I like a little bit of fun, and news that Lincoln City sporting director Jez George took in a game between Loudoun FC and Rhode Island FC has got me thinking.
I am on holiday right now, but the 30+ degrees have made it difficult to get out with the dog, so instead, I’m sitting on the banks of the Tamar Estuary, lathered in factor 50, watching clips from the USL. Is it worth it? Probably not, but I thought why not do a ‘five players Lincoln City might be watching in the USL’ article?
Firstly, why the USL, and what is it? It’s like the United States ‘second tier’ only they don’t do relegation and promotion. The USL is where Landon Donovan worked for a while with San Diego Loyal, but it’s only been in existence since 2010. It’s ranked 145th in the world, that’s somewhere between League Two and the National League. What is curious is the gap – MLS is 19th, and then the so-called second tier is way down, and yet players often flit between the two, Jordan Adebayo-Smith being an example.
Why am I looking at this league? Jez George recently took in a game between two USL teams, and while it was perhaps more because of his personal ties there, you never know. Karl Sharman was Head of Recruitment at Cambridge United under Jez, which is maybe why he was there.
The Game
The game took place between Loudoun United and Rhode Island. Loudoun was founded in 2018 as D.C. United’s reserve team, replacing Richmond Kickers as the club’s USL affiliate before making their USL Championship debut in 2019. After MLS reserve sides shifted towards MLS Next Pro, Loudoun remained in the USL system before being sold to Attain Sports and Entertainment in 2023, with D.C. United retaining a minority stake. They’re managed by Anthony Limbrick, a former Grimsby Town assistant.
Their opponents in the game were Rhode Island FC, announced in 2019 as part of the Tidewater Landing development in Pawtucket. The club made its debut in 2024 under head coach and former Imp Khano Smith, reaching the USL Championship Final in an impressive inaugural campaign. They moved into the 10,000-capacity Centreville Bank Stadium (sounds a bit like Sincil Bank) in 2025, drawing sellout crowds.
When the two met, Rhode Island earned their first-ever win over Loudoun with a 4-1 victory. JJ Williams opened the scoring in the first half before Nick Scardina doubled the lead just after the break, and although Thor Úlfarsson pulled one back for Loudoun, Rhode Island responded through Leo Afonso and Dwayne Atkinson.
But was Jez watching anyone in particular? If he were, here are the main candidates.
Comments Welcome!