BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – For the third time in club history, Birmingham Legion FC is honoring Juneteenth with a special limited-edition kit.
Unveiled in front of a large crowd at The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute’s Juneteenth: A Celebration for the Culture event on Saturday, this new and unique kit is the brainchild of both the club and Black-owned soccer-specific creative agency, Kitboys Club. It will make its debut on the Protective Stadium pitch for Legion FC’s Juneteenth match this Wednesday against San Antonio FC.
“Juneteenth is very important to our entire club and community, so we wanted to drive awareness in a unique way with these kits,” said Legion FC President and General Manger Jay Heaps. “It was exciting to see the fans’ reactions to the kit today. We want to thank BCRI and its partners for allowing us to be a part of such a special celebration.”
The kit’s design pays homage to BCRI and the iconic 16th Street Baptist Church, symbolizing solidarity, strength and hope in the fight for equality. Serving as a headquarters throughout the Civil Rights Movement, the church was paramount in offering both solace and security to Black Individuals.
“We are grateful that our hometown soccer team has chosen to honor the Birmingham Movement of 1963 with this year’s edition of their Juneteenth kit,” BCRI President and CEO DeJuana Thompson said. “It matters that each of us in the community remembers and celebrates the powerful history that we all share in our great city.”
Emblazoned on the kit is the church’s famous Wales Window, which commemorates the tragic 1963 bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church, a key moment that would lead to the monumental passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
A silhouette of the “Four Spirits” sculpture is located on the bottom right of the kit. Located in Kelly Ingram Park, the sculpture memorializes the four victims of the bombing – Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, Carolyn Robertson and Cynthia Wesley.
“A Love That Forgives” was the title of the sermon given at the church on the day of the incident, September 15, 1963. That slogan is featured on the inside of the collar with the date in roman numerals on each sleeve.
The kit also features luminous 3M detailing in tribute to Kitboys Club’s guiding principle – Black excellence shines bright – which celebrates the remarkable achievements of Black players, coaches and professionals throughout the sport. The detailed fabric represents the nation’s rich and cultural heritage, as well as its ongoing journey towards bringing inclusivity, equality and empowerment through the sermon of soccer.
A limited number of Legion FC’s Juneteenth kits will be available to purchase, on a first-come-first-serve basis, at Protective Stadium for Wednesday’s match. Kick-off is set for 7 p.m. CT with gates opening at 3:30 p.m. for the Legion WFC match against the Greenville Liberty at 4 p.m. Tickets can be purchased HERE.
Proceeds from this limited run of kits, including those worn by Legion FC players in the Juneteenth match that will be auctioned off afterwards, will be donated to BCRI and the 16th Street Baptist Church.
To lend support to BCRI and its many worthwhile causes, donations to the institute can be made HERE. To donate to the capital campaign for the 16th Street Baptist Church, visit HERE. For more information on Kitboys Club, visit its website HERE.
