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CLUB HISTORY

Santa Monica United FC: Then and Now

Established in 1976, Santa Monica United is one of the oldest soccer clubs in Southern California – the first in this local area – and is now enjoying its 32nd year of providing a quality youth soccer program for the members of our community. The club was created in 1976 by Robert Marchis, the same individual who brought AYSO soccer to Santa Monica five years earlier in 1971. AYSO is a recreational league, and when Mr. Marchis saw the need to provide a truly competitive soccer experience for serious athletes who wanted a higher level of training and competition, he created Real Santa Monica Soccer Club. In the late 1980’s, during a period of reorganization, the club changed its name to Santa Monica United.

Currently, our club has 17 teams and approximately 250 players and families as members, including both boys and girls teams and players ranging in age from 8 to 18 years old. Santa Monica United is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and our sole purpose is to provide the best possible athletic experience in the game of soccer for youth players in our community. Because of recent improvements and developments with the club, there has been an unprecedented level of interest expressed by prospective players and parents for the fall 2008 season.

Over the years, thousands of local youths have participated in our program, and indeed numerous high school players in all of the local campuses have trained and played with our club. Notably, the current Girls Varsity soccer coach at Santa Monica High School, Seraphin Rodriquez, is a former Santa Monica United player.