Coach Danny Foster works with young players during the Braveheart Soccer Camp on Wednesday at Friendswood’s Centennial Park. The four-day camp for elementary through high school students aimed to advance players' skills and the “love of the game.”
FRIENDSWOOD — Growing up in Southport, Scotland, Paul Dalglish and Danny Foster never imagined their paths would cross again thousands of miles away.
Yet Dalglish was in for a surprise when he was playing for the Houston Dynamo three years ago and Foster approached him about an interview for Kickoff Magazine.
“I was actually disappointed when I came here and saw Danny was here,” Dalglish said jokingly. “I couldn’t believe it. I thought I moved halfway across the world and got away from him.”
All kidding aside, the two former classmates have teamed up to offer a unique soccer experience in the form of the Braveheart Soccer Camp.
How is it different from other area soccer camps? Well for starters, Dalglish has plenty of soccer experience to draw from.
Dalglish followed in his father’s footsteps and played in the English Premier League for nine seasons. The forward signed with Liverpool when he was 19 years old and played with them for two years before signing with Newcastle.
Dalglish also played for the Scotland U21 team from 1999-2000, scoring three goals in five appearances.
In 2006, Dalglish moved to America to join the Houston Dynamo of the MLS. He played with the team for two seasons, helping the team win the MLS Cup both years.
However, injuries caught up to Dalglish, and he decided to call it a career after scoring 22 goals in 206 pro games.
“That second season with the Dynamo, I really struggled with injuries,” Dalglish said. “I felt like I could only stay fit for two weeks at most, and even when I was fit, I wasn’t 100 percent.”
After retirement, Dalglish said he was interested in pursuing a career in coaching, so he decided to take a job at Space City Futbol Club. It’s the same organization that Foster coaches for.
The two teamed up last year to begin the Braveheart Soccer Camp.
“I wanted to do something to give a little bit back to the community after the support I received when I was playing in Houston,” Dalglish said. “It’s something I really enjoy doing, and the kids seem to enjoy it.”
Foster said the presence of Dalglish makes it a unique camp for the area.
“There aren’t many coaches in Houston that have played at the level that Paul has,” Foster said. “That’s what makes this camp different from a lot of the others.”
This week’s camp at Centennial Park in Friendswood is the fifth Braveheart camp — the first of this summer. They have four more planned for this summer — Sugar Land (July 20-23), Deer Park (Aug. 4-7), Houston (Aug. 10-13) and Spring (Aug. 17-21).
Each four-day camp costs $150 and is for kids ages 7 through 17.
Foster said the goal isn’t to teach kids to play soccer in four days but to teach them drills to improve their skills.
“We try to make it so these kids can take something away from these camps to make them a better player,” Foster said. “If we can educate them in four days things they can do to improve, they can go home and work on their skills.”
Dalglish said they also try to make it a fun experience for the 90-plus children in attendance at this week’s camp.
“The most important thing is getting them to enjoy soccer,” Dalglish said. “If we can help them fall in love with the game, then these kids will continue to play and watch soccer, and all the sudden, we can rule the game in this country.
“I think that’s the responsibility of those of us that love soccer — we have to transfer that love of the game to the kids.”
