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Gary has over 35 years of experience in almost every aspect of the game: youth and professional club and coach education, global tours (see link), professional, youth, college and national team player and coach training (see link), employment and representation; technology investment development;, sponsorship; ID clinics and camps; club formation; semi pro-women's team ownership.
Born in Liverpool, England, Gary comes from a family deeply involved in football. Gary has played and trained throughout the world at FC Barcelona (where he and his brothers are the only English, new Zealand and Australian youth players to have put on a Barcelona shirt),Chelsea F.C, Arsenal FC, Dunfermline FC, Nice, Slavia Prague, Glasgow Rangers and Saint George Budapest under legendary coach Frank Arok (see story). In Australia he represented the Gold Coast selection, received the highest player match ratings in the Queensland State league and represented Queensland team on their 3 games tour of Fiji starting in all 3 games. He was was selected for Super 6 Indoor Tournament against Manchester City, Nottingham Forest and Arsenal FC who had just won the English 1st Division (Premier League). In London as a 17 year old he grabbed the attention of professional clubs scoring twice for London non-league clubs Kingstonian on his debut and 2 more goals for Walton & Hersham on his debut. (see link to articles here). Gary became one of the first players from New Zealand and Australia to play college soccer in the USA. (see story)
He is married to San Francisco Bay Area native and Stanford and UCLA graduate Carine, one of the nations top female coaches who also played for Liverpool FC. (see link). Gary has resided in Silicon Valley California for over 25 years where he coaches and is a business owner and investor. He was awarded Key to The City of Palo Alto by Palo Mayor Gary Fazzino.
Gary’s grandfather was on Everton FC books and his Liverpool born father Victor (see link) played for Marine FC and was on Leeds United’s books before playing professionally in Australia. He was founder of Academy Soccer which led to World Soccer and Dynamic Soccer and also to Soccerbook Consulting.
Older brother Simon Ireland (see bio and articles) played at Christchurch United in New Zealand, scoring a hatrick in his first national league game as a 17 year old (see story); He played at Brisbane Lions, Gold Coast, Chelsea FC, Crystal Palace, trialed at Hearts, Wimbledon, was selected for Queensland State (indoor and outdoor) Team and was widely considered to be one of the top players in the MLS draft in the USA and played for SF Bay Blackhawks and leading scorer for US Open Cup Champions and CONCACAF Finalists San Jose Oaks. At University of South Florida Simon was the strike partner of future Chelsea FC and USA national team star Roy Wegerle. Gary and Simon spent a spring season for #1 ranked college team in the USA, Boca Raton in Florida before departing to play play for the British All Stars in the Lake Placid Soccer America Indoor Championships, winning the event with Simon receiving the MVP award. On one tour wearing street clothes he beat the dribbling course record of Chelsea FC legend Gianfranco Zola at Chelsea store at Stamford Bridge. Younger brother Ross is one of the SF Bay Area's most well known coaches who also trained at Barcelona as a youth player.
Gary arrived in the San Francisco Bay/Silicon Valley Area with his family in 1990 from Australia after receiving an invitation to establish Academy Soccer, backed by Blackman & Flynn, investors in Wolfgang Puck and top California hotels a premier soccer training camp and tour company which became the largest soccer camp organization in Northern California. At that time Gary was a technical demonstrator for the Nike Vogelsinger Soccer Academy (where he later returned to become the main technical demonstrator). He helped bring the 1994 FIFA World Cup to the area matched Chevron USA Inc. $10,000 sponsorship as one of the first organizations to sponsor the 1994 Bay Area FIFA World Cup Bid Committee. Gary was personal liaison of England's World Cup winning captain Bobby Moore arranged to present Player of the Match award for the USA vs Russia game in 1992 as well as coordinated 50 ball-persons and a half time coaching event with 50 youth players. Academy Soccer enabled Brad Blackman to become a member of the World Cup Host Committee responsible for bringing World Cup soccer to the Bay Area.
