Beginnings

The Glens were founded on January 28, 1961 by Dr. Michael McFadden as one of a number of Irish American amateur sides that had emerged in the SFSFL during the 1960s. The emergence of the Glens during this period was based on the coaching of Irishman Neil Hagan coupled with a talented crop of young players like Tom and Steve Ryan, Jim Boyle, and Tom and Tim Harvey, among others.

It was also during these early years when the club struck up a friendship with Celtic F.C. that still endures today, when the European giants visited San Francisco in 1957 to play a friendly match and as legend has it, provided the Glens with their first kits when they debuted four years later.

National Amateur Success

The result of Hagan's leadership was promotion to the SFSFL's Premier division by the end of the decade. The Glens went on to national prominence by advancing all the way to the National Amateur Cup final in 1979 where they lost 1–0 to Atlanta Datagraphic. Their national success also spilled over into qualification for the prestigious U.S. Open Cup three times in a five-year stretch from 1978–1982.

SFSFL Title Teams

The untimely death of Hagan in 1981, who passed away on the field while coaching the Glens, left a void that might have been the end of other amateur clubs. However, Sean Shannon stepped into the spotlight and quietly remolded the team into a championship-winning outfit by bringing in players such as Paul Mitchell and Mal Roche. By 1984, the Glens captured their first SFSFL championship in 1984—the first by an Irish side. In 1990, they returned to the National Amateur Cup final that season. Unfortunately, they were on the wrong side of another 1–0 result, this time to the St. Petersburg Kickers. Three years later under Shannon, the Glens captured their second SFSFL title.

Return to the SFSFL

After a brief hiatus, the SF Glens returned to the SFSFL in 2015 with a Premier Division and reserve team open to all comers. Three years later behind coach Bill Chu, the SFSFL Glens earned a berth in the California Soccer Association North (CSAN) State Cup Final, falling to Club Marin in extra time, 4–2.

A New Era in USL League Two

In 2018, the Glens announced the establishment of a new franchise in the USL Premier Development League with dual intentions: to create a top of the pyramid for their SF Glens Academy youth program and SFSFL teams, and also to set a foundation to enter the professional ranks in the future. J. Ramon Estevez was hired as the PDL franchise's inaugural team president/general manager and Javier Ayala-Hil as head coach.^[4] Mike McNeill, executive director of football for the youth side, doubled as a member of the PDL front office as well.^[5]

Though the Glens missed the playoffs in their first PDL season, they closed the campaign on a four-game unbeaten streak and were one of only two teams to take points from eventual Southwest Division champion FC Golden State Force.

In September 2018, the club announced that U.S. World Cup veteran and MLS Cup champion Jimmy Conrad had agreed to become their new technical director and associate head coach.^[6] In December 2018, Mike McNeill took on the reins of the team presidency. One month later, the Glens had four players selected in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft and two (Sam Junqua and Roy Boateng) in the first round—a first for any San Francisco club and the third-most among all clubs in the PDL, now rebranded as USL League Two.

The Glens entered an official partnership with 2. Bundesliga club Holstein Kiel in 2019, as San Francisco and Kiel are sister cities. The team had a tough USL League Two season on the field, but Nabilai Kibunguchy stood out as a midfielder on the Western Conference Team of the Year.

In February 2020, the club announced that Ayala-Hil would step down as head coach and McNeill named Conrad his successor.^[7] However, the 2020 USL League Two season was canceled due to safety concerns stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic.

In March 2021, the club announced the future construction of a soccer-specific facility at Treasure Island, a first for a local club in the 120-year history of soccer in San Francisco.^[8] Meanwhile, coaches Bill Chu and Cameron Chu led a banner year for the Glens' SFSFL teams, as the Second Team qualified for the Premier Division playoffs, the Third Team finished in the top four of the Majors Division, and the Under-23 Fourth Team won the First Division.

The 2022 USL League Two season saw changes to the staff, with Conrad returning to his original role as technical director and Gabe Saucedo elevating from head associate coach to head coach, as well as Ryan Maquiñana taking on the USL General Manager role. The result was a finish in the top four of the Southwest Division and a national playoff berth for the first time in club history. In the Western Conference Quarterfinals, the Glens traveled to Seattle to upset top-seeded Capital FC (the rebranded Portland Timbers U23) 3-2, but fell by the same score in extra time in the semifinals to host Ballard FC. Max Chrétien led the team with nine goals and five assists, while Academy product Diego Grande added eight scores of his own. Kevyn Lo was named to the Western Conference Team of the Year.

The SFSFL teams enjoyed another successful season in 2022, with the Second Team qualifying for the playoffs for the second consecutive season, the Third Team winning the Majors Division, and the Under-23 Fourth Team finishing runners-up in the third tier. The SFSFL also held their 120th Anniversary Open Cup in August of that year for all divisions in the league and it resulted in an all-Glens final, with the Under-23 team defeating the Second Team 2-1 to take home the trophy.

