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Report: Irish defender Peter McGlynn signs contract with San Jose Earthquakes

Peter McGlynn, infamous for assaulting a referee while a member of the U.C. Santa Barbara soccer team, reports on Twitter that he has signed a contract with the San Jose Earthquakes. The Irish defender was a 2013 MLS Supplemental Draft selection of the Earthquakes.

By Robert Jonas
Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

As the start of the 2013 MLS regular season draws near for the San Jose Earthquakes, news is trickling out as to which draft picks and trialists are going to make the club. In early January, the team confirmed that Re-Entry draft picks Dan Gargan and Ty Harden had been added to the roster. On Monday, Supplemental Draft selection Peter McGlynn announced on Twitter that he too had signed with the Quakes, and the team made it official on Friday.

McGlynn, a native of Skerries, Ireland, was an unlikely pick in the draft, not because he wasn’t a good player, but because of an incident in late last year that resulted in him being kicked off the U.C. Santa Barbara soccer team. On October 28, 2012, immediately following UCSB’s 2-1 loss to rival U.C. Davis, McGlynn was arrested for assaulting the head referee. The player had received a red card moment before the incident, and among a group of Gauchos that approached the referee to voice their displeasure.

McGlynn was drafted with the #72 overall pick in the 2013 MLS Supplemental Draft, and he joined the Earthquakes at that start of preseason camp. Head coach Frank Yallop has indicted that he was aware of the incident in Santa Barbara, but that he had talked to the young player and felt he deserved a second chance. According to McGlynn’s tweet, that second chance will be as a member of the Earthquakes.

The defender finished his college career with 2 goals and 6 assists in 76 appearances for UCSB. He will become the second Gauchos player on the Earthquakes, joining second year midfielder Sam Garza as representatives of the Santa Barbara school. The two have quickly rekindled their friendship during the preseason, with Garza presenting the rookie with a gift upon signing with the team.

Before coming the U.S., McGlynn spent eight years playing for Shelbourne FC in his native Ireland. He helped the club to six league titles and four league cups from 2000 to 2008. No details have yet to emerge as to whether the 23-year old will take up an International Slot on the Earthquakes roster.

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