San Francisco Glens facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
San Francisco Glens

Full name	San Francisco Glens SC
Nickname(s)	The Glens, Green and White, Blanco y Verde
Founded	1961; 64 years ago (1961)
Stadium	San Francisco Glens Stadium (Treasure Island, San Francisco)
Stadium capacity	TBD
Coach	Liam Guest (men) / Jessica Hewins (women)
League	USL League Two / USL W League
2024	League Two: 3rd, NorCal Division Playoffs: None W League: 3rd, NorCal Division Playoffs: None
Home colours Away colours Third colours

The San Francisco Glens Soccer Club, often called SF Glens, is a soccer team from San Francisco, USA. It started in 1961. Their men's main team plays in USL League Two. Their women's main team plays in the USL W League. Both leagues are part of the fourth level of soccer in the American soccer pyramid.

Before joining USL League Two in 2018, the Glens were a long-time part of the San Francisco Soccer Football League (SFSFL). They also had a connection with the San Francisco Seals' team, which no longer exists. The Glens still have three teams in the SFSFL. However, the USL League Two team is now their top team.

Since Mike McNeill became the Executive Director and General Manager, the club has grown a lot. It went from two youth teams to the biggest soccer club in San Francisco. The Glens have a well-known academy program. It is the only one in the city with all age groups for MLS Next. This program starts at Under-13 and goes up to Under-19. In 2022, the U19 team made history. They were the first San Francisco team to reach the MLS NEXT Cup final. They lost a close game 1-0 to the New England Revolution.

The Glens club has over 90 teams in total. This includes their USL League Two and USL W League teams, plus their SFSFL and youth academy teams. They have more than 1,300 players.

The Glens also have international connections. They are the official North American partner of Holstein Kiel, a club from Germany. Besides the MLS NEXT program, they are the only youth club in San Francisco that is a member of the USL Academy.

They also work closely with the San Jose Earthquakes from Major League Soccer. For example, U.S. Youth National Team player Cruz Medina played with the Glens Academy before joining the Earthquakes. The Glens have also hosted MLS Next Pro games for the Earthquakes in San Francisco.

Club History

How the Glens Started

The Glens club began on January 28, 1961. Dr. Michael McFadden founded it. It was one of many Irish American amateur teams in the SFSFL during the 1960s. The club became strong thanks to coach Neil Hagan. They also had talented young players like Tom and Steve Ryan.

In these early years, the club became friends with Celtic F.C.. This friendship continues today. Legend says that when Celtic visited San Francisco in 1957, they gave the Glens their first uniforms. The Glens started playing four years later.

Early Success in National Games

Under Neil Hagan's coaching, the Glens moved up to the SFSFL's Premier division. They became known nationally by reaching the National Amateur Cup final in 1979. They lost 1–0 to Atlanta Datagraphic. Their national success also led them to play in the important U.S. Open Cup three times between 1978 and 1982.

Winning SFSFL Titles

Neil Hagan sadly passed away in 1981 while coaching. This was a big loss for the club. But Sean Shannon stepped in and rebuilt the team. He brought in new players like Paul Mitchell. By 1984, the Glens won their first SFSFL championship. It was the first time an Irish team had won it. In 1990, they reached the National Amateur Cup final again. They lost 1–0 to the St. Petersburg Kickers. Three years later, under Shannon, the Glens won their second SFSFL title.

Back to the SFSFL

After a short break, the SF Glens rejoined the SFSFL in 2015. They had a Premier Division team and a reserve team. In 2018, the SFSFL Glens, coached by Bill Chu, reached the California Soccer Association North (CSAN) State Cup Final. They lost 4–2 to Club Marin in extra time.

A New Chapter in USL League Two

In 2018, the Glens started a new team in the USL Premier Development League. They wanted to create a top team for their youth program and SFSFL teams. They also aimed to become a professional team in the future. J. Ramon Estevez became the first president and general manager. Javier Ayala-Hil was hired as head coach. Mike McNeill, who was already the youth program's executive director, also worked with the new team.

The Glens did not make the playoffs in their first season. However, they ended the season with a four-game unbeaten streak. They were one of only two teams to get points from the top team, FC Golden State Force.

