Sunday, 31 January 2021

COULD SMORGON PLAY IN THE BELARUSIAN PREMIER LEAGUE NEXT SEASON?

Many unconfirmed rumours have emanated out of Belarus over the past few weeks as to which team may take Gorodeya's place in the Premier League for the 2021 season. The Village Team will very unfortunately not take it's place in the top tier this season as they have apparently been dissolved due to major financial problems and their major sponsor/back pulling out of funding the club. 

Krumkachy Minsk were the obvious choice as they had finished in third position but lost the relegation/promotion play off against Slutsk who finished third from bottom in the Premier League.

However, their are reports that the ABFF have stated that as The Ravens lost the play-off they are not now eligible for Promotion.  This is reportedly due in the 2011 season when Vitebsk, who had finished 11th in the Premier League, lost in the play-off to Partizan Minsk (runner's up in the First League) who gained a place in the 2012 Premier League. Partizan's main backer then withdrew his financial support and the club dropped into the amateur leagues with no club taking their place in the Premier League. Basically as Vitebsk were relegated and not saved due to Partizan's troubles after they had lost the play-off set a precedent. 

Arsenal Dzerzhinsk who finished fourth issued this statement on their VK social media page on Monday 25th January - "Officially! Today, a number of media outlets have spread information that in the 2021 season Arsenal will play in the top league... Recognizing the right for the media to independently search for interesting information, at the same time we believe that the published information requires at least minimal verification or clarification of the opinion of interested parties. Which didn't happen in this case. We inform the fans and the interested sports community that FC Arsenal is currently preparing to pass the licensing for the 2021 season in the First League of the Belarusian Football Championship."

Lokomotiv Gomel who finished fifth have not made any sort of statement as far as I'm aware. 

Smorgon who finished in sixth place and sixteen points behind Krumkachy have now issued this statement on their website - 

"The management of Smorgon Football Club commented on the possibility of playing in the Premier League in the new season. The club's director Pavel Lutko commented on the situation as follows:

Funding, Development plan and Formation of the squad, already staffed by the coaching staff, are being agreed. There is an infrastructure, JUSH (480 students), a women's team, transport, which is a prerequisite for admission to participate. Of course, the Major League will be a great help for the development of children's and young sports, amateur and visual interest in the city with football traditions and experience of playing in the strongest league of Belarus. We prepare documents for the licensing procedure to participate in your league according to the ABFF regulations." 


Smorgon last played in the top tier between 2007 to 2009 finishing in 10th, 8th and 14th places. 

I must stress all of the above is unconfirmed and all will be most probably officially announced over the next month or so. 

AKSHAEV APPOINTED HEAD COACH OF FC VELES VITEBSK

FC Veles Vitesbsk, who have applied to play in the Belarusian Second League in 2020, have announced their head coach with be Vyacheslav Aksheav

The 61 year old was born in the City and has a huge amount of experience in the Belarusian game. He played over 200 times for Vitebsk between 1977 to 1988 and then had a short spell as a player with the now defunct Lokomotiv Vitesbsk. 

In 1993 he was Assistant Coach with Vitesbsk before moving to Lokomotiv has Head Coach from 1995 to 1998. He has also managed Gomel, Belshina Bobruisk, Molodechno-2000, MTZ-RIPO Minsk, Naftan Novopolotsk, Neman Grodno, Lokomotiv Minsk and DSK Gomel. He has had two spells with Torpedo-Belaz Zhodino as 'sporting director' and has been the assistant to Georgi Kondrateiv as the Belarusian National team in 2011 and 2012. He was also spent a short time in Polish football with Olimpia Elblag as assistant in 2012. 

He won the Belarusian Cup whilst with Lokomotiv Vitebsk in 1998 and famously won the league and cup double with Belshina Bobrusik in 2001. 

Saturday, 30 January 2021

THE HISTORY OF PROMOTION & RELEGATION BETWEEN THE PREMIER LEAGUE AND FOOTBALL LEAGUE

SEASON
PROMOTED  RELEGATED 
1992/93 1. NEWCASTLE UNITED 
2. WEST HAM UNITED 
5. SWINDON TOWN*
19. OLDHAM ATHLETIC - 49 (-11)
20. CRYSTAL PALACE - 49 (-13) 
21. MIDDLESBROUGH - 44 
22. NOTTINGHAM FOREST - 40 
1993/94  1. CRYSTAL PALACE
2. NOTTINGHAM FOREST

4. LEICESTER CITY*
18. SOUTHAMPTON - 43
19. IPSWICH TOWN - 43
20. SHEFFIELD UNITED - 42 
21. OLDHAM ATHLETIC - 40 
22. SWINDON TOWN - 30
1994/951. MIDDLESBROUGH 
3. BOLTON WANDERERS*
18. ASTON VILLA - 48
19. CRYSTAL PALACE - 45 
20. NORWICH CITY - 43 
21. LEICESTER CITY - 29 
22. IPSWICH TOWN - 27
1995/96 1. SUNDERLAND 
2. DERBY COUNTY 
5. LEICESTER CITY*
16. COVENTRY CITY - 38 (-18)
17. SOUTHAMPTON - 38 (-18) 
18. MANCHESTER CITY - 38 (25)
19. QUEENS PARK RANGERS - 33
20. BOLTON WANDERERS - 29 
1996/97 1. BOLTON WANDERERS
2. BARNSLEY 
6. CRYSTAL PALACE*
16. SOUTHAMPTON - 41
17. COVENTRY CITY - 41 
18. SUNDERLAND - 40 
19. MIDDLESBROUGH - 39
20. NOTTINGHAM FOREST - 34
1997/98  1. NOTTINGHAM FOREST 
2. MIDDLESBROUGH 

4. CHARLTON ATHLETIC*
17. EVERTON - 40 (-15)
18. BOLTON WANDERERS - 40 (- 20) 
19. BARNSLEY - 35 

20. CRYSTAL PALACE - 33
1998/99 1. SUNDERLAND 
2. BRADFORD CITY 
5. WATFORD*
17. SOUTHAMPTON - 41
18. CHARLTON ATHLETIC - 38 
19. BLACKBURN ROVERS - 35 
20. NOTTINGHAM FOREST - 30 
1999/00 1. CHARLTON ATHLETIC 
2. MANCHESTER CITY 
3. IPSWICH TOWN*
17. BRADFORD CITY - 36 
18. WIMBLEDON - 33
19. SHEFFIELD WEDNDESDAY - 31 
20. WATFORD - 24 
2000/01 1. FULHAM 
2. BLACKBURN ROVERS 
3.BOLTON WANDERERS*
17. DERBY COUNTY - 42
18. MANCHESTER CITY- 34 
19. COVENTRY CITY - 34
20. BRADFORD CITY - 26
 
