San Francisco Soccer Football League

History

Established in 1902 as the California Football Association, the SFSFL is the oldest soccer league continuously operating in the United States, 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 and numerous state and national titles, and hosted and played international. 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.

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

• Olympic Club (1916)
• SFIAC (1917)
• SF Vikings SC (1922)
• Club Peru (1926)

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. Standard FIFA games laws are used. Teams are allowed 22 roster players, of whom 17 can play on game day. A three-referee crew are assigned to each match. Elite officials from FIFA to the state level travel across California to officiate in the SFSFL.

2025 Team List

This is a list of the participants in the 2025 season:

Premier Division

• Club Marin
• FC Jabronis (formerly FC Big Green)
• International San Francisco
• Olympic Club
• San Francisco Celtic SC
• San Francisco City FC
• San Francisco Elite SC
• San Francisco Glens
• San Francisco Hibernian FC
• San Francisco Italian Athletic Club
• San Francisco Vikings SC
• SF Young Boys

Majors Division

• Azteca FC
• Berenice SC
• CD San Nicolás
• Cobras FC
• Deportivo Cometa
• Indy Athletic FC
• International San Francisco Reserves
• Lands End FC
• Mexicali
• Oakland Soccer Club Development Team
• San Francisco Corinthians
• San Francisco Glens Reserves

First Division

• Bluff City FC
• Club Atlético de San Francisco
• Club Tepa
• FC Jabronis Reserves
• Inter SF Development
• Norcal Shockwaves FC
• Oakland Soccer Club Reserves
• Peninsula FC
• San Francisco Glens U23
• Valencia Street Rovers

2018 clubs no longer playing

• DZ United
• Juventus F.C.
• San Francisco Fog
• Sport Alianza FC
• Tornado
• Sport & Social Club
• United SC
• Club Marin Reserves
• FC Dirty Birds
• Innisfree FC
• MCFC
• Melchester Rovers FC
• Oakland Leopards FC
• Olympic Club Reserves
• San Francisco Battery FC
• Total Football FC

Champions

Notable Members

Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Champions:

• 1976 San Francisco Italian Athletic Club
• 1985 Greek-American AC
• 1993 El Farolito Soccer Club
• 1994 Greek-American AC National Amateur Cup Finalists:
• 1979 San Francisco Glens
• 1990 San Francisco Glens
• 1991 El Farolito Soccer Club National Soccer Hall of Fame members:
• Matthew Boxer (1961)
• Ernie Feibusch (1984)
• Stephen Negoesco (2003)

United States men's national soccer team coach Lothar Osiander

United States men's national soccer team capped players:

• Alexi Lalas
• John Doyle
• C.J.Brown
• Troy Dayak
• Peter Woodring
• Christopher Sullivan
• Alberto Cruz Major League Soccer players:
• John Doyle
• Troy Dayak
• C.J.Brown
• Peter Woodring
• Johnny Moore
• Christopher Sullivan
• Marquis White

References

References

1. (2010). "Soccer and the World: Questions for Martha Saavedra". [[Cal Alumni Association]].
2. "CSAN League List".
3. "USASA - National Cups - Past Champions".
4. "US Open Cup History".
5. "The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation - USA - List of US Open Cup Finals".
6. Garcia, Ken. (7 June 2002). "Soccer fever in S.F. is not new outbreak". The San Francisco Chronicle.
7. "Olympic Club Sports".
8. "SFIAC History".
9. "SF Vikings SC History".
10. "Remaining Eligible - NCAA".
11. "FIFA Laws of the Game".
12. "SFSFL Teams".
13. (13 September 2016). "Congratulations to Olympic Club SFSFL Premier Division Champions".
14. "USSF - Hall of Fame - History".
15. "US Soccer Hall of Fame Membership".
16. "NCAAA Foundation - Lothan Osiander".
17. "SoccerStats.us US soccer statistics from 1866 to 2013".