There have been at least two different football competitions in England which used the name Midland Football League.
One existed until 1982 before merging with the Yorkshire League to form the Northern Counties (East) League. Year 1982 ( MCMLXXXII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar) The Yorkshire Football League was a football competition founded in 1920 which existed until 1982 when it merged with the Midland League to become the Northern Promotion and relegation The league's Premier Division is a feeder to the Northern Premier League First Division North or South, with the championship winning
Another changed its name from the Staffordshire Senior League in 1989 and lasted until 2005 when it merged with the Staffordshire County League to form the Staffordshire County Senior League. The Staffordshire Senior Football League was an English Association football competition based in the county of Staffordshire and its surrounding area The Staffordshire County League was an English Football (soccer competition based in the county of Staffordshire. Past winners Premier Division Division One Member clubs (2008-09 season Premier Division Abbey Hulton United| Alsager
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Midland League 1889-1960
Founded in 1889, only one year after the Football League, the Midland League was the second league for professional clubs to be formed. The Football League, also known as the Coca-Cola Football League for sponsorship reasons is a league competition featuring professional football clubs Eleven clubs participated in the first season, 1889-90, four of whom (including the first Champions, Lincoln City) would go on to achieve Football League status. Lincoln City FC are an English football team currently playing in Football League Two (the fourth tier of the English football league system The eleven founder members came from no less than six different counties.
In the early days of the Midland League, a number of the Champion clubs were elected to the Football League, and in return, League clubs who failed to be re-elected were often placed in the Midland League. Lincoln City and Doncaster Rovers both had a number of spells in both the Football League and Midland League. Doncaster Rovers Football Club (or informally Donny) are an English football club based at the Keepmoat Stadium in the town of Doncaster
With the larger professional clubs becoming stronger, they looked to place their reserve side in the Midland League, Derby County being the first in 1894-95. Derby County Football Club is a professional football club based at Pride Park Stadium in Derby England. Within less than a decade, more than half of the membership of the Midland League was made up of reserve teams. Reserve team is the term applied to the second team fielded by a Sports club.
Along with most other leagues, the Midland League closed down for the duration of World War I. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All When football resumed in 1919-20, the Midland League began to take on a different look. Three clubs (Chesterfield, Halifax Town and Lincoln City) joined the Football League when that organisation expanded to form a Third Division North, and the reserve sides of Football League clubs gradually left. Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. Halifax Town Association Football Club were an English football team who most recently played in the Conference National. More Midland League clubs progressed to the Football League, e. g. York City in 1929, and Mansfield Town in 1932. York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. Mansfield Town Football Club are an English football club who from the 2008&ndash09 season will compete in the Conference National.
Again, on the outbreak of World War II, the Midland League closed down, and resumed again in peacetime in 1945. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar After reaching a constitution of 24 clubs in 1946-47, the league entered a decade of stability. Peterborough United won the title for five consecutive seasons from 1955-56 to 1959-60. Peterborough United Football Club is an English professional football team based in Peterborough. With most of the remaining Football League clubs reserve sides leaving in 1958, the league was reduced to a rump of just 9 clubs, but was saved when the North Eastern League, a competition which had also suffered from the withdrawal of reserve sides, decided to disband, and the Midland League accepted into membership a number of north eastern sides, well to the north of its usual catchment area. Year 1958 ( MCMLVIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The North Eastern League was a Football (soccer League for teams in the North East of England.
However, this lifeline was to prove short lived. A new league, the Northern Counties League, was formed in 1960 and all the former North Eastern League clubs moved to the new competition. Year 1960 ( MCMLX) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Peterborough United were elected to the Football League (the last Midland League club to achieve this feat), and the Midland League closed down through lack of numbers.
