Felician Athletics - 8/28/08 SOCCER - Soccer Teams Round Out Coaching Staffs

RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Andrew Sparkes of Weehawken has been named an assistant coach with both soccer programs at Felician College, men’s head coach Patrick Snyder and women’s head coach Thomas Notte said today in a joint announcement. Additionally, Notte named Byron Estrada of Rockaway his lead assistant.

Sparkes will work primarily with the goalkeepers of both Golden Falcon squads. A native of Wales, he is a goalkeeper coach for the New York Red Bulls Academy (U14-U20) and Pre-Academy (U8-U14) teams as well as a National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) regional goalkeeper instructor. He holds a Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) ‘B’ coaching license and an NSCAA Advanced National Goalkeepers Diploma. Sparkes played in the youth and reserve programs for English professional team Swansea City.

Estrada has extensive experience as a local club coach/trainer, currently as the head U-13 girls coach with the New Jersey Rangers Soccer Club. Prior to the Rangers, he coached the U-12 girls team for the New Jersey Dynamo, and was a volunteer assistant at Hackettstown High School. He holds a United States Soccer Federation (USSF) national coaching license and an NSCAA National Diploma. A 1996 graduate of Parsippany Hills High, Estrada was a four-year letterwinner for the Vikings before playing one season each at County College of Morris and Scranton University. As a youth, he was a member of the Guatemalan junior national team.

Both Felician soccer teams begin their 2008 seasons on Friday at the DoubleTree Kick Off Classic on the campus of Saint Michael’s College in Colchester, Vt. The women play the host Purple Knights at noon, while the men face Merrimack College at 2 p.m.