In conversation
Todd Gardner
Kester Hodgson sat down with Fighting Leslies co-founder Todd Gardner to talk weird Austin, a local legend, hand-painted Little Leslies, and why a soccer supporters club is raffling off tiny figurines for Equality Texas.
Interview by Kester Hodgson
Kester
For anyone who has somehow never run into you, who are the Fighting Leslies?
Todd
We are a Drinking Club with a supporters group problem. It started as a gaggle of Austin natives and long-timers who all wanted to sit together for that first Austin FC season. Once we had actually gotten the tickets and became a group, we decided we needed a name. It had to be something edgy, cool and border-line offensive, that felt representative of both the town and our group. Somewhere between the beers, the anticipation, and a brilliant suggestion by Jesse Proctor, the Fighting Leslies were born. These days we raise a glass, raise a little hell, and raise funds and awareness for causes close to home.
Kester
Right, the name. Why Leslies? Who was Leslie?
Todd
Leslie Cochran was a recognizable figure if you were in Austin any time from the late 90s until he passed in 2012. Most folks knew Leslie, or you knew someone who did. He was the guy at 6th and Congress wearing a thong and high heels, carrying a camo fanny pack and often pushing a big cart, doing exactly what he wanted, out loud. To some he was a man, to outsiders a myth, to plenty of folks a legend. To us he was the person you waved to at the light, bumped into at Eeyore's Birthday Party while sharing a beer, or got yelled at by when changing bars along 6th Street late at night.
He was a walking, hollering reminder that being yourself, unapologetically, is about the most Austin thing there is. That is the vibe most of us grew up with, and we wanted to make sure THAT Austin had a voice at this new soccer community table. Using Leslie seemed like a good way to harness that mission. He became synonymous with the "Keep Austin Weird" slogan that came around during the dot-com population boom, and these days more people are familiar with that than Leslie himself. We are not trying to tell you who Leslie was. We are just trying to keep the attitude from that time around a little longer, and Leslie is a good way to personify all of that.
Kester
The look of the club is unmistakable. Where does all the art come from?
Todd
That is Austin doing what Austin does. We worked really hard to make all of the references and images we use reflective of Austin's artistic foundation. We wanted things to be a throwback, a wink and a nod to historical styles we were familiar with. Part of our mission is to educate folks about how this town became a place people want to be, and the art is a central part of that. Our imagery and lettering are drawn, by hand, in pencil and ink, by Addison "Fozzy" Mayfield, an Austin native who sang in the bands we all danced and drank to and drew the posters and album covers along the way. His style always carried a thread back to the great old poster artists, folks like his uncle Guy Juke, who defined this town from the late 60s into the 80s, and we wanted to continue that with our imagery.
Our quality-control expert and fellow native Egan Jones digitizes the work and brings it into full techno color, and Addison "Grey" Gardner shaped our branding and hand paints Big Leslie and every one of the Little Leslies. It is all about the old weird Austin in a new cool package.
Kester
Speaking of which, tell me about these Little Leslies.
Todd
The League of Little Leslies is our latest fundraising campaign, in honor of being recognized by Austin FC as their 2026 Verde Proud, Pride Month highlight, and honestly it is exactly as ridiculous as it sounds. There are ten hand-painted Little Leslie players, each one numbered, each one of a kind, because the original Leslie was truly one of one and the players from our 2026 roster should be no different. Win one and you pick your kit, the Pride Kit or the Austin Kit, and you get an official player trading card to go with it. Entries are ten dollars, or six for fifty. Entries close August 31 and we draw on September 7.
Kester
And every dollar goes to Equality Texas. Why them, why now?
Todd
Because it fits. Equality Texas works every single day to secure equality for LGBTQIA+ Texans through education, political action, community organizing and collaboration. If there was ever someone who understood the importance of being exactly who you are, it was Leslie. He did not ask permission, he just showed up, colorfully, and Austin was better for it.
Supporting Equality Texas during Pride, in his honor, felt like the natural thing to do. We are running this hand in hand with our friends at The Austin Anthem, who carry the nonprofit status that makes it all official.
Kester
You also just launched a brand new website. What is on it?
Todd
Everything, finally in one place. The story of Leslie, a living scrapbook we want folks to send their own photos and memories into, the local businesses that sponsor us, the causes we have backed, a page about the art and the people behind it, and Verde Watch, which keeps up with Austin FC news and fixtures so you do not have to. Come have a gander and see for yourself.
Kester
Last one. What is next for the Fighting Leslies?
Todd
More of the same, which is to say more fun with a point to it. Keep showing up loud in the south end, keep the Leslie stories coming, keep finding good people and good causes to throw our weight behind. The League of Little Leslies is meant to come back around every year, and we have got a few ideas cooking.
Mostly though, we just want to keep reminding this town to stay a little weird. Leslie would have wanted it that way. Or he would not have cared at all, which is even more Leslie.
We are Listos. We are Verde. We are Austin.