Jimmy Gabriel, instrumental and influential to the advancement of Puget Sound area soccer for more than 35 years and the original Mr. Sounder, has died in Phoenix. He was 80. Gabriel served as original captain and second head coach of the NASL Seattle Sounders as well as the first coaching director for Washington Youth Soccer. He was coaching director and later head coach for FC Seattle, which provided a competitive environment for development of the area’s top players following the NASL’s demise. Later, Gabriel served as an assistant coach for the University of Washington men’s and women’s programs, and he was Brian Schmetzer’s top assistant with the A-League Sounders.

Sounders lose their third straight and remain scoreless through the first 296 minutes of the season following a 2-0 loss at San Jose. Seattle is awaiting British reinforcements and captain Adrian Webster is sent off after 20 minutes. They are so shorthanded both coach Jimmy Gabriel and assistant Bobby Howe start.

Jimmy Gabriel becomes the second major signing by Seattle's NASL expansion club. Gabriel, 33, is a defender who will also serve as John Best’s assistant coach. A former Scottish international, Gabriel has over 500 appearances in the English First Division, with Everton and Southampton. He won an English championship in 1963 and an FA Cup in 1966, both with Everton. Gabriel spent the past two seasons at Bournemouth.

FC Seattle, a collection of mostly top amateurs, announces a four-match Challenge Series at Memorial Stadium that will feature three NASL opponents – Vancouver, New York and Minnesota – and the U.S. Olympic team. The objectives are threefold: to test the market for a possible return of pro soccer, provide strong competition for the top local players and determine if those players can hold their own vs. top-flight opposition. Bud Greer funds FC Seattle, and former Sounders coach Jimmy Gabriel will oversee the coaching staff. Cliff McCrath, SPU coach and a FC Seattle director, persuades the Olympic team to visit by offering to outfit the players with dress attire.

Mike England, a legend at London's Tottenham Hotspur and with the Welsh national team, signs to play full-time for the Sounders. England, 33, won four major trophies in 300 appearances with Spurs and served as Wales captain. A central defender, his arrival enables Jimmy Gabriel to move into defensive midfield.

Jimmy Gabriel announces he’s resigning as FC Seattle coach and returning to Britain following Storm’s season-ending, 1-0 win over Edmonton at Renton Stadium. Seattle (6-6-2) finishes second to Hollywood in the Western Soccer Alliance. Shortly after returning to England, Gabriel joins AFC Bournemouth as assistant manager to former Sounder Harry Redknapp.

Former Sounders captain and coach Jimmy Gabriel is named the first coaching director for Washington State Youth Soccer.

A record North American soccer crowd of 58,128 watches Pelé score the first goal in the Kingdome's first sporting event and then add another in New York's 3-1 exhibition win over the Sounders. Pelé needs just 2 minutes, 14 seconds to ripple the net, and David Clements makes it 2-nil after six minutes. Jimmy Gabriel's header tightened the score but Pelé scored again in the 88th minute. The attendance broke a 50-year-old record of 46,000, however not all of the new stadium's seats had yet been installed.

In the wake of Jimmy Gabriel’s resignation, the Sounders roster is churned, with former captain Adrian Webster released along with Cliff Brown. Webster, the only player to see action in each of the first six seasons, holds the career appearances record of 120, combining regular season and playoffs. He signs with the Pittsburgh Spirit of MISL a week later. Meanwhile, Jimmy McAlister contemplates a move to Europe, MISL or elsewhere in the NASL. Mike England's future is uncertain. He is a candidate for Seattle head coach and Wales National Team manager.

Jimmy Gabriel resigns as Sounders head coach after finishing 13-17 in his third year at the helm. Gabriel had told some in March that this would likely be his final season. Overall, his teams went 43-40-10 (shootouts recorded draws) in regular season and playoffs, including the club's first Soccer Bowl appearance in 1977.

Former Sounders star sweeper Bruce Rioch is named head coach of FC Seattle, which will pay players $3,000-5,000 for 12 summer exhibitions after going amateur in its inaugural season. Jimmy Gabriel had served as coaching director and Tommy Jenkins as coach in 1984. Since leaving Seattle in 1981, Rioch has managed England’s Torquay for three seasons.

Bournemouth, the English club with perhaps the closest ties to Seattle, visits Memorial Stadium for a friendly, with the Storm ending on top, 1-0. The Cherries, slated for relegation from the Second Division, are led by assistant manager Jimmy Gabriel, FC Seattle's founding coaching director and former head coach. Harry Redknapp, like Gabriel a former Sounder, does not make the trip. Chance Fry scores the game's only goal. Bournemouth had hosted the Storm on its 1987 British tour and later signed Brent Goulet.

Tommy Jenkins is elevated to head coach of FC Seattle Storm two months after Jimmy Gabriel announced his resignation. Jenkins, a former Sounder, had been an assistant since the team began play in 1984.

Jimmy Gabriel is named successor to Bruce Rioch as head coach of FC Seattle. Gabriel, the former Sounders coach, had served as coaching director for two years. Rioch resigned to return to England, and within five months he’s named manager of Middlesbrough. Also, Bill Sage replaces Jack Brand as president and announces the club will revert to amateur following one year of semi-pro. It’s estimated the organization lost $500,000.

In his 262nd and final game, Scott Jenkins strikes the deciding shootout penalty kick in seventh round, giving the Sounders the USL 1 Championship over the Richmond Kickers, 1-1 (4-3) before 8,011 at Qwest Field. Preston Burpo's six saves in regular play to earn game MVP. Burpo ends his ninth season with a club record 46 shutouts (38 in league play). Cuban defector Maykel Galindo sent the game into extra time with his 73rd minute equalizer, his first goal for Seattle. It was also the final game for retiring assistant coach Jimmy Gabriel.

