San Francisco Soccer Football League

SFSFL HISTORY AND EXPANSION

MISSION: The mission of the San Francisco Soccer Football League (SFSFL) is to: provide teams to compete in a semi-professional league; provide opportunities for individuals to develop into a first-class player, and foster and promote the sport of soccer in our community.

VISION & GOALS: SFSFL is home for your elite soccer experience played in your backyard. SFSFL enables our players to achieve their dream of playing at the highest level. We know this didn't happen overnight. Our club is made up of a variety of players, including current and post-collegiate athletes, national and international team players, former professionals, and premier club-level standouts with over 10 members having been inducted into the US Soccer Federation Hall of Fame. SFSFL operates under the U.S. Soccer tier-pyramid system and is committed to promoting the hotbed of soccer in San Francisco and its community. SFSFL provides high quality soccer from youth to adult level. Our expansion plan is to grow by strengthening our league annually and setting a footprint into new areas that does not currently have high-level soccer & at the same time provide services to our community. Become a FC supporter!!

VALUE & HISTORY: The San Francisco Soccer Football League (SFSFL) humble beginnings began in 1902. A group of immigrants having crossed the Pacific Ocean in the 1880s wanted to start-up a social club as they set foot in San Francisco and in 1902, 8 clubs were form with names like: Pastimes, Barbarians, Oakland Hornets, Vampires, American-British Rifles, Independents, Albion Rovers and the Thistles FC. These clubs grew and set deep-roots in San Francisco, forming dynasty teams while making soccer history as chronicled in the local papers. As such, SFSFL players were known across the United States, the Olympics and CONCACAF and back home in the old land in pubs and neighborhoods which they once played. SFSFL members have been honored in the US Soccer and California Soccer Association-North Hall of Fame for their contribution to the game in America. During the 70’s thru the 90’s, SFSFL teams on 4 separate occasions won the US Lamar Open Cup; were runner-up on 2 occasions, with the last club team having made an historic run in the US Open Cup, having knocked out 3 MLS teams before losing the championship match on shootouts. The SFSFL became the league and supportive club to help launch professional soccer in San Francisco and semi-professional teams in the bay area. Our members are today's leaders in the soccer community. Today, SFSFL is headquartered in SF at the Verdi Club - a social club. Teams and clubs play semi-professional soccer every Sunday and still stay committed to its roots and community in San Francisco. Come join us!!

PLAYING ENVIRONMENT: With competitive entry costs and annual membership dues, SFSFL has an extremely competitive league structure which includes: unique team page for each member, state of the art fields, up to 12 teams per division, play up to 22 game, promotion/relegation, play-off rounds, championship event, top officiating crew at every game, field commissioners and play back-to-back matches with other divisional teams, divisional championship trophy and cash prize and opportunity to participate in state and national cup competitions.

BENEFITS: Our structure offers high-level competition; Clubs can be part of a national league framework incorporating all their adult competition needs; there is a manageable local geographic schedule; maximize travel flexibility; player registration via SFSFL Soccer's efficient online system; SFSFL has no franchise fees.

OUR STRENGTH: When you join and support our FC, you not only become a member of the league but your team/club also becomes a partner and family member of the longest established league in the country - working together to foster growth and development in the game we all love to play, watch and join.

Over the centuries, SFSFL has won many Cups from the Donnelly National Cup to the California State Cup. Before the inception of the MLS, the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup was played by semi-professional teams from around the country. Past champions included shipyards and local clubs, including several SFSFL Futbol Clubs, winning one of the oldest nationally contested trophies in American team sports. SFSFL Championships include: 1976, 1985, 1988, 1993 & 1994 (last semi-professional team to win the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup championship). In 1996, history was made when then SF Glens, became known as the SF Bay Seals made a historic run to beat 3 MLS teams before only losing the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Championship in shootouts against DC United.

Year	LAMAR HUNT US OPEN CUP FINALS
1976	San Francisco Athletic Club (SFIAC) 1, N.Y. Inter-Giuliana 0 (May 23)
1985	San Francisco Greek-American AC 2, St. Louis Kutis 1 (June 30)
1988	St. Louis Busch SC 2, Greek American AC 1 (June 25; St. Louis Soccer Park; Fenton, Mo.)
1993	San Francisco C.D. Mexico (El Farolito) 5, United German-Hungarians 0 (July 17; Kuntz Stadium; Indianapolis, Ind.)
1994	San Francisco Greek-American AC 3, Bavarian Leinenkugel 0 (July 30; UGH Field; Oakford, Pa.)