I'm a season ticket holder for a Tier 1 USL soccer team (OCSC) and my team went to Tampa, FL. for the USL championship. I was at the season ticket holders opening banquet and we had the team and the staff up on stage and the coach told us a story: "When we were on the bus pulling into the Tampa field, we were quiet, a little intimidated going into a championship game on the other side of the country, but when we were greeted off the bus with 25-30 of our cheering hometown fans who traveled cross country to cheer us on, our outlook turned 180 and we were energized. I truly believe that helped us to victory" So there is my 6th man story. I think fans do help the teams mentally. Were not players but we are audible visible supporters.