About Us

California United Strikers FC is a professional men’s soccer team in Orange County, CA. We are a founding member of the newest professional league, NISA (National Independent Soccer League). With more than half our team born and raised in Orange County, we are locally focused and determined to represent the passionate and informed soccer fans of not only this country but specifically this county.

The team will be playing at Championship Stadium in Irvine, CA. The stadium holds 5,000 fans and is located in the heart of the Great Park. Its central location in Orange County and immaculate facilities make it the perfect location for Cal United Strikers to call home. Team owners, Bronwyn and Pete Capriotti, have lived in Orange County for 40+ years. Pete Capriotti is the Owner and CEO of Cotti Foods, a franchisee of Taco Bell, Wendy’s, and Pieology.

While raising their four kids, they put them in many sports, one of which was soccer. As their children grew, they found themselves enamored with the game of soccer. Pete coached several of their kids’ teams and Bronwyn even had a very short stint as a referee (she found out after one game that she preferred spectating over being yelled at by parents).

Their youngest son, Duncan, plays for the team. As Duncan progressed in his college soccer life, Bronwyn and Pete become more aware of how many great players fell through the cracks of professional soccer after college. With one year left of eligibility in college, Duncan got a chance to play in England and he and his wife moved there. During his year in England, Bronwyn and Pete visited several times to watch him play and were astounded at the way soccer was treated there. In almost every town they visited there was a stadium, whether large or small, for the local team. They saw the way the townsfolk flocked to the games and formed real bonds around the team and the players. The local boys had a way to follow their dreams and the fans were given what they wanted. When they returned to America, they continued to see a real demand for an outlet for players like Duncan to follow their dreams and pursue professional soccer.

With their passion for the sport, they set out to create a solution to the problem they saw. The first piece of the puzzle was getting a General Manager with extensive contacts and experience in the soccer world. They reached out to Michael Collins who had coached their three boys. Michael has enjoyed an incredibly successful professional soccer career in the various American pro leagues, including the NASL, MISL, NPSL, and USL, in addition to being selected as a US National team member in 1988-1989. This combined with his over twenty years of coaching experience have made him an indispensable part of the team.

Bronwyn, Pete, and Michael worked together tirelessly to make their joint vision come true. After a few trials and tribulations, California United Strikers FC was born. Once they amassed a team of highly skilled and professional level players, they needed to find a like-minded coach who would help to push the team to the next level. After an extensive search, they found Don Ebert.

Don has been the Director of Coaching for Strikers FC Irvine for over 25 years, and now serves as the Technical Director for both the Strikers FC Irvine branch and the Strikers FC US Soccer Development Academy program. Under his leadership, the club has captured numerous Cal South State Titles, Far West Regional, and National Championships. His experience, passion, and soccer mentality make him a perfect fit for Cal United Strikers. With his help, we will not only give players a platform to be seen and follow their dreams, but also provide our fans with exciting quality soccer to watch.