2023–24 Midland Football League

This article is about the English football league. For the Scottish football league, see 2023–24 Midlands Football League.

Football league season

Midland Football LeagueSeason| 2023–24

|

Champions| Congleton Town[1]
Promoted| Congleton Town
Darlaston Town (1874)

← 2022–23

2024–25 →

The 2023–24 Midland Football League season was the tenth in the history of the Midland Football League, a football competition in England. The Midland League operates two divisions in the English football league system, the Premier Division at Step 5 and Division One at Step 6; these two divisions are covered by this article.

The allocations for Steps 3 to 6 for this season were announced by The Football Association on 15 May 2023,[2] and were subject to appeals. Starting this season, the Premier Division in the league promotes two clubs; one as champions and one via a four-team play-off. This replaced the previous inter-step play-off system. Solely for this season, there was only one club relegated from the Step 5 division.[3]

## Premier Division

[edit]

This division comprises 18 teams, two fewer than the previous season.

The following 5 clubs left the division before the season:

* Lye Town \- promoted to Northern Premier League Division One Midlands
* Market Drayton Town \- relegated to North West Counties League Division One South
* Racing Club Warwick \- transferred to the United Counties League Premier Division South
* Walsall Wood \- promoted to Northern Premier League Division One Midlands
* Worcester City \- transferred to the Hellenic League Premier Division

The following 3 clubs joined the division:

* Congleton Town \- transferred from the North West Counties League Premier Division
* Dudley Town \- promoted from Division One
* Northwich Victoria \- transferred from the North West Counties League Premier Division

|

### Premier Division table

[edit]

Pos | Team  | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation

|
|
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|
|
|
|

1  | Congleton Town (C, P) | 34  | 25  | 6  | 3  | 101  | 31  | +70  | 81  | Promotion to the Northern Premier League
2  | Lichfield City | 34  | 22  | 7  | 5  | 81  | 33  | +48  | 73  | Qualification for the play-offs[a]
3  | Darlaston Town (1874) (O, P) | 34  | 19  | 9  | 6  | 84  | 42  | +42  | 66
4  | Stourport Swifts | 34  | 18  | 8  | 8  | 69  | 58  | +11  | 62
5  | Highgate United | 34  | 19  | 4  | 11  | 81  | 50  | +31  | 61
6  | Studley | 34  | 18  | 7  | 9  | 77  | 46  | +31  | 61  |
7  | Dudley Town | 34  | 15  | 6  | 13  | 65  | 61  | +4  | 51
8  | Atherstone Town | 34  | 14  | 7  | 13  | 53  | 49  | +4  | 49
9  | Shifnal Town | 34  | 14  | 4  | 16  | 59  | 47  | +12  | 46
10  | Whitchurch Alport | 34  | 14  | 4  | 16  | 59  | 61  | −2  | 46
11  | AFC Wulfrunians | 34  | 13  | 6  | 15  | 48  | 52  | −4  | 45
12  | Uttoxeter Town | 34  | 12  | 8  | 14  | 60  | 59  | +1  | 44
13  | Northwich Victoria | 34  | 12  | 8  | 14  | 56  | 70  | −14  | 44
14  | Romulus | 34  | 9  | 8  | 17  | 51  | 65  | −14  | 35
15  | Stone Old Alleynians | 34  | 7  | 12  | 15  | 49  | 59  | −10  | 33
16  | Wolverhampton Casuals | 34  | 8  | 8  | 18  | 46  | 77  | −31  | 32
17  | Tividale | 34  | 5  | 9  | 20  | 38  | 77  | −39  | 24
18  | Bewdley Town (R) | 34  | 1  | 1  | 32  | 16  | 156  | −140  | 4  | Relegation to the Hellenic League

Source: The FA
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) head-to-head results[4]
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:

