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| BUSC LOGO 1968 |
By Gary Patton,
presented at “BUSC Night”,
Pleasanton Museum 2003.
THE BIRTH
OF BUSC- IT WAS MY LOVE CHILD BUT THESE
FELLOWS WHERE THE TRUE FATHERS!
For me it all began in 1947, in the dusty
little central valley town of Porterville.
As a 12-year-old seventh grader, in late
March of that year we played "SOCCER" for
two weeks in the spring. This was my first
introduction to the game.
That game had hardly any similarity to the
game that is played today by eight Olds,
particularly when it comes to skill level
and flame savvy!
The field was literally divided in to
thirds, with each player in the line being
required to remain in their section. No
overlapping and making it very difficult
to make "give and go passes"
Not many goals were scored, because it
was more fun to see how many shins you
could "bloody". Almost everyone
had new "field boots- similar to the
ones motorcyclists wear).
In May of that year, this kid had an experience,
which was an "eye-opener".
Are there any of you in here are old enough
to remember "Double Features, Cartoons,
Serials, and News Reels and Specials",
at the local "movie house", all
for 50 cents.
 A few weeks after my introduction to
the game, which was very roughly called "Soccer",
I saw, at the local movie house one Saturday
the high lights of the English FA Cup.
It must have been the first, or second
playing of that championship following
the end of World War II, which was played
at Wembley Stadium.
One Hundred Thousand people singing and
screaming their heads off as skillful
players took 60-yard passes on their
chests, dropping the ball to just above
the ground and sending it off in another
direction to the foot of another player.
WOW (this was something)!
This kid had just had his eyes opened
to a segment of the world unknown to
most Americans of that time and more
certainly all the "oakies" of
the central valley.
Now leap forward about ten years when
the kid is attending San Jose State and
taking classes in the PE Department,
one from Julie Menendez who happened
to be the soccer coach for the University.
As a class assignment, we had to attend
a couple of games, which further peeked
my interest.
 In 1960 as Kennedy came to power and
that whole era began to unfold - along
with "Flower Power" blossoming,
as a young playground director in west
Oakland, I found that Guadalajara SC,
one of only two east bay teams to play
in the San Francisco Soccer League was
training at my playground (De - Fermery
Park, at 16th and Adeline).
Eager to try to get something started
in that area, contact was made with Ernie
Feibusch and Steve Neguesco for clinics.
As they had articles in the SF Chron
from time to time re: "Soccer".
But Even with Pele' getting tons of press
from his success at the 1958 and 1962
World Cups no interest could be generated.
In 1963, this kid is newly appointed
Sports Supervisor for the Livermore Park
and Recreation District with Don Biery
as General Manager, who had played soccer
at BYU and knew that Al Caffodio (a very
influential Livermore merchant) liked
the game immensely.
Wanting to make a name for myself for
being an innovator and wanting to please
my boss I went to meet Caffodio who’s'
roommate at Cal Berkeley in the late
1920's went on to be a professional goalkeeper
in England.
Noting to Caffodio my efforts with Feibusch
and Neguesco in Oakland, he offered $300
and the name and phone number of some
guy that had appeared in the Oakland
Tribune a few days before (Don Greer
of Hayward United, the other team in
the SF Soccer League).
Greer suggested that Patton call his
team the Livermore Atomics (due to the
influence of the Rad Lab) and a 13-15
year old team was recruited by Patton
to play teams like the California School
of the Deaf, EI Cerrito, Hayward and
Antioch in the fall of 1963.
The only schedule was in Greer's head
or on the wall of his basement office
in Castro Valley. This effort later led
to the Alameda-Contra Costa Youth Soccer
League.
In those days, the home coach prepared
the field and each coach refereed a half.
There was, at most, one or two parents
at these games, in games played in late
1963 and 1964. Played at May Nissen Park
in Livermore.
In the spring of 1964, Dublin entered
teams from the school program started
by Ed Hardy a Dublin school teacher.
On July 1 1965, I was appointed the first
Director of Recreation for the City of
Pleasanton by City Manager James Fales,
Jr.
About the same time Lucien Macario ("Frenchy")
and Egil Oftedal took over the Livermore
Atomics.
I was not involved with youth soccer
again until the spring of 1967. Being
preoccupied with getting a new department
off the ground in Pleasanton.
That year, the Oakland Clippers launched
their inaugural season at the Oakland-Alameda
County Coliseum. Greer gave free tickets
to Patton to distribute around the Valley.
