Dave Shelton BU15 Final Dedicated to Smuts Family
Soccer players who bravely battle a horrific injury provide uplift an entire community — Danny Smuts is one of those special, brave people.
Escondido Soccer Soccer club has dedicated the Dave Shelton BU15 Final to Danny Smuts – he suffered a spinal stroke during last year’s semi-final. The game was postponed due to the injury and is now rescheduled as Smuts continues his road to recovery.
Youth Soccer News: During the 2015 Dave Shelton semi-final game between FC Heat BU15 and FC Heat BU14, young Danny Smuts Jr. suffered a spinal stroke. The final in this bracket was postponed until the severity of Smut’s injury was known and has now been re-arranged for Saturday, March 19, 2016.
The boys on both teams are FC Heat players and decided collectively that they wanted to dedicate the final to Danny and his family, regardless of which team wins.
Danny grew up wearing an FC Heat uniform and moved through from Rec to All-Stars, and then on to Competitive in the blink of an eye. His father, Danny Sr., enjoyed the same quick progression — as a coach. The whole family loves soccer — Danny’s older brother Drew was one of Heat’s top players, and his youngest brother, Jacob, is currently enjoying playing as a recreational player with his dad coaching. While Danny’s mom Cindy may not lace up her cleats, she too has embraced the game with passion, sharing her talents as a volunteer manager and fundraiser for the youth soccer club.
To the Smuts family, FC Heat and Escondido Soccer Club was their home – and now, their home club is there to support them.
Steve Yorke, Heat’s Director of Coaching remembers Danny in a Dave Shelton game when he was 11-years-old. “I remember that match clearly,” he said, ” as I had decided to play Danny up front coming in from both wings. He scored 3 goals in about 10 minutes, one with his left, one with his right and one with his head. The team we played was quite strong and their coach wanted to know all about him after the game.”
It was not just Danny’s playing ability that impressed coaches and players – his infectious personality spreads cheer and joy wherever he goes. Many would think after running on a soccer field, being confined to a wheelchair would have a negative effect on one’s world, but not Danny. He is a positive young man who does not spend his time feeling sorry for himself. 
The community based Escondido youth soccer club has scheduled the soccer final for next Saturday afternoon and plans to serve hamburgers and hot dogs along with their world famous taco stand offering Mexican food.
Soccer fans are welcome to come join the youth soccer final turned celebration of life and everyone is invited to help wish Danny well on his road to recovery. For more information, please call (760) 489-0169
Source/Photo Credit: Escondido Soccer Club
