La Jolla-founded Nomads Soccer Club marks 50 years
May 21, 2026Last updated September 6, 2026San DiegoNomads Soccer Club
Nomads Soccer Club announced it is celebrating 50 years since its 1976 founding in San Diego.
According to the club, La Jolla real estate developer Joe Hollow started the program as a small all-star team. Club president and director of coaching Derek Armstrong, who arrived from England in 1981, said the Nomads select one team per age group and use tournament revenue so players are not turned away for inability to pay. The club said Armstrong was the first paid youth soccer coach in the United States, wrote U.S. Soccer’s first A-License coaching course, and that Nomads was the first club to join US Club Soccer.
The announcement listed five U.S. Youth Soccer national championships (1989, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2002) and two Western Soccer Alliance professional titles (1987, 1989). Alumni named include Steve Cherundolo, Jovan Kirovski, Frankie Hejduk, Earl Edwards Jr., Eric Avila, and Paul Wright. The former professional side also included Marcelo Balboa, Paul Caligiuri, and Eric Wynalda, according to the club.
Nomads said it is a San Diego-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Details are at nomadssoccer.org.
The original announcement was issued by Nomads Soccer Club via PR.com. Read the source.
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Mary Kaliff·858-414-0221·Source