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The Latest from WA Legends

Applications Open for Jimmy Gabriel Scholarship

Applications are new being accepted for the Jimmy Gabriel Memorial Scholarship. This will be our second year of awards for the scholarship, with nine young women and men receiving aid to pursue higher education in 2022-23. This JGMS is funded through the generous contributions of our Washington soccer community, extending the legacy of Jimmy who was a beloved player and coach since his arrival in Seattle in 1974.

Scholarships for the 2023-24 school year will be granted to selected soccer players seeking further education, whether college or vocational training. Applications can be made online HERE. The deadline for consideration is May 1. Recipients will be announced in May.

Jimmy Gabriel was a Scot born in humble circumstances. He saw soccer as his way to a better life and sought every day to better himself.

He became a legend in Seattle through playing and coaching at many levels, including the Seattle Sounders and the University of Washington. He was described as a whole-hearted and inspiring coach, ever-humble, generous and popular, who left his mark everywhere he went.

Scholarships of $500 to $1000 each will be awarded to one or more high school seniors in Washington who maintain a 3.0 GPA and show financial need. Like Jimmy Gabriel, the recipient must possess the following characteristics:

• Has humble roots and seizes every opportunity to better themself.

• Is a very giving person, generous with time and talents.

• May be the first person in their family to achieve higher education, whether college or vocational education.

• Intends to continue playing soccer.

• Has a record of working hard to contribute to their own success.

• By May 1, 2023, submits a completed application, an unofficial transcript of current academics and a letter to the committee explaining how they fit the above criteria.

We encourage anyone and any organization who benefitted from Jimmy’s countless contributions, to consider donating toward this fund. Washington State Legends of Soccer is a 501(c)3 registered charity.

New on YouTube: Why History Matters

Our new YouTube series, Why History Matters, has commenced on our WA Legends YouTube channel. Beginning October 21, we are dropping new episodes each Friday for the next few weeks. These are 15-20 minute conversations with personalities from our local soccer community as well as those of the greater world.

Our first two guest are University of Washington men’s coach Jamie Clark and OL Reign Academy executive director Amy Griffin. Clark guided the Huskies to the 2021 NCAA College Cup final, and Griffin, a 1991 World Cup winner, coached at UW for 24 years and is currently the U.S. Women’s Deaf National Team coach.

In the weeks to come we will bring you Colleen Hacker (Pacific Lutheran and USWNT championship coach), Peter Hattrup (former Seattle Pacific and Sounders star), Pablo Maurer (The Athletic), Jonathan Tannenwald (Philadelphia Inquirier) and Grant Wahl, one of the world’s most respected soccer journalists and now heading to Qatar to cover his 13th FIFA World Cup, both men and women.

Become a subscriber to our YouTube channel and you’ll get alerts on newly released content. We hope you enjoy it.

In this year...

1980

Seattle PCI Sharks and Blue Angels win the first U.S. women’s amateur and over-30 national championships in Miami. The Sharks won on penalties (1-1; 4-2) over Camp Springs, Md. While the Blue Angels beat North Texas Flash, 2-0. Both teams were coached by Mike Ryan.

1950

George P. “Barney” Kempton, a native of Ireland who came to Seattle in 1914, is inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame as a charter member of the first class in Philadelphia. Kempton starred in the state league, then served many years as secretary to the state association, founded the CYO leagues and covered the sport for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. For more than four decades he was Washington’s Mr. Soccer.

1979

Chon Garcia founds Liga Hispana, comprised of 18 teams of Hispanic players, in Burien. By 2012, the league will grow to more than 120 teams and eventually similar leagues, as well as affiliated women’s and youth play, will take root around the state.

Want to learn more about the greatest moments in Washington soccer history?

About
Us

We want people to love the game by playing, watching, coaching, and supporting it. We want to preserve our history and share why we've become an epicenter for soccer. We want to celebrate our Legends, not only those famous but others on whose backs this community was built. And we want to inspire others, to take the torch, to create opportunities for the underserved and inspire future generations to give back to this Beautiful Game.

Learn more about our mission, vision and people.

Learn More

Western Washington University

From Washington to the World Cup

The NINETY Sat, August 31, 2019 406 Occidental Ave. S. Seattle, WA 98104 Ticket required

Learning from the Pros / Live WA Legends Webinar

Monday, April 12, 5pm PDT Free admission; Suggested donation $15

A Night with Alan Hinton and Friends

Kirkland Performance Center Tue, Mar 19, 2019 350 Kirkland Ave. Kirkland, WA 98033 Watch a very special evening of laughs and touching stories:

Tacoma Stars Heritage Night/WA Youth Soccer Hall of Fame

ShoWare Center Sun, Feb 24, 2019 625 James St. Kent, WA 98032 Watch the induction ceremony:

Events

Join Washington State Legends of Soccer as we celebrate our soccer community through Webinars, Heritage Nights, Speaker Series and Operation Outreach - all illustrating what makes this such a rich and vibrant soccer community.

Register today for one of these upcoming events.

Donations

Your support today will help Washington State Legends of Soccer preserve our rich soccer history, share it free of charge with the world, and support initiatives that give back to the game. Your donations make a difference in celebrating the game and its people and making the sport more accessible across the state. WA Legends is a 501(c)(3) registered charity. NOTE: First-time users of this portal will first enroll to create an account. After clicking below see Sign-Up (in the box on the left).

Help us make a difference today!