2001/02 1. MANCHESTER CITY 
2. WEST BROMWICH ALBION 
5. BIRMINGHAM CITY*
16. BOLTON WANDERERS - 40
17. SUNDERLAND - 40 
18. IPSWICH TOWN - 36
19. DERBY COUNTY - 30
20. LEICESTER CITY - 28 
2002/03 1. PORTSMOUTH
2. LEICESTER CITY 
5. WOLVES*
17. BOLTON WANDERERS - 44
18. WEST HAM UNITED - 42 
19. WEST BROMWICH ALBION - 26 
20. SUNDERLAND - 19 
2003/04  1. NORWICH CITY 
2. WEST BROMWICH ALBION
6. CRYSTAL PALACE*
17. EVERTON - 39
18. LEICESTER CITY - 33
19. LEEDS UNITED - 33 
20. WOLVES - 33
2004/05 1. SUNDERLAND 
2. WIGAN ATHLETIC 
6. WEST HAM UNITED* 
17. WEST BROMWICH ALBION - 34
18. CRYSTAL PALACE - 33
19. NORWICH CITY - 33

20. SOUTHAMPTON - 32 
2005/06 1. READING 
2. SHEFFIELD UNITED 
3. WATFORD*
17. PORTSMOUTH - 38 
18. BIRMINGHAM CITY - 34
19. WEST BROMWICH ALBION - 30
20. SUNDERLAND - 15  
2006/07 1. SUNDERLAND 
2. BIRMINGHAM CITY 

3. DERBY COUNTY*
17. WIGAN ATHLETIC - 38 (-22)
18. SHEFFIELD UNITED - 38 (-23)
19. CHARLTON ATHLETIC - 34
20. WATFORD - 28 
2007/081. WEST BROMWICH ALBION 
2. STOKE CITY 
3. HULL CITY*
17. FULHAM - 36 (-22) 
18. READING - 36 (-25)
19. BIRMINGHAM CITY - 35
20. DERBY COUNTY - 11
2008/09 1. WOLVERS
2. BIRMINGHAM CITY 
5. BURNLEY*
17. HULL CITY - 35
18. NEWCASTLE UNITED - 34
19. MIDDLESBROUGH - 32
20. WEST BROMWICH - 32 
2009/101. NEWCASTLE UNITED 
2. WEST BROMWICH 

6. BLACKPOOL*
17. WEST HAM UNITED - 35 
18. BURNLEY - 30 
19. HULL CITY - 30
20. PORTSMOUTH - 19 
2010/111. QUEENS PARK RANGERS 
2. NORWICH CITY 
3. SWANSEA CITY*
17. WOLVES - 40
18. BIRMINGHAM CITY - 39
19. BLACKPOOL - 39
20. WEST HAM UNITED - 33
2011/12 1. READING 
2. SOUTHAMPTON 
3. WEST HAM UNITED*
17. QUEENS PARK RANGERS - 38
18. BOLTON WANDERERS - 36
19. BLACKBURN ROVERS - 31 
20. WOLVES - 25 
2012/131. CARDIFF CITY 
2. HULL CITY 
5. CRYSTAL PALACE*
17. SUNDERLAND - 39
18. WIGAN ATHLETIC - 36 
19. READING - 28
20. QUEENS PARK RANGERS - 25 
2013/14 1. LEICESTER CITY 
2. BURNLEY 
4. QUEENS PARK RANGERS*
17. WEST BROMWICH ALBION - 36
18. NORWICH CITY -33 
19. FULHAM - 32 
20. CARDIFF CITY - 30  
2014/15 1. AFC BOURNEMOUTH 
2. WATFORD
3. NORWICH CITY*
17. ASTON VILLA - 38
18. HULL CITY - 35 
19. BURNLEY - 33
20. QUEENS PARK RANGERS - 30 
2015/16 1. BURNLEY 
2. MIDDLESBROUGH 
4. HULL CITY* 
17. SUNDERLAND - 39 
18. NEWCASTLE UNITED - 37 
19. NORWICH CITY - 34 
20. ASTON VILLA - 17 
2016/17 1. NEWCASTLE UNITED 
2. BRIGHTON & HA 
5. HUDDERSFIELD TOWN*
17. WATFORD - 40 
18. HULL CITY - 34
19. MIDDLESBROUGH - 29

20. SUNDERLAND - 24 
2017/18 1. WOLVES 
2. CARDIFF CITY 
3. FULHAM*
17. SOUTHAMPTON -36 
18. SWANSEA CITY - 33
19. STOKE CITY - 33 
20. WEST BROMWICH ALBION - 31  
2018/19 1. NORWICH CITY 
2. SHEFFIELD UNITED 
5. ASTON VILLA*
17. BRIGHTON & HA - 36
18. CARDIFF CITY - 34 
19. FULHAM - 26 

20. HUDDERSFIELD TOWN - 16
2019/20 1. LEEDS UNITED 
2. WEST BROMWICH ALBION 
4. FULHAM*
17. ASTON VILLA - 35 
18. AFC BOURNEMOUTH - 34 
19. WATFORD - 34
20. NORWICH CITY -21 
KEY - * denotes promoted via play offs. Denotes promoted/relegated in first season.

SOME FACTS AND STATS ON RELEGATION/PROMOTION 

(1) Since the formation of the Premier League there have only been three seasons where one of more of the promoted sides were not demoted back down at the first attempt as follows - 

2001/02 - Bolton Wanderers (16th), Fulham (13th) and Blackburn Rovers (10th).
2011/12 - QPR (17th), Norwich City (12th) and Swansea City (11th). 
2017/18 - Huddersfield Town (17th), Brighton & HA (15th) and Newcastle United (10th).

(2) Only Fulham and West Bromwich Albion from the nine teams who went down from 2016/17 to 2018/19 have come back up again. Both Hull City and Sunderland have dropped down further into League One. 

(3) Derby County's point's total of 11 in 2007/08 - Their only win of the season came in September in their sixth game of the season when they won 1-0 against Newcastle United with Kenny Miller scoring one the four Premier League goals he scored for The Rams that season. 

(4) Crystal Palace's points total of 49 in 92/93 is the biggest points total ever (so far) that a team has achieved and gone down. Oldham Athletic on -11 goal difference had the same points total compared to The Eagles on -13.  The same points total would of got them to 15th in 93/94 season.

(5) Only three teams have played for just one season in the Premier League. Swindon Town in 93/94, Barnsley in 97/98 and Blackpol in 10/11. 

(6) Bradford City, Bolton Wanderers and Oldham Athletic are all former Premier League teams playing in League Two this season. 

(7) No former Premier League team has ever dropped into non-league football. Luton Town and Notts County who were relegated from 91/92 First Division - the last before the formation of the Premier League - both dropped down into non-league. The Hatters played in non-league's top division from 2009 to 2014 and have now climbed back up to the Championship. Notts County dropped into The Vanarama National League in 2019 finishing 3rd last season - they are currently in 5th place. 

