REGION — The Del Mar Carmel Valley Sharks recently added five new members to its coaching and administrative staff.
Billy Garton was named director of the boys competitive team and Warren Barton is the new technical director. Ryan Penton, Steve Gonzalez and Platini Soaf have also joined the Sharks coaching staff.
Garton had a 10-year career with Manchester United before an injury forced him to retire in 1990. He holds an honors degree in education, specializing in physical education, and was a teacher for five years after retiring from professional soccer.
He coached professionally in the minor leagues in England for several years but also coached players as young as preschool age.
He is currently involved in a soccer management company that specializes in presenting elite youth soccer players with professional opportunities in Europe and the United States.
Barton, a London native, played soccer for 18 years in the English Premier League, with 500 senior level appearances. He was chairman of the Professional Footballers Association in the United Kingdom for two years.
After his professional soccer career Barton was an analyst for SKY Sports Television, covering major soccer leagues and competitions.
He moved to the United States six years ago to become the head analyst on Fox Soccer Channel, which is now Fox Sports.
He was head coach of the Under-18 Los Angeles Galaxy team for two years and then general manager of the L.A. Blues. Four years ago he became owner and head coach of the San Diego Flash.
Soaf will be working with the competitive girls teams. He has coached for more than two decades at all levels of women’s soccer, including extensive work with the Olympic Development Program.
He has international experience in men’s and women’s coaching, administration and training in Mexico, Brazil, France, Canada, England, Morocco, Costa Rica, Portugal, Spain and Germany.
Among the many players Soaf has sent to college or beyond is Rachel Buehler, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and native of Del Mar.
Established in 1970, the DMCV Sharks is a nonprofit, volunteer organization that offers recreational and competitive soccer programs and camps for players of all abilities from ages 5 to 19.
Based in Carmel Valley, the club emphasizes development of the individual player over team success. However, winning is a natural consequence of maximizing each individual player’s potential. Players are given equal playing time in league games.
Visit www.dmcvsharks.com or call (858) 794-8404 for more information.
