Strong roots make big trees: The USL in the American South

When you think of soccer, football, futbol, calcio, whichever you prefer, it's highly unlikely that you think of places like the Carolinas, Georgia, and Mississippi. But slowly, and quietly big things are happening with soccer in the South.

A large swath of land long ignored by the county's premier league, Major League Soccer, one could be forgiven for not associating soccer with the South. But it's worth looking into. Take Charleston, South Carolina for instance. A gem of a city situated in South Carolina's picturesque "Low Country", Charleston is ripe with history and beauty, both man made and natural. On Daniel Island in Charleston sits another gem, little known Blackbaud Stadium was America's first professional "soccer-specific stadium". Built in 1999 and seating 5,112 in two cozy stands along either sideline the stadium, affectionately called Battery Park by supporters after a nearby Revolutionary War artillery site, is home to the USL First Division's Charleston Battery. Founded in 1993 Charleston is the most senior clubs in the anything but stable American soccer landscape. The Battery have twice won the USL Championship and their stadium has become something of a "must see" to American soccer hardcores due to the quietly significant roll it played in the current wave of soccer-specific stadiums.

Charleston's principal rivals are the Atlanta Silverbacks. As much as it pains me, a proud Charlottean, to say it, Atlanta is very much the heartbeat of the South and the capital of all things Southern. It is also home to RE/MAX Greater Atlanta Stadium, a wonderful little soccer-only facility located near I-85 (I-85 links together several major Southern cities). Atlanta's stadium, originally named Silverbacks' Park until sponsorship from real estate giants RE/MAX, currently seats around 5,000 but chairman Boris Jerkunica has grand plans to shape the stadium into a 13,000-seat complex with a 3,000-seat mini stadium in hopes of hosting major youth tournaments. Despite speculation of a possible MLS expansion effort spearheaded by Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank, who made his fortune as the owner of Home Depot, the Silverbacks look set to continue their plans.

North of Charleston and Atlanta, North Carolina is home to four USL teams, two of which play in soccer stadiums with a third in the planning stages. The Carolina Railhawks play in the USL First Division out of the 7,000-seat WakeMed Soccer Park (formerly SAS Stadium) in Cary, North Carolina - a bedroom community of the capital Raleigh. Originally built to host the now defunct women's professional team the Carolina Courage WakeMed Park has been a perfect fit for the Railhawks, now in their second season. The debut season for the triangle side saw them see off MLS opposition en route to the US Open Cup Semi-Final. The Railhawks also field a women's side in the W-League, and two reserve teams, one in the PDL and one in the Super-20 League.

Not far away from the Triangle is Greensboro, home to the Carolina Dynamo who play out of Macpherson Stadium. Recently, the club announced plans to expand their quaint 1,500-seat Browns Summit home into a professional quality 7,000-seat stadium. Like the Battery, the Dynamo were founded in 1993 and have tasted success, winning two championships before abandoning professionalism. The return of professional soccer to the Triad could be a real possibility if the expansion goes through. Down I-85 from Greensboro is Charlotte, the "Queen City" is North Carolina's largest with a population of around 700,000. In 2006 the town of Matthews (southeast of Charlotte) and the Charlotte Eagles announced plans to build a 13 field sports complex featuring a 6,000-seat soccer stadium. Assuming the plan goes through, North Carolina would have three possible professional soccer stadiums, more than any state in the Union. Again, quiet progess.

North Carolina's forth entry into the USL is the Second Division side the Wilmington Hammerheads. While they have no plans for a soccer only stadium, the Hammerheads are the sole tenants of the 6,000-seat Legion Stadium. The Hammerheads have won the USL Second Division once, in 2003.

Two nice stories from the PDL come from the "Deep South". First the Mississippi Brilla. Located in Clinton, near Jackson, the Brilla have quickly developed a large following in the Magnolia State. Many doubted that the beautiful game could take hold in a State like Mississippi, but the Brilla, named in honor of the Biblical Matthew 5:16 ("Therefore, let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.") seem determined to prove them wrong. The other story comes from World famous New Orleans. As everyone is well aware, the Crescent City was devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. After the storm passed over, the New Orleans Shell Shockers arrived to find their home ground, the City owned Pan-American Stadium in City Park, in ruin. The organization quickly pledged $1,000,000 to the city in order to rebuild not just the stadium, but the entire park. Currently the Shell Shockers play out of the 26,500-seat Tad Gormley Stadium at Reggie Bush Field.