San Francisco Soccer Football League

Last updated
San Francisco Soccer Football League
San Francisco Soccer Football League Logo.png
Founded1902;122 years ago (1902)
CountryUnited States
Confederation CONCACAF
(North American Football Union)
Number of teams31
Domestic cup(s) U.S. Open Cup
International cup(s) CONCACAF Champions League
Website www.sfsfl.com

The San Francisco Soccer Football League or SFSFL, established in 1902, is "the oldest American soccer league in continuous existence." [1] [2]

Contents

The SFSFL is a men's semi-professional and amateur soccer league consisting of teams from San Francisco, California and surrounding cities in the Bay Area. The SFSFL is affiliated with the United States Adult Soccer Association region IV California Soccer Association-North [3] and regularly sends teams to the National Amateur Cup. [4] SFSFL teams have won the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup four times. [5] [6]

History

Established in 1902 as the California Football Association, the SFSFL is the oldest soccer league continuously operating in the United States, [7] pre-dating even the 1913 foundation of the United States Soccer Federation. The next-oldest U.S. leagues, the Cosmopolitan Soccer League of New York City and the National Soccer League of Chicago, were formed in 1923 and 1938, respectively. With several community leaders and soccer enthusiasts, alike, they created football (soccer) clubs, such as: Pickwicks, Pastimes, Barbarians, Hornets, Vampires, American Rifles, Independents, Albion Rovers and the Thistles FC. These clubs help lay the foundation for organized adult soccer which led to the inception of the SFSFL. Teams played soccer matches on Sundays, competing with teams as far north as Sacramento when transportation was only by ferry-boat. Over time, the SFSFL helped launch the California Soccer Association and would compete in the first California State Cup in 1904. Dominating the national soccer scene from the earliest days, SFSFL teams have won four Lamar Hunt US Open Cup; numerous state and national titles; to hosting and playing international matches in the historic Kezar Stadium. The SFSFL would be known across the country, producing memorable clubs, players, personalities, all-star games and national champions. SFSFL members have been inducted into both the US Soccer and CSAN Halls of Fame for contributing to the game.

Boxer Stadium Boxer stadium.jpg
Boxer Stadium

Some of the league's earliest teams still in operation are:

Organization

The league currently has three divisions, playing from March through November. Premier Division games are played at Boxer Stadium. Other divisions split games between Crocker Amazon Park, West Sunset, Beach Chalet, and the Polo Fields in Golden Gate Park.

Each team is individually owned and team owners approve new team membership. Annual divisional promotion and relegation occur keeping teams competitive. Division winners are awarded a permanent trophy with teams' names placed on the century-old trophy as well as awarded prize money. Players are granted amateur status preserving NCAA eligibility. [11] Standard FIFA games laws are used. [12] Teams are allowed 22 roster players of which 17 can play on game day. A three-referee crew are assigned to each match. Elite officials from FIFA to state level travel across California to officiate in the SFSFL.

2023 Team List

This is a list of the participants in the 2023 season: [13]

Premier Division

Majors Division

First Division

2018 clubs no longer playing

Champions

SeasonPremier ChampionMajors Division ChampionFirst Division Champion
1953 Greek-American A.C.
1958 Greek-American A.C.
1961 Greek-American A.C.
1967 Greek-American A.C.
1969 Greek-American A.C.
1970 Greek-American A.C.
1971 Greek-American A.C.
1973 Greek-American A.C.
1978 Greek-American A.C. San Francisco Glens
1979 San Francisco Glens
1981 Greek-American A.C.
1983 Greek-American A.C.
1984 San Francisco Glens
1985 Greek-American A.C.
1986 Greek-American A.C.
1987 Greek-American A.C.
1988 Greek-American A.C.
1989 Greek-American A.C.
1990 San Francisco Glens
1991 Greek-American A.C.
1992 El Farolito Soccer Club
1993 El Farolito Soccer Club
1994 Greek-American A.C.
1995 Greek-American A.C.
1996 El Farolito Soccer Club
1999 El Farolito Soccer Club
2001 El Farolito Soccer Club San Francisco Glens
2003 El Farolito Soccer Club
2011Deportivo GIMSSF Celtic SF City FC
2012Mezcala SCTyneside FCBerenice Reserves
2013Mezcala SCBay City RoversKezar FC
2014 Olympic Club Olympic Club Reserves SF Battery
2015 El Farolito SF City FC Black Primero de Mayo
2016 Olympic Club [14] BereniceTotal Football FC
2017 El Farolito Soccer Club SF Celtic SCInnisfree FC
2018Olympic ClubSF Battery FCSF Metropolitan FC
2019Olympic ClubSF Metropolitan FCCantalao-Peru
2020 El Farolito Soccer Club SF Celtic SCInnisfree FC
2021SF Vikings San Francisco Glens
2022SF Italian Athletic ClubInternational San FranciscoSF Young Boys

Notable Members

Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Champions:

National Amateur Cup Finalists:

National Soccer Hall of Fame members: [15] [16]

United States men's national soccer team coach Lothar Osiander [17]

United States men's national soccer team capped players: [18]

Major League Soccer players:

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boxer Stadium</span> American Sport Stadium

Boxer Stadium is a soccer stadium in San Francisco, California. Located in Balboa Park, the stadium has a capacity of 3,500. It is owned and operated by the San Francisco Recreation & Parks Department and is the only public soccer-specific stadium in San Francisco. Boxer Stadium is the primary home of the century-old San Francisco Soccer Football League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lothar Osiander</span> American soccer coach (born 1939)

