HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. — Without mincing words, the North Huntington Beach Futbol Club is one of the best in the United States. It has helped in so many ways to develop the game of soccer in the country.

For over 44 years, North Huntington Beach Futbol Club has been developing soccer players from the grassroots who have played and are still playing in various clubs within and outside the United States.

The vision to create a soccer club that will train children from the grassroots was first birthed by Steve Oliver. The newly formed club hit the field for the first time in 1977, and Oliver was the first coach and president of the club. Unfortunately, this decision looked like a joke as soccer was not one of the selling sports in the United States at that time.

Due to some other engagements as the State Youth Referee Administrator, Oliver could not keep up with running the club, making the joke a more laughable one. But he brought credible hands that could continue from where he stopped. As a result, George Mitton became the club’s president in 1981, and June Mitton, his wife, became his backbone. Together, they built the North Huntington Beach Futbol Club into what we are seeing today.

Although George passed away in 2008 and June in 1997, their legacies still speak today. June was inducted into the California Youth Soccer Association Hall of Fame in 1992 for her contributions and support to the young people through soccer.

Coach Roger Wyett was another person who was involved in the early development of the Northern Huntington Beach Futbol Club. He was an English professional coach who came to the United States in 1981. He joined the club five years after coming to the United States and his contributions are written on marble.

As the club’s first professional coach, Wyett brought class to the team. He took the club to six consecutive CYSA-S National Challenge Cup State Finals from 1987-1993, and they won the 1990, 1991 and 1992 editions. The club was also the National Youth Challenge Cup Regional Champions and National Youth Challenge Cup Champions in 1991 under Coach Wyett. He also helped students who were involved with the club gain scholarships to further their education.

In 2017, the North Huntington Beach Futbol Club celebrated 40 years of togetherness as a family. The club has indeed grown from a soccer club to a family.

“I’m really proud of where we’ve come from and where we still are,” club president Sheree Walter said during an event marking the 40th anniversary of the club. “I think that (George Mitton) would be proud of the successes that we’ve had and our standing in the community.”

Even after leaving the club as a player, some parents like Kim Ruiz and her husband still get involved. Their children are playing in the club because of the excellent experience they themselves had with the club, an experience that no one can get elsewhere.

“Playing for NHB (North Huntington Beach) was probably one of my best soccer experiences,” Ruiz said. Her two sons currently play for the North Huntington Beach Futbol Club.

Aside from winning trophies and bringing families together, the club has also helped build the careers of several people who passed through. Some of these people include Joe-Max Moore, Mike Lapper, Ante Razov, Eddie Lewis, Mike Aaman, Danny Barber and many more. These players played soccer at the highest level after leaving the club.

Even to date, the tradition of building young talent is still as fresh as it was when the club first started. The only addition is that more hands are making this happen because of the number of players joining the club. Mike Edwar, Sean Bartko, Hugo Casillas, Cameron Lee, Ozzie Martinez, Robert Escartin, Alexander Ortega and Jason Beach are some of the best hands helping build the club today.

North Huntington Beach Futbol started like a joke 44 years ago by one man, but it has become one of the essential jokes that have brought smiles and laughter to many families in Huntington Beach, California.

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