Chicago Sockers
 | |||
| Full name | Chicago Sockers | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Sockers | ||
| Founded | 1995 | ||
| Dissolved | 2000 | ||
| Ground | Olympic Park | ||
| Capacity | ???? | ||
| Chairman | Peter G. Richardson | ||
| Manager | Bret Hall | ||
| League | Premier Development League | ||
| 2000 | 1st, Champions | ||
| |||
Professional Team Chicago Sockers were an American soccer team, founded in 1995. The team was a member of the United Soccer Leagues, played at a professional level in the USISL Pro League, USISL Select League and USISL D-3 Pro League as the Chicago Stingers until 1999, when they chose to relegate themselves to the Premier Development League (PDL), the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, and renamed themselves the Sockers. The team was one of the most successful amateur teams in the late 1990s, winning three national titles, reaching two divisional playoffs, and getting to both the quarter final and semi final of the US Open Cup prior to 2000, after which the team left the league and the franchise was terminated, despite them being the reigning champions.
The Sockers played their home games at Olympic Park in the village of Schaumburg, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. The team's colors were blue and white.
Youth Programs
The Chicago Sockers is now a prominent youth soccer program, stationed in Palatine, IL. The program is ranked as the 5th best boys youth soccer program by both nationalsoccerranking.com and Soccer America.[1] The Sockers play in the Northern Illinois Soccer League (NISL) and Midwest Regional League. The program has won multiple national championships[2] and has sent multiple players to the US Men's National Team and Professional Teams.[3] These players include Jonathan Spector, Michael Bradley, Jay DeMerit, and Bryan Namoff.
Year-by-year
| Year | Division | League | Reg. Season | Playoffs | Open Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 3 | USISL Pro League | 2nd, Midwest East | Divisional Semifinals | Semifinals |
| 1996 | 3 | USISL Select League | 5th, Central | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 1997 | 3 | USISL D-3 Pro League | 1st, North Central | Division Finals | Quarterfinals |
| 1998 | 3 | USISL D-3 Pro League | 2nd, North Central | Champion | 3rd Round |
| 1999 | "4" | USL PDL | 2nd, Great Lakes | Champion | Did not qualify |
| 2000 | "4" | USL PDL | 1st, Heartland | Champion | 3rd Round |
Coaches
- Bret Hall 1998-2000
- Leo Kulinczenko (soccer)2000-present
Notable former players
- Brian Plotkin
- Craig Capano
- Edward Santeliz
- Jay DeMerit
- Jonathan Spector
- Michael Bradley
- Mike Magee
- Rauwshan McKenzie
- Ryan Miller
- Will Johnson
- Anthony Selvaggi
- Doug Warren
- Bryan Namoff
- Nino Da Silva
- Bryan Namoff
- Kirk Urso
- Michael Stephens
- Brian Plotkin
- Mike Fisher
- Danny Hajek
Baggio Husidic
References
- ↑ Sears, Kevin (2011-05-09). "Region II Top Premier Club Comes to McHenry County". Trib Local Crystal Lake. Retrieved 2012-02-26.
- ↑ "U.S. Club Soccer Championships". Chicago Soccer News. 02 Aug 2012. Retrieved 2012-08-05.
- ↑ "Professional Players". Sockers FC Soccer. 24 Apr 2012. Retrieved 2012-08-05.