Renton, Wash. - The Seattle Sounders FC first community clean-up project will be held on Sunday, April 18, at Franklin High School. Fans are invited to participate alongside Sounders FC players and coaches, through the leadership of non-profit, Rebuilding Together Seattle. Players and coaches will be present from 9 – 10 a.m.

The clean-up project will include painting, storage organization, cleaning and landscaping school grounds. Volunteers must be at least 14 years old and commit a minimum of four hours on the project.

The Sounders FC “United We Serve” community enhancement program is a monthly side-by-side player and fan volunteer service program in partnership with Seattle Bank. The program provides support for grassroots community-based leadership service projects that impact the local community.

For more information and to volunteer, visit www.soundersfc.com/unitedweserve.

School Address

Franklin High School

3013 South Mt. Baker Blvd.

Seattle, WA 98144

It is a good thing that the might Emerald City Supporters (ECS), finally got their shipment of scarves in from customs for the 2010 campaign. Nothing keeps a soccer fan more warm at a footy match on a blustery cold, spring night than a footy scarf. With the type of weather that fans experienced this past Saturday, at the X-Box pitch at Qwest Field. Not only were Sounders fan hoisting their scarves up as per usual. In between hoists, those scarves were wrapped tightly around their necks to keep them warm in the chilly air.

The ECS ranks are growing larger and stronger by the day. This past Saturday, their pre-match membership drive was in full gear as several new members lined up at the official pre-match hangout, Fuel, to become a member of ECS. Members from last year, lined up to renew their membership. For 30 dollars, ECS members receive a beautiful argyle scarves that are designed by ruffneckwear.com. In addition, members receive a handsome T-shirt and membership card that is good for discounts at several establishments and businesses in the area.

SFI is a proud supporter and member of ECS. In fact, SFI just got their ECS gear this past Saturday as you can see in the below SFI TV video. The video below features some pre-match, “March to the Match footage ECS style, along with a conversation with ECS Capo, Sean McConnell, who helps lead the chants that contribute to the amazing atmosphere that is generated out of the section 123 Brougham End. The joyous sounds of ECS chants are now world renowned and make attending a Sounders match a unique and almost spiritual experience. The music in the video features the song penned just for the Seattle Sounders, by a group called Grammatrain. The number features the backing vocals of  non other than members of the Emerald City Supporters.

If you like the song you can download it on iTunes. If you like what you hear, check out the groups website, Grammatrain.net Do you want to join ECS? Membership information for Seattle Sounders FC premier supporters group is available here

SFI TV (HD):

The Seattle Sounders took on the New York Red Bulls for the third time in the clubs history. It was a little over a year ago that the two clubs met for the first time, as the Sounders opened up their MLS campaign with an impressive 3 to nil victory against New York. This year the Sounders were not as fortunate. In fact, the club squandered several opportunities during the flow of play and on set pieces, to put the ball in the back in the net and a goal by Red Bull Macoumba Kandji gave New York all they needed to come away from Seattle’s home pitch with 3 points and a 2-0 record.

Pat Noonan, making his Seattle debut, entered the game in 56th minute for Roger Levesque. Noonan, a two-time MLS All-star selection, signed on March 31. Rookie David Estrada made his MLS debut, entering the match in the 83rd minute for Leo Gonzalez. Seattle selected Estrada with the 11th overall selection in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft. Saturday night marked the first time that New York defeated Seattle in MLS play. Sounders FC topped the Red Bulls 3-0 in last season’s opener and drew 1-1 in New York in June.

For more post game reporting and commentary, choose from the menu below from some of the finest soccer writers in the region…

By Steve Clare

Throughout last night’s game, someone on the PA was informing the assembled press that Sounders had broken their franchise record for winning corners. Subsequently, every time they won a further one, we would be informed again a new club record had been set.This was irritating for two reasons. First to me it seemed more redolent of the NFL obsession with statistics for the sake of them, and any soccer fan would know how meaningless the setting of a new record for the number of corner kicks in one match was. If you don’t believe me, go down to the Brougham End next game and bore someone senseless with a running total of right hand throw- ins Sounders are taking. See what reaction you get. To read the rest go here

