The Chico Rooks was an American soccer team, founded in 1993 by Guido Barbero. The team was a member of the National Premier Soccer League

National Premier Soccer League

The National Premier Soccer League is a United States soccer league recognized by the United States Soccer Federation and FIFA as a Division IV league...

 (NPSL), the fourth tier of 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...

, until 2006. Initially, the team's management announced that they would spend the 2007 NPSL season on hiatus while they re-organised and consolidated their finances; unfortunately, the Rooks never returned to active competition and the franchise was cancelled by the NPSL at the end of the 2007 season.

The Rooks were a stalwart of 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 their formation in 1993 until 2003, whereupon they were founder members of the Men's Premier Soccer League (now the National Premier Soccer League

National Premier Soccer League

The National Premier Soccer League is a United States soccer league recognized by the United States Soccer Federation and FIFA as a Division IV league...

). For many years they held the distinction of being California's oldest professional soccer club.

The Rooks played their home matches at the University Stadium

University Soccer Stadium, Chico

University Soccer Stadium is a soccer-specific stadium located on the campus of California State University, Chico in Chico, California. The stadium seats 4,000 and is home to the school's soccer teams along with NPSL side the Chico Rooks....

 on the campus of California State University, Chico

California State University, Chico

California State University, Chico is the second-oldest campus in the twenty-three-campus California State University system. It is located in Chico, California, about ninety miles north of Sacramento...

 in the city of Chico, California

Chico, California

Chico is the most populous city in Butte County, California, United States. The population was 86,187 at the 2010 census, up from 59,954 at the time of the 2000 census...

. The team's colors were black and white.

Final Roster

Notable former players

Tom Silvas

Tom Silvas

Thomas “Tom” Silvas is a former U.S. soccer forward who played three seasons in the Western Soccer Alliance, one in the American Professional Soccer League and at least two in the USISL. He earned two caps with the U.S. national team in 1986 and currently coaches youth soccer.-High school and...

 Richard Weiszmann

Richard Weiszmann

Richard Weiszmann is a retired American soccer defender who played for the New England Revolution in 1996. He also spent five seasons in the USISL...

 Chris Wondolowski

Chris Wondolowski

Christopher Elliott Wondolowski is an American soccer player who currently plays for San Jose Earthquakes in Major League Soccer.-Youth and College:...

 Peter Woodring

Peter Woodring

Peter Woodring is a retired U.S. soccer forward. He spent most of his career in the lower U.S. and German divisions. However, he did spend one season in Major League Soccer with the New England Revolution. He also earned three caps with the U.S...

Year-by-year

Year	Division	League	Reg. Season	Playoffs	Open Cup
1993		USISL	4th, Pacific	Divisional Semifinals	Did not enter
1994	3	USISL	4th, Pacific	Sizzling Nine	Did not enter
1995	3	USISL Pro League	2nd, Western North	1st Round	Quarterfinals
1996	3	USISL Pro League	4th, Western	Semifinals	Did not qualify
1997	3	USISL D-3 Pro League	3rd, West	Division Finals	Did not qualify
1998	3	USISL D-3 Pro League	2nd, West	Division Semifinals	Did not qualify
1999	3	USL D-3 Pro League	1st, Western	Semifinals	1st Round
2000	3	USL D-3 Pro League	1st, Western	Conference Semifinals	Did not qualify
2001	3	USL D-3 Pro League	2nd, Western	Conference Semifinals	2nd Round
2002	4	USL PDL	1st, Southwest	Did not qualify	1st Round
2003	4	MPSL	2nd	Semifinals	1st Round
2004	4	MPSL	1st	Semifinals	1st Round
2005	4	NPSL	3rd, Western	Did not qualify	Did not qualify
2006	4	NPSL	5th, Northwest	Did not qualify	Did not qualify

Honors

• MPSL Regular Season Champions 2004
• USL PDL Southwest Division Champions 2002
• USL D-3 Pro League Western Division Champions 2000
• USL D-3 Pro League Western Division Champions 1999

Average Attendance

• 1993: 1,012
• 1994: 1,181
• 1995: 1,490
• 1996: 1,449
• 1997: 1,933
• 1998: 1,624
• 1999: 1,709
• 2000: 1,710
• 2001: 2,109
• 2002: 1,691
• 2003: 1,656
• 2004: 1,573

External links

• Chico Rooks (Web Archive)