1. ^ Four teams play for one spot and promotion to Step 4

### Play-offs

[edit]

| Semi-finals | | | Final |

|
|
|
|
|

|  |  |  | | |  |  |  |
| 2 | Lichfield City | 3 | |
| 5 | Highgate United | 1 |
| | 2 | Lichfield City | 1 |
|  |
| | | 3 | Darlaston Town (1874) | 3 |
| 3 | Darlaston Town (1874) | 3 |

| 4 | Stourport Swifts | 1 |

#### Semifinals

[edit]

Lichfield City v Highgate United 27 April |  Lichfield City | 3–1| Highgate United| Lichfield

|
|
|
|

15:00 |

* Edwards
* Smith

| Report |

* Brown 90'

| Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 424

Darlaston Town (1874) v Stourport Swifts 27 April |  Darlaston Town (1874) | 3–1| Stourport Swifts| Walsall

|
|
|
|

15:00 |

* Cook 34'
* Foreshaw 56', 79'

| Report |

* Baker 40'

| Stadium: Bentley Sports Pavilion
Attendance: 351

#### Final

[edit]

Lichfield City v Darlaston Town (1874) 4 May | Lichfield City| 1–3|  Darlaston Town (1874) | Lichfield

|
|
|
|

15:00 |  | Report |  | Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 1,110

### Stadia and locations

[edit]

AFC Wulfrunians

Atherstone Town

Bewdley Town

Darlaston
Town

Dudley Town

Highgate United

Lichfield City

Romulus

Shifnal Town

Stone Old Alleynians

Stourport Swifts

Studley

Tividale

Uttoxeter Town

Whitchurch Alport

Wolverhampton
Casuals

class=notpageimage|

Location of the clubs in the 2023–24 Midland League Premier Division

Congleton Town

Northwich Victoria

class=notpageimage|

Location of the clubs in the 2023–24 Midland League Premier Division from Cheshire

Club  | Location  | Stadium  | Capacity

|
|
|

AFC Wulfrunians | Wolverhampton | Castlecroft Stadium | 2,000
Atherstone Town | Atherstone | Sheepy Road |
Bewdley Town | Bewdley | Ribbesford Meadows | 1,000
Congleton Town | Congleton | Cleric Stadium | 1,450
Darlaston Town (1874) | Walsall | Bentley Sports Pavilion |
Dudley Town | Willenhall | Asprey Arena |
Highgate United | Shirley | The Coppice | 2,000
Lichfield City | Lichfield | City Ground | 1,000
Northwich Victoria | Northwich | Wincham Park | 4,813
Romulus | Birmingham (Castle Vale) | Castle Vale Stadium | 2,000
Shifnal Town | Shifnal | Phoenix Park |
Stone Old Alleynians | Meir Heath | King's Park |
Stourport Swifts | Stourport-on-Severn | Walshes Meadow | 2,000
Studley | Studley | The Beehive |
Tividale | Tividale | The Beeches | 2,000
Uttoxeter Town | Uttoxeter | Oldfields |
Whitchurch Alport | Whitchurch | Yockings Park |
Wolverhampton Casuals | Featherstone | Brinsford Lane |

## Division One

[edit]

This division comprises 20 teams, one fewer than the previous season.

The following 4 clubs left the division before the season:

* Ashby Ivanhoe \- promoted to the United Counties League Premier Division North
* Dudley Town \- promoted to the Premier Division
* Haughmond \- relegated to the Shropshire County League Premier Division
* Heath Hayes \- club folded

The following 3 clubs joined the division:

* Allscott Heath \- promoted from the West Midlands (Regional) League Division One
* Heather St John's \- relegated from the United Counties League Premier Division North
* Sutton United \- promoted from Division Two

|

### Division One table

[edit]

