Brougham Times for January, 2010

We are in the midst of a (for some of us at least) a painfully long off season. Football Manager/FIFA 2010 doesn't take the place of standing on the terraces with you crazy kids. Luckly this off-season is packed with all things ECS related. Besides the enormous End of Year Party, we have ECS night with the T-birds and Snow Day! Also we have a chance to reflect on the year that has passed and become excited about the glory to come!

Up the ECS and Up the Sounders!!!

-The Emerald City Supporters

Editor: Chip has been with the ECS for several years and to our knowledge has not killed anyone.

The season for the Sounders came to an abrupt end in Houston by a
single, unanswered goal during overtime play. We watched together,
wherever we happened to be, as the ball broke the threshold and then,
together, we waited for a response from our side that never came. The
whistle was blown but the point was on the wrong side of the
scoreboard. And that was all folks.

A group can share a feeling
as much as one among the whole can. When there is a unifying purpose, a
shared sense in a moment – that mood carries from one to another
without need of communicating it verbally. It's felt; it's understood.
When that final whistle went off to mark the end of our season, the
sensation that scattered throughout the surrounding crowd was a collage
of disappointment, shock and drunken indignation. Random single fingers
sprouted at the end of extended fists gesturing an assertive "FU" to an
indifferent TV screen. There were low-pitched rumblings as many shifted
about anxiously, wanting to release the tension but not clear how to do
so without being jailed for the night. What we shared was, above all
else, dark.

And then we broke into a chant.

The same as
we done on the first match of the MLS season. Beneath the massive
overhead – the Seattle sunlight bathing those under it, those hundreds
under it, in shades of blue and green from above. The power of those
voices united in song throughout three full section of the Brougham End
for the boys down on the pitch. There too on that first day the
feelings of individuals came together in purpose to demonstrate support
toward our shared obsession – the Seattle Sounders.

We chanted
for our boys this year on the opening kick at home; scaring the
uninitiated to football culture with displays rarely seen in the U.S.
That fear spread throughout the league to other teams who have had
years to energize the MLS but did little during their time. Together
from outside the fence, game after game, they watched the Emerald City
Supporters from the Brougham End put on some of the best shows of what
it means to be a football supporter yet witnessed. On away games, some
teams were front-and-center to watch a dedicated group of Sounders
fanatics traveling across the country to stand with our boys behind
enemy lines. On our shoulders we carried that shared enthusiasm from
back home to all locations, to all opening kicks, regardless of the
stadium. The ECS booted a resounding wakeup call across the collective
heads of the MLS. And they've taken notice.

The wins/loses,
scores, penalty cards, attacking minutes, saves and all statistics can
be found online – or held in the memory of those with trained drunken
recall. Support for the team doesn't hinge on figures. Flags,
two-poles, hugging your random neighbor in a pogo and chants will
continue to block the view of the casual fan up until the run of play
and beyond. Without concern for the score or minutes left until the
final whistle. As it has always been it will continue to be for the
years to come.

At the end of that final game, with voices
thrown together in honor of the Sounders, the song sweeping up everyone
around despite the loss, we remained true to the passion of this
inaugural MLS season. As supporters we have shown the league, the
country and the world that addiction to the sport is sweeping up those
in and around Seattle. They're reeling back from what we've shown them
- that reaction's deserved. That's us. That's the ECS behind the team.
And everyone else only have a few short months to get ready for what
comes out of Seattle in the coming season. Our boys have the world's
attention. All eyes are looking at us.

Take em all.

When and how did you first follow soccer?

I started following soccer when I began playing, in the second grade.
Up until 10 years ago it had been very difficult to follow but since
the advent of the internet and FSC in 2005 my life has been much better.

When and how did you first meet up with the ECS?

I
met this colorful bunch of beautiful bastards on Nov 22nd 2008 at the
George and Dragon in Fremont for the MLS cup final, Columbus V New
York. I remember 3 people from that day. I remember Sean for getting
everybody started with Bluest Skies, I remember Keith (or his Mohawk
rather) and Steve O. who used to run the membership table. Even though
I didn't talk to or know anybody, I only had to be there for about 8
seconds to realize that I was not only Sounders till I die but ECS as
well.

What is supporter culture to you and why are you a supporter?

Supporter's culture to me is… this is actually harder to
define than I thought it would be. I could say that supporter culture
is giving my full 90 or 120. I could say that it's screaming until the
muscles on the back of my neck ach, my head is pounding and my voice is
gone. I could also say that it's spending hours and hours of my free
time working on tifo and attending meetings and driving all over the
damn place to accomplish these goals. In truth, supporter's culture is
all of these things but it's also all the intangibles, all the little
things that most people don't see. To an outsider if you asked them
what the ECS does they would say that we sing, chant and make big
signs, which is true in a very ignorant sort of way. But if you asked
me what the ECS does I would say we're there to help our boys win,
bottom line. We aren't there for personal gain or to be recognized
(unlike the clowns in the front row). If the Sounders won every game
and the ECS was the only reason for those victories, I personally
wouldn't care if we never got any credit. It's not about us; it's about
the boys on the pitch. Come match day that's all I can think about. My
job should have s-canned me by now cause I am worthless on match day
(and usually the day after) because all I want to do is get my ass to
RBP and help the lads pick up 3 points. I like a bit of anonymity
(ironic that I'm being interviewed). Not anonymity within the ECS
necessarily, but without. I love you guys but don't give two shits if
anybody else knows what I do.