(8) Norwich City can be classed at the ultimate yo-yo team having been relegated five times from the Premier League - they are currently top of the Championship and looking good at returning at the first time of asking. Sunderland, West Bromwich Albion, Crystal Palace and Middlesbrough are close behind The Canaries on four relegations each. 

(9) It's only once that all three teams that were promoted have been relegated back down again. 1997/98 saw Crystal Palace, Barnsley and Bolton Wanderers all go down. 

(10) Everton (97/98 and 03/04) , Southampton (17/18), Brighton & HA (18/19) and Aston Villa (19/20) are the only sides to have finished in the positions just above the drop zone and not be relegated in the seasons after. The Seagulls currently in 17th place are in danger of the drop this season. 

(11) Since 95/96 when the division was made up of 20 teams the average points needed to stay up in the division is 36.6. This I have worked out by adding one point to the team's total who finished in 18th position. The highest being 43 is 02/03 and lowest being 31 in 09/10. The figure of 36.6 equates to 0.96 points per game. 

 

DYNAMO BREST-1960 v DYNAMO BREST - KICKS OFF AT 11am UK TIME

There is an interesting pre-season game in Belarus today as Dynamo Brest-1960 host Dynamo Brest who will have a near enough completely new look team as they have lost most of their squad to Rukh Brest and will be under new ownership for the 2021 Belarusian Premier League season. 

Dynamo Brest-1960 were formed in 2020 to act at 'farm team' to Dynamo Brest following Rukh's promotion to the Premier League in 2019 - Rukh were originally Dynamo's farm team but as they were promoted to the top tier this is not allowed in game in Belarus. 

DB-1960 play in Malorita which is around 30 miles South-East of Brest close to the border with Ukraine. 

Thursday, 28 January 2021

BELARUSIAN PREMIER LEAGUE - THE HISTORY OF PROMOTION AND RELEGATION

Promotion and relegation between the top two divisions in Belarus has been in the news over the last week as Gorodeya (who finished 13th of 16 teams last season) have reportedly had to drop out of the top division due to financial problems leaving the line up with just 15 teams at present. There have been many rumours and stories published by Belarusian website and press at to if it will be Krumkachy Minsk who finished in 3rd place of the First League last season but lost the play-off match against Slutsk who were 14th in the Premier League. Arsenal Dzerzhinsk (4th) and Lokomotiv Gomel (5th) could also be in contention for a place in the top tier although I must stress nothing has been confirmed or verified as yet.

The below table shows the promotion/relegation history of the top two tiers of Belarusian Football which shows it's never been entirely straight-forward. 

SEASON
(CLUBS)
PROMOTED   RELEGATED 
1992 (16) DYNAMO 2-MINSK (1st)  
1992/93 (17)  SHINNIK BOBRUISK (1st)  TORPEDO ZHODINO (16th) 
OBUVSHIK LIDA (17th)
1993/94 (16)OBUVSHIK LIDA (1st) STORITEL STARYE DOROGI (16th)
1994/95 (16) MKPC MOZYR (1st) 
ATAKA-AURE MINSK (2nd) 
GOMSELMASH GOMEL (15th) 
LOKOMOTIV VITEBSK (16th) 
1995 (16) * NAFTAN-DEVON NOVOPOLOTSK (1st)  FC BOBRUISK (16th)  (i)
1996 (16)  TRANSMASH MOGILEV (1st) 
KOMMUNALIK SLONIM (2nd) 
OBVUSHIK LIDA (15th) 
VEDRICH RECHITSA (16th)
1997 (16)  GOMEL (1st) 
BATE BORISOV (2nd) 
 (ii)
1998 (16)  LIDA (1st) 
SVISLOCH-KROVYLA OSIPOVICHI (2nd) 
KOMMUNALNIK SLONIM (15th) (iii) 
1999 (16)  KOMMUNALNIK SLONIM (1st) 
VEDRICH-97 RECHITSA (2nd)
MOLODECHNO (15th) 
SVISLOCH-KROVYLA OSIPOVICHI (16th)
2000 (16) MOLODECHNO (1st)   LIDA (14th) 
TORPEDO KADINO-MOGILEV (15th) 
KUMMALNIK SLONIM (16th)  
2001 (14)  TORPEDO ZHODINO (1st) 
ZVEDZA-VA-BGU MINSK (2nd)  
NAFTAN NOVOPOLOTSK (13th) 
VEDRICH-97 RECHITSA (14th)  
2002 (14)  DARAIDA MINSK RAION (1st)
NAFTAN NOVOPOLOTSK (2nd) 
LOKOMOTIV MINSK  (3rd) 
 LOKOMOTIV-96 VITEBSK (14th) 
2003 (16)  LOKOMOTIV VITESBSK (1st) 
MTZ-RIPO MINSK (2nd)
LOKOMOTIV MINSK (15th) 
MOLODECHNO (16th) 
2004 (16)  LOKOMOTIV MINSK (1st) LOKOMOTIV VITESBSK (15th)
BELSHINA BOBRUISK (16th) (iv) 
2005 (14) BELSHINA BOBRUISK (1st) 
LOKOMOTIV VITEBSK (2nd) 
ZVEDZA-BGU MINSK (13th)
SLAVIA MOZYR (14th) 
2006 (14) FC MINSK (1st) 
SMORGON (2nd) 
LOKOMOTIV MINSK (13th)
BELSHINA BOBRUISK (14th) 
2007 (14) SAVIT MOGILEV (1st) 
GRANIT MIKASHEVICHI (2nd) 
LOKOMOTIV MINSK (3rd) 
FC MINSK (14th)
2008 (16)  FC MINSK (1st) LOKOMOTIV MINSK (14th)
SAVIT MOGILEV (15th)
DARIDA MINSK RAION (16th) 
2009 (14)  BELSHINA BOBRUISK (1st) GOMEL (12th) 
GRANIT MIKASHEVICHI (13th) 
SMORGON (14th) 
2010 (12)  GOMEL (1st)  PARTIZAN MINSK (12th) (v)
2011 (12) * SALVIA MOZYR (1st) 
DNEPR MOGILEV (12th) (vi)
2012 (11) *DNPER MOGILEV (1st)  (vii) 
2013 (12) * SLUTSK (1st)  SLAVIA MOZYR (12th) (viii)
2014 (12) * GRANIT MIKASHEVICHI (1st) 
SLAVIA MOZYR (2nd) 
VITEBSK (3rd) (ix)
DNEPR MOGILEV (12th) (ix)
2015 (15) ISLOCH MINSK RAION (1st) 
GORODEYA (2nd)
KRUMKACHY MINSK (3rd)
GOMEL (15th) 
2016 (16)  GOMEL (1st)
DNEPR MOGILEV (2nd)
BELSHINA BOBRUISK (15th) 
GRANIT MIKASHEVICHI (16th) 
2017 (16)  LUCH MINSK (1st) 
SMOLEVICHI-STI (2nd)
TORPEDO MINSK (3rd) (x)
SLAVIA MOZYR (15th) 
NAFTAN NOVOPOLOTSK (16th) (x)
2018 (16)  SLAVIA MOZYR (1st) 
ENERGETIK-BGU MINSK (2nd)
SMOLEVICHI (15th) 
DNEPR MOGILEV (16th) 
2019 (16) * BELSHINA BOBRUISK (1st) 
SMOLEVICHI (2nd) 
RUKH BREST (3rd) (xi)
DYANAPRO MOGILEV (14th) (xi)
GOMEL (15th) 
TORPEDO MINSK (16th) 
2020 (16) *SPUTNIK RECHITSA (1st) 
GOMEL (2nd) 
BELSHINA BOBRUISK (15th)
SMOLEVICHI (16th)
  (xii)
KEY
RED DENOTES PROMOTED BACK AT FIRST ATTEMPT - THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVENTEEN TIMES.
BLUE DENOTES RELEGATED BACK AT FIRST TIME OF ASKING - TEN TIMES.
* DENOTES RELEGATION/PROMOTION PLAY-OFFS PLAYED BETWEEN PREMIER AND FIRST LEAGUE.

