Proud Canaries the issue is that homophobic abuse in English football has generally been tolerated and ignored and that some supporters need a little time and encouragement to process the change in expectations of other fans and club officers. Proud Canaries Proud Canaries is the Norwich City FC's LGBT Fans & Friends Group with the vision 'Challenging discrimination for better enjoyment of the beautiful game'. Proud Canaries launched at the Norwich City game v Tottenham Hotspur in February 2014 and is the second officially recognised LGBT supporters' group in the country, the first being Gay Gooners, the Arsenal FC LGBT group. Proud
Empire Supporters Club ex-player diagnosed with cancer. February 2011, a month before the start of the 2011 MLS season, saw the ESC men's soccer team play in the inaugural South Ward Football Challenge, winning the Spanish Pavilion Cup. The tournament saw teams representing the ESC, Garden State Supporters, Viking Army supporters and NY Red Bull front office play for the cup and bring in both cash and equipment donations for Balls Without Borders and the U.S. Soccer Foundation. 2012 saw the return of the South Ward Football Challenge with the ESC team defending its title and helping, along with the other participating teams,