Atlanta Chiefs
Encyclopedia
The Atlanta Chiefs were a soccer team based in Atlanta, Georgia
that played in the NPSL
and NASL
from 1967 to 1972. Their home fields were Atlanta Stadium (1967-1969, 1971-1972) and Tara Stadium (1970). The club was the brainchild of Dick Cecil, then Vice President of the Atlanta Braves baseball franchise who were the Chiefs' owners. Cecil was intrigued with the 1966 World Cup in England and decided that a professional soccer team would add valuable events for Atlanta Stadium. He proceeded to travel through Europe and Africa signing players including Phil Woosnam
, Vic Crowe
and Peter McParland
of Aston Villa as well as Kaizer Motaung
who went on to found Kaizer Chiefs FC, who now play in the South African Premier Soccer League
. The Kaizer Chiefs name and logo were inspired by those the Atlanta club.
. A month later, the corporation hired Phil Woosnam
as the team's first head coach which did not gain its name, "Chiefs", until January 8, 1967. By the end of February 1967, Woosnam had brought numerous players to Emory University
for trials. After selected his players, Woosnam led the team through several exhibition games before the Chiefs opened their first season with a 1-0 loss to the Baltimore Bays
on April 16, 1967. Following the 1967 season, the NPSL merged with the United Soccer Association
to form the North American Soccer League
. Atlanta won the 1968 NASL championship. That season, the Chiefs famously twice beat Manchester City
after the English Division One side's manager Malcolm Allison
described the local talent as "Fourth Division" standard.
Although Atlanta was never home to any of the biggest stars in the league the team did produce one of the most important figures in league history. Phil Woosnam
went from the bench as head coach of the Chiefs to the boardroom as the commissioner of the league. He presided over the most critical period in NASL history between 1968-1970 when both attendance and the number of clubs dropped dramatically. He saw the league through to its golden years in the late 1970s when ageing stars from around the world played televised matches in packed stadiums across the country.
Following the 1968 NASL season, the league was in trouble with ten franchises having folded. The 1969 season was split into two halves. The first half was called the International Cup, a double round robin tournament in which the remaining NASL clubs were represented by teams imported from the United Kingdom
. The Chiefs were represented by Aston Villa. The team tied for third in the Cup with a 2-4-2 record. For the second half of the 1969 season, the teams returned to their normal rosters and played a 16 game schedule with no playoffs.
While the Chiefs were one of only a few clubs to survive that critical 1969 season, they lasted only a few more years. The club renamed itself the Atlanta Apollos after it was sold to the owners of the Atlanta Hawks
in 1973 and played at Bobby Dodd Stadium
that season.
The Atlanta Chiefs name and logo (altered slightly) were revived in 1979 when the Colorado Caribous
franchise moved to Atlanta, with Cecil and Ted Turner
as owners. The team again played at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium
for three seasons and also at Omni Coliseum
for two NASL Indoor seasons until folding after the 1981 season. Players for the Atlanta Chiefs were Brian Kidd
, Adrian Brooks
, Keith Furphy
, Victor Nogueira
, Paul Child, Mark MacKain, Mark Jakobowski, Lou Cioffi
, Tony Whelan, Carl Strong, Webster Lichaba, Graham Tutt
, Jomo Sono, Bruce Savage
, Louis and George Nanchoff.
Division Titles
Coach of the Year
Rookie of the Year
All-Star First Team Selections
All-Star Second Team Selections
All-Star Honorable Mentions
(1980-81) Jeff Bourne
(1979-80) http://home.att.net/~nasl/players.htm#B Vic Crowe
(1967-1969) Everald Cummings
(1967-1970) David Irving
(1980) http://home.att.net/~nasl/players.htm#I Brian Kidd
(1981) 29 apps 23 goals
Colin Waldron
(1979) http://home.att.net/~nasl/players.htm#W Tony Whelan
(1980-81) http://home.att.net/~nasl/players.htm#W Walker McCall
(1980) http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/player2/walkermccall.htm Kaizer Motaung
(1968-71)
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
that played in the NPSL
National Professional Soccer League (1967)
The National Professional Soccer League was a North American professional soccer league that existed for only the 1967 season before merging with the United Soccer Association to form the North American Soccer League. It had ten charter members, nine from the United States and one from Canada...