(i) SHINNIK BOBRUISK who finished 15th in the Premier League competed in a play-off against KOMMUNALNIK PINSK who were runner's up in the first league. SHINNIK win play-off 3-2 on aggregate and keep Premier League status. 

(ii) ATAKA MINSK (12th) dissolved at the end of the season and drop out of the league. TRANSMASH MOGILEV (14th) merge with DNEPR MOGILEV (4th) to form DNEPR-TRANSMASH MOGILEV 

(iii) DYNAMO-93 MISNSK withdrew from the league halfway through the season. 

(iv) LOKOMOTIV VITEBSK & MTZ-RIPO MINSK (15th & 14th) finish the season level on points so play-off match played which MTZ-RIPO won 4-1 to send LOKOMOTIV down. 

(v) TORPEDO ZHODINO (11th in Premier League) play-off against SKVICH MINSK who were runner's up in the First League. Torpedo win 3-1 to retain top flight status. 

(vi)  VITEBSK (11th in Premier League) play-off against PARTIZAN MINSK who were runner's up in the First League which Partizan win 3-2 on aggregate to gain a place in the Premier League for the 2012 season. However, Partizan's main backer withdrew his financial support and the club dropped down the amateur leagues. No club took Partizan's place in the Premier League. 

(vii) TORPEDO-BELAZ ZHODINO (11th) play-off against GORODEYA who are runner's up in the First League. Torpedo win 4-1 on aggregate and retain top flight status. 

(viii) DNEPR Mogilev (11th) play-off against GORODEYA who are runner's up in the First League. DNEPR win 3-1 on aggregate and stay in the Premier League for 2014. 

(ix) DNEPR Mogilev (12th) play-off against VITEBSK who finished 3rd in the First League. VITEBSK win 3-1 to achieve promotion.  

(x) KRUMKACHY MINSK (13th) were excluded from the Premier League as they 'failed to provide necessary licensing documents and pay off the salary debts to the players.'  In March 2018 TORPEDO MINSK (3rd in the First League) were granted promotion to the Premier League to replace KRUMKACHY MINSK. There were no other applicants to join the Premier League. 

(xi) TORPEDO MINSK (16th) withdrew from the league midway through the season - their remaining games were awarded 0-3 win. GOMEL (15th) automatically relegated. DYNAPRO MOGILEV (14th) played off against RUKH BREST who were 3rd in the first league. After a 2-2 draw on aggregate RUKH win 5-4 on kicks from the penalty mark. 

(xii)  SLUTSK (14th) play-off against KRUMKACHY MINSK who had finished 3rd in the first league which SLUTSK win 4-1 on aggregate to retain status in the Premier League. 

Tuesday, 26 January 2021

NAMES TO WATCH - PREMIER LEAGUE UNDER 18 TOP SCORERS

The Premier League Under 18 competition has two divisions this season with Manchester United currently leading the North Division and Fulham leading the South. Here are the top scorers in the league at present - 

Layton Stewart - 18 years old - 13 goals for Liverpool 
Scoring lots of goals for his home City club. A player with huge amounts of potential. 
 
Dane Scarlett - 16 years old - 12 goals for Tottenham Hotspur
Scarlett has also scored 2 goals in 2 Premeir League 2 u23 games for this season. He has represented England at u15 and u16 level.  He was Spur's youngest ever player when coming on in the Europa League game played against Ludogrets in November when he was 16 years old and 247 days. This only last until January when ALFIE DEVINE who is another highly promising player came on in the FA Cup game against Marine aged 16 and 163 days. Scarlett also scored 5 goals for the u18s in their recent FA Youth Cup win over Newport County.

Jude Soonsup-Bell - 17 years old - 11 goals for Chelsea 
Signed for the West London club as an u13 from Swindon Town's academy. Contracted until June 2023. He scored four goals in the FA Youth Cup win over Barnsley earlier in the season and has also scored in a PL2 u23 game. An England u16 International. 

Tai Sodje - 17 years old - 9 goals for Manchester City 
Striker with bags of pace who can play on the left or right wing. Already scoring lots of goals for City's under 18 side. 

Brad Young - 18 years old - 8 goals for Aston Villa 
Was one of the crop of young players who played in the recent Liverpool FA Cup match at Villa Park.

Josh Coburn - 18 years old - 8 goals for Middlesbrough 

David Omilabu - 18 years old - 8 goals for Crystal Palace 

Charlie McNeill - 17 years old - 8 goals for Manchester United 
Described as a 'wonder kid' in many reports. He was signed for a fee of £750,000 that could rise to £1,500,000 from Manchester City in the summer of 2020 - He already has a sponsorship deal with Adidas that reportedly could earn him over £1,000,000. He was originally part of United's academy before his spell with rival's City in 2014. The Red Devils fought off competition from Italian and German clubs to bring him back to Old Trafford. McNeill is likely to become a real fan's favourite with the United faithful due to him turning down City. Could he be the next Marcus Rashford (first team debut at 18 years old) or Mason Greenwood who made his first team debut aged just 17. 

PREMIER LEAGUE 2 - PLAYERS TO LOOK OUT FOR

The Premier League 2 games are still being played this season albeit, of course, behind closed doors at present due to the current lockdown situation. 

COMPETITION FORMAT
There are twelve teams in each division with promotion and relegation between Division One and Division Two - there is no relegation from Division Two.  

The twenty six clubs who compete have "Category One" status in the Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP). There are eighteen from the Premier League, Seven from the Championship and one from League One being Sunderland. 

The bottom two teams in Division One are automatically relegated with the Division Two winners going up. Teams from 2nd to 5th go into a play-off - 2nd v 5th and 3rd v 4th followed by a final held at the club who finished highest in the league. 

