鈥檚 expense.

鈥淲e understand each other,鈥� Paxton said. 鈥淚 like working with him. I mean, the only downside is if he gets mad, he can鈥檛 take it out on anyone else. 鈥� But I get it.鈥�

The last part came with a sly grin. Clint gave a short laugh. Each knows the best way to get the other worked up. That鈥檚 part of the benefit of being with family.

It is the same with thinking ahead.

Most of the required items 鈥� signs, benches, corner flags, goals and the like 鈥� had been brought down from the storage area United has behind the batter鈥檚 eye at Isotopes Park on the day before. It always makes things run smoother on match day. It makes them a little easier, too. The grass covering parts of the infield was already set. 

Saturday was about the finishing touches. 

Among the first of those touches was putting the goal on the first-base side in place. So, the father-son duo opted for a trusty tape measure and went about marking off the necessary spots with some makeshift token by Paxton 鈥� his wallet, cellphone, earbud case, chapstick or whatever else might be in his pocket. The actual goal itself proved to be a lift, even when the extra hands reported. Once that鈥檚 ready to go, the benches, signs and any other markers are next, all overseen by Clint, who directs all the movement. Each thing done in a specific way with a specific purpose.

Although, all that work doesn鈥檛 come without a little inconvenience. It would have been too easy otherwise. A strong wind gust that came through later meant everything had to quickly be reset up again. Weather is what tends to draw the most ire from Clint or Paxton. Days the rain tarp has to come out? Less than ideal.

It鈥檚 a process the Grays do in reverse when the match ends and long after fans vacate the stadium. 

All of it has become part of the family鈥檚 routine whenever United plays at home. Arriving sometimes as early as 9 a.m. and leaving anywhere between 11 p.m. and midnight. 

鈥淚 spent 25 years in banking,鈥� Clint said, 鈥渨here I was working all day long and doing everything, but here, I get to involve my family. My older kids have worked here. My wife (Jamie) has helped out. This is a place where I get to include them and not tell them, 鈥業鈥檒l be back.鈥�

鈥淎nd then when the game starts, if they鈥檙e available, I can stop by and say it. For me, it鈥檚 awesome.鈥�

The thing is, it was never intended to become a family 鈥� and the Grays have a large one, a blended crew of seven kids and six grandchildren with the most recent grandson, Ezra, just a few weeks old 鈥� endeavor. At least not intentionally. It just more or less happened to work out that way.

Clint joined the club in 2020 and it didn鈥檛 take long for some of his sons to start tagging along. (Plus, getting paid for any kind of work has its own merits.)

Son Landon, now 21, who recently transferred to Division II Colorado Christian for soccer, was the first. Paxton, now 17 and will soon be entering his senior year at Eldorado High, followed as soon as he could get his working permit. Both have worked in the team store, too. Even Clint鈥檚 youngest son, 15-year-old Taylor Vigil, helped set up the pitch. (Taylor is still determining if he wants to partake on a more regular basis.)

鈥淚t was awesome,鈥� Landon said. 鈥淚 started working there because I wanted to spend time with my dad. He鈥檚 a role model and just being able to look up to him of where we want to be. You know, we would always get compliments at work, like, 鈥極h, that鈥檚 something your dad would do.鈥� That meant a lot.鈥�

It鈥檒l mean a lot when Clint, Jamie, Paxton and Taylor make the trip to Dallas for a week. A little family-bonding time and some World Cup action: Sweden against Japan on Thursday in Arlington.

鈥淭hat plan was on and off for a while, but I鈥檓 excited we鈥檙e going,鈥� Taylor said. 鈥淪eeing those games live is going to be pretty fun.鈥�

But in the meantime, there was some work to be done. Some later, too.

It meant some quality father-son time. And that makes it worth it.

鈥淐elebrating (United) wins is great,鈥� Clint said. 鈥淲orking together is the best part.鈥�

David Glovach covers New Mexico United and other sports for the Journal. Reach him at dglovach@abqjournal.com or via X .