and NASL
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
from 1967 to 1972. Their home fields were Atlanta Stadium (1967-1969, 1971-1972) and Tara Stadium (1970). The club was the brainchild of Dick Cecil, then Vice President of the Atlanta Braves baseball franchise who were the Chiefs' owners. Cecil was intrigued with the 1966 World Cup in England and decided that a professional soccer team would add valuable events for Atlanta Stadium. He proceeded to travel through Europe and Africa signing players including Phil Woosnam
Phil Woosnam
Phillip Abraham Woosnam is a Welsh former Association football inside-right and manager. He went on to become commissioner of the North American Soccer League.-Playing career:...
, Vic Crowe
Vic Crowe
Victor Herbert Crowe was a Wales international football player and later football manager.-Career:Crowe was born in Abercynon, South Wales but moved to Handsworth, Birmingham with his family when he was two years old...
and Peter McParland
Peter McParland
Peter James McParland, MBE is a former professional footballer.-Dundalk & Aston Villa:...
of Aston Villa as well as Kaizer Motaung
Kaizer Motaung
Kaizer Motaung is a former South African soccer player and founder of the Kaizer Chiefs Football Club, of which he is still chairman and managing director...
who went on to found Kaizer Chiefs FC, who now play in the South African Premier Soccer League
Premier Soccer League
Premier Soccer League is the trading name of the National Soccer League of South Africa. The top league is the ABSA Premiership, sponsored by ABSA...
. The Kaizer Chiefs name and logo were inspired by those the Atlanta club.
History
On August 9, 1966, Atlanta Braves, Inc., received a franchise in the newly created National Professional Soccer LeagueNational Professional Soccer League (1967)
The National Professional Soccer League was a North American professional soccer league that existed for only the 1967 season before merging with the United Soccer Association to form the North American Soccer League. It had ten charter members, nine from the United States and one from Canada...
. A month later, the corporation hired Phil Woosnam
Phil Woosnam
Phillip Abraham Woosnam is a Welsh former Association football inside-right and manager. He went on to become commissioner of the North American Soccer League.-Playing career:...
as the team's first head coach which did not gain its name, "Chiefs", until January 8, 1967. By the end of February 1967, Woosnam had brought numerous players to Emory University
Emory University
Emory University is a private research university in metropolitan Atlanta, located in the Druid Hills section of unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The university was founded as Emory College in 1836 in Oxford, Georgia by a small group of Methodists and was named in honor of...
for trials. After selected his players, Woosnam led the team through several exhibition games before the Chiefs opened their first season with a 1-0 loss to the Baltimore Bays
Baltimore Bays
The first Baltimore Bays were a professional soccer team based out of Baltimore, Maryland. It was one of ten charter members of the National Professional Soccer League in 1967. The team would become a part of the North American Soccer League , which was the result of a merger between the NPSL and...
on April 16, 1967. Following the 1967 season, the NPSL merged with the United Soccer Association
United Soccer Association
The United Soccer Association is a former professional soccer league featuring teams from the United States and Canada. The league survived only one season before merging with the National Professional Soccer League to form the North American Soccer League. All the teams in the league were imported...
to form the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
. Atlanta won the 1968 NASL championship. That season, the Chiefs famously twice beat Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
after the English Division One side's manager Malcolm Allison
Malcolm Allison
Malcolm Alexander Allison was an English football player and manager. Nicknamed "Big Mal", he was one of English football's most flamboyant and intriguing characters because of his panache, fedora and cigar, controversies off the pitch and outspoken nature.Allison's managerial potential become...
described the local talent as "Fourth Division" standard.