Lothar Osiander is a German soccer coach who has served as head coach to the U.S. national and Olympic teams as well as the Atlanta Ruckus, Los Angeles Galaxy and San Jose Clash.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sports in the San Francisco Bay Area</span> Overview of sports in the San Francisco Bay Area

The San Francisco Bay Area, which includes the major cities of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, hosts six major league sports franchises, with a major women's sports franchise soon to start play, as well as several other professional and college sports teams, and hosts other sports events.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Francisco Glens</span> American soccer club

San Francisco Glens Soccer Club, commonly known as SF Glens, is an American soccer club based in San Francisco that was founded in 1961. Their men's first team currently competes in USL League Two and their women's first team in the USL W League, both in the fourth tier of the American soccer pyramid.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">El Farolito SC</span> Soccer club

El Farolito is an amateur soccer club based in San Francisco, California. It currently plays in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL), generally considered the fourth tier of U.S. Soccer, within the Golden Gate Conference. The team is best known for its 1993 U.S. Open Cup championship under its previous name, Club Deportivo (CD) Mexico.

The San Francisco Celtic Soccer Club is a soccer club in San Francisco, California. Founded in 1969 this soccer club takes pride in its Irish/Scottish roots and wears the same uniform as Celtic F.C. of the Scottish Premier League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Francisco City FC</span> Soccer club

San Francisco City Football Club, commonly abbreviated to SF City, or SFCFC, is a supporter-owned soccer club located in San Francisco, California that competes in USL League Two.

The 2016 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup tournament proper will feature teams from all five tiers of men's soccer of the American Soccer Pyramid.

The 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup tournament proper will feature teams from all five tiers of men's soccer of the American Soccer Pyramid. A record 64 amateur teams have entered qualifying this year.

The 2018 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup tournament proper will feature teams from all five tiers of the men's American soccer pyramid. A record 108 open division amateur teams have entered qualifying this year.

The 2019 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup tournament proper will feature teams from all five tiers of the men's American soccer pyramid.

The 2019 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup was the 106th edition of the U.S. Open Cup, a knockout cup competition in American soccer. It is the oldest ongoing competition in the United States, and was contested by 84 teams from leagues in the U.S. system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Academica SC</span> Soccer club

Academica Soccer Club is an amateur soccer club based out of Turlock, California. The team currently competes in USL League Two and the USL W League. The club's home stadium is Academica Soccer Field with a capacity of over 600 seated fans.

The 2020 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup was planned to be the 107th edition of the U.S. Open Cup, a knockout cup competition in American soccer. Atlanta United FC were the defending champions after defeating Minnesota United FC in the 2019 final. The competition was suspended on March 13, 2020, before the first round fixtures, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and later canceled on August 17. Despite the tournament's cancelation, the spot for the 2021 CONCACAF Champions League was awarded to the defending champions, Atlanta United FC.

The 2020 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup tournament proper featured teams from all five tiers of the men's American soccer pyramid.

The 2019–20 Oakland Roots SC season was the club's first ever and its first in the newly created National Independent Soccer Association (NISA), a newly established third division soccer league in the United States.

The 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup tournament proper will feature teams from both professional and amateur teams in the United States soccer league system.

The 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup was the 108th edition of the U.S. Open Cup, the knockout domestic cup competition of American soccer. Orlando City SC were the defending champions, but were eliminated in the Round of 32 by Charlotte FC. The 2023 field features 99 teams, including a modern-era record 71 professional sides.

The 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup was the 108th edition of the oldest soccer tournament in the United States. The tournament proper featured both professional and amateur teams in the United States soccer league system.

The 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup will be the 109th edition of the oldest soccer tournament in the United States. The tournament proper will feature both professional and amateur teams in the United States soccer league system.

References

  1. ↑ Van Rheenen, Derek (2009). "The promise of soccer in America: the open play of ethnic subcultures". Soccer & Society. 10 (6): 781–794. doi:10.1080/14660970903239974. ISSN   1743-9590.
  2. ↑ "Soccer and the World: Questions for Martha Saavedra". CALIFORNIA Magazine. Cal Alumni Association. 2010. Archived from the original on 2013-04-12. Retrieved April 3, 2013.
  3. ↑ "CSAN League List" . Retrieved 11 March 2013.
  4. ↑ "USASA - National Cups - Past Champions" . Retrieved 11 March 2013.
  5. ↑ "US Open Cup History" . Retrieved 11 March 2013.
  6. ↑ "The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation - USA - List of US Open Cup Finals" . Retrieved 11 March 2013.
  7. ↑ Garcia, Ken (7 June 2002). "Soccer fever in S.F. is not new outbreak". The San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  8. ↑ "Olympic Club Sports" . Retrieved 27 March 2013.
  9. ↑ "SFIAC History". Archived from the original on 7 December 2013. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
  10. ↑ "SF Vikings SC History" . Retrieved 27 March 2013.
  11. ↑ "Remaining Eligible - NCAA" . Retrieved 11 March 2013.
  12. ↑ "FIFA Laws of the Game". Archived from the original on October 8, 2012. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
  13. ↑ "SFSFL Teams" . Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  14. ↑ "Congratulations to Olympic Club SFSFL Premier Division Champions". California Soccer Association North. 13 September 2016.
  15. ↑ "USSF - Hall of Fame - History" . Retrieved 11 March 2013.
  16. ↑ "US Soccer Hall of Fame Membership" . Retrieved 11 March 2013.
  17. ↑ "NCAAA Foundation - Lothan Osiander" . Retrieved 11 March 2013.
  18. ↑ "SoccerStats.us US soccer statistics from 1866 to 2013" . Retrieved 27 March 2013.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.