Looking Back on 2010 and Forward to 2011

Thank you Emerald City Supporters!

2010 Was a good year for the ECS. We learned a lot about ourselves and our role in the sounders community. We had a packed year of football with three important competitions for the Sounders and, of course, the World Cup. Each gave us great memories – the USOC gave us our second trophy and the US win over Algeria at the Atlantic Crossing gave us one of the most memorable football moments in our lives.

It was a very busy year in which ECS tried new things both in and outside the stadium. Participation has grown and now several of our songs are sung by the entire stadium. The PA and its use definitely helped in getting the many more in the Brougham End to participate. The ECS also increased its sophistication in the tifo department with the use of more graphic displays and the use of card displays. We also spread our message and style of support thanks to the info table on the concourse behind the GA. Over the summer we partnered with Big Al’s Brewing and created Brougham Bitter-the first supporters’ beer sold in a stadium in the US. The Brougham Bitter has become a staple of the ECS diet and has been consumed in great numbers (we killed over 10 kegs of it on June 10th, the day the beer was released).

In 2010 the ECS also travelled in higher average numbers than 2009 with an average of 70 away supporters per match over the season. This includes the massive midweek trip to Portland, preseason in Vancouver as well as large groups we sent to LA, Salt Lake, and Chicago just to mention some of the most memorable ones. And of course lest we forget the epic traveling done by the ECS in Central American for the CCL (which saw us send about 20 supporters to El Salvador and 40 to Costa Rica). The ECS also hosted an epic season end party that was a success for all those that attended! The ECS, together with other Sounders FC supporter groups have also raised several thousand dollars for local charities and organizations in the Puget Sound. The ECS expanded its media reach in 2010 as well with a revamped ECS Podcast aka “The Sweatshop”, a revamped newsletter, and the addition of the street propaganda team. ECS’ subgroups also saw steady growth in numbers and media presence. We would like to apologize in advance if any component of ECS was left out above; as you know we are thankful for each and every member that works his or her ass off to make sure that the voice from the Brougham End gets ever so louder match by match.

So a big thank you for all the work that allowed the above changes and improvements to the ECS in 2010! Our family is growing both in quantity but most importantly in quality. The work that every member puts both into game day and outside of game day is necessary to sustain the entity that is the ECS. Each and every member bringing in new members and friends to experience what we do and how we work as a family outside of sounder game days is so important to setting roots in the Sounders community.

There is no question that our members should be proud of this group and of what we have accomplished. Now we all must look to 2011 as a springboard year. 2009 was a start for most of us, 2010 was a consolidation and 2011 will be a springboard to new heights. Each member must be ready for this jump. It is the first of many derby years to come and each member must match the intensity of this first rivalry year with dedication to the sounders and to the ECS.

Soon ECS leadership will be releasing a re-organization of the ECS in the coming weeks. The purpose of the re-org is to streamline the ECS, provide clearer communication lines, better communicate between ECS members and leadership, identify clear roles in the organization, and create a structure within which aspiring ECS members can advance over time. Please stay posted, but we ask that ECS members become familiar with this structure and also try to find a role within this structure because we need you to get things done. We need the help of our members as this group exists because of you and for you.

So, here’s to a great 2011! May it bring silverware, great support, great tifo and great memories! 2009 and 2010 are full of these memories and we should never forget them as we move forward and onto conquering MLS, USOC, and CCL in 2011. And once again- thank you to all of you that help make the ECS what it is-your support is invaluable and essential to the success of the Sounders and the ECS. UP THE SOUNDERS AND UP THE ECS.

See you on the terraces,
ECS Leadership