Emerald City Supporters
| Emerald City Supporters | |
| Motto | No Equal |
| Team | Seattle Sounders FC |
| Location | Seattle, Qwest 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.
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. 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.[1] 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.[2] When the name of the new club was decided by vote, the ECS was very active in rallying votes for the Sounders moniker.[3] When the Sounders played in the USL the ECS had fewer than a hundred members, but the arrival of MLS in Seattle resulted in a rapid growth of ECS membership, and the group is now several hundred strong.[4][5]
Gameday
ECS occupies sections 121-123 at Qwest Field, the home ground of the Sounders. These sections are general admission sections located behind the goal at the south end of Qwest Field, also known as The Brougham End. On the day of a home game the ECS congregates bars in the Pioneer Square area, and marches together the half-mile distance from Occidental Park to Qwest Field.[5][6] During games the ECS contributes to a supporters atmosphere through standing, singing, and tifo. Songs are lead by a capo with the aid of a megaphone.[5] For away games the ECS organizes watch parties in and around Seattle.[7]
Songs
Emerald City Supporters take influence from the Continental European, British, and Latin American traditions of singing at the stadium. The Continental European influence shows in songs that involve coordinated movement, such as pogoing and scarf waving for Dale Cavese. The British influence manifests itself in the adaptation of 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. At kick-off the ECS sings the first verse of the Perry Como song Seattle.
Structure
Emerald City Supporters has a number of sub groups. The most notable ones are:
- Bellingham Border Boys — a regional sub group based in Bellingham, WA
- Brougham Boys '74 — an invite only ultras group
- City of Rain Supporters — a sub group based at Seattle University [8]
- East Side Elite — a regional sub group based in the Eastside
- So Cal Sound Established in '09— a regional sub group based in Los Angeles
Rival Groups
References
- ^ "Seattle vs. Los Angeles US Open Cup August 27, 2003 Seahawks Stadium". GoalSeattle.com. Retrieved April 10, 2009.
- ^ Steve Clare (August 18, 2008). "Seattle United FC?". European Weekly. Retrieved April 10, 2009.
- ^ Max J. Rosenthal (March 30, 2008). "Seattle Speaks: The Case for the Sounders". Pitch Invasion. Retrieved April 09, 2009.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ "Wir stehen und singen die gesamte Spielzeit über". Stadionwelt. March 20, 2008. Retrieved April 10, 2009.
- ^ a b c Danny O'Neill (March 30, 2009). "Converted to the other game of football". The Seattle Times. Retrieved April 09, 2009.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ David Falk (March 12, 2009). "Emerald City Supporters reveal opening match plans for Sounders FC blast-off". Examiner.com. Retrieved April 09, 2009.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ David Falk (April 8, 2009). "The Pub's the place when Sounders are away or sold out". Examiner.com. Retrieved April 10, 2009.
- ^ Taylor Olson (April 8, 2009). "City of Rain pours admiration, appreciation on Sounders FC". Seattle University Spectator. Retrieved April 09, 2009.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ José Miguel Romero (August 8, 2003). "206 vs. 503: Soccer rivalry still simmers". Seattle Times. Retrieved April 10, 2009.
External links
