They came, they saw, they partied.

Or maybe I should say they scored.

Or even Goaaaaaaaaaaaaaal, the classic call of international soccer competition.

Pro soccer returned to the region in a big way yesterday, and the Sons of Ben were not about to let the day they have waited on for years pass without a party.

The fanatical soccer zealots named for a certain influential statesman were out in force yesterday for the official announcement of the team name, logo and uniform colors of the region’s new MLS franchise.

Just as they were huddled in the refurbished PECO Power Station in Chester for the announcement that Major League Soccer had awarded its 16th franchise to the region.

And just as they were last fall when the official groundbreaking for the team’s 18,500-seat stadium took place in the shadow of the Commodore Barry Bridge.

I have no idea if the MLS version of pro soccer will make it in this town. My son is something of a soccer aficionado. He snickers a bit at the mention of the MLS, believing it to be an inferior brand of the game compared to world competition. He’s quick to remind me that the next World Cup, the Holy Grail of the soccer world, is just around the corner.

The Philly team will be called Philadelphia Union. Their blue and gold emblem includes 13 stars and a rattlesnake.

The union label sparked something of a debate on our Web site yesterday about the labor movement. Which I suppose is fine except I don’t think that’s what this “Union” label is referring to.

A confession here. We probably added to that confusion with our front page display on Monday advancing the announcement, which included a shot of the team logo superimposed on the stadium construction site along with the headline, “Look for the Union label.”

That was a play off the old advertising campaign urging consumers to buy union-made products. I thought it worked perfectly as a way of introducing the logo and advancing the press conference to unveil it.

The “Union” that makes up the moniker of the team is a reference to Philadelphia’s key role in the formation of the United States, as well as the wording in the Declaration of Independence, the movement “to form a more perfect union.”

Judging by the reaction from the Sons of Ben, this “Union” is already perfect in their eyes.

We welcome the region’s newest sport. We relish the opportunity to watch them play their home games in the city of Chester. We salute the Sons of Ben for their role in bringing major league soccer to town.

Their first game is less than year away. Plenty of time for me to convince my son to join the party.