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Will Barn Burners rock Bridgeview?

That the legions of America's soccer players haven't been converted into fans has long been lamented. Flynn Murphy, 22, is different. He played youth ball, didn't like it, then became one of Chicago's super fans.

''I was a shy kid and didn't like playing in front of screaming adults,'' says the ''communication director'' of Section 8 Chicago, the umbrella group that unifies the Chicago Fire's various fan groups, e.g., Barn Burners 1871, Fire Ultras 98, Mike Ditka Street Crew, Ultras Red-Side.

While in his mid-teens, Murphy saw some games on TV and enjoyed them. Next he became a regular at Chicago games, joining the fanatics in Section 8 of Soldier Field who created one the league's most electric atmospheres.

On June 25, the Fire moves into a new 21,000-seat stadium in Bridgeview. Section 8ers such as Flynn, the youth soccer community and immigrant fans have provided strong support for the Fire.

The move to Bridgeview, located southwest of Chicago, takes the Fire farther away from the north Chicago youth hotbed, but closer to Hispanic enclaves - and the fan club contingent is likely grow.

''We made noise at Soldier Field,'' says Flynn, a Mike Ditka Street Crew man, ''but that place was a cavern. We'll be right on top of the field in Bridgeview, and it's really gonna rock.''

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