Legion FC Begins Homestand with Rhode Island FC

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – It’s been some time since Birmingham Legion FC last kicked a ball in front of fans, and it’s been even longer since it did so in front of its own fans. Those droughts though are to finally come to an end on Wednesday as the Three Sparks head back to Protective Stadium for a midweek matchup against Rhode Island FC in what will be the home debut for head coach Mark Briggs.

“It’s been a bit of a whirlwind,” said Briggs of the past couple of weeks since taking the job. “Things are starting to settle a bit and it’s now all about preparing for a very good Rhode Island team, so we have to make sure that we’re focused and ready.”

Wednesday’s match begins a crowded five-day stretch of soccer in the Magic City with Legion FC also hosting Detroit City FC on Sunday.

But after jumping right into the fray and coaching Birmingham to a 2-2 draw on the road against the Tampa Bay Rowdies three days after being named head coach, the last week and a half without a match has been welcomed by Briggs.

The long layoff allowed for the new coach, who had never taken over a club midseason in his previous stops, to run the players through a second and more accelerated preseason of sorts. That included a pair of double-session days last week to implement new tactics, new ideas and, overall, a new culture that Briggs hopes leads to positive results.

“It’s given me a chance to further impose some of my beliefs and standards,” noted Briggs. “It’s a lot to ask of players in such a short amount of time, but the guys have really reacted in a positive way.”

Briggs was given a good starting point to work from in the sense that Legion FC gave him a glimpse of its quality and on areas where things can be improved.

Against the Rowdies, Birmingham controlled the flow of the match for much of the night, even when a hard-luck penalty dug them into a 1-0 deficit midway through the first half. Following goals from Enzo Martinez and Danny Trejo, it appeared Briggs era was going to begin with three points, only for a stoppage time goal from Tampa to provide a teachable moment.

“Overall there are a lot of positives to take away from that,” Briggs explained. “We were excellent in creating chances in the first 20 minutes and I liked what I saw in the second half in how the team reacted to the adjustments we made at halftime. All of that and more gave us a platform to build on for weeks to come.”

Rhode Island enters Wednesday’s matchup looking to build as well.

After shocking the USL Championship with a run to the league finals in its inaugural season, the club has sputtered a bit to start out 2025 and currently finds itself tied in the East standings with Legion FC at six points on identical records.

Putting the ball in particular has been the crux of the problem for head coach Khano Smith’s club with just six goals in seven matches. Two of those have come from former Legion FC forward JJ Williams, who has missed Rhode Island’s previous two matches due to injury.

While Rhode Island swept the season series with a pair of wins over Legion FC a season ago, Birmingham forward Ronaldo Damus has fond memories from the last time he faced the club, having scored a goal for Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC in a 3-1 win to claim the USL Championship finals.

Now wearing the black and gold, Damus will look to add to his team-high four goals and propel his new club to its first ever win over Rhode Island.

“Being at home in front of our fans, the level has to be raised,” Briggs said. “We want to put a product on the field that represents Birmingham in the best possible way.”

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