The Midland Football League is an English football league that was founded in 2014 by the merger of the former Midland Alliance and Midland Combination.[1] The league has four divisions that sit at levels 9–12 of the football pyramid.
 | |
| Founded | 2014 |
|---|---|
| Country | England |
| Number of teams | 71 18 (Premier Division) 20 (Division One) 16 (Division Two) 17 (Division Three) |
| Level on pyramid | Levels 9 to 12 |
| Promotion to | Northern Premier League Division One West or Midlands |
| Relegation to |
|
| Domestic cup(s) | National FA Cup FA Vase League League Cup |
| Current champions | Congleton Town (Premier Division) Hinckley (Division One) Redditch Borough (Division Two) AFC Solihull (Division Three) (2023–24) |
| Website | Official site |
| Current: 2024–25 | |
History
editThe league was formed in 2014 following the merger of the Midland Alliance and Midland Combination.
Successful Premier Division clubs can win promotion to the 8th level of the English football league system, while the competition also has a number of feeder leagues at level 11, which provide new member clubs each year. Entry can also be gained by applying from non-pyramid leagues such as the Birmingham & District Football League.
Clubs are also liable to be transferred to other leagues if the FA deems it geographically suitable to do so.
Current clubs (2024–25)
editPremier Division
edit| Club | Location | Home ground |
|---|---|---|
| 1874 Northwich | Barnton | Townfield[a] |
| AFC Wulfrunians | Wolverhampton | Castlecroft Stadium |
| Atherstone Town | Atherstone | Sheepy Road |
| Brocton | Stafford | Silkmore Lane |
| Dudley Town | Willenhall | Aspray 24 Arena[b] |
| Highgate United | Shirley | The Coppice |
| Lichfield City | Lichfield | City Ground |
| Northwich Victoria | Northwich | Wincham Park[c] |
| OJM | Kings Norton | Triplex Sports Ground |
| Romulus | Castle Vale | Castle Vale Stadium |
| Shifnal Town | Shifnal | Acoustafoam Stadium |
| Stone Old Alleynians | Stone | Yarnfield Lane |
| Stourport Swifts | Stourport-on-Severn | Walshes Meadow |
| Studley | Studley | The Beehive |
| Tividale | Tividale | The Beeches |
| Uttoxeter Town | Uttoxeter | Oldfields |
| Whitchurch Alport | Whitchurch | Yockings Park |
| Wolverhampton Casuals | Featherstone | Brinsford Lane |
Division One
edit| Club | Location | Home ground |
|---|---|---|
| A.F.C. Bridgnorth | Bridgnorth | Crown Meadow |
| Allexton & New Park | Leicester | New College Football Centre |
| Bilston Town | Bilston | Queen Street |
| Birstall United | Birstall | Meadow Lane |
| Chelmsley Town | Chelmsley Wood | Pack Meadow |
| Coton Green | Fazeley | New Mill Lane |
| Coventry Copsewood | Coventry | Allard Way |
| Cradley Town | Cradley | Beeches View |
| Gornal Athletic | Lower Gornal | Garden Walk |
| Heather St John's | Heather | St John's Park |
| Ingles | Shepshed | Dovecote Stadium |
| Kirby Muxloe | Kirby Muxloe | Kirby Muxloe Sports Village |
| Leicester St Andrews | Aylestone | Canal Street |
| Lutterworth Athletic | Lutterworth | Hall Park |
| Nuneaton Griff | Nuneaton | The Pingles Stadium |
| Nuneaton Town | Nuneaton | The Oval[d] |
| Paget Rangers | Sutton Coldfield | Central Ground |
| Saffron Dynamo | Cosby | Kings Park |
| Smethwick Rangers | Tividale | The Beeches[e] |
| Stapenhill | Stapenhill | Edge Hill |
| Sutton United | Sutton Coldfield | Coleshill Road |
| Wednesfield | Wednesfield | Cottage Ground |
Division Two
edit| Club | Location | Home ground |
|---|---|---|
| AFC Solihull | Solihull | Rumbush Lane |
| Birmingham United | Redditch | Trico Stadium |
| Bolehall Swifts | Tamworth | Rene Road Ground |
| Cadbury Athletic | Bournville | Cadbury Recreation Ground |
| Central Ajax | Warwick | Hampton Road |
| Coventrians | Coventry | Holbrooks Park |
| Coventry Alvis | Coventry | Alvis Sports & Social Club |
| Earlswood Town | Earlswood | The Pavilions |
| Fairfield Villa | Fairfield | Fairfield Recreation Ground |
| Hampton | Solihull | Field Lane |
| Inkberrow | Inkberrow | Sands Road |
| Knowle | Knowle | The Robins' Nest |
| Lane Head | Walsall | Stowe Street |
| Littleton | North and Middle Littleton | Five Acres |
| Northfield Town | Northfield | Shenley Lane |
Division Three
edit| Club | Location | Home ground |
|---|---|---|
| AFC Birmingham | Halesowen | Illey Lane |
