Rancho Santa Fe Attack Soccer is ing the legacy of a special longtime coach and friend, Malcolm Tovey. Tovey, the director of coaching for RSF Attack for the last 28 years, ed away on Nov. 8 after a sudden heart attack at age 68.
As one friend said posting online, Tovey was “a titan in the growth and development of youth soccer in San Diego County”. Prior to coming to the Attack, he served as the director of coaching at Surf Soccer for 13 years. A long-time part of the community, Tovey had also been a PE teacher at the Nativity School and a varsity soccer coach at The Bishop’s School.
Rancho Santa Fe Attack will host a Celebration of Life for Tovey on Sunday, Jan. 5 at the Rancho Santa Fe Sports Field. From 10 a.m to 1 p.m. there will be soccer games, a special dedication and lots of reminiscing about Malcolm and his contribution to both soccer and the community.
Originally from England, Tovey developed a love for sports and a competitive spirit at a young age. He played for Hengrove Athletic F.C. and was selected to represent the England International Boys Clubs. He later ed Weston-Super-Mare Association F.C. and earned his teaching qualifications, majoring in physical education at Keele University. After participating in a student exchange program that introduced him to Southern California, he moved to the United States to attend San Diego State University on a soccer scholarship.
Tovey ed RSF Attack in 1997 as the league’s first director of coaching, “a role he embraced with unwavering dedication and ion until his ing,” according to Marilee Pacelli, director of league operations.
“Over the years, he not only coached countless teams, many of which won championships, but also mentored and inspired many players who went on to play in college and beyond,” Pacelli said. “His ion for the game and his genuine care for those he worked with left an indelible mark on our community.”
As he spent countless hours on the field in Rancho Santa Fe, the league has established the Malcolm Tovey Memorial Fund to help create a lasting tribute with a memorial bench.
“I have worked with Malcolm for more than 15 years here at Attack. He was always the glue that held this league together and he always had my back and was ive of my ideas,” Pacelli said. “None of us got to say goodbye, but we all cherish our memories of him and know that with the dedication of a bench for him at the RSF Sports Field he will always have a seat at all the games!”
Following the Jan. 5 Celebration of Life, there will be a party for ages 21 and up at The Belly Up in Solana Beach at 4 p.m. The event, that will include music and remembrances, is free but an RSVP is required. To for the Belly Up event or to donate toward the memorial bench, visit https://www.rsfsoccer.com/programs/malcolm-tovey-memorial-fund. RSF Sports Field is located at 16826 Rambla de las Flores, Rancho Santa Fe.
