The Staffordshire County League sees a change of structure this year with division two regionalising; splitting into two divisions of North and South. This seems logical given that the geographical spread of clubs seemed to increase the lower down the divisions you went. This has led to a rise in the total number of clubs, seeing some new clubs and others moving from different leagues.
Changes to the Structure of the Staffs Counties League
| 2013-14 | 2014-15 | ||||
| League | No of Teams | League | No of Teams | ||
| Premier | 17 | Premier | 17 | ||
| Division One | 17 | Division One | 17 | ||
| Division Two | 13 | Div Two North | 11 | Div Two South | 10 |
The Staffordshire County League sits at step seven of the non league pyramid. It is classed in the 7A category, the highest classification of step seven. In general the clubs charge £2 for entrance in the Premier division, although a lot do not charge at all. The Staffs County League feeds into the North West Counties League. It comprises four divisions – Premier, One, Two North and Two South
Blue – Premier, Red– Div 1, Green– Div 2 North, Grey – Div 2 South
Premier Division
This season the Premier division will again start with 17 teams. Runners-up Uttoxeter Town have made the big move up to step six and the new Midland League; floodlights and stand to be added to last year’s perimeter bar at Oldfields. Keele University, who finished second bottom have elected for relegation to division one. Brereton Social and MMU come up from the first division as promotees. There are no other changes in the Premier. This time there are four reserve teams playing – Alsager, Eccleshall, Kidsgrove and Norton. Then there are two more pseudo reserve teams, AFC Hanley and AFC Leek Town, their new name registrations were originally to circumvent the maximum of five reserve teams rule. This season, for the first time, there is also an under 21s side – Newcastle Town. This leaves ten teams left which are not reserves or under 21s. The more established stalwarts of the division – Abbey Hulton United, Ball Haye Green, Florence, Redgate Clayton and current champions Wolstanton United. There’s the teams who have come up in recent years – Audley, Cheadle Town and Hilton Harriers. Then we have the promoted clubs Brereton Social and MMU (Manchester Metropolitan University)
Division One
In division one, moving up and out were promoted sides Brereton Social and MMU (both floodlit). Coming up from division two are Featherstone (a prison side), Hawkins Sports and Uttoxeter Town Reserves. After resigning from the NWCL, Leek County School Old Boys (Leek CSOB) start afresh in this division at their new ground in Cheddleton – Pointon Park; no longer sharing with Leek Town at Harrison Park. Keele University elected to drop down from the Premier division at the end of last season. Hall Heath, the other prison side, have moved to the Mercian League. Congleton Athletic and have folded. Sandbach United Reserves have dropped out, their first team playing in the Cheshire League
Division Two
Of last year’s 14 teams, three were promoted: Featherstone, Hawkins Sports and Uttoxeter Town Reserves.
Four of the remaining 11 join the Northern division: Betley Reserves, Cheadle Town Reserves, Leek CSOB Reserves, and Tunstall Town (erstwhile worst club in Britain, who are hoping to build on their first point in six years, gained last season). New clubs AFC Alsager, Congleton Rovers, Florence Reserves and Knypersley Reserves come in alongside them. Joining these eight are Alsager’s Bank, moving up from the Potteries District League and Market Drayton Tigers, moving from the Mercian League. Longton Adderley Green (AG) resigned just before the start of the season but are replaced by a resurrected Eastwood Hanley, playing non-league football again for the first time since folding in 1997. They will be playing at Longton Rugby Club (where Longton AG were) for now and not their Trentmill Road ground from yesteryear. Trentmill Road does still host games at Sunday League level and hopefully will be used again at a higher level soon
Four of the remaining 11 join the Southern division: Cheadle Town Reserves, Hilton Harriers Reserves, Stone Old Alleynians and Whittington. Joining these will be new team Cannock United and Brereton Social Under 21s and Hawkins Sports Reserves. The remaining three of the 10 are Real Medina from the Burton League, Walsall Phoenix from the Birmingham & District AFA Premier division and Wolverhampton Sporting Community Under 21s, a merger of their under 18s and reserve sides.
Two of the remaining 11 have gone – Longton, who played at Tunstall Road, Knypersley Vic’s ground and Milton United Reserves, who played at Malthouse Lane, erstwhile home of Longton Harriers.
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There have been a few changes since last season, with a few teams switching grounds and some sharing arrangements changing. These are summarised below:
- Uttoxeter Town reserves are now using both their St George’s Park in Barton-under-Needwood near Burton, but ALSO Oldfields, home of their now NWCL first team. I guess you need to ring beforehand to find out which venue is being used.
