U11 Macon United at the ESPN+ tournament final
In Macon County, soccer has quietly grown from a small community pastime into a true player pathway, and at the center of that evolution is Macon United FC, the competitive travel arm of the Macon County Soccer Club. Under the leadership of club president David Parlier, Macon United gives committed local players the chance to train more seriously, travel to tournaments, and test themselves against top competition, without losing the family feel that has defined the club since its early days.
On any given weeknight, you can find Macon United teams, many built from age groups that first kicked a ball together in the county’s recreational league, working through drills under the lights in Franklin, preparing for weekend matchups across the southeast and beyond. The program is designed for players who want “more than rec,” offering higher‑level coaching, a longer season, and the chance to represent Macon County at regional events while still keeping costs and travel manageable for local families.
That balance, between competitive ambition and small‑town accessibility, is what Parlier and his fellow coaches talk about most often. Macon United’s teams are intentionally rooted in community: players wear the county’s name on their jerseys, and are backed by parents and small businesses who see the club as a point of pride.
“Our mission is to develop the whole individual through the game of soccer,” Parlier says. “Someone who succeeds on the field and in their classrooms and communities.”
Macon United began less than five years ago, when a handful of soccer parents assembled two teams to play in a couple of tournaments. What started as a small experiment quickly revealed a gap in the county’s soccer landscape: players needed a bridge between recreational play and higher‑level competition. Today, the club fields teams from U9 to U17, with players competing in the Carolina Champions League and tournaments across the region.
Training follows a year‑round rhythm—indoor in winter, outdoor practices in spring and fall, and league games clustered on weekends to preserve family time. Teams often choose one or two tournaments each season, sometimes in destination cities like Savannah or Orlando.
Axel Fielding
But for Parlier, the real measure of success isn’t medals or standings.
“When you take a step back, you see the positive growth of players on each team,” he says. “That progression was the purpose of the club, and it validates that the program is working.”
One of Parlier’s proudest memories came this February, when a Macon United team (U11) walked onto the field for a tournament final against a strong squad from Mexico City, broadcast live on ESPN+.
“Seeing the smiles on the players’ faces was the win,” he says. “It was far beyond what we imagined when this little club from Macon County first started.”
Highlands families will recognize several familiar names on this year’s Macon United rosters: Knox DeBois and Brady Kittrell (U9), Valentina Gomez de Dios (U13), and Axel Fielding, who brings the Highlands’ spirit to the U11 team.
At just ten years old, Axel spent five years in the county’s recreational league before moving into travel play, where he is now in his third season. For him, the shift to Macon United has been transformative.
“Being surrounded by teammates who share the same passion changed everything,” says his father, Eric Fielding. “It’s like finding a long‑lost family. It challenges him every day to be better, faster, and stronger.”
Axel says it best: “My team means everything to me. It’s where I learn discipline, push through hard moments, and celebrate the wins that come from working together.”
Axel’s experience reflects exactly what Macon United hopes to offer: a place where talent is nurtured, friendships deepen, and young athletes discover what they’re capable of.
As the club grows, Parlier hopes to continue strengthening coaching resources, add new U9 teams every two years, and rebuild all‑girls teams so more players can experience higher‑level competition. The long‑term vision is simple: a thriving soccer community that gives every child, regardless of background or zip code, a chance to grow.
And for the players who wear “Macon” across their chests, the lessons stretch far beyond the field: discipline, resilience, teamwork, and the joy of remembering the fun long after the scores fade.
Macon United FC is proof that big dreams can grow in small places, and that sometimes, the most meaningful victories happen long before the final whistle.
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