Barton was born to play soccer; Shadow standout followed in his

The Seattle Sounders haven't visited the Spokane Shadow since 2000, but that won't prevent a sense of familiarity from creeping in when the A-League side visits Joe Albi Stadium today.

A handful of Sounders players have spent time with the Shadow, and for Seattle, an easily-recognizable face will line up on the other side of the ball when play kicks off at 2:05 p.m.

Spokane player/assistant coach Kieran Barton, who played in over 100 games in 1994-95, 1997 and 1999-2002 for the Sounders, should start and wear the captain's arm band for the Shadow. It's a role the midfielder/defender has taken on for the majority of the season, and with some of his former teammates and coaches coming into town, this game takes on a different meaning than most.

"It's a game I'd really like to win," the 33-year-old Barton said Thursday. "There are about 10 guys throughout the years who I've played with there; it'll be fun to see a lot of them again. Just the Sounders logo on top of the jersey will bring back a lot of memories and playing for Spokane will give me a chance to kick some of the guys I don't get to kick anymore.

"I've already gotten calls from a few of the players from Seattle ... and these games are something you can hold over your friends' heads for the rest of your lives. I know they'll do it to me if we don't win. It's started already, so I'm looking forward to it."

The game is part of the opening ceremonies (gates open at 12:30 p.m.) of the Far West Regional Championships, a week-long tournament involving teams from 13 western states. Teams from ages U-12 to U-19 will play and winning teams from ages U-14 and up will advance to the Youth Soccer National Championship July 20-25 in Orlando, Fla.

With every participating team expected to be at the opening ceremonies, attendance could surpass the 10,000 mark.

And for Barton, who played both with and for current Shadow head coach Stuart Saunders both at Whitworth and then again with the Shadow from 1996-98 and 2003-04, it would provide a chance to give back to the Spokane soccer community.

"The weather's going to be fantastic," Barton said. "And hopefully the soccer's even better than that. And we're expecting a good-sized crowd with the Far West Regionals and who knows, we could be looking at the biggest crowd Spokane's had for a soccer event ever.

"It's unfortunate that Spokane has never won a championship with some of the players and teams that have been here. And that's part of the fun of coming back, having one more chance to give something back to Spokane because this is a community that's always supported the team. We'd like them to be able to cheer for a championship."

Barton's introduction to soccer came early. His father, Frank, played professionally in England in what is now the English First Division before moving to Seattle in 1979 and spending four years with the Sounders, back when the Sounders were part of the now- defunct North American Soccer League.

Those experiences were invaluable as Barton set upon his own soccer career.

"Soccer's one of those things where they say it's in your blood," Barton said. "I mean, I got up this morning (Thursday) and headed straight over to Stuart's for the England/Switzerland match (in the European Championships), and you know, it's still there, and that's the nice thing for me, there are those outlets. I imagine at some point I'm going to have to stop playing competitively, but for now I'm having a good time."

When he does stop playing, he already has his foot in the coaching door.

Before the season, Barton and Saunders discussed the possibility of Barton playing and taking on the assistant's role he now occupies.

"It was a situation where I haven't had somebody who's been an assistant coach in the past," Saunders said. "I knew, with the experience he has, that he was somebody who was capable of doing that and we work well together."

Making the situation a little more unique is Barton's role as a player/coach.

"It's helpful to have someone on the field who is in a coaching role as well," Saunders said. "He can lend his experience and talking players through things as they go on is really helpful on the field."

Aside from his position as assistant coach with the Shadow, Barton will be entering his third season as an assistant coach for the Gonzaga University women's team this fall. For those who have known and played with him, that was a natural progression.

"Soccer was in his blood," said Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer, who coached Kieran in 2002 and played with Frank during the elder Barton's playing career in Seattle. "Soccer's heavily embedded in the family structure, so it's only natural he would take a coaching job."

Barton's experiences growing up around the game and as a player enabled him to become a leader both on and off the field. And whether it be taking a new player into his home or just passing on a few words of advice, he's had a huge influence on a number of current and former teammates.

