Midland Football League (Premier Division) preview for 23 to 24

AFC Wulfrunians

Last Season: 12th

Following last season’s impressive FA vase run which included wins against Rugby Town and Anstey Nomads in getting to the fifth round, the club have made a number of notable signings since finishing 12th in the MFL Premier at the end of last season. The Wulfs have signed Josh McKenzie from Sporting Khalsa and retained manager Craig Gregg for the upcoming season.

First six fixtures of the season:

05/08/23: Gresley Rovers (H) (FA Cup)
12/08/23: Highgate United (H)
15/08/23: Bewdley Town (A) (7:45pm KO)
26/08/23: Dudley Town (H)
28/08/23: Shifnal Town (H)
02/09/23: Stone Old Alleynians (H)

Atherstone Town

Last Season: 10th

Another club who had an excellent run in the FA Vase last season where they got to the quarter finals, the Adders have appointed last season’s skipper Jamie Hood as their new manager. Harry Jackson is a player to watch who impressed at Paget Rangers last season. The Adders have also signed defender Corey Alcock who was brilliant for Nuneaton Griff last season.

First six fixtures of the season:

05/08/23: Stone Old Alleynians (H) (FA Cup)
12/08/23: Tividale (A)
15/08/23: Highgate United (H) (7:45pm KO)
26/08/23: Darlaston Town (A)
28/08/23: Stone Old Alleynians (H)
02/09/23: Congleton Town (A)       

Bewdley Town

Last Season: 16th

The club have appointed Andy Shaw as their new manager for the upcoming season. They start the season with a home game against Daventry Town in the FA cup at Ribbesford Meadows on Saturday. The club will look to build on last season’s 16th place finish in the MFL premier and start the league campaign with a home game against Romulus on the 12th August.

First six fixtures of the season:

05/08/23: Daventry Town (H) (FA Cup)
12/08/23: Romulus (H)
15/08/23: AFC Wulfrunians (H) (7:45pm KO)
26/08/23: Tividale (A)
28/08/23: Dudley Town (A)
02/09/23: Highgate United (A)  

Congleton Town

Last Season: 8th (NWCL, Premier)

The bears enter the MFL Premier from the North-West Counties league (premier division) following a realignment where they finished 8th last season. The club had an impressive FA Vase run where they reached the semi-finals and have retained manager Richard Duffy for the forthcoming season.  They start the season on Saturday at home against Wythenshawe Town in the FA cup at Booth Street.

First six fixtures of the season:

05/08/23: Wythenshawe Town (H) (FA Cup)
12/08/23: Lichfield City (A)
15/08/23: Uttoxeter Town (H) (7:45pm KO)
26/08/23: Stourport Swifts (A)
28/08/23: Darlaston Town (A)
02/09/23: Atherstone Town (H)

Darlaston Town

Last Season: 4th

Darlaston enter the new season with a sense of momentum having finished 4th in their first season in the MFL Premier. Dean Gill returns as first team manager and the club have made some notable signings such as Aaron Bishop joining from AFC Wulfrunians at the end of last season. The astute signing of Khalil Harrison is one to watch who was brilliant for Romulus last season.

First six fixtures of the season:

05/08/23: Racing Club Warwick (H) (FA Cup)
12/08/23: Uttoxeter Town (A)
16/08/23: Lichfield City (A) (7:45pm KO)
26/08/23: Atherstone Town (H)
28/08/23: Congleton Town (H)
02/09/23: Northwich Victoria (H)   

Dudley Town

Last Season: 1st (MFL Division One)

The Robins had an outstanding season in MFL Division One last term where they picked up 100 points and 32 wins out of 40 league games. They have retained manager Matty Lovatt and key players from last season such as Daniel Danks who scored 19 goals and Harry Crook who was a formidable part of the title winning season.  

