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 of the Atlanta club.