Tribute to Coach Jeanette Gallegos

Every April, the Annual Jeanette Gallegos Soccer Celebration is held. This year we celebrate 29 years of soccer. We celebrate winning, we celebrate laughter, we celebrate love, we celebrate soccer, and we celebrate Jeanette Gallegos.

Coach Jeanette Gallegos was President of Alameda Soccer Club in 1987, at the time of her death, while coaching 3 teams. She was a loving wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend and coach.

Jeanette and her husband Tony were very actively involved in the North Valley sports, coaching their six children Danette, Monica, Dennis, Javier, Dena, and Thomas, in soccer as well as the North Valley Little league.

When she realized the girls were not getting enough play in the games, she started the first Alameda girls’ soccer team in 1982. She named the team Alameda Ataris (after the game system, which was so cool). Jeanette recruited girls from the neighborhood and Taylor middle school to play. Back then there were not any girls teams and four other coaches decided to do the same, Corrales, Paradise Hills, Bernalillo, Rio Rancho and Taylor Ranch.

Jeanette continued to coach soccer for various Alameda teams for 7 years coaching all six of her children.

Later in 1986, she became president of the Alameda League and put together a tournament to be called the “North West Rio Grande soccer tournament” held every April.

This tournament was designed for younger development teams where “everyone wins!”

Tragically, Jeanette never saw her dream come true. A week before the tournament , she and her two sons Javier age 11, and Thomas age 6 were killed when a dump truck hit their van on April 17th, 1987.

Young soccer players can still be taught “everyone wins” at their tiny age. It does wonders for their self-esteem and coaches in a positive manner show pride. It is in memory of her winning spirit and her love for small children that we hold this tournament every year.

How do I know? I am her oldest daughter, grateful for the chance to be part of this tournament which grows and grows every year. Thank you to all who keep my mom’s dream alive year after year.