By happenstance, Patton and Otedal found
themselves sitting in the same section
of the first Clipper game with their
children.
They had become friends in late 1963
when Oftedal saw Patton and some kids "atrociously
kicking the ball" around at Junction
Ave. School in Livermore one Saturday
afternoon.
Oftedal urged Patton to get a team in
Pleasanton started which he decided to
do.
Oftedal tells the story that I was the
only coach he could beat. (He was not
too far wrong).
I was ready to oblige my friend as substantial
progress had made on getting the fledgling
City of Pleasanton Park & Recreation
program off the ground, so I was in a
position to spend sometime on the "beautiful
game"
Cooper and Mackenzie were the insurance
agents for the City and there would be
times that I would have to go in there
on business.
Georgeann, the lady working the front
desk in that office mentioned that her
husband Harry MILLER like to coach youth
sports. I gave her some tickets and encouraged
them to go to a game.
One day, one of the greatest WARRIORS
of the humane spirit, a man with great
determination and perseverance to overcome
great obstacles came to my office in
the trailer behind City Hall, I remember
not what for now, but I immediately formed
a bond with this strong but compassionate
person, HARRY REGAN.
At that time, much of the news was focused
on the our effort to reach the Moon and
many headlines featured ICBMS (Intercontinental
Ballistic Missiles) noting progress or
failures as they occurred.
With Livermore having the Atomic name, Ballistic
became a "natural" for Pleasanton.
Johnny Moore, not too long from Scotland
was hired to help Patton with the first
team.
The Boldrinis (Rusty & Brad), the
Coopers (Don & Robert) Al Cano, and
Frank Gomez and Kai Krueger where some
of the first players on that first team.
On that first team, coached by Patton.
LARRY BOLDRINI jumped in and became a
stalwart organizer and supporter.
Dublin won the Fall section of the Oakland
Alameda League in 1967 and Oftedal's
team won the spring of 1968.
One Saturday in May of 1968 prior to
an Oakland Clipper game a playoff was
held.
The outcome of this game was a "watershed" for
youth soccer in the Tri- Valley.
One result of this game was the inspiration
to recruit players 10 years of age and
younger, this act resulted in a growth
explosion.
Going into the game, it was assumed
that Dublin was heavily favored and Livermore
would do good just to come out with a
respectable score.
Les Hord, Mike Payne, and Eddie Myer
and Paul Council played games like never
seen before in the Tri- Valley. Livermore
prevailed 7-2 with diminutive Danny Payne
scoring the last two goals.
Seeing this small bow-legged kid come
in and score almost at will, gave such "energy" to
everyone in attendance, it was
unbelievable.
The struggling youth soccer movement
throughout the East Bay took a mammoth
leap forward that day.
That night at Oftedal's house celebrating
(with lots of beer) he urged Patton to
get more teams started in Pleasanton
like was happening in Dublin and Livermore.
Little did he know that Patton had already
made that decision before they were off
the field earlier that afternoon.
Before the next week was out Patton had
ordered $6,500 in uniforms and equipment
from an outfit in New York, with no sure
guaranteed on where the money would come
from to
cover
the cost. It was "Damn the
torpedoes Boys" here we go! One
Friday afternoon in late July of 1968,
Patton offered to take Oftedal to lunch
at Hap's. (Beer and Pool)
After the lunch, Patton drove by the
soon to be constructed Amador Park site.
Where the park, is now, the land had
been cleared of all structures except
one pump-house which was a remnant of
the Orloff Diary which had been there.
The air was charged with excitement!
There he took his Norwegian/American
friend into the dusty old building which
was crammed full of soccer stuff (goal
posts- 3 sets, uniforms for 15 teams,
balls, rule
books, etc. - almost $7,000 GRAND of
team stuff.
Sign-ups here a huge success, more so
than there where coaches. What to do?
Patton bundled up the sign-up forms by
team grouping, put a standard package
of uniforms and equipment together and
start calling fathers saying," If
you want your son to play you must coach
this team!!
Don't worry, we will put on a couple of
clinics for you. Also.
we will get some of the older boys to help
you. All you need to do is get them
kicking the ball toward the right goal"
As they say, the rest is history!
WHAT WAS IT ALL ABOUT?
CREATING OPPORTUNITIES
PROVIDING CHALLENGING EXPERIENCES
INTRODUCING YOUNG PEOPLE TO AN EXPANDED
VIEW OF THE WORLD AND THEIR OWN CAPABILITIES
... and proving;
"You do not have to be a behemoth to be good at this sport" |
