The Classic Photos

(Above) The year was 1981 and if you look carefully at the circled area you will see an even younger Tad Bobak (Right) & Larry Draluck (click the photo for a close-up of these two if you want a laugh). Tad & Larry first met when Tad was the assistant coach in charge of goalkeepers at California State University Los Angeles. This team which rostered several future top level soccer coaches was one of the top ranked teams in the nation and would evenutally go down to a 1-0 sudden death defeat in the NCAA Division II Championship Game.

(Above) 1987 Original Adult Women's Blues Team with Pele at the Whittier Narrows Soccer Complex. Aside from several players who helped make the Blues what it is, one of these players was arguably at one time one of the greatest players in the world.

(Top L to R) Karen (Freckles) Nance, Kristi White, Pele, Michelle Salas kissing Mr. P, Monica Hall, Laura Jones, Cathy Crider. (Bottom L to R) Dianne Manore Strawser, Cindy Hawkins, Denise San Vicente, Lisa Busch, Carin Jennings Gabarra, Sue Spenser.

(Above) We would put this one in the celebrity album but none of us in the photo is a celebrity any more. Well, maybe Rich Manning who is now head coach at Utah.

Larry Draluck (left) slips into the photo op with (right) Rich Manning's former college and former U.S. Men's National Team, former Costa Rican National Team Coach, now LA Galaxy head coach Steve Sampson (center) at 1997 USYSA National Championships in Phoenix Arizona during the pre tournament banquet. "Steve, I know you were a little nervous about qualifying for France but your fingers are really digging into my ribs."

(Above) One of our most accomplished Blues Alumni Jen Branam prior to her storied college career at UNC. (Left) Jen sits next to Lorrie Fair (Right) in anticipation of her first international start for the US Women's National Team vs Denmark at the Algarve Cup in Portugal. (Right) Jen during her stint as US Youth National Team Goalkeeper takes photo with US National Team Goalkeeper Briana Scurry as they competed against one another during US National team camp in August of 97.

(Above) Back in the Summer of 1998 all Blues Teams would attend the Pleasanton Tournament. This is a pre tournament spoof put on by Tad's Team at the time. Can you recognize which one is Tad?

(Above) The Amature Athletic Foundation in Los Angeles, a holdover from the 1984 Olympic Games, hosts an annual awards day called "Girls and Women in Sports Day". (Left) Blues Alumni Stacy Lindstrom was one of their honorees back in 1999 and was presented her award by then U.S. International Super Star Tisha Venturini.

(Above) Kelli Cornell (Left) and Lauren Matheson (Right) on stage following their triumph at the US Youth Soccer U14 Championships. Both were given individual awards for their performance. Kelli was given the Golden Glove as outstanding goalkeeper in the national tournament and Lauren was named Golden Boot recipient as the outstanding attacking player of the national tournament in Orlando.

(Above) You mean Larry used to have hair? Well if you want to see this photo for real you will have to click on it for an enlarged version. This was one of the first ever U16 ODP teams from 1984 and there are several famous people in the photo (no not Larry). Larry was just the coach of the team who stood around saying good job girls, good job. Six of these girls went on to play for the Blues Adult Team including J.F., and four of these girls went on to play professional.

(Above) 1987 California South U19 ODP Team at the Ford Pele Tournament in Whittier Narrows Park. This was one of the first ODP teams and was made up of several soon to be Adult Blues along with players who were on Larry Draluck & Wayne Carver's So Cal Nitmares Youth Team.

(Top L to R) A young coach Tad Bobak, Heather Mc Intyre (Stanford), Kris Zeits (Colorado College), ummm I think that's Pele, Trisha Kimble Butterbaugh (UCSB), Colleen Gamblin, 17 year old Julie Foudy (Stanford), UC Irvine soccer coach Marine Cano, Jill Benson (Saint Mary's). (Middle L to R) Cheryl Parker (UCSD), Mandy Benedict (UCSB). (Bottom L to R) Tami Carteen (Colorado College), Cam Maw (Colorado College), Laurie Hill (UCSB), Kirsten Taub (UCSB), Charry Korgel (Colorado College).

(Above) Blues Alumni Ashley Casas (2001/USC) back in her youth days circa 1999 competing for the U16 US National Team vs Sweden.

(Above) A couple of images from the Blues first ever National Championship in the 1999-2000 season which was held in Orlando Florida. (Left) Famous Blues Dads Dave Mildrew (Left) and Ron Swanson (Right) give us the we're number one sign. (Right) Blues U16 Coach Tad Bobak accepts the Patricia Masotto Cup.

(Above) This could also easily be considered a celebrity photo. This photo was taken at a 1999 Women's World Cup press conference to introduce the Women's World Cup Barbie. I don't know if they like Barbie but they love Mia. photos taken by Jenny Wright at press conference for the 1999 Women's World Cup Barbie by Mattel (click to enlarge).

(Above) This is what the Blues are all about! Blues Alumni Michele Bannister (1998) on the left of course was a Two-Time All American at Long Beach City College and the only Californian ever to receive the "NSCAA Adidas Player of the Year" for Junior Colleges. In 2000 she led LBCC to the State Championship. She was presented the award by U.S. National Team Member Kristine Lilly (right) in Indianapolis on January 20, 2001 at the NSCAA National Convention. We will always love you Michele! Thank you Mauricio Ingrassia for the photo and positive guidance with Michele.

(Above) Blues Program Director Larry Draluck accepts the trophy on behalf of the Blues at the 2006 US Club Champions Cup. At the competition several of the Nation's top clubs competed in three age groups, points were awarded for each age group and the Blues came out on top as overall club champion on the girls side.