Atlanta Silverbacks Soccer
Atlanta soccer fans are excited as men's professional soccer returns to Atlanta for the 2011 season.
The Atlanta Silverbacks are a second tier member of the North American Soccer League (NASL).
The season began in early April and will run through the end of September.
The team was founded in 1995 and originally named the Atlanta Ruckus.
They played in the A-League of the United Soccer League (USL).
In 1998 the team was sold, and the new owners changed the name to the Silverbacks.
In 2009 the team severed their affiliation with the USL First Division League to become a member of the newly formed NASL.
However, the U.
S.
Soccer Federation (USSF) had not yet sanctioned the NASL, so the Silverbacks sat out the 2010 season.
When the USSL did sanction the league, the team rejoined for the 2011 season.
The Atlanta Silverbacks are one of eight North American teams in the NASL.
Other teams are located in Fort Lauderdale, Tampa Bay, Carolina, Minnesota, Puerto Rico, Montreal, and Edmonton.
A San Antonio team will join the league in 2012.
The NASL schedules one game per week.
Most games are played on weekends, with only a few games scheduled for midweek.
Each team will play a 28 game schedule of 14 home games and 14 away games.
The Silverbacks have been disappointed in their first three games, as they lost each one by only one point.
But it is early in the season, and fans hope for a quick turnaround.
Jose Manuel Abundis was selected in January 2011 as the new head coach of the Silverbacks.
Abundis played top level international soccer for 17 years.
This is his first head coaching position.
The team roster includes players from all over the world.
Players hail from the U.
S.
, Argentina, Mexico, Honduras, Liberia, Switzerland, Bosnia, and Japan.
The Silverbacks play their home games at Silverbacks Park in Chamblee, Georgia.
The 5,000 seat stadium is located just 15 miles northeast of downtown Atlanta.
Single game tickets for the home games range from $13 to $26.
The Silverbacks organization has a men's development team, the Silverbacks Reserves, which plays in the National Premier Soccer League.
There is also a women's team, the Atlanta Silverbacks Women, which plays in the USL Women's League.
The Silverbacks are committed to developing youth talent, and they offer summer soccer camps.
There are camps for players of all levels, including goal keep camps and team camps.
The Silverbacks encourage all Atlanta soccer fans to come out and support the team this season.
The Atlanta Silverbacks are a second tier member of the North American Soccer League (NASL).
The season began in early April and will run through the end of September.
The team was founded in 1995 and originally named the Atlanta Ruckus.
They played in the A-League of the United Soccer League (USL).
In 1998 the team was sold, and the new owners changed the name to the Silverbacks.
In 2009 the team severed their affiliation with the USL First Division League to become a member of the newly formed NASL.
However, the U.
S.
Soccer Federation (USSF) had not yet sanctioned the NASL, so the Silverbacks sat out the 2010 season.
When the USSL did sanction the league, the team rejoined for the 2011 season.
The Atlanta Silverbacks are one of eight North American teams in the NASL.
Other teams are located in Fort Lauderdale, Tampa Bay, Carolina, Minnesota, Puerto Rico, Montreal, and Edmonton.
A San Antonio team will join the league in 2012.
The NASL schedules one game per week.
Most games are played on weekends, with only a few games scheduled for midweek.
Each team will play a 28 game schedule of 14 home games and 14 away games.
The Silverbacks have been disappointed in their first three games, as they lost each one by only one point.
But it is early in the season, and fans hope for a quick turnaround.
Jose Manuel Abundis was selected in January 2011 as the new head coach of the Silverbacks.
Abundis played top level international soccer for 17 years.
This is his first head coaching position.
The team roster includes players from all over the world.
Players hail from the U.
S.
, Argentina, Mexico, Honduras, Liberia, Switzerland, Bosnia, and Japan.
The Silverbacks play their home games at Silverbacks Park in Chamblee, Georgia.
The 5,000 seat stadium is located just 15 miles northeast of downtown Atlanta.
Single game tickets for the home games range from $13 to $26.
The Silverbacks organization has a men's development team, the Silverbacks Reserves, which plays in the National Premier Soccer League.
There is also a women's team, the Atlanta Silverbacks Women, which plays in the USL Women's League.
The Silverbacks are committed to developing youth talent, and they offer summer soccer camps.
There are camps for players of all levels, including goal keep camps and team camps.
The Silverbacks encourage all Atlanta soccer fans to come out and support the team this season.