San Diego Sockers (2009)

San Diego Sockers are an American professional indoor soccer franchise playing in the Western Division of the Major Arena Soccer League, representing the San Diego area since 2009. The Sockers first played home games at Chevrolet Del Mar Arena at the Del Mar Fairgrounds adjacent to the Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California.[1] They moved to Pechanga Arena, the original home of the MISL Sockers, for the 2012–2013 season.[2][3][4] The Sockers plan on moving into Frontwave Arena, a 7,600 seat multi-purpose indoor sports arena in Oceanside, CA once it opens.[5] The projected opening date is in the first quarter of 2024.[6]

San Diego Sockers
Full nameSan Diego Sockers
Founded2009
StadiumRon Newman Field at Pechanga Arena
Capacity12,920
OwnerDavid Pike, Carl Savoia
General ManagerSean Bowers
Head CoachPhil Salvagio
LeagueMASL
2022–231st, Western Division
Playoffs: MASL semifinals
WebsiteClub website

The Sockers hold the record for the longest winning streak in United States professional soccer history.[7] The streak, which began on December 29, 2010, was snapped after 48 games by a 6–5 overtime road loss to the Dallas Sidekicks on January 27, 2013.[8][9]

History

1978–1996

The original San Diego Sockers began as the Baltimore Comets in 1974 but moved to San Diego as the San Diego Jaws in 1976. After a one-year stay in Las Vegas as the Las Vegas Quicksilvers, the team returned as the San Diego Sockers in 1978.[10][11] They were owned by Bob Bell and played their indoor games at the San Diego Sports Arena.[12]

Initially, victories came slowly for the club but mounted quickly and they experienced moderate success over their outdoor history winning several division titles. However, the San Diego Sockers won the North American Soccer League (NASL) Indoor Championships of 1981–82 and 1983–84. Success was far from over for the San Diego Sockers. When the NASL folded, the San Diego Sockers moved to the Major Indoor Soccer League and won eight championships: 1983, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, and 1992. The Sockers carried their success from one league to the next. They switched to the Continental Indoor Soccer League for three more years from 1993 to 1995. However, after several ownership changes, Sockers folded after the 1996 season.

2001–2004

The second version of the San Diego Sockers were a team in the new Major Indoor Soccer League. The team began play in the World Indoor Soccer League in 2001, and joined the MISL when it merged with the WISL for the 2002–2003 season. Just before the beginning of the 2004–2005 season, the Sockers were sold to Raj Kalra, owner of the Vancouver Ravens of the National Lacrosse League. However, barely two months after the purchase, it was revealed that Kalra had not paid the Sockers' players, staff, or rent since taking over, and the league voted to discontinue the franchise on December 30, 2004.

2009–present

The current Sockers franchise were founded in 2009 by David Pike, Carl Savoia and Phil Salvagio. This was the second attempt to revive the Sockers name. The current Sockers team have enjoyed a significant amount of success since they began play having won both the PASL-Pro championship and US Open Cup of Arena Soccer in their first four seasons.[13][14] In January 2019, former USMNT player Landon Donovan joined the Sockers in the Major Arena Soccer League.[15] The team during the 22/23 season held a record of 22-2-0 in the regular season. They went on to play three games for the Ron Newman Cup Conference Finals where they lost the championship, 1-0 to Chihuahua Savage in overtime. It was documented that “Over the past two seasons, the Sockers have compiled a 45-2-1 regular season record."[16] For the 2024 season, the San Diego Sockers will be moving to Oceanside to play at the Frontwave Arena. This is where all of their 24 home games will be hosted.[17]

Colors and badge

At their inception the Sockers featured a color scheme primarily consisting of the royal blue, white, and yellow colors often used by the previous Sockers teams and utilized a modified version of their immediate predecessor's logo. For the 2011 season the team modified their uniforms dropping the yellow in favor of a smaller amount of gold. Their logo also changed to a new shield logo that corresponded to their new uniforms that utilized the 1978 founding date of the original Sockers franchise which the team claims ties to as well as stars representing the 14 titles won by the combined Sockers franchises.

Arena

Personnel

As of January 21, 2022.[18]

Active players

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
0 GK United States USA Xavier Snear-Williams
2 DF Mexico MEX Juan Manuel Rojo
4 MF Mexico MEX Christian Gutierrez
5 DF Mexico MEX Guerrero Pino
6 MF United States USA Felipe Gonzalez
7 MF United States USA Brian Farber
8 DF Brazil BRA Ze Roberto
9 FW Jamaica JAM Tavoy Morgan
11 FW Brazil BRA Leonardo De Oliveira
16 FW Mexico MEX Eduardo Velez
17 MF United States USA Raymundo Reza
18 DF United States USA Sean Callahan
No. Pos. Nation Player
19 MF Mexico MEX Brandon Escoto
20 DF Mexico MEX Ismael Rojo
21 MF United States USA Charlie Gonzalez
23 DF United States USA Andy Reyes
27 GK United States USA Boris Pardo
29 DF Mexico MEX Cesar Cerda
31 DF United States USA Mitchell Cardenas
37 FW Mexico MEX Kraig Chiles (Captain)
63 FW Mexico MEX Hiram Ruiz
69 DF United States USA Luis Ortega
77 DF United States USA Juan Gonzalez
97 MF Mexico MEX Gerardo Jurado

Inactive players

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
58 FW United States USA Cesar Romero

Staff

As of January 21, 2022.[19][20]

  • Head coach: Phil Salvagio (2009–present)
  • Assistant coach: Rene Ortiz
  • Assistant coach: Chiky Luna
  • Goalkeeper coach: Victor Melendez
  • Athletic Trainer: Paul Savage
  • General Manager: Sean Bowers (2016–present)
  • Owners: David Pike and Carl Savoia (2009–present)