The age limit for the players in under 23 - All players born after 1st January 1997 are eligible to play for the 2020/21 season. 

Each team can field a goalkeeper over the age limit and up to three over age outfield players in every match. 

PREMIER LEAGUE 2 DIVISION ONE PREVIOUS WINNERS 
2012/13 - MANCHESTER UNITED 
2013/14 - CHELSEA 
2014/15 - MANCHESTER UNITED 
2015/16 - MANCHESTER UNITED 
2016/17 - EVERTON
2017/18 - ARSENAL 
2018/19 - EVERTON 
2019/20 - CHELSEA 

PREMIER LEAGUE 2 DIVISION ONE WINNERS 
2014/15 - MIDDLESBOROUGH 
2015/16 - DERBY COUNTY 
2016/17 - SWANSEA CITY 
2017/18 - BLACKBURN ROVERS 
2018/19 - WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS 
2019/20 - WEST HAM UNITED 

Tottenham Hotspur currently lead the Division One table and have a huge game against Arsenal on Friday. The Gunners have won their last five league games scoring 17 goals in the process. 

Here we take a look at some of players who have been making headlines in the league -

FOLARIN BALOGUN - ARSENAL - 19 years old.
England u20 International who recently played in a first team Europa League and League Cup games. The striker scored a hat-trick in his last game against Brighton & HA. Scored 10 in 15 PL2 appearances last season and has 6 in 11 this season. Also scored 2 goals in the 4 Europa League games he has played this season.  His current contract with The Gunners expires in June and there are reports he may be moving to RB Leipzig in Germany. 

THIERRY SMALL - EVERTON - 16 years old. 
Born in Solihull and was with West Bromwich Albion's academy team up until 2016. The left back was a late substitute for The Toffees in their recent FA Cup victory over Sheffield Wednesday which made him the youngest ever first team player in the club's history aged at 16 years old and 176 days - the previous record was held by Jose Baxter who is now 28 years old and currently playing in America for USL Championship side Memphis 901. Small scored for Everton u23s in their 2-4 victory over Leicester City u23s on Monday evening. 
 
J'NEIL BENNETT - TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR - 19 years old. 
London born left winger who has lots of speed, trickery and has a good scoring record. Scored 8 in 12 goals for the uner 18s in 18/19 and is the answer to a quiz question as he scored the first ever competitive goal at Spur's new stadium in the u18s game against Southampton. Recently came off the bench to score two goals in Spurs u23's 1-2 victory at West Ham u23s. 

LIAM DELAP - MANCHESTER CITY - 17 years old. 
The son of former Southampton, Derby County and Stoke City player Rory Delap. He has already played for City's first team in the League Cup and Premier League. A centre forward who has played for England at u15, u16 and u17 level. Recently scored a hat-trick and was red carded for a late challenge on the half way line in a game against Derby County where he played between 2009 to 2019. Has scored 9 goals in the PL2 fixtures so far this season. 

FABIO CARVALHO - FULHAM - 18 years old.
Winger who has played for England at u16, u17 and u18 level. Signed as a full professional at Craven Cottage in May last year and is contracted until June 2022. Made his first team debut in the League Cup against Sheffield Wednesday in September 2020. Has 8 goals and 5 assists in PL2 fixtures this season. 

ARNAU PUIGAML - MANCHESTER UNITED - 20 years old.
Spanish goal scoring midfielder who has represented his country at u17, u18 and u19 level. Played in Espanyol's academy until the summer of 2017 when The Red Devils beat Barcelona to his signature. Can also play at right back and across the midfield. Has 6 goals in Man United's PL2 fixtures this season. Played in United's u23 games in the Papa Johns Trophy this season. Contract with United expires in June 2021. 

LUCAS BERGSTROM - CHELSEA - 18 years old.
Finnish goalkeeper contracted with the West London side until 2024. Has made six PL2 appearances for Cheslea U23s this season with Croatian Ziegar Karlo, 19, playing 4 games who played on loan with Sutton United in the National League last season. The youngster Petr Cech, 38, has also played in one PL2 game this season. Bergstrom will certainly be learning lots for Cech. 

LOUIE BARRY - ASTON VILLA - 17 years old. 
Made headlines when scoring for Villa v Liverpool in their recent FA Cup game. Born in Sutton Coldfield he was with West Bromwich Albion's academy between 2009 to 2019 before signing for Barcelona with PSG also showing interest in the highly talented forward player. He joined Villa for a fee of £880,000 in January 2020 which could rise to £3.5m. He has played for England at u15, u16 and u17 level as well as Republic Of Ireland at u16 and u17 whom he he qualifies via his Grandparents. Clearly a player with a huge future in the game. 

DANE SCARLETT - TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR - 16 years old.
Striker who has scored 2 in 2 PL2 games for Spurs this season and represented England at u15 and u16 level. Was Spur's youngest ever player when coming on in the Europa League game played against Ludogrets in November when he was 16 years old and 247 days. This only last until January when ALFIE DEVINE who is another highly promising player came on in the FA Cup game against Marine aged 16 and 163 days. Scarlett scored 5 goals for the u18s in their recent FA Youth Cup win over Newport County. 

Monday, 25 January 2021

NORTHERN IRELAND DANSKE BANK PREMIERSHIP - AN UPDATE ON HOW THINGS STAND

 

CURRENT TABLE 
POS TEAM P GD PTS FORM
1. LINFIELD   13 +21 31 WLWWW
2.  LARNE   12  +12  27  WWWLD 
3.  CRUSADERS   13  +15  26  WWWDD
4.  BALLYMENA UNITED  12  +6  20  WDWDW 
5.  COLERAINE   12  +4  19  LWWWW 
6.  CLIFTONVILLE  13 +2  17  LDLWD 
7.   GLENTORAN   11  +7  14  LWDDW 
8.   GLENAVON   11  -1  13  WLDWL 
9.   WARRENPOINT TOWN   13  -13  12  LDLLL 
10.   PORTADOWN   10  -13  LDWLL 
11.   DUNGANNON SWIFTS   13  -22  LLLLL 
12.   CARRICK RANGERS   -18  WLLLL

There is a familiar look to the top of the Northern Ireland Danske Bank Premiership with 2017, 2019 and 2020 campions Linfield currently top by four points. The Blue, managed by David Healy, were declared champions on a PPG basis last season which was their 54th league title which means they equal the record of league titles won by club which they now jointly hold with Rangers - Although you could argue Rangers total is 53 and 1/2 as in the first Scottish League in 1891 they finished with the same amount of points as Dumbarton and as goal difference was not used then (Dumbarton had a better record of +40 compared to Rangers +33) a play off was held and it was drawn 2-2 so the league title was shared. 