Although Atlanta was never home to any of the biggest stars in the league the team did produce one of the most important figures in league history. Phil Woosnam
Phil Woosnam
Phillip Abraham Woosnam is a Welsh former Association football inside-right and manager. He went on to become commissioner of the North American Soccer League.-Playing career:...
went from the bench as head coach of the Chiefs to the boardroom as the commissioner of the league. He presided over the most critical period in NASL history between 1968-1970 when both attendance and the number of clubs dropped dramatically. He saw the league through to its golden years in the late 1970s when ageing stars from around the world played televised matches in packed stadiums across the country.
Following the 1968 NASL season, the league was in trouble with ten franchises having folded. The 1969 season was split into two halves. The first half was called the International Cup, a double round robin tournament in which the remaining NASL clubs were represented by teams imported from the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The Chiefs were represented by Aston Villa. The team tied for third in the Cup with a 2-4-2 record. For the second half of the 1969 season, the teams returned to their normal rosters and played a 16 game schedule with no playoffs.
While the Chiefs were one of only a few clubs to survive that critical 1969 season, they lasted only a few more years. The club renamed itself the Atlanta Apollos after it was sold to the owners of the Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
in 1973 and played at Bobby Dodd Stadium
Bobby Dodd Stadium
Bobby Dodd Stadium at Historic Grant Field is the football stadium located at the corner of North Avenue at Techwood Drive on the campus of Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia, who completed the 2011 season with a loss to rival UGA...
that season.
The Atlanta Chiefs name and logo (altered slightly) were revived in 1979 when the Colorado Caribous
Colorado Caribous
The Colorado Caribous was a professional soccer team based in Denver, Colorado, that played in the North American Soccer League...
franchise moved to Atlanta, with Cecil and Ted Turner
Ted Turner
Robert Edward "Ted" Turner III is an American media mogul and philanthropist. As a businessman, he is known as founder of the cable news network CNN, the first dedicated 24-hour cable news channel. In addition, he founded WTBS, which pioneered the superstation concept in cable television...
as owners. The team again played at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium
Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium
Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, often shortened to "Fulton County Stadium," was a multi-purpose stadium that formerly stood in Atlanta, Georgia, United States.-History:...
for three seasons and also at Omni Coliseum
Omni Coliseum
The Omni Coliseum, usually called The Omni, from the Latin for "all," or "every," was an indoor arena, located in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Completed in 1972, the arena seated 16,378, for basketball and 15,278, for ice hockey...
for two NASL Indoor seasons until folding after the 1981 season. Players for the Atlanta Chiefs were Brian Kidd
Brian Kidd
Brian Kidd is an English football coach and former player, who is currently Assistant Manager to Roberto Mancini at Manchester City....
, Adrian Brooks
Adrian Brooks
Adrian Brooks is a retired English-American soccer midfielder who spent two seasons in the North American Soccer League and at least one in the Major Indoor Soccer League...
, Keith Furphy
Keith Furphy
Keith Furphy is a retired English-American professional association football forward who spent most of his career in the United States. He played four seasons in the North American Soccer League, seven in the Major Indoor Soccer League and one each in the American Soccer League and National...
, Victor Nogueira
Victor Nogueira
Victor Nogueira is a retired American soccer goalkeeper. Nogueira spent six seasons in the North American Soccer League, but gained his greatest recognition in over twenty seasons in three indoor leagues, the Major Indoor Soccer League, National Professional Soccer League and the second Major...
, Paul Child, Mark MacKain, Mark Jakobowski, Lou Cioffi
Lou Cioffi
Lou Cioffi is a retired American soccer goalkeeper who played professionally in the North American Soccer League, Major Indoor Soccer League and third American Soccer League....
, Tony Whelan, Carl Strong, Webster Lichaba, Graham Tutt
Graham Tutt
Graham Tutt is a retired English professional footballer goalkeeper who spent four seasons in England. Following a serious eye injury, he spent two season in South Africa before moving to the United States for the remainder of his career. He played two seasons in the second division American...