Champions
The champion clubs during this era were as follows:[1]
Midland Counties League 1961-1982
After a single year without a Midland League, a re-formed competition entitled the Midland Counties League was formed, although common practice was still to refer to it as the "Midland League" and it is usually treated as a continuation of the former competition in reference sources. Lincoln City FC are an English football team currently playing in Football League Two (the fourth tier of the English football league system Gainsborough Trinity Football Club are an English football club based in Gainsborough Lincolnshire. Rotherham Town FC were an English football club from Rotherham, Yorkshire. Rotherham Town FC were an English football club from Rotherham, Yorkshire. Burton Wanderers were a football club from Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, England that spent three seasons in The Football League Loughborough Athletic and Football Club were an English football club based in Loughborough, Leicestershire, that played in The Football Kettering Town Football Club is a football club based in Kettering. Doncaster Rovers Football Club (or informally Donny) are an English football club based at the Keepmoat Stadium in the town of Doncaster Mexborough Town Athletic FC is an English football club from Mexborough, in the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster, South Yorkshire Doncaster Rovers Football Club (or informally Donny) are an English football club based at the Keepmoat Stadium in the town of Doncaster Kettering Town Football Club is a football club based in Kettering. Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire. Barnsley Football Club is an English football club based in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, and nicknamed the Tykes, with Toby Tyke Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire. Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire. Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire. Lincoln City FC are an English football team currently playing in Football League Two (the fourth tier of the English football league system Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. Grimsby Town are an English Football club playing in League Two, the fourth tier of English football Rotherham County Football Club was an English football club based in the town of Rotherham, Yorkshire. Rotherham County Football Club was an English football club based in the town of Rotherham, Yorkshire. Rotherham County Football Club was an English football club based in the town of Rotherham, Yorkshire. Rotherham County Football Club was an English football club based in the town of Rotherham, Yorkshire. Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. Lincoln City FC are an English football team currently playing in Football League Two (the fourth tier of the English football league system Worksop Town Football Club are a semi-professional English football club from Worksop, Nottinghamshire who play in the Northern Premier Mansfield Town Football Club are an English football club who from the 2008&ndash09 season will compete in the Conference National. Mansfield Town Football Club are an English football club who from the 2008&ndash09 season will compete in the Conference National. Mexborough Town Athletic FC is an English football club from Mexborough, in the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster, South Yorkshire Scunthorpe United Football Club are an English Association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire. Gainsborough Trinity Football Club are an English football club based in Gainsborough Lincolnshire. Mansfield Town Football Club are an English football club who from the 2008&ndash09 season will compete in the Conference National. Scarborough Football Club was an English football team based in the seaside resort of Scarborough, North Yorkshire. Grimsby Town are an English Football club playing in League Two, the fourth tier of English football Bradford Association Football Club (almost always referred to as Bradford (Park Avenue) are a football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire Grimsby Town are an English Football club playing in League Two, the fourth tier of English football Grimsby Town are an English Football club playing in League Two, the fourth tier of English football Barnsley Football Club is an English football club based in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, and nicknamed the Tykes, with Toby Tyke Barnsley Football Club is an English football club based in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, and nicknamed the Tykes, with Toby Tyke Barnsley Football Club is an English football club based in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, and nicknamed the Tykes, with Toby Tyke Shrewsbury Town Football Club are an English football club currently playing in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football Scunthorpe United Football Club are an English Association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire. Peterborough United Football Club is an English professional football team based in Peterborough. Shrewsbury Town Football Club are an English football club currently playing in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football Grimsby Town are an English Football club playing in League Two, the fourth tier of English football Shrewsbury Town Football Club are an English football club currently playing in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football Gainsborough Trinity Football Club are an English football club based in Gainsborough Lincolnshire. Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English professional football club based at the City Ground in West Bridgford, a suburb of Nottingham Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English professional football club based at the City Ground in West Bridgford, a suburb of Nottingham Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English professional football club based at the City Ground in West Bridgford, a suburb of Nottingham Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English professional football club based at the City Ground in West Bridgford, a suburb of Nottingham Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English professional football club based at the City Ground in West Bridgford, a suburb of Nottingham Notts County Football Club is a football club based in Nottingham, England, and the oldest of all the clubs that are now professional Peterborough United Football Club is an English professional football team based in Peterborough. Peterborough United Football Club is an English professional football team based in Peterborough. Peterborough United Football Club is an English