Larne, currently in second, are having their best season for many a year. They were members of the top tier in 2008 but failed to gain a licence to play in the newly formed IFA Premiership for the 2008/09 season. They spent a decade in the second tier until 2018/19 when they won the title by 17 points from Carrick Rangers. 

Manager Tiernan Lynch has been in place since September 2017 and their rise up to be challenging for the title has been funded by investment from Kenny Bruce who was born in the town and supported the club from a young age. He established on-line estate agent Purple Bricks in 2012 and his money has helped build a new state of the art artificial surface at Inver Park together with new floodlights and ground improvements. 

At the bottom of the table Carrick Rangers are having a season to forget with just one win (4-1 v Portadown) in their nine games played so far. 

The BBC are live streaming a number of games this season via the I player and some on Live on BBC NI which is great to see. This is as well as their excellent round up show which is also on the I-Player. The games live over the next month are - 

Tuesday 26th Jan - Cliftonville v Linfield 
Friday 29th Jan - Larne v Glentoran 
Saturday 30th Jan - Carrick Rangers v Ballymena United 
Tuesday 2th February – Glenavon v Larne 
Saturday 6th February – Crusaders v Linfield 
Saturday 13th February – Larne v Dungannon Swifts 
Tuesday 16th February – Portadown v Glentoran 
Friday 19th February – Ballymena United v Crusaders 
Saturday 20th February – Linfield v Coleraine 
Tuesday 23rd  February – Portadown v Larne
Friday 26th February - Linfield v Larne 
Saturday 27th February – Dungannon Swifts v Glentoran 
Tuesday 2nd March – Glentoran v Linfield 

I wrote this article in March with some more information on the teams here

BELSHINA BOBRUISK UPDATE THEIR LOGO

 

To celebrate their 45th anniversary year Belshina Bobruisk have unveiled a new updated club badge as shown above. The league and cup double winners of 2001 will be playing the First League for the 2021 season where they finished 5th, 3rd and 1st between 2017 to 2019. Head Coach Dmitry Migas who was appointed in July will be looking to bring Belshina back to the Premier League for the 2022 season.  

RUKH BREST TO TRAVEL TO TURKEY FOR PRE-SEASON TRAINING CAMP & FRIENDLY GAMES


RUKH BREST will be travelling to Turkey over the next week to take part in a pre-season training camp where they will take place in four friendly games as above against FC Minaj of Uzbekistan, Rukh Lviv of the Ukriane - then on the same day play Kazakhstan Premier League side Kairat and PFC Navabahor Namaangan of Uzbekistan. 

FC VELES 2020 - NEW TEAM FOR THE BELARUSIAN SECOND LEAGUE 2021 SEASON


Vitesbsk in North-East Belarus is likely to have two teams representing the City for the 2021 season as FC VELES 2020 have submitted an application to the Belarusian Football Federation to join the Second League. 

Last April they advertised for professional football players with either Belarusian or Russian Passports but also would consider foreign players under the condition that they enrol in the Belarusian University on the basis that they obtain temporary residence in the country which apparently allows then to participate in First and Second League games. 

The team, then known as 'Slavyansky Veles' played in the Vitesbsk region championship of 2019. 

SCOTTISH PREMIERSHIP TABLE VERSUS RANGERS & CELTIC

 POS TEAM  GF-GA  GD  PTS  CS  PPG 
1.  LIVINGSTON   4-7  -3  0.60 
2.   HIBERNIAN   5-9 -4 0.60
3.  KILMARNOCK  1 3 1-6 -5 1 0 0.25 
4.   ABERDEEN   4-10  -6  0.25
5.  ST JOHNSTONE 1-9  -8  0.25
6.   MOTHERWELL    4-16  -6  0.25 
7.   ST MIRREN  3 1-7 -8 
8.   DUNDEE UNITED   1-10 -9  0
9.  HAMILTON ACADEMICAL 1-18  -17  0 0
10.   ROSS COUNTY   0-18  -18 

The above table is how it currently stands for all the other teams against Rangers and Celtic - It  shows no team has beaten either of the Glasgow teams this seasons.

CELTIC/RANGERS DROPPED POINTS THIS SEASON

RANGERS 
Sun 16th Aug - Livingston 0-0 Rangers 
Sun 20th Sep - Hibs 2-2 Rangers 
Sun 17th Jan - Motherwell 1-1 Rangers 

CELTIC
Sun 9th Aug - Kilmarnock 1-1 Celtic 
Sun 17th Oct - Celtic 0-2 Rangers 
Sun 25th Oct - Aberdeen 3-3 Celtic 
Sun 21st Nov - Hibs 2-2 Rangers 
Sun 6th Dec - Celtic 1-1 St Johnstone 
Sat 2nd Jan - Rangers 1-0 Celtic
Mon 11th Jan - Celtic 1-1 Hibs 
Sat 16th Jan - Celtic 0-0 Livingston
Wed 20th Jan - Livingston 2-2 Celtic

The last time Celtic were beaten by a team other than Rangers was back on Saturday 6th October 2019 when Livingston won 2-0 at the Tony Macroni Arena with Scott Robinson and Lyndon Dykes the scorers. 

Their last league home defeat to a team other than Rangers came at the end of the 17/18 season when Aberdeen won 0-1 with Andrew Considine the scorer. 

Rangers lost at Kilmarnock 2-1 on Wednesday 12th February 2020 with Hamilton Academical's memorable 0-1 win at Ibrox on Wednesday 4th March 2020 the last defeats they had in the league. 

Will Celtic or Rangers lose a game against another team this season?

Rangers have won all twelve of their home games and drawn three and drawn ten of their thirteen away games. 

Forthcoming Fixtures
RANGERS
Wed 27th Jan - Hibernian 
Wed 3rd Feb - ST JOHNSTONE 
Sun 7th Feb - Hamilton Academical 

CELTIC
Wed 27th Jan - HAMILTON ACADEMICAL 
Sat 30th Jan - ST MIRREN 
Tue 2nd Feb - Kilmarnock 
Sat 6th Feb - MOTHERWELL 

Sunday, 24 January 2021

MEET THE TEAMS OF THE MIDLAND FOOTBALL LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION

AFC WULFRUNIANS were officially formed in 2005 but can trace it's history back to Old Wulfrunians who were formed in 1922 and played in the Birmingham Amateur Football Alliance. They were Premier Division and Senior Cup double for three seasons in a row between 2002 to 2005 which saw a new team AFC Wulfrunians formed to enter senior football - they entered Division Two of the West Midlands Regional League with the club continuing in the Birmingham AFA (Birmingham & District League) under the Old Wulfrunians name.  

They moved through the leagues winning the Premier Division in 2009 where they were denied promotion to the Midland Alliance as their ground at the time didn't meet the necessary criteria. They moved to Castlecroft Stadium and won the Premier Division again in 2013 which got them promotion to the Midland Alliance who merged with the Midland Combination to form the Midland League. 