In September 2018, the club announced that Jimmy Conrad, a former U.S. World Cup player, would be their new technical director. In December 2018, Mike McNeill became the team president. One month later, four Glens players were chosen in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft. Two of them, Sam Junqua and Roy Boateng, were picked in the first round. This was a first for any San Francisco club.

The Glens started a partnership with German club Holstein Kiel in 2019. San Francisco and Kiel are sister cities. The team had a tough season, but Nabilai Kibunguchy was named to the Western Conference Team of the Year.

In February 2020, Ayala-Hil stepped down as head coach. McNeill named Conrad as the new coach. However, the 2020 USL League Two season was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In March 2021, the club announced plans to build a new soccer stadium on Treasure Island. This was a first for a local club in San Francisco's long soccer history. Meanwhile, coaches Bill Chu and Cameron Chu led the Glens' SFSFL teams to a great year. The Second Team made the Premier Division playoffs. The Third Team finished in the top four of the Majors Division. The Under-23 Fourth Team won the First Division.

The 2022 USL League Two season brought changes. Conrad returned to his role as technical director. Gabe Saucedo became head coach. Ryan Maquiñana took on the USL General Manager role. The team finished in the top four of their division. They made the national playoffs for the first time. In the Western Conference Quarterfinals, the Glens beat Capital FC 3-2. But they lost 3-2 in extra time to Ballard FC in the semifinals. Max Chrétien scored nine goals and had five assists. Academy player Diego Grande scored eight goals. Kevyn Lo was named to the Western Conference Team of the Year.

The SFSFL teams also had a good year in 2022. The Second Team made the playoffs again. The Third Team won the Majors Division. The Under-23 Fourth Team finished second in their league. The SFSFL also held its 120th Anniversary Open Cup. The Under-23 team beat the Second Team 2-1 in an all-Glens final.

On September 7, 2022, the Glens started building their new facility on Treasure Island. Mayor London Breed was one of the speakers. Two days later, they hosted the San Jose Earthquakes' second team at Negoesco Stadium. They managed the game against Real Monarchs. A sold-out crowd watched the first professional soccer game in the city since 2017.

In 2023, Javier Ayala-Hil returned as head associate coach. The team fought for the NorCal Division title all season. They set new club records for wins (9) and points (28). They also finished second in the table. They beat their rival SF City FC in both derby games for the first time. Chrétien was the top scorer again with 10 goals. He was named NorCal Division Player of the Year. The Glens made the national playoffs again. They beat Redlands FC 2-1 away from home. This sent them to the Western Conference Semifinals for the second year in a row. However, they lost to Ventura County Fusion.

Former Glens player Liam Guest became the head coach for the 2024 USL League Two season. The team started strong. They beat defending champions Monterey Bay FC 2 and Oakland Roots Project 51O 6-0. But a late slump pushed them to third place. They missed the playoffs this time.

The SFSFL second team, led by Chu, had one of their best starts in 20 years. They were 9-1-5 and in third place at the season's halfway point.

Glens Add Women's Team

In December 2022, the club announced a new women's team. It would play in the NorCal Division of the USL W League. Mike Sharabi was named head coach. Their first player signed was Elise Evans, a defender from Stanford and the U.S. Under-20 team. The team started very well, winning their first nine games. They were ranked No. 1 nationally in the USL W League for five weeks. The Glens won the NorCal Division Championship and the Western Conference Championship. They beat Oakland Soul SC 5-1 in the semifinals and California Storm 2-1. Their amazing run ended in the National Semifinal. They lost 3-2 to Indy Eleven in the last seconds. Nádia Gomes was named USL W National Player of the Year. She scored 16 goals and had 9 assists. Defender Elle Piper also made the USL W National Team of the Year. Ryan Maquiñana was named USL W National Executive of the Year.

Jessica Hewins became the head coach for the 2024 USL W season. Forwards Gomes, Miri O'Donnell, and Amy Sayer signed professional contracts. Gomes joined NWSL's Chicago Red Stars. O'Donnell went to Sweden's Kristianstads DFF. Sayer joined Portugal's Sporting C.P.. Maquiñana also left for a job with the San Jose Earthquakes. Despite these changes, most of the team stayed together. The Glens led the NorCal Division for most of the season. They reached No. 10 in national rankings. But two late losses pushed them to third place and out of the playoffs. Forward Karlie Lema later signed a professional contract with NWSL club Bay FC. Bay FC announced their new training facility on Treasure Island would be next to the Glens' stadium.

