Brian Fairbrother

Fairbrother grew up in Southern California, graduating from Inglewood High School (California) before attending Western Washington University in Bellingham.^[2] When he arrived in Shelton in the late 1970s, he noticed the absence of soccer in the community, which contrasted with other schools in Thurston County, Washington.^[3]

Fairbrother became a founding member of both the Shelton Youth Soccer Club and the South Mason Soccer Club.^[4] He obtained soccer equipment from the basement of Tumwater, Washington dentist Dr. George Gunderson to help develop youth soccer in South Mason County.^[5] By 2007, three hundred children were participating in youth soccer in South Mason.^[4] Several of his players went on to win the 1999 U-17 state championship with South Mason Soccer Club.^[6]

Fairbrother began coaching the Shelton boys' soccer team in 1981 as a volunteer, recognizing the need to establish a program.^[3] "They didn't have a teacher,” he told The Olympian, "and I figured the program would die if it didn't get started this year."^[3] Initially, Shelton played in the Black Hills League with a junior varsity level team.^[4][3] By 1983, the boys' team won their first home game,^[7] and in 1985, they had their first winning season.^[4]

In 1994, the Shelton boys' team won their first Black Hills League championship with a 13-2-1 record, and advanced to the Washington 2-A state playoffs.^[8] Shelton were co-league champs in 1998 with the best record (15–2–1) in the school's history.^[9] Fairbrother was named Black Hills League coach of the year in 1993 and 1994.^[10][11] The team earned their first post-season win in 1999 against John F. Kennedy Catholic High School (Washington) who were defending state champions.^[9] Following that season, Fairbrother's team had several players earn all-league honors.^[12] That same year, he led the girls' team to their first appearance in the regional tournament at Stadium High School in Tacoma, Washington.^[13] Shelton's boys' team also won league titles in 2000 and 2001.^[14][15] In 2002, Shelton completed their final season in the Pacific-9 league with an undefeated 8-0-1 record.^[16] The team got knocked out of the state playoffs, but won the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association Class 4A academic state championship.^[4][17]

Fairbrother retired as head coach of the girls' program in 1999 (91–110–22) and the boys' in 2007 (222–158–42).^[4][18] In 2024, he was inducted into the Shelton, Washington hall of fame.^[19]