SAINT LOUIS SCOTT GALLAGHER

OUR HISTORY

Where It All Started: The Birth of St. Louis Scott Gallagher Soccer

A Legacy of Excellence: The Roots of St. Louis Soccer (1970s-2000s)

To truly understand where St. Louis Scott Gallagher began, one must look at the histories of its founding clubs.

St. Louis Soccer Club (Busch Soccer Club)

The story of St. Louis Soccer Club dates back to the early 1970s when Dennis Long, later inducted into the USSF Hall of Fame, founded the Busch Gardens Soccer Club, backed by Anheuser-Busch. By 1980, the club had evolved into the Busch Soccer Club, and by 2004, it became St. Louis Soccer Club to better reflect its mission. Over the years, the club became one of the most successful in the nation, with 15 National Championships and countless state and regional titles to its name. Its boys’ and girls’ teams were consistently ranked among the top 20 in the country, solidifying St. Louis Soccer Club’s place as a powerhouse in American youth soccer.

Scott Gallagher Soccer Club

In 1976, St. Louis businessman Jim Scott, co-owner of Scott-Gallagher Inc., became involved with a small soccer club in north St. Louis County called Ruiz S.C. Within a year, Scott took over sponsorship, and in 1979, the club officially became Scott Gallagher Soccer Club. What followed was a trailblazing journey in youth soccer, highlighted by the 1981 McGuire Cup National Championship — the club’s first of many. By 2008, Scott Gallagher had won 11 National Championships, multiple regional titles, and was regularly listed among Soccer America’s top 20 boys' soccer clubs. The club was renowned for its commitment to excellence and its ability to develop some of the best soccer talent in the country.

Metro United Soccer Club

Given the strong heritage of soccer in St. Louis, it was only a matter of time before the sport’s popularity made the short trip across the Mississippi River and spread to the southern Illinois area. After the sport grew for years among local schools and smaller clubs, the Metro United Soccer Club was created in 1993 to elevate soccer in southern Illinois to a new level by providing a thorough and professional level of training for boys and girls of all ages and abilities. Complete and effective soccer instruction was the organizational focus of Metro United FC, and to maximize player development, the club remains committed to offering the best possible developmental environment combined with the highest level of competition available. As a result, the club has won more than 300 various competitions since its inception in 1993… and in 2006, Metro United FC was invited to participate – along with Scott Gallagher SC – in the inaugural season of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy Program.

A Vision for Unity

STRONGER TOGETHER (2007)

In early 2007, the three leading soccer clubs in the Greater St. Louis Metropolitan Area — St. Louis Soccer Club, Scott Gallagher Soccer Club, and Metro United Soccer Club — came together with a shared goal: to create a unified organization that would serve the region’s soccer community. With soccer growing at an unprecedented rate across the nation, the idea was simple yet ambitious — combine the resources, talent, and history of these three clubs to form a vertically integrated soccer organization that would provide opportunities for players at every level, from beginner to professional.


This vision promised to position St. Louis as a competitive force in the national soccer landscape, offering top-tier training and competition while strengthening the region’s historic soccer culture.

A NEW BEGINNING (2008)

By 2008, the collaboration was realized with the formal merger of the three clubs, creating St. Louis Scott Gallagher (SLSG). This new club brought together the rich legacies of its predecessors and set out with a bold mission: to be the best soccer club in the country. Not just in terms of on-field success, but in how it positively impacted the development of players and the surrounding community.


With this merger, St. Louis Scott Gallagher immediately positioned itself as a leader in youth soccer, leveraging decades of experience, commitment, and dedication from the staffs and volunteers of all three clubs.

A NATIONAL LEADER IN YOUTH SOCCER (2008-Present)

After the merger, St. Louis Scott Gallagher wasted no time making an impact on the national soccer scene. The club's growth continued with key milestones such as:

  • World Wide Technology Soccer Park: The purchase of the historic St. Louis Soccer Park (renamed World Wide Technology Soccer Park) in 2010 provided a state-of-the-art home for the club, creating a hub for soccer excellence in the region.
  • Expansion and Curriculum Development: SLSG expanded its reach across the St. Louis metropolitan area and developed a comprehensive curriculum designed to foster player development at every age and level.
  • The Upper 90 Program: Launched to engage players and families in volunteer work, the Upper 90 Program became a cornerstone of the club’s commitment to community development.


A LEGACY BUILT OF DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT

The success and growth of St. Louis Scott Gallagher wouldn’t have been possible without the years of hard work and dedication from the staff, coaches, players, and volunteers from all three founding clubs. Their passion for soccer and commitment to the community laid the foundation for what St. Louis Scott Gallagher has become today — a national leader in youth soccer that continues to impact players’ lives both on and off the field.

From its humble beginnings in the 1970s, through its merger and subsequent rise to prominence, St. Louis Scott Gallagher’s journey is a testament to the power of collaboration, hard work, and a shared vision for excellence. This is where it all started, and the future of St. Louis soccer has never looked brighter.

Share by: