(For a story on Milton Keynes Borough v Milton Keynes City game from 1983 please click here to read an article I wrote in 2010)
On Saturday 17th January 1981 Milton Keynes City, known as The Gladiators, entertained Bromsgrove Rovers in the Southern League Midland Division. The Southern League at the time was split into a Midland and Southern division and fed into the Alliance Premier League.
City had joined the Southern League as Bletchley Town in 1971 and had struggled since finishing in the lower half of the table every season aside from 72/73 when they finished 9th.
There was no difference this season as City were without a win up to this date in twenty-three league games played. They had been 0-2 up at Redditch United (who were also struggling towards the bottom of the table after relegation from the APL in 1980) but the home side had ended up winning 3-2.
Dave Liddle had fractured his ankle in the game and been replaced after only five minutes by 16 year old Mark King. Rovers went into the game on the back of a seven game winning run in December 1980 and their manager Alan Wood had been given the manager of the month award.
Listed in Manager Dave Howitt's line up as substitute is a young Terry Shrieves who is now Manager of the MK Irish. Milton Keynes City played in Tangerine and Black Kit.
In the Bromsgrove line up is Lyndon Hughes who made 125 appearances for West Bromwich Albion between 1968 and 1975.
THE HISTORY OF FOOTBALL IN MILTON KEYNES - TEAMS THAT PLAYED FROM STEP SEVEN UPWARDS
Wolverton Town/Wolverton Town MK/MK Wolverton Town/Wolverton
1887 to 1992
Wolverton Town were formed in 1887 and played in the Isthmian League in the early 1980's changing names to Wolverton Town MK in 1988 and then MK Wolverton Town (aka Milton Keynes Wolves) in 1989 and then just plain and simple Wolverton in 1990. The club folded in 1992. Up until this time and the club's demise the stand at Wolverton Park was one of the oldest football stands still in regular use in the UK.
Bletchley Sports/Bletchley Town & WIPAC/Bletchley Town/Milton Keynes City
1914 to 1984/85
Bletchley Sports were formed in 1914 and played as Bletchley Sports Club after the First World War becoming Bletchley Town in 1930. Bletchley Town Sports (nicknamed The Gladiators) were re-formed after the Second World War and became Bletchley Town in 1956. Milton Keynes City (effectively formed in 1974 after changing names from Bletchley Town). City represented the Town in the Southern League during the 1970s and 1980s and are not to be confused with the Milton Keynes City club (formed in 1998 after 'Mercedes-Benz' changed names). The original club plugged away in the Southern League until 1984 when they unfortunately folded with their record expunged from the league records.
Belsize/Milton Keynes Borough
1970 to 1992
Belsize played in the United Counties League in the early 70s changing names to MK Borough in 1976 who played in the UCL, Hellenic League and South Midlands League up to 1992.
Milton Keynes United/Milton Keynes Town
1984 to1987
United joined the South Midlands League in 1984 and changed names to Town in 1987 only to leave the league after one season.
Milton Keynes United/Milton Keynes Town
1984 to 1987
United joined the South Midlands League in 1984 and changed names to Town in 1987 only to leave the league after one season.
Milford Villa
1986 to 1987
Played in the South Midland League Division One for the 86/87 season where they finished bottom of the table. They played at the Hodge Lea Playing Fields to the North West of MK.
Mercedes-Benz/Milton Keynes City
1993 to 2003
Joined the South Midlands League Division One in 1993 and changed names to MK City in 1998. Their last season in the Premier Division was in 2002/03.
Milton Keynes FC/Bletchley Town
1993 to 2000
Formed from the ashes of MK Borough's demise a new club called simply 'Milton Keynes' was formed and joined the South Midlands League. In 1999 the club changed it's named to Bletchley Town, I assume to be more representative of the area where they played. The new Bletchley Town club folded during the 99/00 season.
Milton Keynes County
1993 to 1994
This club appeared briefly in 1993 and played in the South Midlands League Division One.
