Hmmm... Hollywood and soccer. Two things you probably wouldn't have thought come together much other than David Beckham on a Snoop Dogg television show. But you'd be quite surprised to learn of a football club that was founded in the 1980's by a group of British expatriates who frequented an English-style pub on Sunset Boulevard in the heart of Hollywood.The ex-pats came to enhance their entertainment career in Hollywood. But whether their careers were in music, TV or movies, they all had one thing in common, an unyeilding passion for the game. Word eventually spread throughout the entertainment world about the club and its players. Soon, not only other well-known stars, but also former national team soccer players from around the world asked to join. From these humble beginnings 20 years ago the Hollywood United Football Club has grown into what it is today; a star-studded world famous soccer club.
Hollywood United Football Club has several teams competing year-round in various leagues throughout Southern California. All teams have a strong camaraderie and a spirit of brotherhood, which has helped Hollywood United Football Club grow to more than 90 players.
On November 22, 2008, Hollywood United FC put on a charity match against Champions United to raise money for people whose lives were severely affected by the devastation of Hurricane Ike. Hollywood United had a star studded starting eleven with players like
Benji Madden from Good Charlotte and
Gilles Marini from Sex and The City.
There was also Jimmy Jean-Louis from Heroes and
accomplished actor, Donal Logue who has stared in Grounded For Life, Max Payne and VHI's I Love The '80s Strikes Back just to name a few. Other celebrities included Steve Jones from the Sex Pistols, Santiago Cabrera who narrated series 3 of Heroes, Anthony Lapaglia who stared in one of my favorite movies, So I Married an Axe Murderer, former Galaxy president and general manager Alexi Lalas, Fox Soccer Channel commentator and former MLS star Brian Dunseth, as well as Frank Leboeuf who won a World Cup in France and also played for Chelsea.
Check out a gallery from the event below...
