MFL Weekly Round Up (Premier and Division One)

Premier Division

Abbey Hulton United

Abbey Hulton have made a big signing ahead of their upcoming season in the MFL Premier. The Abbey have retained prolific striker Kieran Brown for the 25/26 season following promotion from the North West Counties League (First Division South).

​The Stoke side are looking to build at step five and keeping hold of Kieran Brown feels encouraging for the new season. He’s been clinical in front of goal with 34 goals scored in all competitions from 43 starts last season at step six.

He was consistent throughout the season and scored in the big moments to guide them to promotion. This includes scoring in the play off final against Stafford Town and in the third round of the FA vase against Droitwich Spa.

​A key part of their success at step six was their home form with ten wins and two draws from seventeen matches on their way to finishing as division runners up last time out.

If they can make Drayton Beaumont Park a fortress and continue their end of season form, they could cause a few shocks at step five similar to Brocton.               

Northwich Victoria

The Vics have been making some moves ahead of the new season in the MFL. They have added Hayden Moore to their first team coaching staff as chief scout to help with player recruitment.

They have also added experience to their squad by signing former Port Vale and Fleetwood Town defender Joe Davis.

It’s still early in the summer so to see Northwich Victoria making proactive moves and getting players in feels promising for the upcoming season.

The management team of Lee Duckworth and Luke Goddard will be looking to build on the positives of last season and push on from an 11th place finish in the premier division last time out.

They also signed experienced striker Sean Cooke last month to boost their attacking options up front.       

Division One

Birstall United

Birstall have unveiled their new club badge going into the 25/26 season. The new design emphasises the link up between the senior and junior sections of the club and references their founding years of 1961 (Senior) and 1976 (Junior).

It’s an eye-catching new design from the current Leicester VEO senior cup winners.

They are looking to build on the positives of last season under manager Paul Pallett which included beating Heather St John’s on penalties at Holmes Park to win the Leicester senior cup.

The former UCL side will be looking to build on last season’s 14th place finish in division one.

They start their pre-season schedule with an early home match against Leicester Nirvana on the 28th of June.

Heather St John’s

It’s been a busy week for the Saints with key players from last season leaving and re-signing in the build up to the new season.

The main storyline is prolific goal scorer Kyle Jardine leaving the club to join UCL Premier Division South side Nuneaton Town at step five. He’s been brilliant for Heather with 82 goals scored in all competitions over the last two seasons at step six.

On a positive for Heather, key players such as Nathan McGarrity and Haydn Brown have stayed for the upcoming season. They both shined for the Saints on their way to finishing 2nd last time out and scored 37 goals between them.

​Knowle

Knowle have made some encouraging moves in preparation for their season in division one.

The Robins have bought in former Racing Club Warwick player Josh Parsons to boost their attacking options up front and provide experience to the squad.

The Solihull side have also signed experienced midfielder Connor Mort to provide some leadership to the squad ahead of their first season at step six in almost 15 years.

Both players have been there and done it at higher levels of the non-league pyramid and feel like big signings for Knowle to instil that know how going into division one.

One of the biggest challenges going into step six football is the number of games involved with round about fifteen more games across the season. Having Josh Parsons and Connor Mort in the squad should help them rise to the challenge of division one football.   

OJM Black Country

OJM are prepared to go again in division one following relegation from the premier division due to ground issues. The club have made some encouraging moves over the last few days with key players from the promotion winning squad of 23/24 staying on board for next season.

The likes of Callum Nimmo, Adam Keough, Steven Leslie and Reece Morris have stayed with the club for the upcoming season.

One of the more eye-catching signings is striker Matt Gardner joining to boost their attacking options up front. He’s got a brilliant record at step six with 45 goals scored over the last three seasons for Coton Green.

It looks like a squad that can challenge near the top of the league under manager Adam Younis and could be a force if they can build some momentum early on.      

Round up written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League