Last week we published part three of our Kicking Back: The History of the Atlanta Chiefs series. Shortly afterwards we received a message from Mr. David Berry, a photographer who got his start shooting NASL-era soccer in Atlanta, GA.

“I started as a freelance photographer in 1979 when Michael Oglesby, with the Chiefs, hooked me up” David told us. “Worked off and on during grad school at Georgia State and I worked at a camera store in Buckhead, named wings.”

David shot soccer, indoor and outdoor from 1979 to 1981. “In 1970 I was shooting mostly black and white with a new camera lens and working at the local camera store made my equipment more affordable.” He went on to say “In 1980 I was still shooting some black and white too, along with faster speed color slides. Back then, I was in grad school at Western Carolina, studying counseling.”

“Also, I worked as a photographer for the football and soccer teams - I got to travel with the football team back to my undergrad school, Clemson.” David shared more “I worked for Coach Bob Waters for the football team and for Coach Malcom Laughlin’s soccer team. I even helped coach soccer on the side!”

David was kind enough to share some of his shots from that era, including a photo of his name on the stadium board, right alongside Keith Furphy, “I have the same birthday as him!” He tells me there are more stories to come and honestly, I can’t wait.

written by Joshua Duder
photos by David Berry