Birmingham Albion FC, a newly established football club founded by two Kuwaiti businessmen, has officially joined the West Midlands Regional League Division 1, positioned at the 12th tier of the English football pyramid. Incorporated in 2025, the club represents an uncommon example of a football organization created from the ground up by Middle Eastern investors, diverging from the more typical model of acquiring existing teams.
The club’s founders, Faisal Al-Serbal and Fahad Obaid, expressed that while Middle Eastern investment in English football is familiar, starting a club independently is unusual. “The idea gained a lot of attention from the media because of how unusual it is,” Al-Serbal said. He noted that Kuwaitis historically have been more associated with ownership of existing clubs rather than founding new ones.
Although Birmingham Albion FC marks the first instance of a Kuwaiti-founded club from inception in England, other English clubs have seen Kuwaiti ownership in recent years. Nottingham Forest was owned by the Al-Hasawi family between 2012 and 2017, while Ebbsfleet United was under the ownership of Dr. Abdullah Al-Humaidi’s KEH Sports until 2026. Other clubs with Kuwaiti ties include Andover Town, recently acquired by Mohammed Al-Kanderi, Salisbury FC, owned by Ali Al-Hamad, Bristol Rovers, under Hussain Al-Saeed, and MK Dons, owned by the Al-Ghanim family.
Birmingham Albion has taken initial steps to establish its presence, securing a ground-sharing agreement with Coton Green Football Club to use the Dave Henderson Memorial Ground for the 2026/27 season. The club also announced Approach, a Kuwait-based multi-service marketplace app, as its official shirt sponsor, with merchandise accessible through the club’s official app. This partnership exemplifies Birmingham Albion’s intention to maintain strong community connections in Birmingham alongside cultural and commercial ties to Kuwait.
Al-Serbal acknowledged that starting a football club from scratch is rare in the Arab world, where grassroots teams often face challenges breaking through without significant financial backing. He emphasized the club’s focus on community involvement, including programs, academies, and cultural events aimed at integrating the club into the local environment. He also noted mixed reactions from some quarters, mentioning a degree of skepticism connected to the club’s foreign origins but underscoring the founders’ commitment to positive local impact.
Regarding player recruitment, Birmingham Albion has explored the possibility of involving Kuwaiti league players during international breaks. However, Al-Serbal clarified that league regulations prevent players who are not full-time residents or citizens from participating officially in their division. The club instead plans to invite Kuwaiti players for training stints to gain experience in English football environments.
Looking ahead, the club has set modest competitive goals. Al-Serbal outlined that Birmingham Albion aims to achieve promotion by one or two divisions within five years, steering clear of overly ambitious projections. “Aiming for four divisions as a maximum and two divisions as a minimum — that is not realistic in football,” he remarked, framing the club’s approach as sustainable development within the lower tiers of English football.