On September 7, 2022, the Glens broke ground on their new facility at Treasure Island with Mayor London Breed one of the guest speakers. Two days later, they hosted the San Jose Earthquakes' second team at Negoesco Stadium and ran operations for their MLS Next Pro game against Real Monarchs. A sellout crowd was on hand to watch the first professional soccer game in the city since the now-defunct San Francisco Deltas won the NASL championship game at Kezar Stadium in 2017.

The 2023 campaign saw original USL League Two coach Javier Ayala-Hil return to the staff, now as Saucedo's head associate coach. The team challenged for the new NorCal Division title all season as they set club records for regular-season wins (9), points (28), and table position (second). They also swept crosstown rival SF City FC in the derby for the first time. Chrétien repeated as leading scorer with 10 goals and was named NorCal Division Player of the Year. Once again, the Glens advanced to the national playoffs, where they upset top-seeded Redlands FC on the road 2-1 to advance to the Western Conference Semifinals for the second consecutive season. However, the run concluded with a loss on the road to former divisional rival Ventura County Fusion.

Glens add Women's First Team

In December 2022, the club announced the addition of a women's first team in the new NorCal Division of the USL W League, with Mike Sharabi announced as head coach. Their first signing was Stanford National Freshman of the Year and U.S. Under-20 defender Elise Evans. The team started out strong, racing out to a 9-0-0 record and earning the No. 1 national ranking in the USL W League five weeks in a row. Ultimately the Glens won the NorCal Division Championship and Western Conference Championship, blasting Oakland Soul SC 5-1 in the semifinals and outlasting California Storm 2-1. The Girls in Green saw their magical run end in the closing seconds of regulation in the National Semifinal to eventual USL W League champions Indy Eleven, 3-2. Nádia Gomes was named National Player of the Year and NorCal Division Player of the Year after notching 16 goals and 9 assists. Defender Elle Piper joined Gomes on the National Team of the Year.

Current USL League Two squad

The following 18 players were named in the squad for the USL League Two regular season game against Davis Legacy on June 16, 2023.

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

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

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

Recent callups for USL League Two

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player — GK  USA Lucas Jones — FW  USA Fahmi Ibrahim — GK  USA Cooper Johnsen — FW  SLV Julio González Ponce — FW  FRA Junior Mahi — FW  USA Tony Guzmán — FW  USA Kevin Estrada — MF  KOR Yeonhyuk Kwak

No. Pos. Nation Player — MF  USA Elvis Mensah — FW  USA Nikolas Laredo — FW  USA Tristan Wouters — MF  USA Ayo Pigott — FW  USA Javier Romero — DF  USA Nigel Hinkulow — FW  USA Tyler Johnson — DF  DEN Kasper Poulsgaard — DF  USA Josh Redfield

Current USL W League squad

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

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

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

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

Recent callups for the USL W League

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player — MF  AUS Amy Sayer — GK  USA Talia Grossman — DF  MEX Leilani Cortez-Ramirez — MF  MEX Vanessa Aguilar — FW  MEX America Frias — FW  MEX Bridgette Marin-Valencia — FW  USA Andrea Kitahata — MF  USA Mia Bhuta — GK  USA Isa Bañuelos — DF  USA Emily Moberly — MF  USA Savannah Cordero — FW  USA Miri O'Donnell — MF  USA Sabrina Weinman

No. Pos. Nation Player — DF  USA Mia Fontana — MF  USA Jasmine Leshnick — FW  USA Elianna Wong — MF  USA Kaycie Tillman — DF  USA Stella Etcheverry — DF  USA Tahra Minowada — FW  USA Landen Matthews — MF  USA Eliana Trevino — DF  USA Sadie Lahey-Teare — FW  USA Julia Saunicheva — FW  USA Rebecca Sherry — MF  USA Kei Kitamura — FW  USA Carina Lageyre

SFSFL (top team only)

USL League Two

USL W League

Men

• Sam Junqua - 2018 - selected in 2019 MLS SuperDraft by Houston Dynamo (1st round, 8th overall)
• Roy Boateng - 2018 - selected in 2019 MLS SuperDraft by New York Red Bulls (1st round, 16th overall)
• Shinya Kadono - 2018 - selected in 2019 MLS SuperDraft by D.C. United (3rd round, 72nd overall)
• Sam Ebstein - 2018 - selected 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^ - selected 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 - selected in 2021 MLS SuperDraft by Minnesota United FC (1st round, 18th overall)
• 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
• Kyle Colonna - 2019 - signed by New Mexico United, 2023
• Corey Lundeen - 2022 - signed by Albion San Diego, 2023
• Roka Tsunehara - 2017-19^^ - signed by San Jose Earthquakes II, 2023

Women

• Amy Sayer - 2023 - signed by Kristianstads DFF, 2023

^signed with Glens but did not play in an official game
^^played for SF Glens Academy