professional football team based in Peterborough. Peterborough United Football Club is an English professional football team based in Peterborough. Peterborough United Football Club is an English professional football team based in Peterborough. [1] A few of the previous member clubs re-joined, with a number of new members, principally from the Central Alliance. With the formation of the Northern Premier League in 1968, the Midland League lost four of its most successful clubs, but by now the competition was a strong league again and more clubs were looking to join than the league had vacancies. History The Northern Premier League (NPL was founded in 1968, as the northern equivalent of the Southern League, decades after the other two leagues at what To cater for this, the league formed a second division in 1975-76. This division became "Division One" while the previous clubs formed the "Premier Division". Clubs had to achieve a high level of facilities to join the Premier Division, and in the seven seasons in which the two division format was used, no clubs were actually able to move from the lower to the upper tier. [1]
When senior football in the north of England was rationalised in 1982, the Midland League was one of those affected. Year 1982 ( MCMLXXXII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar) The league closed down, merging with the Yorkshire League to form the Northern Counties East League as a feeder league to the Northern Premier League. The Yorkshire Football League was a football competition founded in 1920 which existed until 1982 when it merged with the Midland League to become the Northern Promotion and relegation The league's Premier Division is a feeder to the Northern Premier League First Division North or South, with the championship winning
Champions
The champion clubs during this era were as follows:[1]
Premier Division
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Division One
- 1976 Brimington
- 1977 Long Eaton Grange
- 1978 Staveley Works
- 1979 Long Eaton Grange
- 1980 Arnold Kingswell
- 1981 Borrowash Victoria
- 1982 Staveley Works
Midland League 1994-2005
The Staffordshire Senior League was formed in 1984 and was a true County league, taking its clubs from Staffordshire and the areas immediately adjacent. Matlock Town FC is an English football club based at Causeway Lane in Matlock, Derbyshire. Grantham Town is a football club based in Grantham, Lincolnshire, currently playing in the Northern Premier League Division One South. Leamington Football Club is the main football club in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, England, currently playing in the Southern League Worksop Town Football Club are a semi-professional English football club from Worksop, Nottinghamshire who play in the Northern Premier Gainsborough Trinity Football Club are an English football club based in Gainsborough Lincolnshire. Ilkeston Town Football Club are an English football club based at the New Manor Ground in Ilkeston, Derbyshire. Matlock Town FC is an English football club based at Causeway Lane in Matlock, Derbyshire. Alfreton Town FC is an English Association football Club based in Alfreton, Derbyshire. Grantham Town is a football club based in Grantham, Lincolnshire, currently playing in the Northern Premier League Division One South. Grantham Town is a football club based in Grantham, Lincolnshire, currently playing in the Northern Premier League Division One South. Worksop Town Football Club are a semi-professional English football club from Worksop, Nottinghamshire who play in the Northern Premier Alfreton Town FC is an English Association football Club based in Alfreton, Derbyshire. Boston Town FC are a football team in Boston Lincolnshire, England. Eastwood Town FC is a football club from Eastwood, Nottinghamshire, playing in the Northern Premier League Premier Division Alfreton Town FC is an English Association football Club based in Alfreton, Derbyshire. Brigg Town Football Club, formed in 1864, are a football team from Brigg, North Lincolnshire. Boston Town FC are a football team in Boston Lincolnshire, England. Belper Town FC are a football team based in Belper, Derbyshire, England. Boston Town FC are a football team in Boston Lincolnshire, England. Shepshed Dynamo FC are a football team based in the small town of Shepshed in the North West of Leicestershire, England. Arnold Town FC is a football club based in Arnold Nottinghamshire, England. Borrowash Victoria Association Football Club is an English football club The Staffordshire Senior Football League was an English Association football competition based in the county of Staffordshire and its surrounding area Year 1984 ( MCMLXXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1984 Gregorian calendar) When the league wanted to raise its profile, and attract clubs from a wider area, the decision was made to rename the league as the "Midland League" with effect from the 1994-95 season. There is no direct connection to the earlier league of the same name, and the level of football was much lower, with the competition being a feeder to the North West Counties League in the pyramid. Overview The league was formed in 1982 by the merger of the Cheshire County League and the Lancashire Combination.
The "new" Midland League consisted of two divisions for the first three seasons, and from 1997 a single grouping. With a merger with the Staffordshire County League in 2005, the new competition became known as the Staffordshire County Senior League, and the Midland League title again fell into disuse. The Staffordshire County League was an English Football (soccer competition based in the county of Staffordshire. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Past winners Premier Division Division One Member clubs (2008-09 season Premier Division Abbey Hulton United| Alsager
Champions
The champion clubs during this era were as follows:
Division One
- 1995 Ball Haye Green[2]
- 1996 Leek CSOB[3]
- 1997 Norton United[4]
- 1998 Audley[5]
- 1999 Norton United[4]
- 2000 Stone Dominoes[6]
- 2001 Norton United[4]
- 2002 Eccleshall[7]
- 2003 Eccleshall[7]
- 2004 Abbey Hulton United[8]
- 2005 Hanley Town[9]
Division Two
- 1995 Florence
- 1996 Baddeley Green
- 1997 Foley[10]
References
- ^ a b c d RSSSF
- ^ Ball Haye Green at the Football Club History Database
- ^ Leek CSOB at the Football Club History Database
- ^ a b c Norton United at the Football Club History Database
- ^ Audley at the Football Club History Database
- ^ Stone Dominoes at the Football Club History Database
- ^ a b Eccleshall at the Football Club History Database
- ^ Abbey Hulton United at the Football Club History Database
- ^ Hanley Town at the Football Club History Database
- ^ Staffs County Senior League website
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