| Balsall & Berkswell | Balsall Common | The Triangle |
| Birmingham Tigers | Smethwick | Hadley Stadium |
| BNJS | Smethwick | Hadley Stadium |
| Boldmere Sports & Social Falcons | Boldmere | Boldmere Sports & Social Club |
| Castle Vale Town | Castle Vale | Castle Vale Stadium |
| Continental Star | Perry Barr | The Hub |
| Feckenham | Feckenham | Mill Lane |
| Gornal | Brierley Hill | Wombourne Leisure Centre |
| Kenilworth Sporting | Kenilworth | Gypsy Lane |
| Leamington Hibernian | Warwick | Hampton Lane |
| Meadow Park | Stoke Prior | Aspire Football Ground |
| Silhill | Solihull | Sharmans Cross Road |
| Solihull Sporting | Solihull | John Henry Newman Catholic College |
| Wake Green Amateurs | Shirley | Drawbridge Road |
Honours
editChampions
edit| Season | Premier Division | Division One | Division Two | Division Three |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | Basford United | Highgate United | Coventry United | Austrey Rangers |
| 2015–16 | Hereford | Coventry United | Alvis Sporting Club | Leamington Hibernian |
| 2016–17 | Alvechurch | Bromsgrove Sporting | Paget Rangers | NKF Burbage |
| 2017–18 | Bromsgrove Sporting | Walsall Wood | NKF Burbage | GNP Sports |
| 2018–19 | Ilkeston Town | Heather St Johns | Northfield Town | Alcester Town |
| 2019–20 | No champions; season abandoned (COVID-19 pandemic) | |||
| 2020–21 | No champions; season curtailed (COVID-19 lockdowns) | |||
| 2021–22 | Hanley Town | Atherstone Town | Cadbury Athletic | AFC Coventry Rangers |
| 2022–23 | Walsall Wood | Dudley Town | Sutton United | Coventrians |
| 2023–24 | Congleton Town | Hinckley | Redditch Borough | AFC Solihull |
Promoted
edit| Season | Club | Position | Promoted to |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | Basford United | 1st | Northern Premier League Division One South |
| 2015–16 | Hereford | 1st | Southern League Division One South & West |
| 2016–17 | Alvechurch | 1st | Northern Premier League Division One South |
| 2017–18 | Bromsgrove Sporting | 1st | Southern League East Division |
| Coleshill Town | 2nd | ||
| 2018–19 | Ilkeston Town | 1st | Northern Premier League Division One South East |
| 2019–20 | None promoted | ||
| 2020–21 | Sporting Khalsa | 1st | Northern Premier League Division One Midlands |
| 2021–22 | Hanley Town | 1st | Northern Premier League Division One West |
| Boldmere St Michaels | 2nd | Northern Premier League Division One Midlands | |
| 2022–23 | Walsall Wood | 1st | Northern Premier League Division One Midlands |
| Lye Town | 2nd | ||
| 2023–24 | Congleton Town | 1st | Northern Premier League Division One Midlands |
| Darlaston Town (1874) | 3rd | ||
League Cup
editFinals
editSource[2]
| Season | Result | Venue | Attendance | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | Long Eaton United | 2–0 | Rocester | Bescot Stadium | 227[3] |
| 2015–16 | Hereford | 3–1 | Walsall Wood | Damson Park | 849[4] |
| 2016–17 | Alvechurch | 2–1 | Hinckley AFC | Bescot Stadium | 628[5] |
| 2017–18 | Walsall Wood | 2–1 | Coleshill Town | n/a | |
| 2018–19 | Romulus | 2–1 | NKF Burbage | 349 | |
| 2019–20 | Final not contested | ||||
| 2020–21 | Cancelled | ||||
| 2021–22 | Not held | ||||
| 2022–23 | Hinckley | 2–0 | Whitchurch Alport | Bescot Stadium | 700[6] |
| 2023–24 | Congleton Town[7] | 5–1 [7] | Highgate United[7] | 516[8] | |
Notes
edit- ^ Groundshare with Barnton
- ^ Groundshare with Sporting Khalsa
- ^ (Groundshare with Witton Albion)
- ^ Groundsharing with Bedworth
- ^ Groundshare with Tividale
References
edit- ^ "Midlands 'Super League' Set For Next Season". The Non League Football Paper. 24 May 2014. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
- ^ "League Cup History". Retrieved 14 May 2019.
- ^ "Long Eaton United 2 0 Rocester". 5 May 2015. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
- ^ Bulls News [@BullsNewsBlog] (10 May 2016). "ATTENDANCE 849" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Hinckley AFC Official League Cup Final report". Retrieved 19 May 2017.
- ^ "Hinckley 2 0 Whitchurch Alport". 10 May 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
- ^ a b c McLaughlin, Mike (9 May 2024). "Mighty Bears sweep to a historic double". NON-LEAGUE football round up. Congleton Chronicle. p. 36.
- ^ "May 1, Congleton Town 5 Highgate United 1 | Midland Football League". fulltime.thefa.com. Retrieved 2024-05-03.