What is your favorite moment being a supporter?

My favorite moment being a
supporter has to be the USOC semi-final against Houston at Starfire.
Some might say that our 3-nill shellacking of the deadbulls on opening
day was their favorite moment or essentially beating p*rtland on their
ground 1 minute into the 3rd round match. Others would say that
traveling to DC for the Open Cup final and bringing home some
silverware during our first MLS season was the highlight of the year.
For me it was the roller coaster of emotion that we were on that night
beautiful night in July; it was enough to make you dizzy. Seba's near
miss on the free kick then Akinbiyi's goal against Keller followed my
Montero's over-juke inside the 18. Was enough to give me a heart
attack, and that was only the first half. Then in the first 10 minutes
of the second half Zakuani's volley got deflected, Le Toux had a
beautiful corner that was headed by Hurtato and would have been a goal
if not for Boswells off the line save and of course the infamous
Houston diving fiasco began and didn't let up until the final whistle.
Then… Jaqua got the equalizer with less than a minute to go in
regulation and King scored the game winner 5 minutes into OT. But you
don't need me to tell you, you were all there.

What direction do you see supporter culture going in the US?

We've heard it a
thousand times this season but the ECS has raised the bar of Supporters
culture in the US. Even though it would make away matches more
difficult, I wish every MLS team had the support that the Sounders do.

What would you like to see from the ECS in the future?

Going
forward I want the ECS to take over the entire south end and continue
to raise the bar. We are a bench mark and other groups would be wise to
learn from us. It's year one for the MLS Sounders and we brought it,
hands down.

Why do you flip off people all the time? Are you just an angry person
inside or has humanity scared you in some unmentionable way?

Each month we are asking one supporter about what music they are currently listening to. This month it is a familiar face: ECS capo extraordinaire Sean.

The Sounders US Open Cup triumphant achieved via an epic
emotionally draining semi-final reminded me of one the great cup upsets I was
fortunate enough to witness on the terraces (standing of course as it was back
then!). The Football Association Challenge Cup is even older than the Lamar
Hunt Trophy and born in 1872 is the

oldest football cup competition in the world. Commonly known as the F.A. Cup,
it has spawned a number of titanic entertaining games down the years, one of
which I saw as a "pup" in 1972. Leyton Orient, then in Division 2, against the
mighty Chelsea from Division one, the highest division at that time.

When I wasn't traveling to watch my team (Leeds) due to
finances as all my games were "away" ( I lived in London and as such I never
had a "real home game", I usually watched West Ham at Upton Park, or when
finances were extremely low, Leyton Orient (the O's). Orient was not only a
cheap place to watch games but back in those days one of the easiest grounds to
"bunk in" (climb over the wall and watch for free).

Unfortunately cup games were different due to extra security
and moreover the presence of Chelsea dictated extra policing due to the volume
of away support and more importantly their history of violence at this time.
Throw in the fact that Orient was in East London and that Chelsea resided in
the West meant that there was potential for West Ham or even Millwall
supporters to pay their respects to visiting Chelsea!

I was lucky to get a ticket for this game as FA Cup tickets were
always in high demand – this was achieved through getting up at the crack of
dawn on a raw winter Sunday, getting on the tube, walking to the ground, and
queuing for hours in freezing cold temperatures. I looked back on this later as
time well spent.

Game day and expectations were high. I was packed solid
standing behind the goal and it seemed like there were definitely "extras" in
there without tickets because you couldn't move. It was pre Hillsborough so the
cops didn't care.

The match was
played out on an atrocious pitch, more commonly known as a "mudbath",
but this didn't stop Chelsea from going 2-0 up with ease (Osgood got the 2^nd),
and dampening any O's thoughts of moving to the next round. Of course I was
behind the O's, they being the underdog and playing Chelsea a team I hated from
my Leeds standpoint. Closer to half time it seemed as all Chelsea had to do was
to get to the locker room and cruise the second half. Then the old cup magic
appeared and Orient managed to score just before the stroke of half time. All
that waiting and singing in the freezing cold seemed worthwhile and suddenly there
was hope!

The second half couldn't come quickly enough and the magic
just kept coming. The ball was sticking like crazy in the mud, but it was the
same for both sides. It seemed like the O's had the heart for it and when a
Chelsea defender made a mistake around 5 minutes into the 2^nd half, suddenly
Orient were level at 2-2. The crowd went bananas, and now the upset was on.

Every minute seemed like a lifetime until it reached the
last minute of the game and a replay looked odds on. Out of the blue another defensive mistake let Barry
Fairbrother in to make it 3-2 for the O's – pandemonium. All you could see was
a sea of red and hear wild screams of joy. Chelsea just got to kick off and the
whistle blew moments later. Absolute nirvana. Orient made it to the 6^th
round, unbelievable.

A momentous cup upset, after all the Chelsea team had the
likes of Ron "Chopper" Harris, David Webb, Peter Bonetti, John Hollins, Eddie McCreadie, Peter Osgood, Alan
Houseman, and Alan Hudson.

Check out youtube: Orient 3 Chelsea 2 – F.A. Cup 1972.

We will be getting ready for the up coming season(FINALLY), interviewing another fellow ECSer, reliving an away trip to Chivas USA and much more…

If you have an articles you would like to send in, questions, or coments contact us at: newsletter@weareecs.com