Gary co-founded Soccerbook Consulting, Soccerbook.com, The Soccerfund and Dynamic Soccer and holds an MBA in Football Industries from the University of Liverpool. In 2012 he was honored for his contribution to the commercialization of Australian innovation as one of ‘Advance 50’ current and emerging leaders by 'Advance', the global business network spanning 40 countries for 1 million Australian's abroad, at its Silicon Valley Summit.
In 1989 Australian football media icon Les Murray gave Gary and Simon part time work at SBSTV, editing his/Australia's #1 daily football round up. Through their friendship Les asked the brothers to secure the Coerver 1-2-3 Video from SLS and Philips Lighting which in turn SBSTV sold onto the New South Wales Soccer Federation. They also edited and produced the the Lake Placid Indoor Soccer Tournament official video and produced, directed, edited and presented a 10 episode local Cable soccer TV show in Palo Alto, Silicon Valley and owned a video performance analysis and production company for elite level youth players and aspiring college players.
FIFA recognized the Ireland family for their efforts on behalf of youth soccer to football and Gary Awarded 'Key to the City' by the City of Palo Alto for arranging a soccer clinic for 100 players staging PR events with the mayor of Palo Alto and 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup official mascot 'Nutmeg'. On FIFA"s recommendation Pele and his production company ‘Studio Pele’ chose Gary and his family to do a promotional interview before the USA v Brazil 1994 FIFA World Cup 1/4 Final (see pictures). In 2001 Gary sent Simon and 3 other players to tryout for Brunei football team DPMM at the personal request of the Sultan of Brunei. Indonesian marketing partner Nestle Milo hired the Ireland family to run a sponsor activation clinic event for 80,000 entrants competing for 50 camps spaces in Jakarta (1996) (see link).
In 1990 Gary guest featured in Croatian coach Dusan Purac’s coaching video along with legendary AC Milan players Boban, Pancev and Savicevic (see video) Gary arranged the 1994 US Open Cup Champions and CONCACAF Finalist San Jose Oaks Fosters/Molson sponsorship enabling the team to travel to the US Open Cup and CONCACAF Final in Indianapolis.
Gary co-founded, funded and designed the first global soccer social networking platform www.pass2me.com, a major sponsor of San Diego Surf Cup and operated several scouting and ID events using his extensive network of college coaches. (see link).
Gary Co-founded camp and tour company World Soccer (see picture) where he conceptualized and managed collaborative project promoted & partnered in Japan with J- League team Hiroshima San Frecce & endorsed by FIFA for 50+ Japanese youth players for 2 week soccer camp & English language lessons (ESL) partnered with Berlitz in the San Francisco Bay Area during the 1994 World Cup. (1994 & 1995)
Created and managed over 100 bespoke international youth college and professional global tours including Premier League youth clubs and FIFA World Cup (see link) including North Carolina Women's Soccer team NCAA victory tour of Australia and New Zealand (2007). See story. Gary and Carine also managed all aspects of a 55 person tour to the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup for Dynamic Soccer. (see story here)
Gary was assistant to the legendary technical skills coaches Wiel Coerver and Michel Mommertz at Al Wasl in Dubai (see story) and lead technical demonstrator for legendary coach Hubert Vogelsinger for 2 seasons at Nike Vogelsinger Soccer Academy, the largest and most highly regarded soccer camp in the USA (see story). In 2002 Gary was only foreign coach Liverpool FC Academy in 2003. and in 2003 he founded leading California youth soccer club PSV Union FC holding various roles as Executive Director, Director of Coaching and Technical Master Coach. Gary has presented for the New South Wales Soccer Federation introduced ‘Coerver Method’ to Australia & New Zealand (1988); presented first ever lecture/talk on Wiel Coerver for New South Wales Soccer Federation (guest of DOC David Lee) for 50 coaches & administrative officials (1989); Queensland Football Association; Conducted 1-day clinic on Wiel Coerver coaching material for New Zealand Football Federation and Canterbury Football Association for Technical Director Terry Conley for 50 players and 50 coaches, Christchurch (1989); Guest clinician at Palm Beach Soccer Club, Men’s professional team, Queensland State League. Gold Coast, Australia (2002); Technical trainer State Men’s College NCAA Division 1 (1996 & 1998); Guest coach University of Wisconsin Women's and Men's Team (1990); Guest coach MTK Budapest U12 team in Hungary (2005); Guest coach Puskas Academy (2023); Guest lead presenter on 'Optimizing Individual Performance of Youth Players Within Academies’ for Puskas Academy in Hungary with Juventus FC Head of Technical Development, Puskas Academy Technical Director and Head of Technical Development and former Liverpool FC Academy Asst. Director and Manager (2022) (see story); Demonstrated for Hungarian club Puskas Academy coached and trained Academy boys and girls players (2023); Technical Observer and assistant to the Technical Director or the Czech F.A Dr Zdenek Sivek (UEFA) during European Championships in 1996- (Czech Republic narrowly lost to Germany 2:1 in EURO 96 Final at Wembley Stadium- Gary was interviewed by Les Murray of SBSTV alongside legendary commentator Martin Tyler.
