‘Practice Makes Permanent’: A retired soccer star is bringing his expertise to coaching.

When Gary Hamilton left England 15 years ago, he couldn’t walk down the street without someone recognizing him.

Hamilton, now 41, played professional soccer for the Middlesbrough Football Club for 10 years. The midfielder retired with a knee injury in 1992.

Now that he lives in McAllen, Hamilton doesn’t have to worry about overzealous fans.

“It’s great not to be recognized here,” he said.

Hamilton is the executive director of the McAllen Youth Soccer Association and the Border Bandits Soccer Club. He also coaches several teams.

Hamilton’s motto — “practice makes permanent” — shapes his coaching style.

“Nobody’s perfect,” Hamilton said. “But if you practice hard enough, you’ll be permanently good.”

When Hamilton arrived in the Rio Grande Valley in 1992, McAllen’s soccer league consisted of 220 children. Now, including travel teams, there are about 2,400 players, he said.

The players range in age from 4 to 18, and when they graduate from high school, some play professionally in Mexico or receive full scholarships to play in college.

Hamilton loves soccer and thinks every child should play a sport — a value his own children clearly embraced.

Both of his daughters played soccer, and his son now plays for a premier team in San Antonio.

Travel and league fees can get expensive for families, but Hamilton said the cost is worth it — and not just in terms of the college scholarships. He credits soccer for keeping his children grounded and said he sleeps better knowing they aren’t partying like others their age.

“I don’t think you can put a price on that,” he said. “One of the great jobs we did and are doing (as coaches) is keeping kids off the streets.”

Hamilton sees problems with today’s fast-food, video-game culture.

“All kids should be active,” he said. “Sports is not just sports. It’s a life skill.”

Born in Scotland, Hamilton started playing professionally at age 16. When a knee injury forced him into retirement, he briefly moved to Houston but soon got hooked on the Valley.

“I like the Valley,” he said. “It’s a great place to bring kids up. Like Little House on the Prairie.”