Georgia Generals

American Soccer League (1982)

Tombstone

Born: 1982 – The Cleveland Cobras relocate to Atlanta, Georgia
Folded: Postseason 1982

First Game: May 7, 1982 (W 3-1 vs. Oklahoma City Slickers)
Last Game: September 9, 1982 (L 1-0 @ Detroit Express)

ASL Championships: None

Stadium

DeKalb Stadium (15,000)

Marketing

Team Colors: Blue, Gold & Red

Ownership

Owner: Walt Russell

Background

The Georgia Generals were a One-Year Wonder in the 2nd Division American Soccer League, playing just one season in the summer of 1982. The Generals played in the Atlanta suburb of DeKalb. Prior to arriving in Georgia, the franchise operated in Ohio as the Cleveland Cobras (1974-1981).

The Generals were a decidedly minor league operation which sought to fill the pro soccer void in the market after the big budget, Ted Turner-owned Atlanta Chiefs (1979-1981) of the North American Soccer League went out of business in September 1981. Former Chiefs manager David Chadwick hired on as head coach of the Generals and the roster featured several other Chiefs’ refugees, including starting goalkeeper Graham Tutt.

Brazilian minor league warhorse Jose Neto was the club’s leading scorer with 15 goals.

The Georgia Generals finished with a respectable 12-9-4 record, good for third place in the seven-team ASL. They received a bye in the first round of the playoffs when their intended opponents, the Pennsylvania Stoners, were too financially unstable to take part in the postseason. In the semi-finals, the eventual champion Detroit Express eliminated the Generals in a two-game series.

The End

Owner Walt Russell ran out of money near the end of the season, making the Generals continued existence a week-to-week proposition. The club folded quietly after the 1982 season.

The American Soccer League played one more season and then went out of business in early 1984.