, Jomo Sono, Bruce Savage
Bruce Savage
William Bruce Savage is a retired U.S. soccer defender. He played four seasons in the North American Soccer League, nine in Major Indoor Soccer League and earned sixteen caps with the U.S. national team between 1983 and 1992. He currently coaches youth soccer in Florida.-Youth:Savage grew up in...
, Louis and George Nanchoff.
Outdoors
| Year | Record | Regular Season Finish | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | 10-9-12 | 4th, Eastern Division, NPSL | Did Not Qualify |
| 1968 | 18-6-7 | 1st, Atlantic Division | NASL Champions |
| 1969 | 2-4-2 | 4th | no postseason |
| 1970 | 11-5-8 | 2nd, Southern Division | Did Not Qualify |
| 1971 | 12-5-7 | 1st, Southern Division | Runners-up |
| 1972 | 5-3-6 | 3rd, Southern Division | Did Not Qualify |
| 1973 | 3-7-9 | 3rd, Southern Division | Did Not Qualify |
| 1979 | 12-18 | 4th, Central Division, National Conference | Did Not Qualify |
| 1980 | 7-25 | 4th, Central Division, National Conference | Did Not Qualify |
| 1981 | 17-15 | 1st, Southern Division | First Round |
Indoors
| Year | Record | Regular Season Finish | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979-80 | 10-2 | 1st, Eastern Division | Division Finals |
| 1980-81 | 13-5 | 1st, Eastern Division | Semi Finals |
Honors
NASL Championships- 1968
Division Titles
- 1968 Atlantic Division
- 1971 Southern Division
- 1981 Southern Division
Coach of the Year
- 1968 Phil WoosnamPhil WoosnamPhillip Abraham Woosnam is a Welsh former Association football inside-right and manager. He went on to become commissioner of the North American Soccer League.-Playing career:...
Rookie of the Year
- 1968 Kaizer MotaungKaizer MotaungKaizer Motaung is a former South African soccer player and founder of the Kaizer Chiefs Football Club, of which he is still chairman and managing director...
All-Star First Team Selections
- 1967 Emment Kapengwe
- 1969 Emment Kapengwe, Kaizer Motaung
- 1970 Uriel daVeiga, Dave MetchickDave MetchickDavid "Dave" Metchick is a retired English professional footballer who played in both England and the United States. Metchick is Jewish.-Career:Beginning as an apprentice with Fulham, Metchick turned professional in 1961...
, Art WelchArt WelchArt Welch is a retired Jamaican-American soccer player who played in the North American Soccer League and Major Indoor Soccer League.... - 1971 Kaizer Motaung
- 1972 Paul Child
- 1981 Brian KiddBrian KiddBrian Kidd is an English football coach and former player, who is currently Assistant Manager to Roberto Mancini at Manchester City....
All-Star Second Team Selections
- 1968 John CockingJohn CockingJohn Cocking is an English former professional football defender who spent seven seasons in the National Professional Soccer League and North American Soccer League....
, Vic RouseVic Rouse (footballer born 1936)Vic Rouse is a Welsh former football player and coach. Rouse played at both professional and international levels as a goalkeeper, before becoming a football manager.-Playing career:... - 1970 Ray BloomfieldRay BloomfieldRaymond George "Ray" Bloomfield is an English former professional footballer who played in the Football League as a forward for Aston Villa, in the National Professional Soccer League for the Atlanta Chiefs, and in the North American Soccer League for Atlanta and the Dallas Tornado...
, John Cocking, Delroy ScottDelroy ScottDelroy Scott is a Jamaican former footballer who played at both professional and international levels as a midfielder.-Career:Scott spent four seasons with the Atlanta Chiefs, making 69 appearances.... - 1971 John Cocking, Uriel daVeiga
- 1972 Art Welch
All-Star Honorable Mentions
- 1971 Mike HobanMike HobanMichael Angel Hoban is a former American football player. A native of Chicago, Illinois, Hoban played high school football for Gordon Tech High School. He played college football as an offensive guard for the University of Michigan from 1971 to 1973...
