Youth Soccer News: Billy Garton, BU13 CV Manchester Academy Makes 1998 ODP Regional Player Pool.

After six days in Oregon at the Olympic Development Program (ODP) Regional Camp with elite players from 14 states who came to compete for the highly select Regional IV player pool, center mid fielder Billy Garton was selected to the final pool of 45 players.  

While there were only 250 elite players in Oregon trying to make the Region IV pool, originally there were 2.5 million young soccer players who embarked on this respective journey, trying to qualify for their ODP state team. 

The elite group of 45 young soccer players are now scheduled to meet again in Ontario at the end the month.

Billy Garton is the son of former Manchester United professional soccer player William (Billy) Garton who is the co founder and Director of Coaching for the Carmel Valley Manchester Soccer Club.  

The former Manchester United defender came to the United States in 2001 and joined forces with Jeff Illingworth, his former teacher and founded Carmel Valley Manchester.

Region IV youth soccer player pool is made up of teams from Hawaii, Alaska, Northern California, Southern California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Wyoming and Colorado.  Well trained premier players from those states were present in Oregon, competing for a spot on the roster of the final player pool of 45.

William Garton attended the Regional Camp and found it to be "Very intensive and grueling for the players. There were three soccer sessions per day; One practice and two games. These young soccer players rose at 6am and did not return to their beds until after 10.30 pm."

"It was a true soccer experience for all the players , living and breathing soccer for six days. Great bonding for the players, being together 24/7, it was really what any player with soccer ambition should be striving for," says William Garton.

"On a personal note, it was great to see my little guy play so effectively against some great players. He is a very intelligent player that uses the ball really well and has a fantastic vision."

"Billy Garton brings something different to a game,  offering great technical skill in games often dominated by size and speed." 

Like father like son, young Garton is a passionate soccer player...and a soccer ball can always be found at his feet. Garton plays on CV Manchester's BU13 Academy team.

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