Emerald City Supporters
| Emerald City Supporters | |
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| Motto | No Equal |
| Team | Seattle Sounders FC |
| Location | CenturyLink Field sections 121-123 |
| Established | 2005 |
| Website | WeAreECS.com |
Emerald City Supporters (ECS) is an independent supporters' group for Major League Soccer's Seattle Sounders FC. The ECS is heavily influenced by skinhead culture.
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[edit] History and name
Emerald City Supporters was founded in 2005 by the supporters of the now defunct Seattle Sounders soccer team that played in the United Soccer Leagues First Division.[1] The name first appeared on a banner used as early as 2003 by a now defunct supporters' group known as The Pod, and was adopted by the new group upon its formation between the 2004 and 2005 seasons.[2] The name reflects city pride, as Emerald City is a well-known nickname for the city of Seattle. When the arrival of a new MLS franchise in Seattle was announced in 2008 and it was clear that the USL Sounders were going to fold, the ECS decided to become supporters of the new club.[3] When the name of the new club was decided by vote, the ECS was very active in rallying votes for the Sounders moniker. When the Sounders played in the USL the ECS had fewer than a hundred members.[4] The arrival of MLS in Seattle resulted in a rapid growth of ECS membership, and by the inaugural game of Seattle Sounders FC in March 2009 ECS had about 600 members.[5] By the end of 2009 the membership had risen to 1,400.[1] In June 2010 the membership had passed the 2,000 mark.[6]
[edit] Gameday
ECS occupies sections 121–123 at CenturyLink Field, the home ground of the Sounders. These sections are general-admission sections located behind the goal at the south end of CenturyLink Field, also known as The Brougham End. On the day of a home game the ECS congregates at bars in the Pioneer Square area, and marches together the half-mile distance from Occidental Park to CenturyLink Field.[5][7][8][9] During games the ECS contributes to a supporters atmosphere through standing, singing, tifo. Songs are led by a capo with the aid of a megaphone.[5]
[edit] Songs
Emerald City Supporters are vocal and seek organized and forceful expressions during games. Their style of cheering would normally be reserved for teams in Europe or Latin America.[1] The European influence shows in songs that involve coordinated movement, such as pogoing and scarf waving for Dale Cavese and many traditional British football chants such as Sounders Till I Die and Guinness Boys, whereas the presence of drums in the ECS sections as well as the occasional song in Spanish are Latin American influences. In addition, the ECS has adapted some punk rock songs such as the Cock Sparrer song "Take 'Em All" and the Sick of It All song "Us vs. Them"'.[8] At kick-off, the ECS sings the first verse of the Perry Como song "Seattle".
[edit] Sub-groups
Emerald City Supporters is one of seven recognized Sounders supporter groups and currently the largest supporters group. The group has several subgroups. The most notable ones are 509 Prime, Bellingham Border Boys, Black Hills Militia, Brougham Boys '74, City of Rain Supporters, and the SoCal Sound.
- 509 Prime
The 509 Prime is a regional subgroup based in Spokane, Washington. The number "509" is the area code for Eastern Washington, including Spokane.
- Armed Services Group
The Armed Services Group is a subgroup for veterans and active duty military members.
- Bellingham Border Boys
The Bellingham Border Boys is a regional subgroup based in Bellingham, Washington.[10]
- Black Hills Militia
The Black Hills Militia is a regional sub-group based in Olympia, Washington. The group started off as a few people getting together to watch Sounders FC matches when they were on the road and has now grown into a group, that at the current time, is 250 members strong. [11]
- Brougham Boys '74
An ultras subgroup that is invite only.[12]
- City of Rain Supporters
The City of Rain Supporters is a subgroup based at Seattle University [13] The aim of the group to make soccer fans into supporters for not just the Sounders but for University teams as well.[14] The group holds various soccer related events such as FIFA tournaments, pick-up games, and sells match tickets to raise money and gain membership for the club and ECS.
- 253 Defiance
253 Defiance represent Tacoma, Puyallup and all of the surrounding areas covered by the 253 area code. The origin of the name comes from Point Defiance Park, the local area code, and behavior.[15]
- The Heartland Horde
A regional sub-group based in the Midwest of the United States. Membership is open to Sounders supporters in the Midwest region and aims to represent all ECS Members from the Midwest. They attend games mainly when the Sounders visit at Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Denver, Houston and Kansas City. The Heartland Hordes main member base is in Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri and Kansas.
