The Atlanta District Amateur Soccer League (ADASL) was founded in 1967, the same year and in conjunction with the founding of the professional soccer club Atlanta Chiefs. The hope was that a local soccer league would grow interest in the sport in the Atlanta area. Though the Chiefs didn’t last past the early 80s, the ADASL has continued to thrive as a strong local amateur league, now the oldest pro/rel league in the American South. Currently the home of 26 clubs, with 10 in Division 1 and 16 in Division 2, the league is stronger than ever. And with the massive success of Atlanta United in MLS, interest is peaking in the sport in Atlanta.

Last year’s Perrin Cup Champion, Revily FC

Like many local leagues, the ADASL holds a yearly cup, an intra-league competition, which pits all the clubs of the two divisions against each other. About to begin round two of this year’s competition this weekend, The Perrin Cup, is a source of pride for the league and, for the winning clubs, an automatic qualifier for the USASA Regionals in Georgia. Each year, all the clubs competing are seeded based on last year’s finishes in the Perrin Cup and then the newcomers are assigned based on positioning according to the league. The second round of matches will kick off this weekend (December 8th) at Georgia Soccer Park in Atlanta.

According to the ADASL website, the Perrin Cup “is named after Chris Perrin, a former player, manager and officer of the League who died of cancer in the late 80's.” By honoring a former player, the Cup has a connection to every player that takes the field during the competition. Mike Hogan, ADASL Administrator, expanded on the history of the Cup and how it’s changed. “It’s been held each year since the 91-92 season as the Perrin Cup.Prior to then there was a League Cup with a double elimination format during the season from the very late 60s thru mid 70s, that, as the league increased numbers of teams and divisions, became separate post season divisional cups into the early 80s when participation declined until they were abandoned.”

While the American South is seen as football country, the reality is that there are thriving centers of local soccer all over the map. Atlanta’s local league which touts itself as “the oldest amateur soccer league in the Southeast” features multiple levels of the Georgia Revolution farm system, a woman coaching in a men’s league (Paige Livesey with MOBA Fury FC), and a long list of players both former and current who have played professionally elsewhere. The success and strength of the league is at a high point and provides a high level of competition for developing talent.

The second round of the Perrin Cup kicks off on Sunday (8th). For more information on scheduling and location, hit up the league site.

- Dan Vaughn