- AFC Leek still share with Ball Haye Green
- Leek CSOB and their reserves are now at their new home of Pointon Park in Cheddleton, moving from Westwood College
- Silverdale Athletic have moved from Shamblers in Whisper Lane, near junction 15 of the M6 to Kents Lane Football Grounds in Sutton Avenue, Newcastle.
- Bradwell FC still play in Crewe at Willaston White Star FC, in Willaston
- MMU have moved to the floodlit Cumberland Arena in Crewe, no longer sharing with Sandbach United
- Cheadle Towns 1 and 2 and Cheadle SMU still all play at Thorley Road, Cheadle
- Betley Reserves are no longer at South Cheshire College with Betley, but now at the Yarnfields Complex
- AFC Alsager are not sharing with Alsager Town, but playing at MMU, Dunnocksfold Road (not to be confused with MMU in the Premier League)
- Newly reformed Eastwood Hanley will not be at their spiritual Trentmill Road home, but sharing at Longton Rugby Club
- Market Drayton will be playing at the Greenfields complex of MDT of the Evostik. The Staffs handbook says it is without lights so it may be playing on a different pitch.
- Also sharing Longton Rugby club is the LAFC, moving from their Holditch Moners Welfare Club ground. Note the name change to LAFC from LA Holditch.
- Whittington FC have moved from Ravenhill Park in Rugeley to Whittington Barracks, Chester Road, Lichfield.
- Wolverhampton Sporting Community Under 21s are not playing at their WSC first team ground at Amos Lane, but at Great Wryley FC, Hazel Lane, Great Wyrley WS6 6AA.
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Floodlights and Programmes
Premier:
Floodlights
(Due to sharing at first teams higher up the non league pyramid) – AFC Hanley Town (reserves), AFC Leek Town (reserves), Alsager Town Reserves, Eccleshall Reserves, Kidsgrove Athletic, Newcastle Town Under 21s, Norton United Reserves.
(those with floodlights in their own right)
Ball Haye Green, Brereton Social, MMU
Programmes
A poor showing for programmes this year with just champions Wolstanton United issuing on a regular basis.
Division One:
Floodlights
(Due to sharing at first teams higher up the non league pyramid) – Norton United thirds, Stapenhill, Uttoxeter Reserves (when playing at Oldfields)
(those with floodlights in their own right) – Knypersley Victoria
Programmes
Leek CSOB Reserves, Uttoxeter Town Reserves (according to Staffs League handbook)
Division Two North:
Floodlights
(Due to sharing at first teams higher up the non league pyramid) – Knypersley Victoria Reserves
(those with floodlights in their own right) – none
Programmes
None
Division Two South
Floodlights
(Due to sharing at first teams higher up the non league pyramid) – Brereton Social Under 21s
(those with floodlights in their own right) – none
Programmes
None
Groundhopping
If you’re a groundhopper looking to try a few from this league my favourites are:
Ball Haye Green, Florence, Wolstanton United, Foley, Keele University and Tunstall Town.
List of clubs by division
Premier Division
Abbey Hulton United
Founded: 1947
Ground: Birches Head Road, Abbey Hulton, Stoke-on-Trent, ST2 8DD (North East of Stoke-on-Trent) Fully railed ground but no stands or terracing. It does have a good raised bank on one long side for elevated views.
Programme: no Entrance £2 more photos…
AFC Hanley Town
Founded: 1966
Ground: Abbey Lane, Bucknall, Stoke-on-Trent ST2 8AU (Shared with Hanley Town, NWCL One), in the North East of Stoke-on-Trent Fully railed ground, one stand. Shortly to have floodlights and seats due to first team moving up to the North West Counties league
Floodlights Yes Programme: no Entrance £2 (£1 concession) more photos…
AFC Leek Town
Founded: 2012
Ground: Ball Haye Green Sports & Social, Leek ST13 6BH Fully railed ground with one covered long stand, with benches and chairs. more photos…
Floodlights Yes Programme: no Entrance: u/k
Alsager Town Reserves
Founded: 1968
Ground: Law Training Stadium, Wood Park, Alsager ST7 2DP (Shared with Alsager Town, NWCL Premier), in Alsager Seated stand, covered terrace and floodlights.
Programme: no Entrance: u/k more photos…
Audley
Founded: 1895
Ground: Town Fields, Old Road, Bignall End, ST7 8QH Railed pitch, two small bus shelters stands either side of dug outs, no floodlights
Programme: no Entrance: u/k more photos…
Ball Haye Green
Founded: 1880
Ground: Ball Haye Green Sports & Social, Leek ST13 6BH Fully railed ground with one covered long stand, with benches and chairs.