, Manfred Kammerer, Barry Lynch, Freddie Mwila - 1972 John CockingJohn CockingJohn Cocking is an English former professional football defender who spent seven seasons in the National Professional Soccer League and North American Soccer League....
, Mike HobanMike HobanMichael Angel Hoban is a former American football player. A native of Chicago, Illinois, Hoban played high school football for Gordon Tech High School. He played college football as an offensive guard for the University of Michigan from 1971 to 1973... - 1973 Paul Child
Head coaches
- Phil WoosnamPhil WoosnamPhillip Abraham Woosnam is a Welsh former Association football inside-right and manager. He went on to become commissioner of the North American Soccer League.-Playing career:...
1967 - 1968 - Vic RouseVic Rouse (footballer born 1936)Vic Rouse is a Welsh former football player and coach. Rouse played at both professional and international levels as a goalkeeper, before becoming a football manager.-Playing career:...
1969 - 1972 - Ken BracewellKen BracewellKen Bracewell is an English former professional football player and coach. Bracewell, who played as a full back, made over 200 league appearances in England, Canada, and the United States.-Playing career:...
1973 - Dan WoodDan WoodDaniel Phillip Wood is a former collegiate and professional soccer coach. He was also a professional golfer who was the top money winner on the 1996 Senior Series.-Youth:...
1979 - 1980 - David ChadwickDavid Chadwick (footballer)David Edwin Chadwick is an English retired professional footballer/soccer player, who played as a wing-forward, before a career coaching in the United States. He was born in Ootacamund, India.-Playing career:...
1980 - 1981
Players
Brian AldersonBrian Alderson
Brian Alderson was a Scottish footballer. He predominantly played as a winger, but was also able to play as a striker....
(1980-81) Jeff Bourne
Jeff Bourne
Jeff Bourne was an English football striker who spent most of his early career in the lower English divisions before moving to the United States where he played six seasons in the North American Soccer League, two in the second division American Soccer League...
(1979-80) http://home.att.net/~nasl/players.htm#B Vic Crowe
Vic Crowe
Victor Herbert Crowe was a Wales international football player and later football manager.-Career:Crowe was born in Abercynon, South Wales but moved to Handsworth, Birmingham with his family when he was two years old...
(1967-1969) Everald Cummings
Everald Cummings
Everald “Gally” Cummings was a football midfielder who played for six years in the North American Soccer League. He also played professionally in Mexico...
(1967-1970) David Irving
David Irving (footballer)
David Irving is a former professional football striker. His childhood ambition was to play for then Football League side Workington...
(1980) http://home.att.net/~nasl/players.htm#I Brian Kidd
Brian Kidd
Brian Kidd is an English football coach and former player, who is currently Assistant Manager to Roberto Mancini at Manchester City....
(1981) 29 apps 23 goals
Colin Waldron
Colin Waldron
Colin Waldron was an English football defender. He spent thirteen seasons in the Football League and two in the North American Soccer League....
(1979) http://home.att.net/~nasl/players.htm#W Tony Whelan
Tony Whelan
Anthony M. "Tony" Whelan is a former Manchester United footballer who currently works as the club's assistant academy director, responsible for the Under-9 to Under-16 player development programme.-Early career:...
(1980-81) http://home.att.net/~nasl/players.htm#W Walker McCall
Walker McCall
Walker McCall is a retired Scottish professional footballer who played in Scotland, the United States, and Hong Kong.-Career:...
(1980) http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/player2/walkermccall.htm Kaizer Motaung
Kaizer Motaung
Kaizer Motaung is a former South African soccer player and founder of the Kaizer Chiefs Football Club, of which he is still chairman and managing director...
(1968-71)
Yearly Average Attendance
- 1967 - 6,961
- 1968 - 5,794
- 1969 - 3,371
- 1970 - 3,002
- 1971 - 4,275
- 1972 - 5,034
- 1973 - 3,317
- 1979 - 7,350
- 1980 - 4,884
- 1981 - 6,189