BRUNSWICK — The Brunswick High School boys soccer sideline will have a decidedly new look next fall.

Longtime coach Peter Gardner has stepped down. He notified his team of his intentions last week.

Peter Gardner Field will not feel the same for the myriad players, officials and fans who have come to admire, love and cherish this Dragon icon.

Gardner toiled for the Dragons over a span of nearly four decades, his 39 years as the school’s soccer coach beginning in 1973. Four years later, the Dragons played in the state championship game, losing to Scarborough, 3-2.

Gardner, who actually retired from his assistant principal position last year only to be rehired for a year under the school system’s “retirerehire” program, took over a fledgling year-old program — he was given the choice of coaching varsity basketball or leading the soccer program — that had one year of club existence.

In ’73, Pink Floyd released “Dark Side of the Moon,” the average cost of a new house was $32,500 and Watergate hearings began in the U.S. Senate with President Richard Nixon telling the nation, “I am not a crook.”

“Back then, I said ‘Hey, I’ll do the soccer. It looks like it can be done with a variety of kids,’” said Gardner, who plans to spend more time with wife, Cora, sons Ryan and Bruce, and his five grandchildren. “And, I really thought I could do it, having never played a lick of it in my life.”

That year, his 13-game schedule (3-7-3) featured the likes of St. Dom’s, Hyde, CMVTI and arch nemesis Mt. Ararat, as soccer was just beginning to take root.

“It goes without saying that Peter Gardner will be missed by the Brunswick boys soccer program, especially the consistency that a longstanding coach brings to a program,” athletic director Gene Keene said Monday. “He has been a great coach and mentor to many young students, as well as young coaches here in Brunswick.”

During Gardner’s tenure as coach, his Dragon teams went to 10 state championships with six titles: 1984-86, 1990-91 and 1999. In 24 fall campaigns, his teams have notched double-digit victories.

“And, you know what else is neat? Since 1983, Brunswick teams have been the number-six (seeded) only once in the state tournament. Every other time they’ve been in the top-five seeded. It has a lot to do with the kids,” lauded Gardner. “They played a lot of soccer.”

He has guided 15 All-New England players, six All-Americans and seven Gatorade Players of the Year.

Gardner, who started that first season with just seven players — “I said, ‘Boys, you’ve got to go out and find some more players or we’re not going to be able to play this sport!’” — has an overall record of 463-128- 49, including 69-27 in the postseason.

Gardner, Brunswick High School’s assistant to the principal, took quite a bit of time to mull over his future, but recently felt — with guidance from Cora — it was time to move on.

“A lot of thought went into this,” said the personable Richmond resident. “Cora’s still not sure I’m doing the right thing. With Cora, it’s ‘why are you doing this?’

“But, it’s time to do this because, one, these kids have worked so hard for me. I’m not trying to say they deserve someone else, but when I’m coaching I’m shaking the hands of much younger coaches.

“I still believe I’m a very good teacher and I want to be a teacher and a coach. And, what I mean by that is a coach will repeat what you want them to do, but if you teach the kids the game, they’ll figure it out on the field.

“I also know a million drills, but, the bottom line is that it’s time. The hero in all of this, if that’s the right word, is Cora. Cora raised two incredible people who have become exceptional dads. Both are very successful at what they are doing right now and they’re very good dads.

“And, when you coach you always aren’t a part of all that. They have never, ever said, ‘Why don’t you get done?’ They’ve all been extremely supportive.”

It’s been a very good ride for Gardner.

“I have also worked with hundreds of great kids, and I can say that there were never more than two or three ‘downs.’ Everything has been ‘up.’ Now, of course, there are days when you go home, scratch your head and wonder why …”

“This is a sad day for boy’s high school soccer in Maine,” offered Mt. Ararat coach Rick Renaud. “Peter was the coach I looked up to. Beating Brunswick has always been something special because they were always so good and that had a lot to do with Peter. I’m going to miss his good-natured ribbing and that competitiveness that we had with each other, I hope he enjoys his retirement, and I hope he realizes what a legacy he has left behind.”

“I love the game and have a passion for the game,” said Gardner, 65. “I just think it’s one of those things that has to be done after 39 years. It’s time to step aside and let somebody else have the same opportunities that I had. I just wanted to do this for all the right reasons.

“My life has been as a teacher, my life has been an educator, my life has been a coach. I’ve haven’t known anything differently. I know I’ll miss it, but I’ll fill it because I have grandchildren. And, I have a special lady and she has been supportive every inch of the way.

“But, Mrs. Gardner’s waiting for me to retire … I’ve been in education for 44 years. And, this will be our 49th year of marriage … 49 years,” he said with a chuckle. “I hope we get to 50, but if we retire together, we might not make it!”

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