Allison Gooch and her long journey home to the Chelsea High soccer program
CHELSEA, Ala. — It has been a ten year journey for Allison Cochran Gooch since graduating from Chelsea High School and then returning as the Junior Varsity coach. After lettering in several sports, she committed to play Division I soccer with a full scholarship to the University of South Alabama. After graduating with a major in Sport and Recreation Management, Allison was accepted to an internship with the Disney College Program. “I worked several jobs to save money for the move, and took everything I could fit in my car and moved to Orlando!”
While there, she continued to play soccer in adult leagues, but set her sights on higher goals. One evening after a training session, her coach approached her and offered her a spot on a professional team that was headed to Iceland! So in May of 2017, she flew to Iceland to spend the next 6 months playing soccer and exploring the country.
When the season ended, she was accepted to be a graduate assistant with the University of South Alabama’s athletic department. Soon after, a position became available in her hometown for the opening season of the first professional soccer team in Birmingham. She was offered and accepted the role of a Ticket Operations Coordinator of the Birmingham Legion FC.
While on the Legion staff, Allsion met her future husband, Cason Gooch. To protect this new and growing relationship, she chose to leave the Legion and was soon offered a job with her alma mater, Chelsea High School. Allison’s former coach,Jonathan Hammett offered her a full time teaching job and head coach position of the Junior Varsity Girls Soccer team.
“Ten years later, I’m right back helping out with the program that helped build me. From the first state championship team back in 2012, to hopefully winning a state championship as a coach one day, I’m exactly where I want to be.”
“Our main team goal for this season is to win a tournament, but we intend to get there by accomplishing the little things like building friendships on and off the field, giving maximum effort 100% of the time on the field and in the classroom, maintaining a high level of fitness, and connecting passes.”
2022 JV Chelsea Girls Soccer Team:
Sara Baumann (Captain)
Karley Lawson (Captain)
Cassidy Reynolds
Gabby Finney
Laney Gilbert
Mackenzie McCleary
Maren Crossland
Payton Walker
Annika Spears
Lydia Tindall
Makenzie Whitehurst
Samantha Craddock
Natalie Peacock
Annelise Garrard
Addie Harris
Laura Russell
Kenadi Brown
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