- Mile High Boys
A regional sub-group based in Colorado, active mainly when the Sounders visit the Colorado Rapids. Membership is open to Sounders fans in the "high Rockies", specifically Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming.
- Royal Femmes
A women-only ultras subgroup; also invite-only.
- SoCal Sound
SoCal Sound is a regional sub-group based in Southern California that attends Sounders games played at The Home Depot Center in Carson, California.[16] The group also follows the Sounders tradition of March to the Match, throws tailgate parties, and attends Sounder's matches in San Jose.[17]
- Seattle Sounders East
Seattle Sounders East is a sub-group representing all ECS Members on the east coast. The sub-group aims at attending away matches at New York, New England, Philadelphia, DC, Toronto, and Columbus.
- West Sound Armada
West Sound Armada is a regional sub-group based in communities located west of Puget Sound.
[edit] Rival Groups
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Brewer, Jerry (December 30, 2009). "Fanatomy Part 5: Record-setting first season puts Sounders FC fans on world's soccer map". The Seattle Times. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sounders/2010642923_fanssounders31.html. Retrieved December 31, 2009.
- ^ "Seattle vs. Los Angeles US Open Cup August 27, 2003 Seahawks Stadium". GoalSeattle.com. http://goalseattle.com/Aug27PodPics.htm. Retrieved April 10, 2009.
- ^ Clare, Steve (August 18, 2008). "Seattle United FC?". European Weekly. http://www.europeanweekly.net/pages/soccer/soccer2.htm. Retrieved April 10, 2009.
- ^ "Wir stehen und singen die gesamte Spielzeit über". Stadionwelt. March 20, 2008. http://www.stadionwelt.de/neu/sw_fans/index.php?folder=sites&site=news_detail&news_id=1940. Retrieved April 10, 2009.
- ^ a b c O'Neill, Danny (March 30, 2009). "Converted to the other game of football". The Seattle Times. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/dannyoneil/2008952027_oneil31.html. Retrieved April 9, 2009.
- ^ Lacitis, Erik (June 10, 2010). "Soccer-mad Seattle gets pumped up for the World Cup". The Seattle Times. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/worldcup/2012084958_soccer11m.html. Retrieved June 28, 2010.
- ^ Chen, Joyce (October 30, 2009). "Playoff excitement tickles Seattle Sounders fans". The News Tribune. http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/935325.html. Retrieved October 30, 2009.
- ^ a b Booth, Tim (June 28, 2009). "Sounders make noise". The Spokesman-Review. http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/jun/28/sounders-make-noise/. Retrieved August 11, 2009.
- ^ Vito, "Christopher A." (March 24, 2010). "Sons of Ben will hear from Sounders fans". Delaware County Daily Times. http://www.delcotimes.com/articles/2010/03/24/sports/doc4baadb74e9ddc833805870.txt. Retrieved March 25, 2010.
- ^ Dahl, Steven (April 27, 2010). "Sounders Fans Unite". The Western Front. http://westernfrontonline.net/2010042712175/sports/sounders-fans-unite/. Retrieved April 27, 2010.[dead link]
- ^ http://blackhillsmilitia.com/
- ^ http://www.weareecs.com/about/groups/brougham-boys-74/
- ^ Olson, Taylor (April 8, 2009). "City of Rain pours admiration, appreciation on Sounders FC". Seattle University Spectator. http://media.www.su-spectator.com/media/storage/paper948/news/2009/04/08/Sports/City-Of.Rain.Pours.Admiration.Appreciation.On.Sounders.Fc-3702776.shtml. Retrieved April 9, 2009.
- ^ http://www.thecityofrain.com/about.html
- ^ http://www.weareecs.com/groups/
- ^ "So. Cal Sound". Members Association. Seattle Sounders FC. http://www.soundersfc.com/Alliance/Supporter-Clubs/So-Cal-Sound.aspx. Retrieved May 9, 2009.
- ^ http://www.weareecs.com/about/groups/socal-sound/
- ^ Romero, José Miguel (August 8, 2003). "206 vs. 503: Soccer rivalry still simmers". The Seattle Times. http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=20030808&slug=sounders08. Retrieved April 10, 2009.
- ^ Romero, José Miguel (June 30, 2009). "Portland Timbers fans take rivalry with Sounders FC to another level". The Seattle Times. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sounders/2009399549_sounders30.html. Retrieved June 30, 2009.
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Emerald City Supporters |
- Emerald City Supporters
- Black Hills Militia
- Brougham Boys '74
- Bellingham Border Boys
- City of Rain Supporters
- SoCal Sound
- 253 Defiance
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