2020–21 Midland Football League
The 2020–21 Midland Football League season was the 7th 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, and these two levels are covered by this article.
The allocations for Steps 5 and 6 for season 2020–21 were announced by The Football Association on 21 July,[1] and were subject to appeal.
The 2020–21 season started in September and was suspended in December a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in England. The league season was subsequently abandoned on 24 February 2021.[2]
The scheduled restructure of non-League took place at the end of the season, with new divisions added to the Combined Counties and United Counties Leagues at Step 5 for 2021-22, along with new a division in the Northern Premier League at step 4.[3] Promotions from Steps 5 to 4 and 6 to 5 were based on points per game across all matches over the two cancelled seasons (2019-20 and 2020-21), while teams were promoted to Step 6 on the basis of a subjective application process.[3] As a result, seven Midland League clubs were transferred to the expanded United Counties League's Premier divisions.
Premier Division
[edit]| Season | 2020–21 |
|---|---|
| Matches played | 99 |
| Goals scored | 364 (3.68 per match) |
← 2019–20 2021–22 → | |
This division comprised 19 teams, one less than the previous season, South Normanton Athletic having resigned at the end of the season.[4]
Before the season started, Newark Flowserve changed name to Newark.
League table
[edit]
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sporting Khalsa | 11 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 31 | 16 | +15 | 26 | Promoted to the Northern Premier League[a] |
| 2 | Stourport Swifts | 13 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 32 | 19 | +13 | 23 | |
| 3 | Long Eaton United | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 31 | 4 | +27 | 22 | Transferred to the United Counties League |
| 4 | Newark | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 19 | 9 | +10 | 21 | |
| 5 | Lye Town | 15 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 25 | 22 | +3 | 20 | |
| 6 | Romulus | 10 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 13 | 6 | +7 | 19 | |
| 7 | Gresley Rovers | 11 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 23 | 21 | +2 | 19 | Transferred to the United Counties League |
| 8 | Tividale | 15 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 29 | 29 | 0 | 19 | |
| 9 | Coventry United | 9 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 23 | 15 | +8 | 18 | Transferred to the United Counties League |
| 10 | AFC Wulfrunians | 10 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 14 | 9 | +5 | 17 | |
| 11 | Walsall Wood | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 18 | 13 | +5 | 14 | |
| 12 | Coventry Sphinx | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 19 | 15 | +4 | 14 | Transferred to the United Counties League |
| 13 | Racing Club Warwick | 9 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 16 | 15 | +1 | 10 | |
| 14 | Worcester City | 12 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 14 | 21 | −7 | 10 | |
| 15 | Heather St John's | 11 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 10 | 26 | −16 | 8 | Transferred to the United Counties League |
| 16 | Boldmere St Michaels | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 15 | −5 | 7 | |
| 17 | Highgate United | 8 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 15 | 18 | −3 | 5 | |
| 18 | Haughmond | 10 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 10 | 40 | −30 | 1 | |
| 19 | Selston | 10 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 12 | 51 | −39 | 1 | Transferred to the United Counties League |
Source: FA Full-Time
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of matches won; 5) Head-to-head results[5]
Notes:
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of matches won; 5) Head-to-head results[5]
Notes:
- ^ Sporting Khalsa promoted based on points per game calculations from 2019–20 and 2020–21 seasons combined.