"Kieran's done a lot for me," said Sounders midfielder and Spokane native Chad Brown, a Central Valley High School graduate who played with the Shadow from 1996-99. "I lived with him for a couple years when I moved to Seattle. He made it possible to live over here and make a career out of soccer. ... I'm not surprised whatsoever he's taken on a coaching role. He loves the game and whatever he can do to be involved, he'd take that opportunity. He's a good guy for the game."

"He definitely helped me, especially as a defender," said former Gonzaga University and current Seattle defender Zach Scott, who played a season with the Shadow and then played with Barton in 2002 with the Sounders. "The biggest part was the intensity he brought to the game. He really helped me get adjusted quickly and showed me how I need to be to play in an A-League game. He's one of those hard- nosed defenders, and that's what I pride myself on, so in that sense, he definitely influenced me."

Having that leadership role and having an ability to affect another's play is something Barton enjoys perhaps as much as the younger players.

"I think (being a mentor) means just as much to me as it does for those guys," Barton said. "It seems every time I pass the ball to Kyle (Wirtz, a Shadow left back who also plays for Shadle Park), it makes me smile, thinking this kid's 16 years old and he's going to be fantastic. And all the younger guys have been willing to learn and listen and that's what's helping make the team the way it is today."

With his responsibilities as assistant coach with Gonzaga and as assistant and player with the Shadow, Barton has a secret as to how he is able to manage his time effectively.

"My wife! I'm fortunate enough that my two seasons don't overlap significantly, but my wife's been the best one as far as helping me keep things in line. And when I get excited with the soccer stuff that's going on, she's great about reminding me when there's non- soccer things that I have to do.

"I'm still a little kid in a candy store when it comes to things like playing Friday, then playing Sunday and watching games all day; it can get a little overwhelming at times, but that's what makes it fun."

With his experience growing up on and around a soccer field, Barton hopes to be able do another dual role: as a coach and father.

"Eventually I'd like to be a head coach," Barton said. "If it works out that it's in Spokane, that would be fantastic because I've laid some groundwork here. But family's probably next for me. You hate to admit I'm getting kind of old, but being able to pass along the soccer knowledge and life and everything else to kids of my own would be the next big step."

With the Sounders playing an important league match Saturday night, they're not expected to bring their full team of starters. Brown, who rolled an ankle last weekend and missed most of this week's practice, was uncertain of his status heading into Saturday's match and will probably not play today. But Scott, according to Schmetzer, is tentatively penciled in as a starter in the back line for today's game.

Regardless of who plays though, Barton will have his competitive juices flowing.

"There's always going to be a little something when you play against your old team," Barton said. "Technically I'm retired and playing with the Shadow is just for fun. Playing in Seattle was always fun, but it was also a job. I think the most fun part of the game (today) will be when it actually ends and I get a chance to shake the players' hands. Regardless of the score, I can pretty much guarantee I'll have a blast."

SIDEBAR:AT A GLANCEFAR WEST YOUTH REGIONAL Opening ceremonies for the Far West Youth Regional Championships will precede today's Spokane Shadow game against the Seattle Sounders at Joe Albi Stadium. The ceremonies will begin at 1:30 with gates opening at 12:30. Mayor Jim West will be on hand as over 240 teams from 13 western states in age groups ranging U-12 to U-19 will be introduced by state. Preliminary rounds, which consist of four groups within each age group, begins Monday at 8 a.m. and continues through Wednesday. The final game for each day will begin at 4 p.m. The top two teams from each group advance to the quarterfinals for that age group on Thursday. The semifinals are Friday and the championship match for each age group will be Saturday. Spokane, one of four cities chosen to host a regional championship this season, is expected to earn more than $10 million in benefits to the economy from the tournament. A pair of boys teams from Coeur d'Alene were the only two area teams to qualify for the championships. The U-19 Sting, which begins play Monday at 2 p.m., and the U-14 Sting, which opens play Monday at 8 a.m. Games are held at either Plante's Ferry Park in the Spokane Valley or at the Spokane Polo Center in Airway Heights, varying by age and group.

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