Cook: Chattanooga soccer: It matters who you cheer for

Chattanooga Football Club players celebrate with the Chattahooligans after a 4-0 triumph against Inter Nashville on Saturday night at Finley Stadium. Chattanooga Football Club players celebrate with the Chattahooligans after a 4-0 triumph against Inter Nashville on Saturday night at Finley Stadium.

By David Cook June 8, 2019 4 min read

David Cook

There are two professional soccer teams in Chattanooga.

Yet there is only room in this town for one.

It matters who you cheer for.

Last year, the Chattanooga Red Wolves arrived, bringing its own approach to soccer: a distant owner who lives 1,700 miles away, a corporatized structure, zero relationship with Chattanooga.

Yes, the team plays good soccer, but the Red Wolves is a franchise, and like all franchises, it lacks novelty and a grassroots sense of place. Like Miller Lite. Fun to watch, but not very original. Or filling.