Atlanta Silverbacks

Full name	Atlanta Silverbacks
Nickname(s)	Silverbacks
Founded	1995
Stadium	RE/MAX Greater Atlanta Stadium (Capacity: 4,000)
Owners	Boris Jerkunica John Latham
Head Coach	Jason Smith
League	North American Soccer League
2008	Regular Season: 10th Playoffs: DNQ
Home colors Away colors

Atlanta Silverbacks is an American professional soccer team based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1995, the team played in the USL First Division (USL-1), the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2008; it is scheduled to join the new North American Soccer League in 2010. The team sat out the 2009 USL First Division season while the ownership "assessed the soccer landscape".^[1]

The team plays its home games at RE/MAX Greater Atlanta Stadium, a soccer-specific stadium in Chamblee, Georgia, 15 miles northeast of downtown Atlanta. The team's colors were red and black.

The team had a development team, Atlanta Silverbacks U23's, which played in the USL Premier Development League, and a sister organization, the Atlanta Silverbacks Women, which continues to play in the women's USL W-League.

[edit] History

The franchise began as the Atlanta Ruckus in 1995 and played in the A-League. The club was re-named the Silverbacks in 1998, after a change in ownership. The name comes from a silverback gorilla named Willie B., who was a main attraction of Zoo Atlanta until his death.

In November 2009 the Silverbacks announced their intent to leave the USL First Division to become the co-founders of a new North American Soccer League, which would begin play in 2010. The league, which has yet to be sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation or the Canadian Soccer Association, would also comprise the Carolina RailHawks, Crystal Palace Baltimore, Miami FC, Minnesota Thunder, Montreal Impact, Tampa Bay Rowdies, Vancouver Whitecaps and a brand new team led by St. Louis Soccer United.^[2]

[edit] Final Squad

vs Miami FC, 21 September 2008 ^[3]

No. Position Player 1 GK Felipe Quintero 2 MF Scott Buete 3 DF Brent Sancho 4 DF Justin Moore 5 DF David Hayes 7 MF Jason McLaughlin 9 FW Aaron Paye 11 MF Rodrigo Ríos 12 MF Tony McManus

No. Position Player 14 DF Zach Kirby 16 FW Duke Hashimoto 18 MF Josh Bolton 19 DF Martyn Lancaster 20 DF Greg Chevalier 22 GK Ryan McIntosh 24 MF Chris Mahaffey 26 FW Jerson Monteiro

[edit] Year-by-year

[edit] Honors

• Southern Derby 4 (2002, 2004, 2005*, 2006)

*-as co-champion

[edit] Notable former players

[edit] Coach

• David Vaudreuil (2003-2004)
• Jason Smith (2005-2008)

[edit] External links

• Official Website
• Westside 109 Website (Silverback Supporters)
• Photos of a 2006 match versus the Portland Timbers

[edit] References

v • d • e Sports teams based in or near Atlanta, Georgia Baseball MLB: Atlanta Braves — IL: Gwinnett Braves Basketball NBA: Atlanta Hawks — WNBA: Atlanta Dream — ABA: Atlanta Vision • College Park Spyders — WBA: Marietta Storm Football NFL: Atlanta Falcons Hockey NHL: Atlanta Thrashers — ECHL: Gwinnett Gladiators Rugby union RSL: Life University Soccer WPS: Atlanta Beat (2010 season) — PDL: Atlanta Blackhawks College athletics (NCAA Division I) Georgia Tech • Georgia State • Kennesaw State

v • d • e Sports teams based in Georgia Baseball MLB: Atlanta Braves — IL: Gwinnett Braves — SAL: Augusta GreenJackets  · Rome Braves  · Savannah Sand Gnats Basketball NBA: Atlanta Hawks — WNBA: Atlanta Dream - ABA: Atlanta Vision  · Columbus Life  · Georgia Prowl Football NFL: Atlanta Falcons — UNGL: Georgia Slashers — SIFL: Albany Panthers  · Augusta Colts  · Columbus Lions — IWFL: Atlanta Xplosion Hockey NHL: Atlanta Thrashers — ECHL: Gwinnett Gladiators — SPHL: Columbus Cottonmouths Soccer WPS: Atlanta Beat (2010 season) — PDL: Atlanta Blackhawks Rugby RSL: Life University Roller Derby WFTDA: Denim Demons  · Sake Tuyas  · Toxic Shocks  · Apocalypstix College athletics (NCAA Division I) Georgia  · Georgia Southern  · Georgia State  · Georgia Tech  · Kennesaw State  · Mercer  · Savannah State