Think our city’s soccer story started in 2017? Think again, 17s. While we’re all used to the deafening roars at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the beautiful game has been pulsing through the red clay of Georgia for over 130 years.
Thanks to some incredible “digital archaeology” by Patrick Sullivan (of the Atlanta Preservation Center and Phoenix Flies), we now have a front-row seat to our origin story. His ArcGIS StoryMap, “Soccer Gets Started in Atlanta,” takes us back to a time when “kits” were work clothes and the “pitch” was a granite quarry.
The Granite Roots: 1890s – 1912
Long before the term “Five Stripes” existed, the heartbeat of Georgia soccer was found in the quarries of Lithonia and Stone Mountain. In the mid-1880s, Scottish and Welsh stonecutters brought more than just their tools to the South; they brought their obsession with “association football.”
On March 21, 1908, the first recorded organized match in Atlanta took place at the Jackson Street Showgrounds. A scrappy Atlanta side fell 2-1 to the quarry workers, but the seed was planted. If you’ve ever wondered why soccer feels so “at home” in DeKalb County, it’s because it’s literally built into the stone.
Pitch Behind Bars: The Penitentiary Era
One of the most wild chapters in Sullivan’s research involves the Atlanta Federal Penitentiary. In 1914, soccer was introduced as a “sanctioned activity” to promote good behavior among inmates.
Teams with legendary names like the “Glengarries” and “Caledonians” competed within the prison walls. This internal league became such a staple that it saw various revivals all the way through the late 1960s—proving that even in the most restrictive environments, the game finds a way to breathe.
The Pioneers: Youth and Women’s Soccer
The 1920s saw a brief but beautiful surge in the women’s game. Schools like O’Keefe Junior High and Spelman College established clubs and intramural leagues, defying the systemic exclusions of the era. While World War I stunted the growth of a budding Grammar School League in 1914, these early pioneers ensured that soccer wasn’t just a “men’s hobby” in the A—it was a community movement.
The Architects: The Atlanta Chiefs
The bridge to our modern era arrived in 1967 with the Atlanta Chiefs. Owned by the Braves and led by the visionary Phil Woosnam, the Chiefs did something revolutionary: they became ambassadors.
They didn’t just play for a paycheck; they held hundreds of clinics for local kids. This grassroots “boots on the ground” effort directly birthed the Decatur-DeKalb YMCA Soccer Club and the Atlanta District Amateur Soccer League (ADASL) in 1968. Every youth club you see in Georgia today—from Concorde to GSA—can trace its DNA back to those clinics held by the Chiefs.
A Legacy Worth Preserving
Using rare photographs and Sanborn maps, Patrick Sullivan has reminded us that the “A” has always been a soccer town. Every time we march to the Benz today, we are echoing a history that began on the dirt fields of Sweet Auburn and the rocky outcrops of Lithonia.
Related ASN Coverage:
- The 50 Club: Ranking the Most Impactful Players to Reach 50 Starts for ATL
- Kit Drop: Why the ‘Spirit of ’96’ is the Most Meaningful Jersey in ATL History
- The Marietta Hub: How Franklin Gateway Became a Soccer Hotspot
ASN Fan Voice: Did you know our soccer history started in the quarries of Lithonia? Which part of our “hidden history” surprised you the most? Let’s honor the pioneers in the comments! #AtlantaSoccerHistory #17s #AtlantaChiefs #StoneMountainSoccer #GeorgiaSoccer #ASN #TheA
Author: Quique Lopez
Quique Lopez doesn’t just cover soccer—he deconstructs it with the precision of a veteran and the wit of a storyteller. A former player who sees the pitch as both a tactical chessboard and a cultural stage, Quique balances sharp critiques with a genuine love for the game’s soul. He’s as quick to call out the ego of a superstar as he is to find the hidden beauty in a local derby.