Supporters

The SF Glens have a group of fans called the SF Glens Brigade. In Irish Gaelic, they are known as Briogáid Ghleann. This name honors the club's Irish beginnings. They often meet at Skyline College for games. They also travel to support the team.

Kit Sponsors

The SF Glens made history with their first season uniform. The global brand Carlsberg was their main sponsor. Only a few other soccer clubs, like Liverpool F.C., have had Carlsberg's logo on their jerseys. The Glens' other uniform sponsors were Soccerloco, Rubica, and Thomas Quinn Law. The club also partnered with Casa Sanchez Foods. Their coaches' clothes featured the famous Jimmy the Cornman logo. In 2019, Powerade became the sponsor for the training uniforms. Before the 2024 USL League Two and USL W League seasons, the Glens announced a new partnership with Guinness. Guinness will be on the front of their uniforms for several years.

Team Rosters

Current USL League Two Men's Team

The following 18 players were on the team for the USL League Two game against Davis Legacy on June 16, 2023.

No. Position Player 0 GK James Swomley 2 DF Nathan Simeon 4 DF Matthew Duggan 5 DF Dennis Sánchez 6 MF Dominic Valdivia 7 FW Diego Grande 8 MF Max Hamelink 9 FW Max Chrétien 10 MF Gabriel Bracken Serra

No. Position Player 11 MF Joep Wouters 13 MF Kian Jones 15 MF Adrian Medina 16 DF Shayan Charalaghi 18 DF Jack Singer 19 FW Nonso Adimabua 30 GK Kevin Box 32 MF Angel Iñiguez 33 FW Lorenzo Hernández

Current USL W League Women's Team

The following 18 players were on the team for the USL W League Away Game against The Olympic Club on June 18, 2023.

No. Position Player 1 GK Bianca Dominguez 2 DF Gianna Yslava 3 FW Jessie Halladay 4 FW Maia Beltrán 5 FW Maddy Samilo 6 DF Amaya Bautista 7 FW Nádia Gomes 8 DF Elle Piper 9 MF Peyton Marcisz

No. Position Player 10 MF Yuna McCormack 11 DF Camryn Penn 12 MF Kaylee Kim 13 FW Jasmine Aikey 14 DF Emmie Ennis 18 DF Elise Evans 20 DF Jennie Immethun 21 DF Kathryn Kelly 25 MF Thy Tran

Team Records

SFSFL (Top Team Only)

USL League Two Record

USL W League Record

Players Who Became Professionals

Many players from SF Glens SC's USL, SFSFL, or Academy teams have gone on to play professional soccer. Here are some of them (as of March 1, 2025).

Men (38)

