MFL Weekly Round Up (Premier Division)

Congleton Town

MFL premier division winner Carl Dickinson has left the Bears this week to become the new assistant manager at Hartlepool United alongside new manager Darren Sarll. 

It’s been an excellent few years for the full back at step five with MFL premier league titles with Hanley Town (21/22) and Congleton Town (23/24) and he’s started a total of 77 games across two seasons.

The next few months are going to be key for Congleton Town in preparing for life at step four in the Northern Premier League.  It will be interesting to see who they recruit over the summer.

Lichfield City

Lichfield have retained manager Ivor Green and his backroom staff for another season in the MFL. It’s excellent news for the play off finalists and they will be looking to challenge for promotion next season.

Having that continuity is key at this level and continues the momentum they’ve made this season.

Since being promoted to step five three years ago, Lichfield have been building and improving with notable finishes of 3rd (21/22) and 2nd (23/24) in the MFL Premier.

Highgate United

Terry Anderson has stepped down as the Highgate United manager with the Gate currently looking for a new manager over the next month. He’s done an excellent job over the last two seasons with finishes of 3rd (22/23) and 5th (23/24) in the MFL Premier division.

It’s going to be a lucrative job within the local non-league scene around the west midlands. This is mainly down to the work Terry Anderson has done to make them a contender at step five. They were not far off this season with a play off semi final appearance and finishing runners up of the MFL league cup.      

There one of the clubs to watch over the summer to see who they bring in and what players can be added to a quality squad. The new manager is probably going to have a huge say on recruitment so it’s a big decision for the club hierarchy over the next month. 

Shifnal Town

Shifnal conclude their season with a cup final against Shawbury United at the New Bucks Head on Monday 13th May, kick off 7:45pm. It’s part of the TJ Vickers cup and a brilliant chance to visit the home of AFC Telford United for supporters in and around the Shropshire area. The previous winner over the last two seasons is Whitchurch Alport.  

AFC Wulfrunians

Carl Abbott has left AFC Wulfrunians and the search is on for a new manager at the MFL Premier division club. The Wulfs have finished comfortably in mid table over the last few seasons and whoever comes in has a good chance to take them to the next level with a play-off push in mind.

Castlecroft is an excellent stadium to visit for local groundhoppers across the West Midlands and highly recommend to supporters who have not visited yet.

The Wulfs are not that far away from challenging for the play offs if they can get the right players in during the summer.

Northwich Victoria

Northwich celebrate the 40th anniversary of their famous 1984 FA trophy triumph against Bangor City over the next week.  The initial final at Wembley finished 1-1 and went to a replay before the Vics came out 2-1 winners at the Victoria Ground (former home of Stoke City) on the 15th of May 1984.

It’s an incredible achievement and one of the highlights of their history.

With the upcoming FA trophy and Vase finals this weekend, it gives supporters a good opportunity to discover the history of clubs competing in non-league and step five more specifically.    

Wolverhampton Casuals

The Cassies are celebrating their 125th anniversary this upcoming season and are on the look out for a new manager to lead the team following the departure of Adam Pearce. It will be interesting to see who comes in over the summer for a club that’s established itself at step five over the last few seasons.

It’s an interesting club to join at this stage of their history and if they could finish in mid table that would be a success for the 24/25 season. 

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