Byron Alvarez's History Page

Byron Alvarez History Page

Timberlog Interview 2003

Born in Mexico City in 1978, Byron Alvarez’s passion for soccer began at a young age. His earliest memories of the sport include hours upon hours of pick up games with his friends in the streets and alleys close to his home. They would look for any round object they could find to use as a ball (crumpled up newspaper and tape, stuffed old socks, etc.), and when they could scrounge up a few cents they would buy a small plastic ball. His mother used to be furious with him when he would come home with holes and broken soles in his only pair of school shoes. At the age of 5, Byron began playing for an organized soccer team in his neighborhood. They would play games every Sunday so Saturday night he would be so excited for the next day that he would wear his soccer socks, shorts and uniform to bed. That way when he woke up in the morning he could wake up, put on his shoes ready for him next to the bed, and run out the door to the soccer field.

Byron contributes much of his success in soccer to his father, René, a very talented soccer player even to this day. He would often take Byron along to the soccer field where Rene’s nickname was “Caballo” (Horse) because he was so fast. After Byron started walking and kicking the ball around they began to refer to Byron as “Pony”, a nickname that many of his father’s friends who they stay in touch with still call him.

At the age of 16 Byron began his professional soccer career. Teams he has played for include Reboceros de La Piedad, Jaiba Brava de Tamaulipas, Astros de Ciudad Juarez, the NY/NJ Metrostars of the MLS, the Portland Timbers, and made his debut in professional indoor soccer with the Chicago Storm in 2004. As a kid, Byron never imagined he would be where he is today (in the U.S. and playing professionally), especially because of the economic situation he came from. The years he spent playing the way they did in the streets has always stuck with him and he feels that soccer was something for him to concentrate on that always made him happy and kept him out of trouble. He has felt an overwhelming desire over the last few years to help kids under similar economic circumstances to have the opportunity to at least own a real soccer ball or a pair of actual soccer cleats, something he knows that he would have loved as a kid. In a recent trip to Guatemala City (where he lived for a time during his childhood and where his Grandmother now lives) he visited his old neighborhood and brought along several soccer balls, shoes, and other gear he had collected over the years and drove around throwing balls out to kids playing in the streets. The kids were ecstatic and their smiles will never be forgotten. This is a tradition he would love to continue and possibly expand later on (possibly set up camps and/or leagues).

Byron now considers Portland, Oregon his hometown. He will always be grateful for the opportunities the United States has given him and his family and thanks all the people that have helped him be where he is today.

Byron would like to give a big thank you to Mike and Kathy Halvorson. Their help, support, and ideas in this effort are forever appreciated.

1999-2000

La Piedad Michoacan Mexico