Premier Division

Shifnal Town

Shifnal have continued their recruitment drive by bringing in promising defender George Taylor who impressed for step six side Shawbury United last season. He was part of the team that won the TJ Vickers Cup final at the New Bucks Head against Shifnal back in May. It’s a good signing for the Shropshire side and gives them strength in depth at the back.  

Studley

Studley have been signing and retaining players in preparation for the 24/25 season in the MFL Premier. The Bees were close to making the play offs last season and just fell short to Highgate United, finishing the campaign in 6th.

They have made some positives moves over the last month and are looking to push for the play offs at step five. One of the big signings was bringing in Jamie Spiers who impressed at Atherstone Town last season and helped them to a top half finish. He started 16 matches for the Adders and went on to score five goals for the Warwickshire club.

They have recently signed defender Dexter Dudley-Toole to the squad to provide some quality at the back. He’s got valuable experience competing in step five and has featured for the likes of Bewdley Town and AFC Wulfrunians over the last two seasons in the MFL Premier. He’s started a total of 36 games at this level in the MFL since the beginning of 22/23 and looks a good signing.

Harry Eden has also committed to next season which is a huge boost for the Bees. He was a key player for them last season in the MFL Premier at left back and went on to make 30 appearances in all competitions.

John Mills has also committed to Studley for the 24/25 season and was an ever present for the Bees last season. He went on to make 36 appearances and scored eight goals in helping them challenge for the play offs. It’s brilliant news for the Bees and he’s got experience higher up the pyramid such as featuring for Sutton Coldfield Town in the NPL.     

There’s been a few departures up front with Zac Guinan joining step four side Worcester City and Romario Martin joining Nuneaton Town in MFL (Division One) who both scored a combined total of 28 goals for the Bees last season.

It’s been a busy week for the Warwickshire side but there making some encouraging moves to compete in the MFL Premier this season and challenge for the play offs.    

Division Two

Northfield Town

Northfield have announced their new management team in preparation for their upcoming season in MFL Division Two. Ryan Smith has come in as their new manager and will be joined by Harris Jackson and Sam Smith as part of the backroom staff. 

It’s going to be interesting to see how Northfield get on this season in division two following promotion from division three at the end of last season. To finish in 2nd was an incredible achievement by the previous management team of Chris Fox and Lee Horton at step eight. It involved a tight promotion race with the likes of Feckenham and AFC Birmingham that went to the final few matches of the season.

Division Two looks competitive going into this season with a lot of quality teams such as AFC Coventry Rangers and Knowle looking to challenge. A top half finish would be a good achievement for Northfield and gives them a platform to establish themselves at step seven.   

Round up feature written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League 

Premier Division

OJM

OJM have retained some key players from last season’s promotion winning side from MFL (Division One) in the build up to this season. 

They have retained defender Stefan Cameron who was part of the best defence in MFL (Division One) last season. He started 29 matches for OJM in 23/24 and featured in a backline that conceded only 40 goals across 38 league matches across the regular season.

Having that continuity at the back is going to be key for OJM to establish themselves at step five and gives them a platform for future success.

Kosheen Sappelton has also committed for next season who impressed up front when in the first team. He started nine games for OJM in 23/24 and went on to score four goals. 

​He went a bit under the radar but fitted into the way OJM like to play with excellent build up play and bringing players into the game to build attacks.     

Shifnal Town

Shifnal Town have been busy signing players over the last week in preparation for the 24/25 season in the MFL Premier. The Shropshire side will be aiming to challenge for the play offs next season under manager Connor Patterson and have brought in a few players to boost the squad.

The main eye-catching signing was getting in Bradley Maslen-Jones who was one of the top defenders in the MFL Premier last season. He impressed at AFC Wulfrunians throughout the 23/24 season and went on to make 25 starts. He was also a key attacking threat with seven goals last season.   

They have also signed Jack Rowley from AFC Wulfrunians on Wednesday evening to help strengthen the squad. He’s been an ever present for the Wulfs in the MFL Premier with 95 starts over the last three seasons and gives the squad experience and leadership.

Shifnal Town have also signed Goodluck Eke who impressed for Stourport Swifts last season and helped them to a play off run. He was excellent in front of goal last season with 10 goals from 16 starts for the Swifts and provides the squad with attacking quality and depth.  

The Shropshire side have also retained key players from last season such as Ash Fallon and Kyle Bennett who helped them secure a top half finish at step five.

Based on the signings and the make-up of the squad, it’s looking promising for Shifnal to make a play off push next season.

Stourport Swifts

Stourport announced a big signing last weekend by bringing in experienced winger Darryl Knights to boost the squad. It’s an excellent signing by the Swifts and they get a player who has been there and done it at the higher levels of the National League pyramid.

He was part of the Solihull Moors team that got promoted from the National League North back in 2016 and has recent experience of coaching with Stourbridge.

It’s an eye-catching signing by Stourport Swifts and it will be interesting to see how they get on this season in the MFL Premier. 

Division One

Nuneaton Town

Nuneaton have continued their recruitment drive over the last week in the build up to the 24/25 season.

The Warwickshire club have recently signed experienced midfielder Corey Currithers to the squad on Thursday afternoon. He impressed for Highgate United last season in their play off run and helped them to a top five finish before losing in the play offs to Lichfield City in the semi-finals.

He was one of the key players for Highgate United at step five last season with 27 starts and 4 goals.

It’s a smart signing by Nuneaton Town and gives the squad experience and know how to compete in MFL Division One and challenge for a play-off spot.

They have also strengthened in defence with the signing of experienced defender Loyiso Recci from Rugby Town. He was part of the team that won the UCL Premier Division South back in the 22/23 season to gain promotion to step four. It’s an excellent signing who has a recent track record of success within non-league.

Nuneaton have also signed promising academy players Junior Thompson-Pitter, Dylan Wallis, Jack Whitehouse and Alfie Birta over the last week to strengthen the squad.  

There’s a nice balance between experienced players who have been there and done it at higher levels alongside players that are starting out in non-league at step six.  

It should be an interesting and exciting season for Nuneaton supporters at step six with Darren Acton and Russell Doods building a squad that can challenge at this level.

Round up feature written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League