Sacramento Geckos
Encyclopedia
The Sacramento Geckos were an American
soccer club that competed in the United Soccer Leagues
from 1997 to 1999. The club was founded as the Albuquerque Geckos in Albuquerque, New Mexico
in 1997, before being sold and moved to Sacramento, California
for the 1999 season.
The Geckos had great success in their debut, winning the USL D-3 Pro League
championship in 1997 before moving up to the tier 2 A-League in 1998. The team suffered a miserable season where they won only five games. The move to California didn't produce success, as the Geckos failed to win a game or survive the season, with the USL stepping in to buy the team, re-naming them Team Sacramento before folding at the end of the 1999 campaign.
, following on the heels of a decade of semi-professional/professional club soccer in Albuquerque from 1986-1996 with the Albuquerque Outlaws, Albuquerque Gunners, New Mexico Roadrunners, & New Mexico Chiles
. With this rich soccer history, Albuquerque and owner Al Valentine made the commitment to pro soccer with the debut of the Geckos in the USL D-3 Pro League
in 1997. The team had instant success with a 15-3 (W-L) record, winning the league championship its first year.
Following this success, the team jumped up to tier 2 in the American soccer pyramid
, joining the USL A-League for 1998. The club failed to produce similar results and, burdened with financial problems, were sold to a new ownership group in Sacramento, California
. Doomed from the outset, the Sacramento Geckos struggled with the existing club debt and further poor results on the field, setting an all-time league record losing all 28 games and being outscored 91-16 for the year, lasting only half a season before the United Soccer Leagues
were forced to buy the team, re-naming them Team Sacramento. The team folded following the 1999 season.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soccer club that competed in the United Soccer Leagues
United Soccer Leagues
The United Soccer Leagues is the organizer of several soccer leagues with teams in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. It includes men's and women's leagues, both professional and amateur. Leagues currently organized are the USL Pro, the USL Premier Development League, the W-League, and...
from 1997 to 1999. The club was founded as the Albuquerque Geckos in Albuquerque, New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
in 1997, before being sold and moved to Sacramento, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
for the 1999 season.
The Geckos had great success in their debut, winning the USL D-3 Pro League
USL Second Division
The United Soccer Leagues Second Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, part of the United Soccer Leagues league pyramid...
championship in 1997 before moving up to the tier 2 A-League in 1998. The team suffered a miserable season where they won only five games. The move to California didn't produce success, as the Geckos failed to win a game or survive the season, with the USL stepping in to buy the team, re-naming them Team Sacramento before folding at the end of the 1999 campaign.
History
The Geckos emerged out of a turbulent soccer history in New MexicoNew Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
, following on the heels of a decade of semi-professional/professional club soccer in Albuquerque from 1986-1996 with the Albuquerque Outlaws, Albuquerque Gunners, New Mexico Roadrunners, & New Mexico Chiles
New Mexico Chiles
The New Mexico Chiles were an American soccer club established in 1990 which competed in the American Professional Soccer League. In 1991, the team merged with the New Mexico Roadrunners and moved to the USISL until its disestablishment in 1996....
. With this rich soccer history, Albuquerque and owner Al Valentine made the commitment to pro soccer with the debut of the Geckos in the USL D-3 Pro League
USL Second Division
The United Soccer Leagues Second Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, part of the United Soccer Leagues league pyramid...
in 1997. The team had instant success with a 15-3 (W-L) record, winning the league championship its first year.
Following this success, the team jumped up to tier 2 in the American soccer pyramid
American Soccer Pyramid
The United States soccer pyramid is a term used in soccer to describe the structure of the league system in the United States. The country's governing body for the sport, the United States Soccer Federation , oversees the system but does not operate any of its component leagues—with one temporary...
, joining the USL A-League for 1998. The club failed to produce similar results and, burdened with financial problems, were sold to a new ownership group in Sacramento, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Doomed from the outset, the Sacramento Geckos struggled with the existing club debt and further poor results on the field, setting an all-time league record losing all 28 games and being outscored 91-16 for the year, lasting only half a season before the United Soccer Leagues
United Soccer Leagues
The United Soccer Leagues is the organizer of several soccer leagues with teams in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. It includes men's and women's leagues, both professional and amateur. Leagues currently organized are the USL Pro, the USL Premier Development League, the W-League, and...
were forced to buy the team, re-naming them Team Sacramento. The team folded following the 1999 season.
Year-by-year
| Year | Division | League | Reg. Season | Playoffs | Open Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 3 | USISL D-3 Pro League | 1st, South Central | Champion | First Round |
| 1998 | 2 | USL A-League | 7th, Central | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 1999 | 2 | USL A-League | 7th, Pacific | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
See Also
- Sacramento ScorpionsSacramento ScorpionsThe Sacramento Scorpions were an American soccer team that played in Sacramento, California.-Year-by-year:...
- Sacramento GoldSacramento Gold (NPSL)Sacramento Gold is an American soccer team based in Sacramento, California, United States. Founded in 2009, the team plays in National Premier Soccer League , a national amateur league at the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Northwest Division.The team plays its home games in the...
- New Mexico ChilesNew Mexico ChilesThe New Mexico Chiles were an American soccer club established in 1990 which competed in the American Professional Soccer League. In 1991, the team merged with the New Mexico Roadrunners and moved to the USISL until its disestablishment in 1996....