When we speak of the development of soccer in Georgia or in the United States, one name is heard foremost above all others, that of Phil Woosnam.  He’s had as great an impact nationally as upon the development and growth of the game in Georgia.
 

Phil is a native of Caersws in scenic mid-Wales where his playing career began.  After graduating from the University of Wales with degrees in Physics, Math and Education, he became a star player for 12 seasons at Leyton Orient (4), West Ham United (4) and Aston Villa (4), all of the English Football League.  Phil’s talents on the field earned him a remarkable 38 appearances at all 5 levels for the Wales National Teams: Under 14 (1), Under 18 (1), University (4), Amateur (15) and Professional (17).  He also played on the multi-national Football League of England team against the League of Italy team at Milan in 1960.  Phil earned his English Football Association Coaching License, and then served on the Association’s Coaching Staff from 1962 to 1966.
 

He came to us in 1966 as General Manager and Player/Coach of the Atlanta Chiefs.  The results of his efforts, influence, coaching and leadership came in 1968, their second year of play, when the team won the first ever professional sports championship for Atlanta.  Phil was named 1968 North American Soccer League (NASL) Coach of the Year and appointed Coach of the United States World Cup Team which qualified v Canada and Bermuda to reach the final stage of qualifying for the World Cup Mexico 1970.  Unfortunately, most other NASL teams did not organize and develop along the same well-planned lines as did Atlanta, and in January 1969, the NASL dropped from 17 to 5 teams.  Phil resigned from both coaching positions and took on the challenge of rebuilding a nationwide professional program as Executive Director and Commissioner of the NASL from 1969 through 1983.  By 1978, he had rebuilt the league from 5 to 24 franchises in the United States and Canada, an outstanding achievement.
 

Phil also served as a Vice President of the USSF from 1969 through 1983.  He created the plan for Pele to join the New York Cosmos in 1975 and to be the spokesperson and image for soccer in the United States.  Phil was a key person in the 1983 and the successful 1987 World Cup bids by the USSF, and from 1983 to 1992 he served as the Chairman of the company handling USSF marketing.  He then served as the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games (ACOG) Venue Competitions Manager in Athens, GA where the 1996 Olympic soccer semifinals and finals for men and women were held in the University of Georgia’s 86,000 seat stadium.  He drew staff mostly from the ranks of administrators, coaches and officials of the Georgia State Soccer Association (GSSA).
 

Phil’s legacy to Georgia soccer is unmistakable.  From the first he advocated for soccer with local groups and volunteers and motivated his players to be advocates and soccer missionaries.  Ten of the 1968 Atlanta Chiefs then became coaches of national and/or professional teams.  Phil was deservedly inducted into the US National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta, New York, in June 1997.
 

He and his wife Ruth, a former administrator of the USSF and NASL Referee program, are residents of Dunwoody.  They have 3 grandchildren and 4 children, Randy, Val, Rick and David.  David has played soccer for 5 years, since 1997, for the US Paralympics Soccer Team in International competition.