Gold Crown Tournament Story:
GCT was founded by my husband and I, Allen and Bethany Stallings, in February of 2020 after years of discussion and prayer. We founded this company because we are passionate about the impact sports can have in the lives of children. We have a sincere love for children, and a strong history in managing youth sports leagues and events. We could not shake the desire to start a sports company and decided to launch a tournament company. GCT was born in February of 2020.
What sets Gold Crown Tournaments apart:
We want our tournaments to support coaches’ efforts, encourage athletes, and provide a fun atmosphere for families to spend their weekends. We are accessible to any coach or parent who has a concern or question. We are committed to training and hiring the best umpires and tournament directors in the industry. We are very selective with our staff to ensure that they take their role seriously and care about the kids first and foremost. We have an earnest desire to support organizations who work to rescue children enslaved in the human trafficking industry, and to share the hope and love found in Jesus with those children who are rescued as well as everyone we encounter at our tournaments!
About the Directors:
Allen-
Allen was born in Athens Texas and is a tried & true East Texan at heart! He spent his entire life in sports. He started in baseball when he was a young boy and added football and boxing later in his teen years. He played semi-pro football and became a professional boxer. He has officiated several different sports since he was a teenager and has over 35 years of experience just as an umpire alone. He was asked to be the UIC for the Local Dixie league in Athens Texas where he spent years training and overseeing all of the umpire staff. He later became the UIF for Dixie over the Southern and Central Regions of Texas, and was responsible for training, scheduling, and oversight of about 200 umpires. He is a Christian, a loving father and husband, a loyal friend, a veteran, and a fun-loving sports enthusiast with a passion for working with kids! He also loves to pull pranks and enjoys hearing stories about the best of them!
Bethany-
Bethany grew up competing in Elite Gymnastics and after moving to North Texas, she started playing lots of other sports including fastpitch. As an adult she settled in East Texas after having her third child. Eventually she began work at the Cain Center, a recreation center in Henderson County, where she managed all the youth sports programs, aquatics & lifeguard training, and events management. There is not a sport she doesn’t enjoy either watching or playing. She is known for her enthusiasm, and brings logistic, business, and sports management experience to the company. She loves working with and encouraging children. Her heart is deeply moved to save children and orphans that are being abused and trafficked. She decided not to let the pull at her heart end, and instead she followed through and put action behind it. She is willing to give her last cent to save all the children she possibly can. Her life motto is ‘you can’t take it with you when you go- why not give it to save their life?
Our story:
Allen and I met at Cain Center in Athens Texas around the fall of 2011. I was in dire need of a director for the football program after my previous director moved to Waco at the end of the season. I had seen Allen coaching, and he fit the bill perfectly. He was calm and kind, knowledgeable, and loved working with kids. A few years later, Cain Center was purchased by the city to be used as City Hall, and I was laid off. I decided to go back to school for a degree in Kinesiology. Allen, along with other key people in the community, including the late David Cornelius, worked together to start several youth sports leagues in Athens. After several years and lots of life events, in 2019 we got married and moved to Waxahachie. We have 6 children altogether, and 7 grandchildren. We attend Gateway Church of Grand Prairie with our youngest son. We see the potential to impact and save lives through this marketplace ministry, and we want to pour all we can into growing it so that we can impact as many lives as possible.