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A message from our Board of
Directors For those in the soccer community, we are sad to say that longtime Coach Sam Oliver has passed away due to complications following surgery that we had all hoped and prayed would bring his health back. Sam coached three generation of girls soccer in the ASC and his close work as Chief Friend of the AHS girls program played a huge role in the strength of girls soccer in Arlington at every level, varsity and recreational. For Sam, the game was always about the kids and while he was competitive the game was never about winning but part of a journey to being a better player and person; he never took defeat as anything but a lesson to learn from and winning as anything but validation of his players' hard work and dedication...and of course sometimes good luck. Tireless as he was despite his poor heath, Sam also took on coaching the Arlington men's adult team for several years, further spreading his wisdom, joy and humor within the local soccer community. Sam was also the equipment supplier to the ASC and in that capacity he constantly found ways for us to save money, in doing so both helping us hold down fees while spend more of our revenues on things he truly cared about like player and coach development. We will greatly miss his chuckle and laugh, either in person or on the other end of the phone, his great generosity of spirit, his tireless passion for the great sport of soccer, and of course his shout of "play two-touch" when play was getting sloppy or selfish. Sam never complained or showed self-pity about his poor health, and we will always remember and admire his courage in dealing with that adversity. Our hearts go out to his wife and daughters, who allowed him to give so much to us over the years. God bless you Sam, we are poorer without your friendship and kindness but your spirit will always be with us and Arlington soccer will be stronger for that. |
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