ISSAQUAH, WA — Puget Sound Gunners FC coach Jimmy Ball (picture attached) has spent nearly his entire life on a soccer pitch.
Whether it was learning from his father, English soccer legend and 1966 World Cup champion Alan Ball Jr., or sporting a kit himself, Ball’s soccer education began before he even realized it.
“I’m extremely proud of my father and what he did,” Ball said. “I learned so much from being around him growing up. My whole life from an early age was just ensconced in soccer.”
Ball, an Issaquah resident, has coached and managed for clubs across the world, including Ireland’s Shelbourne Football Club, Spain’s Ardiles Football Academy and England’s Portsmouth Football Club.
Before that, he suited up for the Exeter City Football Club and the English Premier League’s Southampton Football Club.
“Being able to impress and do well in that environment was such a thrill,” he said of his time in the EPL. “Running with the big boys, running with the EPL boys and loving every minute of it, that’s a moment I’ll never forget.”
Ball’s next task is coaching players that have aspirations to one day reach the highest levels of professional soccer. He will pull double duty as head coach of both the Premier Development League’s Puget Sound Gunners FC and the Women’s Premier Soccer League’s ISC Gunners.
“The challenge is an exciting one and I’m looking forward to it,” Ball said. “I’m relishing the opportunity to help these players develop further.”
Ball also serves as the Issaquah Soccer Club’s director of football and holds a UEFA B Coaching License and an FA Coaching Diploma.
Alex Silva, Emerson De Oliveira and Gwynne Williams round out the PDL Gunners’ staff as assistant coach, goalkeeper coach and general manager, respectively.
Silva coached the North Sound SeaWolves, now the Puget Sound Gunners FC, for the last three years. He was previously with the Yakima Reds USL PDL from the end of 2009 to 2010.
Originally from Brazil, Silva has experience playing for various teams including Vila Nova FC, Anapolina, Goiania EC and Inhumas EC. Silva started his coaching career at Overlake School with Bob Bristol in 2004. He is a USSF licensed coach.
“I look forward to the season,” Silva said. “Every year our goal is to help develop these young players to the next level. The success will come with the hard work and quality football.”
De Oliveira is entering his fifth year working with the goalkeepers at Highline College and was recently promoted to associate head coach. He holds the NSCAA Advanced National GK License and a USSF C Coaching License.
As a player, De Oliveira starred at John F. Kennedy Catholic High School before playing at the University of San Francisco, during which the team won the West Coast Conference. He transferred to Seattle University, where he was one of the nation’s top goalkeepers.
“My goal is to create a competitive and intelligent training environment in which a highly talented group of keepers can find the razor-sharp form needed to succeed not only in the PDL, but also in the next stage of each respective player’s career,” De Oliveira said.
Williams was named the Issaquah Soccer Club’s executive director in May. Before that, he was an assistant coach with Major League Soccer’s New England Revolution and spent more than a decade on the Bermuda Football Association’s national team staff.
“My role as the GM is to support the program in all aspects,” he said. “Whether I’m supporting the coaching staff, the administration or the players, I will be running around doing whatever needs doing.”
The Gunners will open their season May 17 with a 1 p.m. home game against the Portland Timbers U-23 at Mount Si High School (8651 Meadowbrook Way S.E., Snoqualmie). The rest of the team’s home games will be played at Issaquah High School (700 Second Ave. S.E., Issaquah).
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About the Puget Sound Gunners FC
The Gunners are in the eight-team Northwest Division of the Premier Development League, the highest level of amateur soccer in the United States. Last year, the Gunners played as the North Sound SeaWolves, before the team partnered with the Issaquah Soccer Club and moved operations from Edmonds to Issaquah. Players from the University of Washington, Seattle University, Seattle Pacific University, Western Washington University, Harvard University and more will suit up for the Gunners. Single-game tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for youth. Anyone younger than seven gets in free. Fans can purchase tickets at the gate on game day, or online at http://bit.ly/GunnersFCTix.
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