Pos | Team  | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1  | Hinckley (C, P) | 38  | 27  | 5  | 6  | 114  | 47  | +67  | 86  | Promotion to the United Counties League
2  | Allscott Heath | 38  | 25  | 5  | 8  | 90  | 62  | +28  | 80  | Qualification for the play-offs, then
transfer to the North West Counties League
3  | OJM CFC (O, P) | 38  | 22  | 8  | 8  | 83  | 40  | +43  | 74  | Qualification for the play-offs[a]
4  | Ingles | 38  | 22  | 7  | 9  | 74  | 48  | +26  | 73
5  | Droitwich Spa | 38  | 22  | 6  | 10  | 113  | 68  | +45  | 72  | Qualification for the play-offs,
then transfer to the Hellenic League
6  | Wednesfield | 38  | 22  | 6  | 10  | 82  | 54  | +28  | 72  |
7  | Cradley Town | 38  | 17  | 10  | 11  | 84  | 61  | +23  | 61
8  | Heather St John's | 38  | 17  | 7  | 14  | 81  | 60  | +21  | 58
9  | Bilston Town | 38  | 17  | 4  | 17  | 84  | 68  | +16  | 55
10  | Shawbury United | 38  | 15  | 7  | 16  | 72  | 74  | −2  | 52  | Transfer to the North West Counties League
11  | Coventry Copsewood | 38  | 14  | 9  | 15  | 71  | 65  | +6  | 51  |
12  | Sutton United | 38  | 12  | 12  | 14  | 68  | 71  | −3  | 48
13  | Stapenhill | 38  | 13  | 8  | 17  | 64  | 72  | −8  | 47
14  | Nuneaton Griff | 38  | 13  | 8  | 17  | 65  | 81  | −16  | 47
15  | Coton Green | 38  | 12  | 10  | 16  | 53  | 63  | −10  | 46
16  | Wolverhampton Sporting | 38  | 10  | 6  | 22  | 48  | 74  | −26  | 36  | Transfer to the North West Counties League
17  | Chelmsley Town | 38  | 8  | 9  | 21  | 43  | 98  | −55  | 33  |
18  | Smethwick Rangers | 38  | 9  | 3  | 26  | 43  | 100  | −57  | 30
19  | Paget Rangers | 38  | 8  | 3  | 27  | 49  | 109  | −60  | 27
20  | AFC Bridgnorth | 38  | 4  | 9  | 25  | 48  | 114  | −66  | 21  | Reprieve from relegation

Source: The FA
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) head-to-head results[4]
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted
Notes:

1. ^ Four teams play for one spot and promotion to Step 5

### Play-offs

[edit]

| Semi-finals | | | Final |

|
|
|
|
|

|  |  |  | | |  |  |  |
| 2 | Allscott Heath | 1 | |
| 5 | Droitwich Spa | 3 |
| | 3 | OJM CFC | 1 (5) |
|  |
| | | 5 | Droitwich Spa | 1 (3) |
| 3 | OJM CFC | 2 |

| 4 | Ingles | 0 |

#### Semifinals

[edit]

Allscott Heath v Droitwich Spa 27 April | Allscott Heath| 1–3|  Droitwich Spa | Allscott

|
|
|
|

15:00 |

* Morris

| Report |

* Brighton 43'
* Lemon 45', 64'

| Stadium: Allscott Sports & Social Club
Attendance: 231

OJM CFC v Ingles 27 April |  OJM CFC | 2–0| Ingles| Kings Norton

|
|
|
|

15:00 |

* Williams
* Ali

| Report |  | Stadium: Triplex Sports Ground
Attendance: 92

#### Final

[edit]

OJM CFC v Droitwich Spa 4 May |  OJM CFC | 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(5–3 p)| Droitwich Spa| Kings Norton

|
|
|
|

15:00 |  | Report |  | Stadium: Triplex Sports Ground
Attendance: 558

### Stadia and locations

[edit]

