Martin Suiza, Athens United Soccer Association Director of Coaching and Athens FC Director of Operations, stands in Clarke Central High School’s Billy Henderson Stadium on April 29. Suiza collaborated with the United Soccer League to bring a pre-professional soccer club to Athens. “For us to be a thriving organization, we have to be willing to listen and we have to be willing to learn from either our mistakes or mistakes of other clubs, and make sure that we continue to work on our goal of providing the best service for our community,” Suiza said. Photo by Aza Khan
In the summer of 2024, Athens FC, a pre-professional soccer club, will hold games and practices at CCHS.
With practices and games held in Clarke Central High School’s Billy Henderson Stadium, the Athens United Soccer Association will collaborate with the United Soccer League to bring a pre-professional soccer club, Athens Football Club, to Athens in the summer of 2024.
The club has two teams, a men’s team participating in a USL League Two men’s league and a women’s team participating in the USL W league, allowing athletes, including high school-aged players, to compete at a pre-professional level while maintaining potential collegiate opportunities.
USL, the organization the teams are a part of, consists of seven soccer leagues across North America, ranging from youth to professional levels. The Athens FC teams will compete in the South Central division of their respective leagues, with games against six other clubs in Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee and North Carolina.
An interactive map and an infographic depicting the location of competing clubs and the competition schedule for Athens Football Club over the summer is shown. The club’s first home games were on May 22, and Aiken hopes that the club’s games over the summer will unite the Athens community. “It’s another avenue for people in Clarke County who enjoy the game of soccer and want to watch the highest level (to come together),” Aiken said. “They can watch (soccer) without going to Atlanta United for a very low-cost entry point, bring their family and have first row seats to a great atmosphere.” Aiken said. Interactive map by Cooper Jones, Infographic by Jesse Dantzler
An interactive map depicting competing clubs is shown. The club’s first home games were on May 22, and Aiken hopes that the club’s games over the summer will unite the Athens community. “It’s another avenue for people in Clarke County who enjoy the game of soccer and want to watch the highest level (to come together),” Aiken said. “They can watch (soccer) without going to Atlanta United for a very low-cost entry point, bring their family and have first row seats to a great atmosphere.” Aiken said. Interactive map by Cooper Jones, Infographic by Jesse Dantzler
“There (were) a lot of moving parts with the USL side. (USL) understands that Clarke County and the Athens area is great as far as the soccer community,” Suiza said. “Meeting with their groups and our groups, (we are) making sure that we all have the same goal, which is to provide a professional soccer team to our community.”
Chris Aiken, CCHS Associate Athletic Director and head boys varsity soccer coach, feels that the club provides an environment in which players with different experience levels can play together.
“(Playing on the team will) help (players) improve their skills for wherever they end up next, playing versus players that have already experienced college soccer. Even former professional players can play in the league, so you never know who you’re gonna run up to or go against,” Aiken said. “It’s just another opportunity to play in very competitive environments against the best kind of southeast competition.”
“(We are) making sure that we all have the same goal, which is to provide a professional soccer team to our community.”
— Martin Suiza,
Athens United Soccer Association Director of Coaching and Athens FC Director of Operations
Tryouts were open to players of all ages at Holland Youth Sports Complex on March 16 and 17 for the men’s team, with invite-only men’s tryouts on March 24 and women’s tryouts held later on April 7. CCHS boys varsity soccer winger and right back Raul Navarro, a senior, was one of several CCHS students who tried out for Athens FC. Navarro made the team, but is currently undecided about whether he will join the side.
“They were looking for high-level players who have played on competitive teams throughout their careers and who have the desire and conviction to go out and win the conference,” Navarro said. “(Playing for Athens FC) would have a big impact on me as an athlete and a soccer player because I would be playing with and against high-level players who are older.”
Clarke Central High School boys varsity soccer winger Raul Navarro, a senior, takes a shot in the Gladiators’ game against Cedar Shoals High School on Feb. 10. After trying out for local pre-professional soccer team Athens FC’s men’s team in March, Navarro was selected to the squad. “They were looking for high-level players who have played on competitive teams throughout their careers and who have the desire and conviction to go out and win the conference,” Navarro said. Photo by Daniel Cruz
CCHS girls varsity soccer winger and striker Farrell Hyde tried out for Athens FC’s USL W League team on April 7.
“If I was playing on the team, I would feel motivated to become better because I’m playing with these girls that are D1, play at UGA and stuff like that. It would just push me to become a better player and try harder,” Hyde said.
CCHS will host Athens FC’s home games throughout the team’s summer season, which lasts from May 22 to July 13. According to Aiken, CCHS was selected as the home venue due to the resources it offers.
“To host one of these professional expansion teams, there are a lot of things you had to have in place such as a scoreboard, a certain amount of seating in your stadium, locker rooms, parking and stadium lights. Having the very nice turf facility, we can host games in all types of weather,” Aiken said. “It created a nice environment where we could be the host venue. It’s a great opportunity to promote the game of soccer for men and women.”
“It will increase the soccer community in Athens. It will bring an attraction because it’s a pro team and a lot of new people will want to know what it’s about.”
— Lucas Stewart, CCHS boys varsity soccer midfielder and senior
CCHS boys varsity soccer midfielder Lucas Stewart, a senior, believes that Athens FC will not only create opportunities for players seeking to go pro, but also serve the Athens community and highlight CCHS soccer.
“It will increase the soccer community in Athens. It will bring an attraction because it’s a pro team and a lot of new people will want to know what it’s about. By playing the home games at Clarke Central, it will promote Clarke Central and its soccer program as well,” Stewart said.
An infographic depicting the Athens Football Club competition schedule is shown. Chris Aiken, CCHS Associate Athletic Director and head boys varsity soccer coach, feels that the club provides an environment in which players with different experience levels can play together. “(Playing on the team will) help (players) improve their skills for wherever they end up next, playing versus players that have already experienced college soccer. Even former professional players can play in the league, so you never know who you’re gonna run up to or go against,” Aiken said. “It’s just another opportunity to play in very competitive environments against the best kind of southeast competition.” Infographic by Jesse Dantzler
The club’s first home games were on May 22, with the men’s and women’s teams playing against Birmingham Legion FC at 4:30 and 7:00 p.m., respectively. Aiken hopes that the club’s games will unite the Athens community.
“It’s another avenue for people in Clarke County who enjoy the game of soccer and want to watch the highest level (to come together),” Aiken said. “They can watch (soccer) without going to Atlanta United for a very low-cost entry point, bring their family and have first row seats to a great atmosphere.”