But as huge as the game may be here, there's no single game bigger than Leland versus ... Leland!

That's right. And that was the game played on Jan. 3 when the Leland varsity soccer team challenged itself to a game ... or at least its former self.

While much of the area was immersed in college football bowl games and the NFL wildcard playoffs, Dave Gold was playing the role of proud papa as he watched his former players came back home to play his current team in the annual Leland High School soccer alumni game.

"It's a tradition," said Gold. "It's fun seeing these guys."

Former professionals James Woolridge and Steve Marquez and current pro Isaias Bardales were among the former Chargers who returned for the game—a game that may not have been as fun for the alumni as it was for Gold and his current Leland squad.

The high schoolers defeated their elders 5-4, thanks to a questionable penalty call late in the game that allowed the Chargers to score the tiebreaking goal.

"It was a controversial penalty ... called by me," admitted Gold. And he was quick to add that the alumni team was not at all pleased about it.

"We played really well against them," said Gold, "and they got pretty cheesed off. They come to win."

But it was the current Leland squad pulling out the win on the strength of two goals by Martin Stacey and one each by Mike Dalli, Richie Gharapetian and Mohan Bozorgina.

The alumni kept it close on goals by Paul Hackett, Mike Hackett, Tommy Millet and Bardales, who Gold says is currently a member of the Los Angeles Galaxy of the Major Soccer League.

Playing against players like Bardales makes the game all that more special for the Chargers.

"It's a kick for them," said Gold of his Chargers, "and then he shows them a little magic."

Marquez and Woolridge returned for the game, and they are certainly two of Leland's favorite sons. Both went on to star at De Anza Community College after leaving Leland, and both were members of the San Jose Grizzlies of the Indoor Soccer League.

And how good were Marquez and Woolridge when they were Chargers? Well, they couldn't win a Central Coast Section championship as sophomores ... they just did their other three seasons at Leland!

Marquez and Woolridge were on Gold-coached CCS championship teams in1985, '87 and '88. Now in their 30s, they returned to see their old coach and play alongside the other alumni players in this annual game that's quickly becoming a tradition.

"A lot of these guys played for me at multiple levels," said Gold. And the soccer veteran certainly has an impressive resume that shows coaching success at a variety of levels.

Youth? He was the head coach of the Almaden Blackhawks, 1996 under 18 boys state champions, and the head coach of the Los Gatos Pumas, 1995 under 14 girls state champions.

High school? His teams have won four CCS championships in nine seasons at Leland, and he was the CCS Honor Coach of the Year in 1997­98.

College? He was the head coach of the 1994 De Anza College men's team that posted a 19-0-2 record and won the state championship.

Professional? He served as a San Jose Clash assistant coach in 1996­97.

Along with running the Go-4-Gold soccer training program, Gold has literally done it all and has been the driving force in making the Almaden Valley the soccer hotbed it is today.

So considering all that he's done for soccer in the area, it's no surprise to see his former players return for this special game every winter. And how do the current Chargers feel about playing against the older guys in the annual game?

"They like it," said Gold. "They can't believe that some of these guys with bellies can still play!"

They can, because Dave Gold taught them how.