Honors
  • 2009–10, 2010–11 PASL-PRO Western Division champions
  • 2011–12 PASL Western Division champions
  • 2012–13 PASL Pacific Division champions
  • 2014–15 MASL Pacific Division regular-season champions
  • 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19 MASL Pacific Division champions
  • 2021–22 MASL West Division champions
  • 2009–10, 2010–11 PASL-PRO Champions
  • 2011–12, 2012–13 PASL Champions
  • 2021, 2022 MASL Ron Newman Cup Champions
  • 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12 U.S. Open Cup of Arena Soccer Champions
  • 2012 FIFRA Club Champions

Year-by-year
League champions Runners-up Division champions Playoff berth
Season League Won Lost GF GA Finish Playoff Avg. attendance U.S. Open Cup Other
2009–10 PASL-Pro 13 3 146 91 1st, Western Champions 1,705 2009–10 Champions
2010–11 PASL-Pro 14 2 136 79 1st, Western Champions 2,608 2010–11 Champions
2011–12 PASL 16 0 165 78 1st, Western Champions 2,197 2011–12 Champions FIFRA Club Champions
2012–13 PASL 15 1 188 71 1st, Pacific Champions 3,744 2012–13 Runners-up
2013–14 PASL 13 3 141 83 2nd, Pacific Divisional Final 3,625 Round of 16
2014–15 MASL 16 4 179 99 1st, Pacific Divisional Final 2,881
2015–16 MASL 13 7 138 111 2nd, Pacific Divisional Final 3,051
2016–17 MASL 14 6 149 90 1st, Pacific Conference Final 3,844
2017–18 MASL 19 3 166 84 1st, Pacific Conference Final 3,284
2018–19 MASL 23 1 185 92 1st, Pacific Conference Final 4,181
2019–20 MASL 15 6 124 104 2nd, Western No playoffs 2,746
2021 MASL 4 6 41 43 5th, MASL Champions NHG*
2021–22 MASL 23 1 182 98 1st, West Champions 1,352
Total 13 Seasons 198 43 1940 1123

* The Sockers had no home games due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Playoff record
Year Win Loss GF GA Avg. attendance
2009–10 2 0 15 13
2010–11 2 0 17 9
2011–12 2 0 19 13 2,390
2012–13 4 0 39 26 3,557
2013–14 1 1 14 15 4,116
2014–15 0 1 6 7 4,279
2015–16 3 2 37 36 2,497
2016–17 2 3 27 30 5,048
2017–18 2 2 21 16 3,421
2018–19 2 1 16 13 3,607
2021 6 1 35 27 NHG*
2021–22 6 1 44 21 1,535
Total 32 12 290 226 3,186

* The Sockers had no home games due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

References
  1. Hiro, Brian (June 11, 2012). "SOCCER: San Diego Sockers leaving Del Mar to return to old Sports Arena". North County Times. Escondido, CA. Archived from the original on January 30, 2013. Retrieved November 9, 2012.
  2. Sockers Returning To Original Home
  3. Leonard, Tod (November 2, 2012). "Sockers make return to historic home". North County Times. Escondido, CA. Archived from the original on January 29, 2013. Retrieved November 9, 2012.
  4. Pinella, Bill (February 18, 2014). "Sockers aren't going anywhere soon". U-T San Diego. San Diego, CA: MLIM Holdings. Retrieved February 19, 2014.
  5. "SOCKERS BREAK GROUND ON NEW ARENA PROJECT IN OCEANSIDE". San Diego Sockers. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  6. "Frontwave Arena". CaliFino Arena. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  7. Barron, J. David (January 27, 2013). "Sidekicks sock San Diego from unbeaten ranks: Dallas deals Sockers historic first loss". Allen American-Star. Allen, TX. Retrieved January 28, 2013.
  8. "Sidekicks Snap San Diego's Record 48-Game Win Streak". Our Sports Central. January 27, 2013. Retrieved January 28, 2013.
  9. "The Streak Is Over: Dallas beats San Diego 6–5 in OT to snap 48-game winning streak". Our Sports Central. January 27, 2013. Retrieved January 28, 2013.
  10. Salazar, Jo-Ryan (July 26, 2010). "The San Diego Sockers: A Legacy Renewed". Bleacher Report. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
  11. Brents, Phillip (December 29, 2010). "Time to re-connect between Sockers, old and new". The Star-News. Chula Vista, California. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
  12. Maffei, John (July 6, 2013). "Sports site No. 3: San Diego Sports Arena". U-T San Diego. MLIM Holdings. Retrieved July 8, 2013.
  13. Hiro, Brian (June 12, 2012). "SOCKERS: GM Kentera guides team back to old home". North County Times. Escondido, CA. Archived from the original on January 29, 2013. Retrieved November 9, 2012.
  14. Leonard, Tod (March 10, 2012). "Sockers seize third straight PASL championship". U-T San Diego. San Diego, CA. Retrieved December 22, 2012.
  15. "US Soccer Icon Landon Donovan Signs with Sockers".
  16. "News: Sockers 2023/24 Home Opener Set For December 3 - San Diego Sockers". www.sdsockers.com. 2023-08-11. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  17. Diehl, Phil (2023-08-13). "Construction kicks into high gear for future home of San Diego Sockers, potential hub of North County sports". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  18. "San Diego Sockers roster". San Diego Sockers. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  19. "FRONT OFFICE & SUPPORT STAFF". San Diego Sockers. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  20. "San Diego Sockers roster". San Diego Sockers. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
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