Gary has hosted leading coaches from Porto FC, Fiorentina, Liverpool FC, Puskas Academy and Ajax Amsterdam for coach education symposiums and workshops. Gary has Czech Republic F.A Czech Republic F.A 'A' license. Gary co-owns player and coach training company Dynamic Soccer, where he trains, represents, advises and mentors coaches and players (see link) He has extensively trained 200 players to college, 20 national youth teams and numerous professional players and prepares youth and adult players to play and train professionally throughout the world (see link)
Represented Tom Sermanni one of the most experienced coaches in the history of the women's game in contract negotiations with Nigerian National team and Orlando Pride in NWSL where he coached USA soccer star Alex Morgan and 5 x World Player of the Year Marta from Brazil: Tom coached in 5 FIFA World Cups; coached the USA & Australia Women's National Teams; Assistant Coach of Canada in 2 FIFA World Cups; Current Head of Women's Football at leading Australian Women's professional team Western Sydney Wanderers; FIFA coach mentor where he advises and trains up and coming youth and full women's national team coaches providing career and strategic advice.
Charity is central to Gary’s has provided significant funding and sponsoring youth clubs, men's semi-pro clubs and created and funded women's semi-pro teams. In 2003 he co-founded California youth club PSV Union FC volunteering 10-15 hours weekly over 20 years and has been instrumental in starting several youth clubs and has created and funded an after school Boys and Girls Club study program for California based boys US Development Academy member Juventus Soccer Club. (2005) Funded/coached/managed PSV Union FC Women's Professional Soccer League (WPSL) team which were Finalists of Las Vegas National women's ‘Silver Mug’ tournament defeating #1 nationally ranked Sacramento Storm in the Semi Finals. He co-founded The Soccer Fund with Carine utilizing football as a vehicle to promote social inclusion, health and wellness, education (coaching), provide financial and in-kind assistance (equipment) to underserved youth youth football players and coaches and their supporting charities. He has provided over $2+mil in financial aid for in need youth players including $80,000 in annual scholarships to players who aren't able to afford coaching his tuition and club participation underserved and in need youth and their families. Gary was Right To Play USA National Soccer Advisor of leading global sports charity serving on its Strategic Advisory Committee (see story) donating his time to coordinate Right to Play charity partnership for Chelsea FC vs Club America and L.A Galaxy in Silicon Valley and Los Angeles (2007); Designed and supplied first of a kind Right to Play banner; arranged pre-game ball giveaways by mascots with Chelsea FC and Club America players; arranged display of half time PSA; arranged half time competition for Chelsea FC; Trip to London prize-100 Volunteers distributing & collecting tickets; Provided VIP hospitality for Right to Play donors; arranged Right to Play coaching clinic at UCLA; arranged VIP seating for Right to Play Ambassadors and USA Women's National team players; Hosted USA Womens National Soccer team members including Abby Wambach, Heather OReilly, Megan Rapinoe for the Chelsea FC vs LA Galaxy (2007); Arranged PSV Union FC to become the only club in USA to support Right to Play's fundraising drive. Gary is Safesport approved.