Stadia and locations
[edit]
Location of the clubs in the 2020–21 Midland League Premier Division
| Club | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| AFC Wulfrunians | Castlecroft Stadium | 2,000 |
| Boldmere St. Michaels | Trevor Brown Memorial Ground | 2,500 |
| Coventry Sphinx | Sphinx Drive | 1,000 |
| Coventry United | Butts Park Arena | 3,000 |
| Gresley | Moat Ground | 2,400 |
| Haughmond | Shrewsbury Sport Village | |
| Heather St John's | St. John's Park | |
| Highgate United | The Coppice | 2,000 |
| Long Eaton United | Grange Park | 3,000 |
| Lye Town | The Sports Ground | 1,000 |
| Newark | Hawton Lane | |
| Racing Club Warwick | Townsend Meadow | 1,280 |
| Romulus | The Central Ground | 2,000 |
| Selston | Mansfield Road | |
| Sporting Khalsa | Aspray Arena | 2,500 |
| Stourport Swifts | Walshes Meadow | 2,000 |
| Tividale | The Beeches | 2,800 |
| Walsall Wood | Oak Park | 1,000 |
| Worcester City | Victoria Ground | 3,500 |
Division One
[edit]| Season | 2020–21 |
|---|---|
| Matches played | 118 |
| Goals scored | 432 (3.66 per match) |
← 2019–20 2021–22 → | |
This division comprised 19 teams, one less than the previous season, NKF Burbage having folded at the end of the season.
League table
[edit]
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lichfield City | 15 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 33 | 13 | +20 | 32 | Promoted to the Premier Division |
| 2 | Leicester Road | 11 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 27 | 5 | +22 | 26 | Promoted to the United Counties League |
| 3 | Ashby Ivanhoe | 12 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 33 | 17 | +16 | 26 | |
| 4 | Hinckley | 12 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 26 | 19 | +7 | 24 | Transferred to the United Counties League |
| 5 | Kirby Muxloe | 12 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 24 | 21 | +3 | 24 | |
| 6 | Nuneaton Griff | 14 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 20 | 18 | +2 | 21 | |
| 7 | Heath Hayes | 13 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 21 | 20 | +1 | 21 | |
| 8 | Stapenhill | 11 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 22 | 12 | +10 | 20 | |
| 9 | Atherstone Town | 13 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 28 | 21 | +7 | 20 | |
| 10 | Uttoxeter Town | 11 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 25 | 15 | +10 | 19 | Promoted to the Premier Division |
| 11 | Brocton | 13 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 26 | 20 | +6 | 17 | Transferred to the North West Counties League |
| 12 | Chelmsley Town | 15 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 25 | 31 | −6 | 17 | |
| 13 | Studley | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 21 | 15 | +6 | 12 | Transferred to the Hellenic League |
| 14 | Rocester | 12 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 22 | 24 | −2 | 12 | Transferred to the North West Counties League |
| 15 | Coventry Copsewood | 13 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 23 | 38 | −15 | 11 | |
| 16 | Stafford Town | 14 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 20 | 38 | −18 | 11 | Transferred to the North West Counties League |
| 17 | Cadbury Athletic | 11 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 14 | 36 | −22 | 7 | Voluntary demoted to Division Two |
| 18 | GNP Sports | 11 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 26 | −16 | 6 | Resigned to the Coventry Alliance League |
| 19 | Paget Rangers | 13 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 12 | 43 | −31 | 6 |
Source: FA Full-Time
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of matches won; 5) Head-to-head results[5]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of matches won; 5) Head-to-head results[5]
Stadia and locations
[edit]Location of the clubs in the 2019–20 Midland League Division One
| Club | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Ashby Ivanhoe | Lower Packington Road | |
| Atherstone Town | Sheepy Road | 3,500 |
| Brocton | Silkmore Lane | |
| Cadbury Athletic | Triplex Sports Ground | |
| Chelmsley Town | Pack Meadow | |
| Coventry Copsewood | Allard Way | 2,000 |
| GNP Sports | Sphinx Drive (groundshare with Coventry Sphinx) | 1,000 |
| Heath Hayes | Coppice Colliery Ground | |
| Hinckley | Kirkby Road (groundshare with Barwell) | 2,500 |
| Kirby Muxloe | Ratby Lane | |
| Leicester Road | Leicester Road Stadium | 4,329 |
| Lichfield City | City Ground | 1,500 |
| Nuneaton Griff | The Pingles Stadium | 6,000 |
| Paget Rangers | Coles Lane | 2,000 |
| Rocester | Hillsfield | 4,000 |
| Stafford Town | Evans Park | |
| Stapenhill | Edge Hill | 1,500 |
| Studley | The Beehive | 1,500 |
| Uttoxeter Town | Oldfields |
Division Two
[edit]| Season | 2020–21 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Solihull United |
| Promoted | FC Stratford |
← 2019–20 2021–22 → | |
Division Two featured 16 clubs, all from last season.
