In the USA, we call it soccer. The world calls it football. Los Gatos United calls it a way of life. With the 2026 FIFA World Cup coming to Levi Stadium in less than a month, we thought it was time for the Los Gatan to catch up with Los Gatos United (LGU) Soccer Club.
Their story begins more than forty years ago. Mike Hinkin, who helped found LGU, sat down with current LGU sporting director Shawn Blakeman, back in 2024. Blakeman learned about the origins of the only soccer club in Los Gatos. In a brief interview with Blakeman and Phil Gibson, the executive director, I found out about LGU’s rise, how they survived the pandemic and what’s going on today at the only Los Gatos-based soccer club.
In 1973, Hinkin’s 7-year-old son, Jon, came home from school with an American Youth Soccer Organization flyer and announced that he wanted to play the world’s most popular sport. “You’re not going to play that,” Hinkin responded. “You’re going to play American sports!” Hinkin’s wife, Joan, signed Jon up anyway. Hinkin boycotted the first game, then reluctantly began attending after that. By the end of the third game of the first season (Hinkin said, smiling to Blakeman), “I was hooked.” Hinkin said, from there, he “never looked back.” For Hinkin it was the start of a
lifetime in soccer.
(Dinah Cotton / Los Gatan)
A family affair
All of Hinkin’s six children played soccer. Jon was All-American in soccer at De Anza College. His daughter Jodi went on to play soccer at University of Arizona.
Fellow Los Gatan Bryon Wicks was also there at the beginning. Wicks took the initiative to find challenging opponents for this home team to play. Two boys teams became affiliated with West Valley Soccer Club. In 1978, after Wick unexpectedly passed away, Hinkin was there to carry the torch forward. In 1982 at a meeting, players’ parents considered whether to continue under AYSO or to organize a new club.
LGU is Born
One option would have been to continue with AYSO. The other was to establish a team of their own, where players could go as high as their motivation and talent would take them. The parents voted unanimously to provide a team of their own, and thus, the Los Gatos United Soccer Association was created (playing as part of the California Youth Soccer Association).
“We are a soccer family, though I never played soccer,” Hinkin said, in a telephone interview.
Hinkin, now 86, mentioned that he does not plan to attend the World Cup this year—after all, tickets are in the $2,000 range at Levi’s Stadium.
LGU Today
This Los Gatos based organization offers recreational and competitive soccer programs for boys and girls ages 4-19. The focus is on player development in a positive environment. Scholarships are offered. The organization’s website notes it offers “a robust financial aid program with the goal of ensuring that financial circumstances never prevent a player from participating.”
LGU’s headquarters are located at 634 N. Santa Cruz Ave. When asked about the many trophies in the building’s entryway, Blakeman said, “It’s not about trophies. It’s about changing lives.” The club currently has 3,000 players: 1,200 in the competitive arena, and 1,800 recreational players.
Blakeman is originally from Saratoga. He went pro in 1987 and wore the San Jose Earthquakes jersey. Later, one of his former coaches asked him to become a coach himself. That’s exactly what he did.
LGU aims to provide a safe and fun environment for players to reach their full potential—while developing a life-long passion for the game.
Shaun Tsakiris is the technical director at LGU. He will also serve as the head coach of the U.S. U-20 Men’s National Team, starting this year. He is dedicated to raising the standard for youth soccer development.
“LGU survived the pandemic by going online,” Blakeman said. “Workout sessions were online-three times each week, gaining National recognition from NBC. We stayed engaged with our players. We did not lose players, in fact we gained a few.”
One of the soccer stars with LGU connections is Brandi Chastain. Chastain was the player who famously took off her shirt immediately after scoring the winning penalty kick for the US against China in the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup Final at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. She remains active in women’s soccer to this day, including participating in LGU events.
The World Cup
The FIFA World Cup will open June 11 in Mexico City, followed by Toronto and Los Angeles on June 12. It’s the largest World Cup production in history—a celebration of global music, culture and, of course, soccer. It will last for 39 days, with games played across 16 host cities in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The total prize pool is $871 million, with the winners set to receive $50 million (including a 50% boost to the core prize pool).
Blakeman jokingly hints that there may be a watch party at headquarters, which has a 150-inch video screen, for a $20 entry fee.
