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In late June of 2001 the Atlanta Silverbacks announced the growth of their name and organization by combining with a local amateur soccer club, formerly known as Melchester Football Club. The two entities merged to form a new, larger soccer family called the Atlanta Silverbacks Soccer Club.

The union represents the first time an independent amateur club of this size has joined with a professional team. The amateur club consists of over 250 players competing across the Atlanta area in men's and women's indoor and outdoor leagues, as well as tournaments across the Southeastern United States.

The Silverbacks organization has recently purchased 20 acres of land in the metro Atlanta area and has plans to develop a soccer complex to call home. The project entails lighted fields for training and games, locker rooms, swimming pool, workout facility, administrative offices, and a restaurant.

The development of a club of this type in the United States is a unique idea; however, similar club structures currently exist in both Europe and South America.

The Silverbacks have announced Stephen Pratten, a former Director for Melchester FC, as the new President and CEO of the club. Pratten is a native of Leigh-On-Sea, England and played international soccer for his country at the U-18 level. He moved to the U.S. in 1980 and played NCAA Division I soccer at Columbia University in New York City where he earned a bachelor's degree in political science. For the past 15 years Pratten has worked in New York and Atlanta for General Re Corporation, a division of Berkshire Hathaway.

Pratten comments on the new project. "We have wanted to build an all-inclusive soccer oriented facility for some time now - a place where the whole family can come and enjoy a few recreational hours even if they don't personally play soccer. We're not just building a club, but a soccer family."