League table
[edit]
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Solihull United | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 28 | 6 | +22 | 22 | Resigned from the league |
| 2 | Knowle | 9 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 21 | 14 | +7 | 17 | |
| 3 | Coton Green | 9 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 23 | 12 | +11 | 15 | |
| 4 | FC Stratford | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 20 | 15 | +5 | 15 | Promoted to Hellenic League Division One |
| 5 | Hampton | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 13 | 12 | +1 | 15 | |
| 6 | Barnt Green Spartak | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 23 | 16 | +7 | 14 | |
| 7 | Coventry Alvis | 9 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 21 | 17 | +4 | 13 | |
| 8 | Alcester Town | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 11 | 13 | −2 | 12 | |
| 9 | Feckenham | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 12 | +2 | 10 | Resigned from the league |
| 10 | Earlswood Town | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 15 | 15 | 0 | 9 | |
| 11 | Northfield Town | 9 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 9 | 18 | −9 | 9 | Resigned from the league |
| 12 | Boldmere Sports & Social Falcon | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 13 | 14 | −1 | 8 | |
| 13 | Lane Head | 9 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 13 | 23 | −10 | 8 | |
| 14 | Bolehall Swifts | 10 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 20 | −12 | 6 | |
| 15 | Redditch Borough | 7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 11 | 21 | −10 | 4 | |
| 16 | Fairfield Villa | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 20 | −15 | 0 |
Source: FA Full-Time
Division Three
[edit]| Season | 2020–21 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Kenilworth Sporting |
| Promoted | Kenilworth Sporting Inkberrow |
← 2019–20 2021–22 → | |
Division Three featured 15 clubs which competed in the division last season, along with 1 new club:
- Tamworth Academy
Also, Coventry Plumbing changed name to Kenilworth Sporting.
League table
[edit]
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kenilworth Sporting | 8 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 26 | 7 | +19 | 21 | Promoted to Division Two |
| 2 | Inkberrow | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 32 | 15 | +17 | 19 | |
| 3 | Central Ajax | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 22 | 7 | +15 | 18 | |
| 4 | Enville Athletic | 9 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 16 | 12 | +4 | 17 | |
| 5 | Coventrians | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 29 | 13 | +16 | 15 | |
| 6 | AFC Solihull | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 30 | 20 | +10 | 13 | |
| 7 | Upton Town | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 11 | +3 | 13 | |
| 8 | Sutton United | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 26 | 13 | +13 | 12 | |
| 9 | FC Shush | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 22 | 18 | +4 | 12 | Resigned from the league |
| 10 | Welland | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 16 | 14 | +2 | 10 | Transferred to the Herefordshire County FA League |
| 11 | Tamworth Academy | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 16 | 8 | +8 | 9 | Resigned from the league |
| 12 | Leamington Hibs | 8 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 15 | 30 | −15 | 5 | |
| 13 | WLV Sport | 9 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 23 | −16 | 4 | |
| 14 | Continental Star | 8 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 12 | 30 | −18 | 4 | |
| 15 | Birmingham Tigers | 7 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 13 | 27 | −14 | 3 | |
| 16 | Castle Vale Town | 9 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 12 | 60 | −48 | 0 |
Source: FA Full-Time
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "National League System club allocations – Steps 5–6, Season 2020–21" (PDF). The Football Association. 21 July 2020 – via The Non-League Paper.
- ^ "FA provides update on NLS Steps 3-6". The FA. 24 February 2021. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
- ^ a b "EXPLAINED: The 2021-22 Non-League restructure". The Non-League Paper. 12 April 2021. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
- ^ "South Normanton Athletic resign from Midland League". Non League Daily. 6 April 2020. Archived from the original on April 9, 2020.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ a b "The FA Handbook 2020/2021 Part 29 Standardised Rules Section 12.2". The FA. Retrieved 23 August 2020.