Empire Supporters Club
First. Last. Forever.
ESC isn't just about matchday. We're about showing up for each other and for the communities we represent.
ESC has always stood with LGBTQ+ rights — it flows directly from the group's anti-racist, anti-fascist roots. The supporters section has always been a place where everyone is welcome, and bigotry gets shut down fast.
Through partnerships with organizations like Prideraiser, ESC has raised funds for LGBTQ+ causes during Pride Month and throughout the season.
In 2009, ESC competed in a charity soccer tournament that raised over $5,000 for the City Soccer Initiative, helping bring soccer programs to underserved communities.
These tournaments are a regular part of ESC's off-field identity — playing the game we love while raising money for causes that matter.
When disaster hits, ESC members show up — organizing donations, fundraisers, and awareness campaigns. The supporter network becomes a mutual aid network when it matters most.
The founding principle of ESC — that supporter culture must be actively anti-racist and anti-fascist — continues to inform its community work. The 2023 Vanzeir protest, where ESC walked out alongside fellow supporters groups, redirected donations to Black Players for Change.
"The thing that I'm most proud of is that it left the ESC with a point of view that was very open-minded and accepting... That continues to be one of the stronger principles of the ESC." — Kevin McAllister, founder
ESC has partnered with Football Factory — a hub for soccer culture in New York — for watch parties, community events, and as a place to connect beyond matchday.
These partnerships extend ESC's reach from the stadium into the broader New York soccer scene.
From supporting individual members in need to contributing to larger causes, ESC operates on the idea that a supporters group should be a support network — not just for the team, but for each other.
Past efforts include:
Community work compiled from archived news coverage, ESC statements, and member recollections.