OUR STORY
Please enjoy our story
Chula Vista Futbol Club’s origins date back to 1982 when founder Jim Loughney manifested an idea driven by a need for competitive soccer teams in Chula Vista. Inspired by his three children – all fond of the sport and members of recreational teams at their local YMCA – Loughney established the name Chula Vista Scorpions to provide a competitive experience for players throughout the area.
Initially starting with six to eight teams, Loughney sought professional coaching that benefited upcoming players in the area. The founder brought the club’s first coach, Allen Kelly, due to his professional playing career and success at the collegiate level at San Diego State University. Over the next few years, Scorpions FC quickly grew into a bigger club with one goal – to provide a competitive club for South Bay kids that enhanced discipline, respect, and passion for soccer.
After further club development, Chula Vista Scorpions changed into Chula Vista United until the club transitioned into new leadership under former president Armando Saenz. During his tenure at the club, Chula Vista United changed into Chula Vista Pumas.
In 2001, Hugo Molina stepped in as the club’s president after Saenz stepped down, bringing long-term goals for the first time. The organization became one of the largest clubs in the South Bay area, overseeing over 50 teams.
In 2010, Chula Vista Pumas saw another name change, this time into Pumas USA.
One year before his departure from the club in 2012, Molina brought in Jose Hector Diaz, a prominent coach who had found great success in the South Bay area, to lead the club’s academy – an idea formed in response to the club’s quest for long term plans for the future. Also, the club changed its name again to Pumas Premier. FC.
After Molina stepped down as president, Oscar Zamora took the position, giving Diaz the permanent position of Director of Coaching for Chula Vista Premier FC. Throughout Zamora’s reign as club president, Chula Vista saw many firsts, including introducing an adult team and becoming the only club in South Bay to offer its youth players the chance to continue playing for the club as adults.
The club won its first CalSouth National Cup at the U19 level in 2013. That same year, our adult team won the Adult Regional Championship in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 2014.
After Zamora stepped down as president, Gaetano Boccia took over, helping the club establish a closer relationship with the city of Chula Vista with the help of Ben Delgado, the then President of the Youth Sports Council in the City of Chula Vista. With Delgado on the Board, the Club would work closely with the City to improve fields for all sports organizations in the City of Chula Vista.
Also, in 2013, the club changed its name one more time to Chula Vista Premier FC.
Finally, in 2014, the club's name was changed one last time to Chula Vista FC.
As the club continued to grow, 2015 saw Chula Vista gain national recognition through the adult team’s participation in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup – the oldest professional soccer tournament in the United States. The adult team made an impressive run, reaching the third round of the competition after winning against FC Tucson of the PDL (2-1) and Phoenix Rising of the USL (3-0).
In 2015, the club became the first to be awarded a U.S. Soccer Development Academy membership in the South Bay. Additionally, the club changed its name to Chula Vista Futbol Club, representing the entire city of Chula Vista.
The club’s participation in the Open Cup competition continued in 2017 with a 3-2 win over Albion SC and in 2020 when the tournament was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
With plans to continue developing the club, Chula Vista FC appointed Ruben Caño, a UEFA PRO-licensed coach who worked for international professional leagues and Real Madrid CF, to set a five-year plan to professionalize the club.
In February 2018, the club was awarded its second age group in the Development Academy—the U13. The adult team also captured the Adult State Cup championship and continued to cement its position as the top adult team in Southern California.
The club signed a five-year working agreement with David Villa’s DV7 Academy. It became a founding member of the MLS Next League and Elite Academy League, further establishing itself as South Bay’s premier option for player development and competition.
Our B2008s were National Cup's Finalists
Our B2012 Villa won Socal's State Cup
Our B2009 Villa was Socal's State Cup Finalist.
Our B2011 (U13) MLS Next team finished second in the MLS Next regular season with a 28-2-2 record. Also, won its three games at the MLS Next Cup & Showcase.
Today, Chula Vista Futbol Club continues to work closely with its directors and community members to allow players to compete and develop at the paramount of soccer in South Bay. This, however, comes without compromising the 40-year-old values of the club – attitude, unity, respect, and passion.
“I have been a part of coaching youth soccer for over 25 years in the area and have witnessed Chula Vista FC grow into an unbelievable club with teams and players that play at the highest level possible. I have always been impressed with the talent at Chula Vista.”
– Scott Loughney, former player and son of Chula Vista FC founder Jim Loughney.
Champion Awards
2013 - CalSouth National Cup Champions