By Dave Clark

MLS classifies every goal scored into the following categories – Open Play, Cross, Rebound, Own Goal and four types of set-play – the Corner, the Penalty, the Direct Kick and the Indirect. About 22% of all goals came from what could broadly be labeled Set-Plays. To read more go here

By David Falk

First it was a blip. Then it was a string. Now it has become a trend. Seattle Sounders FC can’t score goals at Qwest Field.The latest goose egg presented to the faithful came Saturday night when the New York Red Bulls shut out Seattle 1:0 before another huge crowd of over 36,000 fans. Now supporters have an Easter basketful. At some point soon the Sounders are going to have to stop sending home their hordes disappointed. Take a look at the numbers, many of which are zeros. To read more go here

By yamsos

i am not so much pissed as i am bored. Normally,  we have the run of play, and miss 6 fantastic chances, i get pissed. pr when we make bad pass after bad pass, i get pissed. but then there is tonight.  yeah, we had some bad passes, but in general we were flatter than my first….. ok let’s not go there. we were flat. To red more go here

Members of "Son's of Ben" and "Emerald City Supporters" hang on on opening match eve, Photo: Greg Roth / SFI

It took several years but for the footy fans of Philadelphia, finally had their dreams come true as their Philadelphia Union took the field for the first time in an official Major League Soccer League match on the road against second year club, Seattle Sounders FC at the X-Box pitch. The match club made it’s debut in front of 36.000 football starved fans, as well as a national television audience on ESPN. Also See: Philadelphia Union a solid addition to MLS

Unlike the Sounders last year, Philadelphia was not victorious in their inaugural match but the rain nor the loss could not dampen the spirits of some of the most passionate fans in MLS. We are not talking about Sounders fans or their supporters groups that have a reputation of being some of the most rabid fans in the league. We are talking about Philly’s premier supporter group, the Sons of Ben of whom about sixty plus, traveled to Seattle and got in late last Wednesday, March 24th so that they could see their club’s first game in person the following evening.

Most of the group stayed at hotel right next do the stadium where their team would do battle the following night. Members of the supporters group all got together downstairs at the hotel bar on MLS First Kick Eve , to celebrate and start their pub crawl to various local establishments around the stadium.

A few members of Emerald City Supporters even came by to say hi to their fellow supporters from the east. One of the leaders of ECS, Keith Hodo, met SOB co-founder, Bryan James and the two even snapped a photo together. Although their clubs are rivals on and perhaps off the pitch, them, along with other members from each group shared their common passion for the game and respective cities that they love and reside in.

Both clubs and supporters share a lot in common in the fact that they went through the expansion process at around the same time and both cities share a rich soccer history. The “Philadelphia Atoms” of the old NASL had some of the highest attendance in the league prior to San Jose and Seattle coming in and even won the NASL championship in 1973.

Most supporters groups are formed when a club is launched in a particular city. This is not the case with the Sons of Ben, it was because of them and the work that they did with the local and state government that they were not only able to get an expansion franchise but also get a brand new stadium built to house that franchise, in the form of PPL Park, which opens later this summer.

In some ways, PPL Park could be called the football stadium that the Sons of Ben built. The reality is their passion, drive and community activisim was a real game changer. The Sons of Ben showed other cities that you have the will, are organized and have support of some important folks, big things can happen. We had a lot of fun stopping by the bar before the match and watching the SOB do their thing in full effect, while their proud owners, and club executives, decked out in full Philadelphia Union regalia, look on like proud parents.

After a tough match, some Sounders and Union supporters got together in person to have some beers, talk about respective their teams, their boys and analyze the match. Like the Sounders faithful last year, the Philadelphia faithful, no longer were they on the outside of MLS looking in and waiting for their time. Their time has indeed come, soccer is alive and well in Philadelphia and the city have the Sons of Ben to thank for that.

SFI TV (HD):

The premier supporters group “The Son’s of Ben” visited Seattle to support their club “Philadelphia Union” on the eve of “MLS First Kick 2010″ prior to doing battle with the “Seattle Sounders”. SFI had the opporunity to chat with the group’s leader and founder Bryan James to get his thoughts on the upcoming match as well as former Sounder, Sebastien LeToux.