First six fixtures of the season:

05/08/23: Worcester City (A) (FA Cup)
12/08/23: Whitchurch Alport (H)
15/08/23: Shifnal Town (A) (7:45pm KO)
26/08/23: AFC Wulfrunians (A)
28/08/23: Bewdley Town (H)
02/09/23: Studley (A)     

Highgate United

Last Season: 3rd

The Gate had a brilliant season in the MFL Premier last season where they finished 3rd with 74 points. They key move this season is the retention of the division’s top goalscorer Ryan Harkin who scored 39 goals from 42 games started. The club have also retained prospect Charlie Shaw who scored 13 goals for the Gate last season and retained key defender Shay Palmer.

First six fixtures of the season:

05/08/23: Walsall Wood (H) (FA Cup)
12/08/23: AFC Wulfrunians (A)
15/08/23: Atherstone Town (A)
26/08/23: Whitchurch Alport (H)
28/08/23: Wolverhampton Casuals (A)
02/09/23: Bewdley Town (H)

Lichfield City

Last Season: 11th

Lichfield had a good season in the MFL where they won the JW Hunt cup at Molineux and finished 11th in the premier division. The club is entering their third season in the Premier and finished 3rd back in the 2021-2022 season. It’s been an impressive two seasons for manager Ivor Green and his squad and there’s a good blend of youth and experience with Matt Hunt and Kyle Patterson providing leadership for the younger players.

First six fixtures of the season:

05/08/23: Boldmere St Michaels (A) (FA Cup)
12/08/23: Congleton Town (H)
16/08/23: Darlaston Town (H)
26/08/23: Heather St John’s (A) (FA Vase)
28/08/23: Northwich Victoria (A)
02/09/23: Stourport Swifts (H)    

Northwich Victoria

Last Season: 5th (NWCL, Premier)

Northwich have recently transferred from the Northwest Counties League to the Midland Football League and finished 5th last season. The Vics have appointed Steve Pickup as their new manager and retained Ryan Jackson for their season ahead in the MFL. They start away at Skelmersdale in the FA cup on the 4th August before playing Studley at home on the 12th August.

First six fixtures of the season:

04/08/23: Skelmersdale United (A) (7:45pm KO) (FA Cup)
12/08/23: Studley (H)
15/08/23: Stone Old Alleynians (A)
26/08/23: Selby Town (H) (FA Vase)
28/08/23: Lichfield City (H)
02/09/23: Darlaston Town (A)    

Romulus

Last Season: 6th

It’s been a busy off season for the Roms who finished 6th in the premier division last season. Neil Tooth has been appointed as their new manager and there’s been a number of notable signings such as Stephen Palmer and Lewis Gwilliams from Boldmere St Michaels. They have also made smart additions to the coaching staff with Andy Ling and Royston Richardson coming in.

First six fixtures of the season:

05/08/23: Newcastle Town (H) (FA Cup)
12/08/23: Bewdley Town (A)
14/08/23: Tividale (H) (7:45pm KO)
26/08/23: Stone Old Alleynians (H)
28/08/23: Whitchurch Alport (H)
02/09/23: Shifnal Town (A)  

Shifnal Town

Last Season: 8th

Shifnal have a new coaching team and appointed Connor Patterson as first team manager along with Graham Deakin as assistant manager. Last season was a tale of two halves for the Shropshire club who were second at Christmas before struggling for form from January onwards. They will look to build on last season with the signing of players such as Josh Heeson who got promoted with Lye Town and scored 27 goals last season.   

First six fixtures of the season:

05/08/23: Hereford Lads Club (H) (FA Cup)
12/08/23: Stone Old Alleynians (A)
15/08/23: Dudley Town (H) (7:45pm KO)Shif
26/08/23: Studley (A) (FA Vase)
28/08/23: AFC Wulfrunians (A)
02/09/23: Romulus (H)

Stone Old Alleynians

Last Season: 13th

Stone Old Alleynians had a good season competing in a tough MFL premier division and managed to finish 13th under manager Luke Askey who has been retained for the new season. They have also retained key players such as Jack Bowater who managed to score 12 goals for the Staffordshire club in the last campaign. 

