While it may be one of the newest members of the United Soccer League, the Birmingham Legion FC team is quickly developing a foundation of traditions and excitement for fans to experience.
And one of the most important aspects for a player and fan with any sports team is the existence of a good,old-fashioned rivalry.
For Legion FC, that rivalry comes in the form of a team very similar to itself.
Memphis 901 FC is a USL expansion team that debuted in 2019 alongside Birmingham. The team is in proximity as well, playing just three and half hours away from the Magic City.
The teams had their first meeting back in May, and resulted in a 2-2 draw at BBVA Field in Birmingham.
That first game was an exciting one, with three of the goals scored after the 85th minute. Scores in that game came from Memphis’s Cam Lindley and Duane Muckette and Birmingham’s Daniel Johnson and Chandler Hoffman, who has since been sidelined with a season-ending injury.
The two teams meet again tonight, in a 7 p.m. matchup in Birmingham, and look to add more drama to their early rivalry history.
For Legion FC, the game provides another opportunity to build on an impressive recent run that includes a USL-leading five straight shutouts. After getting three shutout wins at home during July at BBVA Field (against North Carolina FC, Atlanta United 2 and Charlotte Independence), playing to a scoreless draw on the road against Ottawa Fury FC and then winning an impressive 1-0 match against then league-leading Tampa Bay on the road, Birmingham comes home to attempt to continue its wing ways.
A win against the team’s natural rival would be big, as would extending Legion FC’s USL-leading shutout streak.
While Birmingham has closer opponents in distance, notably Atlanta and Nashville, the rivalry with Memphis seems like a more natural fit, and Legion FC management is promoting it as the regional matchup with rivalry implications.
Legion FC coach Tom Soehn said the rivalry game comes at a perfect time in the season.
“It’s incredible. The fans just keep getting better and better and the field’s in awesome shape, so we’re excited to get back home,” Soehn said, "It’s a really welcoming feeling knowing that you’ll be playing at home.”
Forward Eddie Opoku, who scored the lone goal in last week’s win in Tampa Bay, agreed that the fan support in such a game is huge.
“The fans have always been great – even in the first half of the season when we weren’t playing so well, they all stayed faithful to us," he said. "So as players we all want to give them something good to cheer on, and I think they can tell how hard we’ve been working and they’ve been great to us and once we get that fans going it’s a real boost to the players and hopefully we can get a victory.”
Game details
Tonight’s game begins at 7 p.m. at BBVA Field on the UAB campus, and gates open at 5:30 p.m. with food trucks and other fan activities before the opening whistle. Tickets are available online and at the gate.
It’s also back-to-school night with a special $10 general admission ticket for teachers who show their teacher identification at the box office.
The game will be broadcast locally on My68 and streamed on ESPN+.