New Mexico Chiles Explained

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.

History

In 1986, the semi-professional Albuquerque Outlaws entered the newly established Southwest Indoor Soccer League. In 1987, the team became the Albuquerque Gunners. In 1989, the SISL and Gunners began playing both a summer outdoor as well as a winter indoor season. The team was renamed the New Mexico Roadrunners for the 1990/91 indoor season.

In 1990, the New Mexico Chiles were established as an expansion franchise in the American Professional Soccer League. Following the season, the ownership dissolved. Players and organizers then merged with the New Mexico Roadrunners. The new team took on the Chiles name and logo and competed in the USISL until it folded in 1996.

The legacy of semi-pro/pro soccer in Albuquerque and New Mexico would be revived with the birth of the Albuquerque Geckos, who would play in the USL D-3 Pro League in 1997, winning the championship, and jumping up to the USL A-League from 1998–1999.[1]

SISL/USISL

Year-by-year

YearDivisionLeagueReg. SeasonPlayoffsOpen Cup
1986/87N/ASISL Indoor4thDid not qualifyN/A
1987/88N/ASISL Indoor2ndSemifinalsN/A
1988/89N/ASISL Indoor2nd, West1st RoundN/A
1989N/ASISL5thDid not qualifyDid not enter
1989/90N/ASISL Indoor3rd, CactusDid not qualifyN/A
1990N/AAPSL5th, WesternDid not qualifyDid not enter
1990/91N/ASISL Indoor7th, SouthwestQuarterfinalsN/A
1991N/ASISL1st, SouthwestFinalSemifinals
1992N/AUSISL2nd, SouthwestRound 12nd round
1993N/AUSISL4th, SouthwestDid not qualifyDid not enter
19943USISL7th, SouthwestDivisional FinalsDid not enter
19953USISL Pro League3rd, South CentralSizzling NineDid not qualify
19963USISL Select League4th, PacificDid not qualify

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Albuquerque Geckos History . 2010-12-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20030728145038/http://www.uslsoccer.com/aboutusl/uslhalloffame/54002.html . 2003-07-28 . dead .