Setting the table for 2025
Some movement, but stability for clubs
There were several new clubs in 2024 for the Lower Alabama territory and the Adjacency. There's some time before summer leagues get fully set, so there could still be unknown changes yet to come. That being said, I wanted to look in briefly on how things are shaping up (so far).
Birmingham Legion FC
Image credit: Birmingham Legion
2024 was a disappointing season for Legion, as they didn't make the USL Championship playoffs for the first time in club history. They've had a busy off-season, signing players that should make a difference. Regular season begins at home against Loudon United on March 8.
Huntsville City FC
Image credit: MLS NextPro
The other professional team in Alabama is Huntsville City FC, the reserve club for Nashville SC of MLS. Huntsville had a rough season last year, but saw some life after a late coaching change. They'll be hoping to get off on the right foot when their season starts March 9 at Chicago United (Fire 2). Notably, they face Legion in a friendly on Feb 22.
USL League Two
Image credit: USL Brand Guidelines
USL2 plays a Summer schedule, and is primarily a league for development of college players in their off-season. Last year Alabama had two teams playing here: Legion FC2, and Dothan Dragons. For 2025, Montgomery United has joined USL2, having previously won the Gulf Coast Premier League championship as Alabama FC South in 2024. It's a nice addition for more rivalry within the state. Dothan United has confirmed they're returning, and Legion 2 is expected to return for 2025 as well.
Image credit: the League for Clubs
Speaking of the Gulf Coast Premier League, they have joined forces with newly-formed the League for Clubs. Men's GCPL clubs will operate as a conference within LfC. Reserve GCPL teams, which have operated under the banner of GCPL League Two will continue to operate as such, separate from LfC. In 2024, the only team from Alabama in that division was fielded by ALFC South for a handful of games, but t's unclear if that team will operate in 2025. However, the first teams for AFC Mobile and Union 10 FC (returning GCPL teams) have both been formally announced membership for Summer 2025 in the LfC Gulf Coast Conference.
FC Birmingham
The “other” club in Birmingham is FC Birmingham. The club operates Men's programs within the UPSL, and a women's program in the WPSL. FCB consistently fields a men's team in the Premier (top) division of UPSL, and will operate a team in UPSL Division 1 depending on who's available. They sit atop a growing youth club. UPSL operates a Spring season, and then another for Fall.
The Adjacency
Columbus, Georgia sits against the Eastern border of Alabama, sharing a metro area that includes Phenix City, Alabama. In 2023, there were zero teams/clubs there at the highest amateur/semi-pro levels, and then four sprouted up for 2024.
Columbus United plays in the NPSL, and is part of an ownership group that includes Michael Hitchcock. Hitch owns parts of several teams at this level that have historically been in NPSL, but have begun to move around into various leagues. But United is apparently staying put for 2025. They had a very successful run in 2024, reaching the national semi-finals. They've had some player announcements, in preparation for their Summer season.
Fountain City FC started 2024 in UPSL Division 1 for Spring, and were promoted to Premier for the Fall season. They've been very competitive, and seem to operate a good organization. They've been announcing players in preparation for Spring.
FC Columbus Elite spent 2024 playing in UPSL Division 1 for both seasons, and were very competitive. They earned a promotion to the Premier divsion for Spring 2025, and have been building their roster. This puts them up to play in the division with Fountain and FC Birmingham.
Last but not least are Columbus Knight Eagles. CKE was new to UPSL for Fall 2024, after a couple of seasons in a Colimbus city league (where they won a championship). They were very good in the Fall, but no word officially on their plans for Spring (yet). They've always been extremely limited with info, so it's hard to read anything into that.
Women's teams
Women's teams in the area have been pretty lean on information. In 2024 there were three teams in Alabama: Legion WFC (USLW), Union 10 (GCPL), and FC Birmingham (WPSL). Similar to the men's deal, GCPL has partnered with WPSL, so that will become a Gulf Coast conference. It's yet to be seen if the same clubs will field teams, or if any will be added.
More to come?
The most likely thing is that we'll have the same number of teams through Summer as we had Summer-Fall in 2024. There's plenty of time for something to change, but overall it's becoming a very stable base.