Since then they have finished 7th, 13th, 17th, 17th, 12th and last season in the null & void campaign were 13th. This season they are 10th. They reached the Fourth Round of the FA Vase in 2015/16. 

The Old Wulfrunians team won back-to-back Birmingham AFA Premier Division titles in 2014 and 2015. They entered another team into the West Midlands Regional League where they now play in Division One. Old Wulfrunians 'A' continue to compete in the Birmingham AFA. 

Their home is now called the CKW Stadium and is located in the Castlecroft suburb of Wolverhampton. 

BOLDMERE ST MICHAELS were established in 1883 and are based in Boldmere, Sutton Coldfield. 

They are best known in non-league football for their run to the 1946/47 FA Amateur Cup Semi-Final when they were members of the Central Amateur League. They lost 2-0 to Barnet (who were then members of the Athenian League) in front of over 20,000 people at Highbury. 

In 1948 they hosted the Indian Olympic Team in a friendly match losing 0-1. 

Since 2014 and the formation of the Midland League they have finished 9th, 11th, 12th, 14th, 5th, 7th (n&v) and are currently in 16th position. 

The Mike's home is named in honour of their former Chairman - The Trevor Brown Memorial Ground. 

The 'St Michaels' part of the club's name comes from the local church as when formed the club was attached to and part of the church's activities. 

COVENTRY UNITED were only formed in 2013 following a takeover of Coventry Spartans. Coventry City had moved from the Rioch Arena and were playing way outside of the city in Norhampton. 

Coventry Spartans were playing in the Midland Combination and can loosely trace their history back to the famous Coventry Sporting side which reached the second round of the FA Cup in 1975 beating football league side Tranmere Rovers along the way. 

Coventry Amateurs had been formed in 1936 as a works team for the Coventry Tile Company playing at the Butts Stadium. In 1946 a name change to Coventry Amateurs in 1946 and a ground move in 1948 to Kirby's Corner. In 1974 another name change to Coventry Sporting. They moved up to the Southern League but folded in 1989. In 2008 a new Coventry Amateurs were formed who then became Coventry Spartans in 2011. 

United's home is The Butts Park Arena which also plays host to Coventry Rugby Club fixtures. 

Three promotions in as many seasons form 2013 sees them now proud members of the Midland League Premier Division. They are 9th this season and were top when the season was stopped in 2019/20 so clearly have real ambition to climb higher in the football pyramid. 

COVENTRY SPHINX were formed in 1946 as a work's team named 'Armstong Whitworth Aircraft FC' with the name Sphinx FC adopted in 1960. In 1995 following promotion to the Midland Combination Premier the club were renamed Conventry Sphinx. 

The name Sphinx relates to a journalist review of a Siddeley-Deasy Motor Car in 1912 stating it was 'as silent and inscrutable as the sphinx' - the Sphinx was from then used as a mascot, bonnet ornament and logo for the cars.

The Sphinx got the FA Vase Quarter-Finals in 2007/08 before losing in a replay to eventual winner's Kirkham and Wesham (now AFC Fylde). They play as Sphinx Drive which is a name which was first used in 1995. 

Sphinx and United played in the FA Cup in 2019/20 - Crowds of 480 and 160 saw Sphinx win the replay 0-1. A crowd of 300 saw the recent league game at Sphinx Drive against United. 

GRESLEY ROVERS are a famous name from non-league's history. The club famously played in one of the most exciting finals ever held at the old Wembley Stadium when in 1991 they came back from 3-0 after 31 minutes to make the score 3- 3 with a last minute equaliser. Thier opponents Guiseley went 4-3 up in extra time only for The Moatmen to equalise again in the final minute of extra-time. They lost the replay 3-1 at Sheffield United's Brammal Lane. 

Rovers moved up to the Southern League and remained there until 2004 when they moved to the Northern Premier League. 

Rovers had won the Southern League Premier Division in 1997 and should of moved up to the Conference but due to ground grading they were refused a place at non-league's top table - Derby County had offered them the use of The Baseball Ground but this was refused by the league. Gresley's heartbreak was Cheltenham Town's luck as the runner's up were promoted to the Conference. 

After the glory years of the 1990s financial problems followed and the original club were liquidated in 2009 with a new club GRESLEY FC formed and taking a place in the East Midlands Counties League - Promotion back to the Northern Premier League followed in 2012 but relegation in 2019 now see's the club in the Midland League Premier Division. The original name was readopted in July 2020. 

Gresley FC reached the quarter-finals of the FA Vase in 09/10 losing to Whitehawk FC. The original club reached the First Round of the FA Cup on two occasions - In 94/95 they lost to Crewe Alexandra and in 98/99 they lost to Walsall. 

HAUGHMOND FC are based in Shrewsbury and take their name for Haughmond Hill which overlooks their ground at the Shrewsbury Sports Village. Formed in 1980 the club have played in the Shropshire County Premier League and  the West Midlands Regional League. They moved into the Midland League Premier Division following a runner's up position in the WMRL Premier in 2019. They were 16th last season and are second bottom for this season where they are still awaiting their first win of the league season. 

HEATHER ST JOHNS are based in the village of Heather in Leicestershire. They were formed in 1949 and take their name from the local church.  Heather currently has a population of just under 1000 people and is around 15 miles North-West of the city of Leicester.  

They moved to their St Johns Park ground in 1993 with floodlights added in 1997. 

They were named Heather Athletic from 2003 to 2007. 

The club won Division One of the Midland League in 2019 to achieve promotion to the Premier Division. 

HIGHGATE UNITED are a extremely famous name from the history of non-league football. Established in 1948 they reached the FA Amateur Cup quarter-finals in 1966/67 where during the game against Enfield a lightning strike caused several players to collapse and the game was abandoned. Tragically Highgate's Tony Alden passed away the following day. The game was replayed at Villa Park which saw The E's win 6-0 in front of 31,000 people honouring the memory of Tony. 

They went one better in 1973 when they drew Walton & Hersham in the semi-final. They lost 4-0 in replay at Selhurst Park after the first game was drawn 0-0 at Highfield Road. 

The Gate won Division One in 2015 and have been members of the Premier Division since with a top placed finish being 3rd in 2017/18. 

LONG EATON UNITED were officially formed in 1956 but can trace it's history back to the formation of Long Eaton St Helens in 1907 who became Long Eaton Town who stopped playing in 1927. The club were reformed in 1949 but after financial problems were rebranded to Long Eaton United. 

They moved from the Northern Counties East Premier to the Midland League in 2014. Prior to football being suspended this season they had been having a great campaign with seven wins and one draw in eight games played. 

Their Grange Park ground is in Long Eaton which is just to the south-west of Nottingham. 


LYE TOWN have reached the fourth round of the FA Vase on two previous occasions. In 95/96 they were knocked out by Barwell with Histon beating them 1-2 in 18/19. 

Nicknamed The Flyers they won the West Midlands Regional League in 2014 to move up to the Midland League Premier League. 