Seattle’s playoff hopes fade as it loses its third straight game and second in three days, 2-1 at New York. Jimmy Gabriel gives the Sounders a short-lived lead, but Mark Liveric eventually gets the Cosmos' second-half winner on the worn and bumpy ground at Downing Stadium. Seattle will need to win at least three of the final four matches to overtake San Jose for the division’s final playoff slot.

In the first Sounders reunion game since 1982, the Seattle alums beat their Timbers counterparts, 1-0, behind Roger Davies goal. The game is held prior to the Seattle-Portland Western Soccer Alliance fixture. Among former NASL players returning are Davies, Tommy Hutchison, Jimmy Gabriel, Frank Barton, Steve Buttle, Tony Chursky, Ray Evans, Pepe Fernandez, Dave Gillett, Tommy Jenkins, Jimmy McAlister, Neil Megson, Tommy Ord, Mark Peterson, Roy Sinclair, Mike Ivanow, Adrian Webster, Jack Brand and Peter Ward.

Seattle and Portland meet for the first time at the professional level, with the Sounders getting a penalty kick from Jimmy Gabriel and a penalty save by Barry Watling to claim a 1-nil victory in soggy Civic Stadium.

The NASL trading deadline passes, and Jimmy McAlister remains a Sounder despite going so far as undergoing a physical exam with the Cosmos. McAlister was not anxious to leave his hometown and GM Jack Daley was dissatisfied with New York’s offer of players. It closes a saga of nearly a year in which McAlister’s form slipped, he admitted his mind and spirit were not in the game and coach Jimmy Gabriel gave him a head-clearing vacation. McAlister eventually misses nine straight games before a July 18 recall.

John Best resigns as Sounders head coach after three successful seasons, and Jimmy Gabriel is chosen to succeed him. Gabriel, 36, served as both assistant coach and captain for the club’s first three years. Best, who desires a move into management, had guided Seattle to three winning seasons and two playoff berths.

Five days after signing, former England World Cup captain Bobby Moore debuts for Sounders in a 3-0 win over Los Angeles. Moore, 37 and a veteran of over 500 first division games in England and 108 for his national team, had been playing for Edmonton Black Gold when Seattle coach Jimmy Gabriel reached out. The defensive midfielder and sweeper is a former West Ham teammate of assistant coaches Bobby Howe and Harry Redknapp. Moore had played against the Sounders while with San Antonio in 1976. Micky Cave gets two goals, and the defense, riddled with injuries to David Gillett and Adrian Webster, posts its record 10th shutout (Tony Chursky's career record 25th) and third straight at home. The Sounders win for the third time in four games to finally climb to .500 (12-12) and into the conference’s eighth and final playoff spot.

With an injury-depleted roster, Jimmy Gabriel goes with a lineup featuring three Americans aged 23 and under, and the Sounders beat California, 2-0, at Anaheim. David Butler scores both goals, late in each half. Eddie Krueger, at 18 years and 263 days, become the club's youngest starter. Jimmy McAlister, 21, assists on Butlers second, and draftee Bruce Rudroff, 23, aids in the first shutout in seven games.

Down 2-0 to Portland at home and winless in the first three games, Sounders coach Jimmy Gabriel inserts himself into the game in the second half, sparking a three-goal fight back. Paul Crossley ties it and David Butler scores twice, netting the winner in the 86th minute. It is Seattle's first comeback for a regulation win after trailing by two goals.

Alan Hudson engineers Seattle's third straight indoor win, 9-8, at San Jose and former Sounders coach Jimmy Gabriel. Hudson twice finds Jeff Bourne on power-play scores. Steve Buttle caps his hat trick with the game-winner with 2:08 remaining. The Sounders proceed to lose four in a row and miss the playoffs by one game, with a mark of 9-9.

FC Seattle Storm hosts Canada’s World Cup-bound national team at Shoreline Stadium five weeks before Mexico ’86. A gathering of 660 fans see Canada prevail, 3-2, on Randy Samuel’s 67th-minute winner. Dale Mitchell and Randy Ragan made it 2-0 before Seattle’s Peter Hattrup and Kevin Iverson countered. Jimmy Gabriel played all 18 of his available players.

With the striking players watching the televised game back home, the makeshift Sounders go down to defeat, 1-0, at Dallas. Seattle GM Jack Daley signed seven new players, and coach Jimmy Gabriel and assistants Harry Redknapp and Bobby Howe all start. The Tornado's winning goal comes in the 85th minute. Despite a clear majority voting league-wide for the strike, only 135 (27 percent) players carry out the threat. Seven teams account for 91 percent of the striking players.

Sounders coach John Best returns to Seattle from a 12-day trip to Europe during which he signed 10 players ahead of the May 5 NASL opener at Los Angeles. Among those signed, most on loan terms, are Jimmy Gabriel, David Gillett, Willie Penman, John Rowlands, Alan Stephens, Tjeert Van't Land, Barry Watling. Stockport County later refuses to loan Ian Lawther and Harry Kirk.

The Sounders B team plays its first of six matches, defeating Seattle Pacific, 2-0, at Memorial Stadium. The reserve squad is the first in the NASL and is coached by Jimmy Gabriel. Pepe Fernandez, on his way back from a broken leg in 1974, scores the first of his five goals for the summer season, which finishes 5-1-0 against collegiate, state league and a British Columbia selection.