First six fixtures of the season:

05/08/23: Atherstone Town (A) (FA Cup)
12/08/23: Shifnal Town (H)
15/09/23: Northwich Victoria (H) (7:45pm KO)
26/08/23: Romulus (A)
28/08/23: Atherstone Town (A)
02/09/23: AFC Wulfrunians (A)

Stourport Swifts

Last Season: 7th

Stourport had a brilliant season last year in the MFL Premier and had a consistently good record at home (12 wins from 19) and away (10 wins from 19). The Swifts have retained key striker Lee Chilton who scored 22 goals last season and will look to build on a club record points total with the same management team in place for the coming season.

First six fixtures of the season:

05/08/23: Coventry Sphinx (H) (FA Cup)
12/08/23: Wolverhampton Casuals (A) (FA Cup)
14/08/23: Studley (A) (7:45pm KO)
26/08/23: Congleton Town (H)
28/08/23: Uttoxeter Town (H)
02/09/23: Lichfield City (A)

Studley

Last Season: 14th

Studley have appointed Solihull Moors academy manager Mike Fowler as their new manager for the upcoming season. The Bees have also signed notable players such as Jack Whelan and Zak Harbon from Romulus and John Mills from Sutton Coldfield Town. They have also signed Ashton Demulder on a youth loan from Solihull Moors. It should be an exciting season ahead for the Bees.  

First six fixtures of the season:

04/08/23: Coventry United (A) (7:45pm KO)
12/08/23: Northwich Victoria (A)
14/08/23: Stourport Swifts (H) (7:45pm KO)
26/08/23: Shifnal Town (H) (FA Vase)
28/08/23: Tividale (A)
02/09/23: Dudley Town (H)

Tividale

Last Season: 15th

Tividale have appointed Stuart How as their new manager ahead of the season. He previously played as a striker and was the assistant manager for the club last season. The club have signed Cody Mullan and Marcus Beckford for the new campaign. They have also signed centre half Taryll Davis and ex-Blues midfielder Liam Truslove.    

First six fixtures of the season:

05/08/23: Rugby Borough (H) (FA Cup)
12/08/23: Atherstone Town (H)
14/08/23: Romulus (A) (7:45pm KO)
26/08/23: Bewdley Town (H)
28/08/23: Studley (H)
02/09/23: Whitchurch Alport (A)

Uttoxeter Town

Last Season: 19th

Uttoxeter were reprieved from relegation during the off-season with Winsford United taking a voluntary relegation to compete in the NWCL South for this season. The club have appointed Phil Adams as their new manager who was previously a reserve team manager for the club. They will be looking forward to playing Bury at Gigg Lane in the FA cup this coming Saturday.

First six fixtures of the season:

05/08/23: Bury (H) (FA Cup) (Taking place at Gigg Lane)
12/08/23: Darlaston Town (H)
15/08/23: Congleton Town (A) (7:45pm KO)
26/08/23: Wednesfield (A) (FA Vase)
28/08/23: Stourport Swifts (A)
02/09/23: Wolverhampton Casuals (H)

Whitchurch Alport

Last Season: 9th

Whitchurch have been building momentum in the MFL Premier and have retained key players such as prolific striker Alex Hughes who scored 23 goals last season. Luke Goddard is back as first team manager for the Shropshire club, and they have retained experienced players such as Junior Brown who is back for another season at Yockings Park.   

First six fixtures of the season:

05/08/23: Cheadle Town (H) (FA Cup)
12/08/23: Dudley Town (A)
14/08/23: Wolverhampton Casuals (H) (7:45pm KO)
26/08/23: Highgate United (A)
28/08/23: Romulus (A)
02/09/23: Tividale (H)

Wolverhampton Casuals

Last Season: 18th

The Cassies managed to avoid relegation from the MFL Premier last season and have a youthful squad going into this season with a number of players joining from the likes of Stourbridge and Redditch United on dual registration. The Cassies have signed midfielder Alfie Steward on dual registration from Stourbridge for the new season.     

First six fixtures of the season:

05/08/23: Sutton Coldfield Town (A) (FA Cup)
12/08/23: Stourport Swifts (H)
14/08/23: Whitchurch Alport (A) (7:45pm KO)
26/08/23: Coventry Copsewood (H) (FA Vase)
28/08/23: Highgate United (H)
02/09/23: Uttoxeter Town (A)