Milton Keynes Dons
2004 to present day
The formation of the Dons caused much controversy when Wimbledon relocated to the town - Much has been written about it so I'll steer clear of this for the purposes of this article. Initially based at the National Hockey Stadium they moved to the purpose built Stadium MK for the 07/08 season. They have spent one season in the Championship in 15/16 when they finished second from bottom. The Dons currently play in League One alongside AFC Wimbledon who were formed following the contentious move in 2004.
Wolverton Town/Unite MK/MK Irish
2004 to 2019
A new Wolverton Town were formed in 2004 and played in local Sunday league football before joining the SSML D2 for the 2012/13 season changing it's name to Unite MK for the 16/16 season. Merged with MK Robins and local side MK Irish Vets to form MK Irish who now play in the SSMFL D1.
MK Scot
2005 to 2007
Joined the Spartan South Midlands League Division in 05/06 and left the league part way through the 06/07 season.
Bletchley Town
2008 to 2012
Bletchley Town were reformed in 2008 to play in the SSMFL Division Two. They once again folded in 2012.
MK Wanderers
2008 to present day
Played in the Spartan South Midlands League Divsion Two from 2008 to 2012. Currently playing in the North Bucks and District Division One.
Clean Slate
2010 to present day
Spent five seasons in the SSMFL Division Two from 2014 to 2019. The club were formed in 2010 as a Christian football club with values of encouragement, grace, respect and passion. Their first team currently plays in the North Bucks and District Division One and their home is the Down Barns Pavilion in the town.
Willen
2013 to present day
Willen played in the SSMFL D2 for two seasons and then dropped back down to the North Bucks League. They finished 14th (of 14) and 14th (of 15).
MK Gallacticos
2016 to present day
Joined the Spartan South Midlands League Division Two from the North Bucks and District League in 2016.
Buckingham Town/MK Robins/MK Irish
1883 to present day
Buckingham Town lost their historic ground Ford Meadow ground at the end of the 2011 season and after ground sharing with Winslow United for a season moved to Manor Fields in Bletchley for the 12/13 season. The club was on the brink of closure prior to the 18/19 season but it continued being renamed MK Robins midway through the season.
A merger with UNITE MK and MK Irish Vets in May 2020 saw the creation of MK Irish who now play at Manor Fields.
There is still a Milton Keynes City Football Club in existence - Milton Keynes City Youth FC were formed in 1986 and changed to Milton Keynes City in 2005 with a girls and ladies section added in 2007. The club celebrated it's 30th competitive season in 2017 by signing a 20 year lease for their home ground at The Tattenhoe and Derwent Playing Fields. The club's first team plays in the Wharfside Electrical Milton Keynes Sunday League Division Two. As you would expect the league contains many teams with MK in their name - MK Wanderes Sunday, MK Gallacticos Sunday, Athletico MK, MK Benfica, MK11, Lokomotiv MK, MK Galaxy and MK Village.
MK City Ladies first team currently play in the Thames Valley Counites Women's League Division Three (North).
Just outside of the main area of Milton Keynes there is Old Bradwell United, New Bradwell St Peter and Mursley United who all currently play in the step seven Spartan South Midlands League Division Two. To the North East of MK are Newport Pagnell Town who currently play in the SSMFL Premier Division.
The area also has the North Bucks and District Football League which sits below the SSML Division Two. This season they have clubs such as Bletchley Park (who did apply for the SSML D2 recently) who play at the Scot Sports and Social Club in Bletchley. They join the aforementioned Clean Slate in the Premier Division with City Colts. In the lower divisions there is MK Irish Athletic, Willen and MK Wanderers,
When football does return I can see no reason why MK Irish can't move onwards and upwards and with lots of hard work both on and off the pitch play at Step Four of the non-league ladder. MK has a population of around 230,000 with around 37,000 people residing in Bletchley so there are plenty of football fans out there.
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