• Steve Ryan - 1970s - signed by San Jose Earthquakes, 1979
• Derek Evans - 1970s - signed by Edmonton Drillers, 1979
• Sam Junqua - 2018 - chosen in 2019 MLS SuperDraft by Houston Dynamo (1st round, 8th overall)
• Roy Boateng - 2018 - chosen in 2019 MLS SuperDraft by New York Red Bulls (1st round, 16th overall)
• Shinya Kadono - 2018 - chosen in 2019 MLS SuperDraft by D.C. United (3rd round, 72nd overall)
• Sam Ebstein - 2018 - chosen in 2019 MLS SuperDraft by FC Dallas (4th round, 87th overall)
• Yohannes Harish - 2018-19 - signed by Oakland Roots SC, 2019
• Luke Dennison - 2018 - signed by Longford Town FC, 2019
• Aydan Bowers - 2019 - signed by FC Helsingor, 2019
• Amir Bashti - 2019 - signed by Atlanta United 2, 2019
• Salifu Jatta - 2019 - signed by Oakland Roots SC, 2019
• Drake Callender - 2019^ - signed by Inter Miami CF, 2019
• Isaiah Dargan - 2018-19 - signed by Chattanooga Red Wolves, 2020
• Simon Lekressner - 2019^ - chosen in 2020 MLS SuperDraft by New England Revolution (2nd round, 30th overall)
• Andrew Konstantino - 2018-19 - signed by Reno 1868 FC, 2020
• Jonathan Orozco - 2019 - signed by Oakland Roots SC, 2020
• Josiah Romero - 2019 - signed by Oakland Roots SC, 2020
• Arda Bulut - 2018-19 - signed by Louisville City FC, 2020
• Nabilai Kibunguchy - 2019 - chosen in 2021 MLS SuperDraft by Minnesota United FC (1st round, 18th overall)
• Roberto Llamas - 2019 - signed by Michigan Stars FC, 2020
• Tyler Moss - 2019 - signed by FC Tucson, 2022
• Zach Ryan - 2019 - signed by New York Red Bulls, 2022
• Rei Dorwart - 2018-19 - signed by Bay Cities FC, 2022
• Andrew Paoli - 2018 - signed by Bay Cities FC, 2022
• Gabe Silveira - 2018 - signed by Bay Cities FC, 2022
• C.J. Grey - 2018 - signed by San Jose Earthquakes II, 2022
• Cruz Medina - 2017-19^^ - signed by San Jose Earthquakes, 2022
• Corey Lundeen - 2022 - signed by Albion San Diego, 2023
• Kyle Colonna - 2019 - signed by New Mexico United, 2023
• Roka Tsunehara - 2017-19^^^ - signed by San Jose Earthquakes II, 2023
• Ryan Dieter - 2021-22 - signed by Monterey Bay FC, 2024
• Sean Bilter - 2022-23 - signed by The Town FC, 2024
• Junior Mailly - 2022-23 - signed by Maharlika F.C., 2024
• Jonathan Estrada - 2022 - signed by Irvine Zeta FC, 2024
• Shayan Charalaghi - 2018-24 - signed by Stallion Laguna F.C., 2024
• Fahmi Ibrahim - 2023-24 - signed by Stallion Laguna F.C., 2024
• Nonso Adimabua - 2023-24 - signed by The Town FC, 2025
• Diogo Baptista - 2024 - signed by The Town FC, 2025

Women (4)

• Amy Sayer - 2023 - signed by Kristianstads DFF, 2023
• Nádia Gomes - 2023 - signed by Chicago Red Stars, 2024
• Miri O'Donnell - 2023 - signed by Sporting Clube de Portugal Femenino, 2024
• Karlie Lema - 2024 - signed by Bay FC, 2024

^signed with Glens but did not play in an official game
^^played for SF Glens Academy
^^^played for SF Glens Academy; signed amateur MLS NEXT Pro contract only

Club Achievements

USL W League

• Western Conference Champions: 2023
• NorCal Division Champions: 2023

SFSFL

• Premier Division Champions: 1983–84, 1989–90
• Division II Champions: 1978–79, 2001, 2022^
• Division III Champions: 1977–78, 2021^^
• Division IV Champions: 1976–77

^won by SF Glens Third Team
^^won by SF Glens Under-23 Fourth Team

National Amateur Cup

• California North Champions: 1978–79, 1979–80, 1982–83
• National Finalists: 1979, 1990

U.S. Open Cup

• California North Champions: 1977–78, 1979–80, 1980–81

California State Cup

• Champions: 1983–84
• Finalists: 2018

California State Intermediate Cup (1): 1968–69

Carlsberg Cup

• S.F. Champions: 2001
• National Finalists: 2001

SFSFL 120th Anniversary Cup

• Champions: 2022^^^
• Finalists: 2022^^^

^^^SF Glens Under-23 Fourth Team defeated SF Glens Third Team 2-1 in final

Top Individual Awards

USL W League National Player of the Year

• Nádia Gomes: 2023

USL W League National Team of the Year

• Nádia Gomes: 2023
• Elle Piper: 2023

USL W League National Executive of the Year

• Ryan Maquiñana: 2023

USL W League NorCal Division Player of the Year

• Nádia Gomes: 2023

USL League Two Western Conference Team of the Year

• Nabilai Kibunguchy: 2019
• Kevyn Lo: 2022

USL League Two NorCal Division Player of the Year

• Max Chrétien: 2023

MLS NEXT All-Star Game Selection

• Kevin Rodriguez: 2022
• Antonio Medina (coach): 2022

See also

In Spanish: San Francisco Glens para niños