Rebranded as NEWARK FC last May after being known as Newark Flowserve for many years. 

Formed in 1901 and played as Worthington Simpsons and IDP Newark for many years. 

As recently as 17/18 they were playing in the Nottinghamshire Senior League which they won winning 31 of 34 league games to move up to the East Midlands Counties League where a second placed finish saw them win promotion to the Midland League Premier Division. 

Representing the town of Newark-On-Trent which has a population of around 30,000 they have real ambitions of moving up the pyramid. 


One of my most favourite named football clubs after reading a programme from RACING CLUB WARWICK when I was a youngster and finding out they were called this as their Townsend Meadow ground is located right by town's famous racecourse. They were known as Warwick Saltisford Rovers up until 1970 

The Racers were members of the Southern League from 1989 to 2003 which was a real struggle. They firstly played in the Midland Division finished 19th, 16th, 18th, 22nd, 13th, 10th, 18th, 11th, 15th and 21st. They then moved to Division One (West) finishing 20th, 17th, 20th and 22nd. 

They then played in the Midland Alliance and Midland Combination before playing in the Midland League Division One from 2014. A second place finish in 2018/19 which was their most successful season for many years saw them move up to the Premier Division. 

You have to go back to 77/78 for their best FA Vase run when they were knocked out by Irthlingborough Diamonds. 

RCW's record victory came recently when on Boxing Day 2016 they beat Southam United, who only have 10 men, by a score of 15-0. 

ROMULUS were formed in 1979 and initially playing in Sunday League Football and played out of the Castle Vale area of Birmingham. They moved up to senior football in 1999 and did ground share with Sutton Coldfield Town for a number of years. The club moved through the Midland Football Combination and Midland Football Alliance achieving promotion to the Southern League in 2007 where they stayed playing at Step 4 until 2018 - they were shifted across the the Northern Premier League in 2010. 

From the start of the 2018/19 season they moved back to Castle Vale and their original base of Vale Stadium which now has a 3g surface. 

The club have a large academy and youth section and have produced a good number of players who have stepped up to the football league over the years including Darrius Vassell, 
Courtney Baker-Richardson (currently with Barrow) and Ben Richards-Everton who is currently with Barnet but has played for Accrington Stanley and Bradford City. 

Ricky Otto and Paul Devlin also played for the club towards the end of their career. 

Another club formed as a Sunday League team are SELSTON FC. They came into existence in 1868 and moved into Saturday football in 1986 playing in the Central Midlands Alliance and Midlands Regional Alliance. The Parishioners, as they are known, didn't run a first team between 2003 to 2006. 

Since returning they have played in the Midlands Regional Alliance, Nottinghamshire Senior League and East Midlands Counties League of which they were Champions in 18/19 to move up their current level. 

They have since struggled at Step Five as they were bottom in last season's null and void league and are currently bottom of the table with no league wins as yet in the 20/21 campaign. 

The only point they have picked up so far was in their last game against Highgate United - they showed some fight in this game as they were 0-3 down at half time. 

SPORTING KHALSA are based in Willenhall. They were formed in 1991 and are another team to have played Sunday Football and then moved up the pyramid. 

Their roots and history lie firmly within the area's Sikh community. 

They have played at the former home of Bloxwich Town which they purchased in 2005 which made them the first Asian semi-professional side to own it's own home. 

In 2010 they club announced it would be moving to Noose Lane which they purchased from Willenhall Town who were suffering from financial problems. Over £500,000 was spent on the pitch, ground and social facilities at the time and the newly renamed Aspray Arena was opened in for the 2010/11 season. 

They have since spent £1,000,000 during the 17/18 season to further redevelop the stadium. 

Sporting's first team have had a huge amount of success in the last few years reaching the Fourth Qualifying Round of the FA Cup in 2016 where 2,252 saw them lost at home to FC United of Manchester. In the FA Vase they have reached the Quarter Finals once and the Fifth Round twice in the last few years. 

Last season they were second prior to the season ending and this season they are top of the table. I'm sure whenever football gets back underway and we all see an end to the current horrible situation we'll be seeing Sporting Khalsa playing at Step Four and above very soon. 

A new Bloxwich Town FC appeared briefly from 2016 to 2018 when 'Rostance Edwards' were renamed and played in the Midland League Division Two.  They were renamed 'Lane Head' for the 18/19 campaign and are still members of Division Two. 

Willenhall Town who had been members of both the Southern League and Northern Premier League in 1980s and 2000s - they currently play in the West Midlands Regional League Division One playing their games at The Cottage Ground in Wolverhampton. 

Another former Southern League club currently plying their trade in the Midland League Premier are STOURPORT SWIFTS. They played at Step Three from 2001 to 2004 and then Step Four (with the introduction of the National League's North and South) from 2004 to 2012. 

They have reached the Fifth Round of the FA Vase twice losing to Tooting and Mitcham United in 00/01 and Stockton Town in 17/18. 

The Swifts are currently in second place in the table which is their best season for a number of years. 

The Dale were formed in 1954 and have played at Step Four for two seasons in 14/15 and 15/16 when they won the Midland Alliance League. 

They dropped down to Step Six for the 17/18 and 18/19 season but after winning the West Midlands Regional League they are now back in the Midland Premier Division. 

They got the fifth round of the FA Vase in 2011/12. 



WALSALL WOOD were formed in the early part of the twentieth century with the earliest records dating back to 1915. The club's original name being Walsall Wood Ebenezer Primitive Methodists which indicated the club's connection the local Methodist church. A merger with Walsall Sports saw a new name of Walsall Borough used from 1982 with Walsall Wood being re-adopted in 1986. 

In 2012/13 The Wood reached the quarter-finals of the FA VASE. 


The most well known club in the Premier Division - City were formed in 1902 and were long time members of the Southern League after the Second World War and also played in non-league's top division from 1979 to 1985.  

They were relegated from the Vanarama North at the end of the 2016/17 but requested relegation down to Step Five due to the financial problems they were suffering. They had lost their historic St George's Lane home in 2013 and had been ground sharing with Kidderminster Harriers and Bromsgrove Sporting. 

The club have a rich history in the FA Cup - In 1959 they famously beat Liverpool 2-1 at home in the Third Round and were then defeated at home to Sheffield United in front of 17,042 fans at their old ground. 

More recently in 82/83 they played Coventry City in the Third Round and in 14/15 they again drew The Sky Blue in the First Round and won 1-2 at The Rioch Arena making national headlines once again. 

Plans for a new ground in the City at Nunnery Way were unfortunately shelved in 2013 and further plans were put in for a new development at Perdiswell Sports Centre were rejected a number of times. 

Happily for the 2020/21 season the club have moved back to Worcester and currently play at Claines Lane which is the home to the Worcestershire Football Association. 

With a home ground now in their home City it's hoped the club can climb back up the pyramid.