AFC Bridgnorth

Allscott Heath

Bilston Town

Chelmsley Town

Coton Green

Coventry Copsewood

Cradley Town

Droitwich Spa

Heather St John's

Hinckley

Ingles

Nuneaton Griff

OJM CFC

Paget Rangers

Shawbury United

Smethwick Rangers

Stapenhill

Sutton United

Wednesfield

Wolverhampton Sporting

class=notpageimage|

Location of the clubs in the 2023–24 Midland League Division One

Club  | Location  | Stadium  | Capacity

|
|
|

AFC Bridgnorth | Bridgnorth | Crown Meadow |
Allscott Heath | Allscott | Allscott Sports & Social Club |
Bilston Town | Bilston | Queen Street | 4,000
Chelmsley Town | Coleshill | Pack Meadow |
Coton Green | Fazeley | New Mill Lane |
Coventry Copsewood | Coventry | Allard Way | 2,000
Cradley Town | Cradley | Beeches View |
Droitwich Spa | Droitwich Spa | King George V Ground | 2,000
Heather St John's | Heather | St John's Park | 2,050
Hinckley | Barwell | Kirkby Road | 2,500
Ingles | Thringstone | Homestead Road | 2,050
Nuneaton Griff | Nuneaton | Pingles Stadium | 4,000
OJM CFC | Birmingham (Kings Norton) | Triplex Sports Ground |
Paget Rangers | Sutton Coldfield | Central Ground | 2,000
Shawbury United | Shrewsbury | New Meadow Community 3G | 1,000
Smethwick Rangers | Boldmere | Trevor Brown Memorial Ground | 2,500
Stapenhill | Stapenhill | Edge Hill | 1,500
Sutton United | Sutton Coldfield | Coleshill Road |
Wednesfield | Wednesfield | Cottage Ground |
Wolverhampton Sporting | Great Wyrley | Pride Park |

## References

[edit]

1. ^ McLaughlin, Mike (11 April 2024). "Bears are Midland League champions". Non-League football round up. Congleton Chronicle. p. 34.
2. ^ "THE FA RELEASES NATIONAL LEAGUE SYSTEM CLUB ALLOCATIONS FOR STEPS 1-6 IN 2023-24 TERM". The Football Association. 15 May 2023.
3. ^ "STEP 5 TO 4 PROMOTION/RELEGATION UPDATE". The FA. 16 March 2023.
4. ^ a b "The FA Handbook 2023/2024 Part 29 Standardised Rules Section 12.2". The FA.

## External links

[edit]

* Midland Football League

* v
* t
* e

Midland Football League

2023–24
clubs|

| Premier Division|

* AFC Wulfrunians
* Atherstone Town
* Bewdley Town
* Congleton Town
* Darlaston Town (1874)
* Dudley Town
* Highgate United
* Lichfield City
* Northwich Victoria
* Romulus
* Shifnal Town
* Stone Old Alleynians
* Stourport Swifts
* Studley
* Tividale
* Uttoxeter Town
* Whitchurch Alport
* Wolverhampton Casuals

|

Division One|

* AFC Bridgnorth
* Allscott Heath
* Bilston Town
* Chelmsley Town
* Coton Green
* Coventry Copsewood
* Cradley Town
* Droitwich Spa
* Heather St John's
* Hinckley
* Ingles
* Nuneaton Griff
* OJM
* Paget Rangers
* Shawbury United
* Smethwick Khalsa Football Federation
* Stapenhill
* Sutton United
* Wednesfield
* Wolverhampton Sporting

Division Two|

* AFC Coventry Rangers
* Alcester Town
* Birmingham United
* Bolehall Swifts
* Cadbury Athletic
* Coventry Alvis
* Central Ajax
* Coventrians
* Earlswood Town
* Fairfield Villa
* Hampton
* Inkberrow
* Knowle
* Lane Head
* Littleton
* Redditch Borough

Division Three|

* AFC Birmingham
* AFC Solihull
* Balsall & Berkswell
* Birmingham Tigers
* BNJS
* Boldmere Sports & Social Falcons
* Castle Vale Town
* Continental Star
* DSC Athletic
* Feckenham
* Gornal Youth
* Leamington Hibernian
* Meadow Park
* Northfield Town
* Silhill
* Solihull Sporting
* Wake Green Amateur

Seasons|

* 2014–15
* 2015–16
* 2016–17
* 2017–18
* 2018–19
* 2019–20
* 2020–21
* 2021–22
* 2022–23
* 2023–24

Predecessor leagues
Midland Alliance
Midland Combination

* v
* t
* e

2023–24 in English men's football

« 2022–23

2024–25 »

