The Rebuild Begins: Fresh Faces, New Fight
FC Birmingham’s 2025 UPSL season continues to throw punches — but the rebuild is finally underway, and there are new signs of life.
Following a narrow 1-2 loss to Limeno GA, the Premier squad now sits at 1-1-6, still fighting to climb from the bottom of the table. Meanwhile, the U23s dropped their latest match to UMA II by a 1-3 scoreline. On paper, it’s another tough weekend — but behind the scenes, the energy is shifting.
“We’re pretty much repairing the plane while flying,” said team owner Doug Walk, summing up the current phase of the club’s journey. And make no mistake: it’s a full-on rebuild.
New Players, New Energy
This past week saw between 5–7 new players attend training sessions across both squads — a fresh injection of ambition, competition, and belief. Two of those players, Chris Bates (U23s) and Ervin Gonzalez (1st Team), officially joined the club and were immediately thrown into the fire. Both started in their respective matches over the weekend — an early glimpse of what’s to come.
“These aren’t just fill-ins. These are guys who want to earn their spot and fight for the badge,” said one staff member after training.
The rebuild isn’t just about players. FC Birmingham also welcomed Coach Nelson Jancaterino to the technical staff, bringing experience and leadership during a critical stretch of the season.
Injuries, Depth, and Determination
The squad remains thin, with seven players across both teams on injury reserve — five from the first team and two from the U23s. But this week brings better news: two of those injured players will play this weekend, and more reinforcements are expected at training.
Importantly, the first team played with 17 players against Limeno — a clear improvement from recent matches where the bench was nearly empty or filled with players out of position. “No goalkeepers at striker this time,” Walk joked, referencing the Georgia Revolution match two weeks ago.
Home Tests and the Road Ahead
Both the UPSL Premier and U23 squads played at home this past weekend, providing a valuable opportunity to test new lineups in a familiar setting. Looking ahead, both teams will travel this coming weekend, which presents new challenges — but also fresh chances to build chemistry and momentum.
Adding to the excitement, the club’s WPSL Women’s team opens their season this weekend, also on the road — marking a new chapter for the women’s program.
About That Word… Relegation
It’s the question no one wants to ask out loud — but everyone knows it’s looming.
“Relegation definitely gives the management and staff heartburn,” Walk admitted. “But all we can do is all we can do. If we give everything and it happens, then it is what it is. But I strongly feel like what we are doing now will elevate us out of the relegation zone.”
That belief is not just talk. It’s showing up to training with intention. It’s players signing and starting. It’s staff stepping in. It’s the difference between fading out and fighting back.
The rebuild is real. The belief is more real.
FC Birmingham isn’t out of the woods — but for the first time in weeks, the path forward is starting to form.