Feb. 8, 2008

After months of negotiations and planning between Diablo Valley Soccer Club and Mount Diablo Soccer League, a merger of the two local youth soccer organizations was officially consummated on Jan. 28. The new club, Diablo Futbol Club, will begin play for the 2008-09 season this spring, fielding teams in CYSA, Super Y-League and U.S. Club Soccer’s NorCal Premier League. Members of MDSL and the DVSC board approved the union of the two clubs in separate December votes. MDSL members overwhelmingly approved by-law changes at their annual general meeting last week - allowing the union to move forward. The merger brings together the two largest and most successful competitive youth soccer programs in the Concord and Clayton communities.

DVSC finds success early

DVSC was established in 1991 and immediately asserted itself as the dominant club in Central Contra Costa County. DVSC soon gained a reputation as a place for local players to experience club soccer. Clayton families in DVSC found a club that fielded a blend of high-caliber trainers and coaches and the commitment of its board to field a top-flight competitive program. Over the past 16 years, DVSC has won 12 CYSA State Cup Championships, including the DVSC Black Pearl 90 boys in 2006 and 2007. DVSC had 42 teams reach at least the semi-finals of State Cup, including at least one in each of the last 15 years in a row. They have also sent more than 100 alumni on to college soccer and currently a half-dozen DVSC alums are playing professionally, including three in Major League Soccer.

MDSL fields broad base

MDSL was founded in 2001. Ironically, the club came about because of a conflict with DVSC. Local soccer leaders, led by MDSA regional commissioner Ian Brodie, a long-time advocate of youth soccer in Clayton and Concord, believed the time was right to provide another competitive soccer club to be geographically more convenient for families and players in our area. Once MDSL was given league status with CYSA, rapid growth followed. Starting with seven teams its inaugural season, it peaked at an area best 34 teams for the 2006-07 season. Among its programs, MDSL was successful in maintaining a strong Class III roster of boys and girls teams that included a CYSA Association Cup champion in 2004 when the MDSL Pumas won the U19 boys division. The club has also had back-to-back CYSA State Cup semi-finalists the past two years with the MDSL Velocity girls.

Stronger together

Bolstered by an excellent ongoing relationship that MDSL has maintained with the Mt. Diablo Soccer Association AYSO recreational program, this merged club provides players an opportunity to participate locally at any level from recreational soccer all the way to the elite Super Y-League. MDSA and MDSL have traditionally shared resources, most notably fields and referees, in support of each other and in their commitment to providing the best soccer experience for youth athletes in the community. Diablo FC will seek to strengthen the relationship between the two organizations as well as other nearby soccer groups, which will further serve to promote the sport of soccer in Clayton and Concord and increase the number of young people playing. As the new club takes shape, there are a great many challenges ahead for the Diablo FC board of directors. The club anticipates fielding about 50 teams with more than 800 players for the upcoming season. This will mean increased field usage and referee coverage, more tournaments and a larger budget. Comprised of members from both of the prior clubs, the board will have a decidedly Clayton feel. Lisa Price and Rick Fox from MDSL along with former DVSC board members Jay Bedecarre and Heather Shaw are all Clayton residents. As Diablo FC president, Price is leading the transition. “This merger is an opportunity to provide all players a place to play from recreational up to Super Y,” she says. “We are the only competitive league in the Clayton and Concord area and have combined our resources to provide a superior soccer experience.” She adds that the new league is “committed to developing a love of soccer when the kids are young that will carry forward through their teen-age and adult lives.”

Several tourneys scheduled

Diablo FC will host three tournaments and two jamborees in the 2008 season, allowing all players in the club an opportunity to play a “home” tournament. The club also co-hosts the Concord Cup XV tournament May 17-18 with Concord AYSO and the city of Concord.
Brian Voltattorni will be Diablo FC’s director of coaching. He is also the head coach at De La Salle High School and a long-time DVSC player in his youth soccer career. “We are going to create a training program where teams and players of similar ages are training together and developing through more functional and position-specific training,” he says. “The focus of our program will be player development before team success.” He will be working with Marquis White, who played professionally in Bolivia and Holland and also had stints in MLS with the Colorado Rapids and New England Revolution. White, who is a former De La Salle head coach as well, is excited about the prospects. “This is best for the community,” White says. “Uniting our resources will make it easier and will benefit everybody. I look forward to seeing this club take on its growth from the grassroots and developing it the correct way.” Tryouts for competitive teams in the under 9 through U14 age groups begin Feb. 23-34 at Clayton Valley High School. The club is also hosting its annual Crab Feed Feb. 15 at Centre Concord.

For more information on Diablo Futbol Club, visit www.diablofc.org  or call 798-GOAL.

By Randy Rowland
Reprinted from Clayton Pioneer

Inaugural Diablo FC Board of Directors

From left, Gene Dolan, Tom Romolino, Dan Olavarri, Lisa Price, Heather Shaw, Rick Fox,
Brian Voltattorni, Jay Bedecarre, Cheryl Yasutake and Marquis White. Not pictured Paul Kitchell.