National teams|

* Senior (UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying, finals)
* U21 (UEFA Euro 2023 finals)
* U20 (2023 FIFA World Cup finals)
* U17 (UEFA Euro 2023 finals)

League
competitions|

| Level 1|

* Premier League

|

Levels 2–4|

* English Football League (Championship, League One, League Two, play-offs)

Levels 5–6|

* National League (National, North, South)

Levels 7–8|

* Isthmian League (Premier, One North, One South Central, One South East)
* Northern Premier League (Premier, One East, One Midlands, One West)
* Southern League (Premier Central, Premier South, One Central, One South)

Levels 9–10|

* Combined Counties League (Premier North, Premier South, One)
* Eastern Counties League (Premier, One North, One South)
* Essex Senior League (level 9 only)
* Hellenic League (Premier, One)
* Midland League (Premier, One)
* Northern Counties East League (Premier, One)
* Northern League (One, Two)
* North West Counties League (Premier, One North, One South)
* Southern Combination League (Premier, One)
* Southern Counties East League (Premier, One)
* South West Peninsula League (Premier East, Premier West \- level 10 only)
* Spartan South Midlands League (Premier, One)
* United Counties League (Premier North, Premier South, One)
* Wessex League (Premier, One)
* Western League (Premier, One)

Cup
competitions|

| FA cups|

* FA Cup (Qualifying rounds, Final)
* FA Community Shield
* FA Trophy (Final)
* FA Vase (Final)

|

EFL cups|

* EFL Cup (Final)
* EFL Trophy (Final)

Youth
competitions|

| Under-21|

* Professional U21 Development League
* Premier League Cup
* Premier League International Cup

|

Under-18|

* Professional U18 Development League
* FA Youth Cup

Club seasons

Premier League|

* Arsenal
* Aston Villa
* Bournemouth
* Brentford
* Brighton & Hove Albion
* Burnley
* Chelsea
* Crystal Palace
* Everton
* Fulham
* Liverpool
* Luton Town
* Manchester City
* Manchester United
* Newcastle United
* Nottingham Forest
* Sheffield United
* Tottenham Hotspur
* West Ham United
* Wolverhampton Wanderers

Championship|

* Birmingham City
* Blackburn Rovers
* Bristol City
* Cardiff City
* Coventry City
* Huddersfield Town
* Hull City
* Ipswich Town
* Leeds United
* Leicester City
* Middlesbrough
* Millwall
* Norwich City
* Plymouth Argyle
* Preston North End
* Queens Park Rangers
* Rotherham United
* Sheffield Wednesday
* Southampton
* Stoke City
* Sunderland
* Swansea City
* Watford
* West Bromwich Albion

League One|

* Barnsley
* Blackpool
* Bolton Wanderers
* Bristol Rovers
* Burton Albion
* Cambridge United
* Carlisle United
* Charlton Athletic
* Cheltenham Town
* Derby County
* Exeter City
* Fleetwood Town
* Leyton Orient
* Lincoln City
* Northampton Town
* Oxford United
* Peterborough United
* Portsmouth
* Port Vale
* Reading
* Shrewsbury Town
* Stevenage
* Wigan Athletic
* Wycombe Wanderers

League Two|

* Accrington Stanley
* AFC Wimbledon
* Barrow
* Bradford City
* Colchester United
* Crawley Town
* Crewe Alexandra
* Doncaster Rovers
* Forest Green Rovers
* Gillingham
* Grimsby Town
* Harrogate Town
* Mansfield Town
* Milton Keynes Dons
* Morecambe
* Newport County
* Notts County
* Salford City
* Stockport County
* Sutton United
* Swindon Town
* Tranmere Rovers
* Walsall
* Wrexham

* Summer 2023 transfers
* Winter 2023–24 transfers

*[Pos]: Position
*[Pld]: Played
*[W]: Won
*[D]: Drawn
*[L]: Lost
*[GF]: Goals for
*[GA]: Goals against
*[GD]: Goal difference
*[Pts]: Points
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template