Floodlights Yes Programme: No Entrance: £2 (including entry to half time raffle) more photos…
Brereton Social FC
Founded: 1899
Ground: Red Lion Ground, Armitage Lane, Brereton, Rugeley, WS15 1ED
Floodlights Yes Programme: No
Cheadle Town
Founded: 1948
Ground: Thorley Drive, Cheadle, Staffordshire. ST10 1SA Railed pitch, no stands, no floodlights.
Programme: Yes Entrance: no more photos…
Eccleshall AFC Reserves
Founded: 1983
Ground: Pershall Park, Chester Road, Pershall, Staffordshire ST21 6NE (shared with Eccleshall, NWCL One) Seated stand, covered terrace and floodlights.
Programme: no Entrance: u/k more photos…
Florence
Founded: 1995
Ground: Florence Sports & Social, Lightwood Road, Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, ST3 4JS Railed pitch, small stand, no floodlights Programme: no Entrance: u/k more photos…
Hilton Harriers
Founded: 1998
Ground: The Mease, Hilton, Derbyshire, DE65 5LS Railed pitch, small stand, no floodlights Programme: no Entrance: free (Pic courtesy of Pat Brunning) 
Kidsgrove Athletic Reserves
Founded: 1952
Ground: The Seddon Stadium, Hollinwood Road, Kidsgrove, ST7 1DQ (shared with Kidsgrove Athletic, Evostik One South) Stands and seating on all four sides, floodlights.
Programme: no Entrance: £2 (£1 concessions) more photos…
MMU Cheshire
Founded: 1960 Ground: Cumberland Arena, Thomas Street, Crewe, CW1 2BD
Floodlights: Yes
Programme: No
Newcastle Town Under 21s
Founded: 1964
Ground: The Aspire Stadium, Buckmaster Road, Clayton, Newcastle-under-Lyme, ST5 3BX (shared with Newcastle Town, Evostik One South) Stand and covered terrace around velodrome, floodlights.
Programme: no Entrance: £2 (£1 concessions) Other: Sky TV in clubhouse more photos…
Norton United Reserves
Founded: 1970
Ground: The Autonet Insurance Stadium, Community Drive, Smallthorne, Stoke-on-Trent, ST6 1QF (shared with Norton United, NWCL Premier) Covered seating and two terrace stands, floodlights.
Programme: no Entrance: £2 (£1 concessions) more photos…
Redgate Clayton
Founded: 1969
Ground: Clayton Community Centre, Northwood Lane, Clayton, ST5 4BN. Fully railed pitch, no stands, no floodlights.
Programme: no Entrance: u/k
Wolstanton United
Founded: 1946
Ground: Bradwell Community Centre, Riceyman Road, Bradwell, Newcastle-under-Lyme, ST5 8LD Fully railed pitch, some banking, no floodlights.
Programme: yes Entrance: £2 (includes programme and half time raffle draw) Other: refreshments in community room Ground Improvements: Small area of hard standing and small cover for 2014/15 season more photos…
Division One
Abbey Hulton United Reserves
Founded: 1947
Ground: Birches Head Road, Abbey Hulton, ST2 8DD
Floodlights: NoProgramme: No more photos… Ashbourne FC
Founded: 1954
Ground: Ashbourne Recreation Ground, Cockayne Avenue, Ashbourne DE6 1EJ
Programme: No
Betley FC
Founded: 1975
Ground: South Cheshire College, Danebank Avenue, Crewe, CW2 8AB
Programme: No
Bradwell FC
Founded: 2000
Ground: Willaston White Star FC, Tricketts Lane, Willaston, Crewe, CW5 6PX
Programme: No (Pic courtesy of Pat Brunning) 
Cheadle SMU
Founded: 2009
Ground: Thorley Drive, Cheadle ST10 1SA
Programme: No more photos…
Featherstone FC
Founded: 1968
Ground: HMP Featherstone, New Road, Featherstone Near Wolverhampton, WV10 7PU
Programme: No
Foley
Founded: 1947
Ground: Whitcombe Road, Meir , ST3 6NU
Programme: No more photos…
Hawkins Sports FC
Founded: 1968
Ground: Hawkins Sports Club, Coppice Lane, Cheslyn Hay, WS6 7EY
Programme: No
Keele University
Founded: 1950
Ground: Sports Centre, Keele University, ST5 5BD Railed pitch, no stand, no floodlights, grass banking behind goal.
Programme: no Entrance: free more photos…
Knypersley Victoria
Founded: 2013
Ground: Knypersley Sports & Social, Tunstall Road,ST8 6JP
Programme: No
Leek County School Old Boys (CSOB)
Founded 1945
Ground: Pointon Park, Felthouse Lane, Cheddleton, Staffordshire, ST13 7BT
Programme: Yes
Milton United
Founded: 2013
Ground: Hardman Centre Millrise Road, Milton, Stoke-on-Trent, ST2 7DN
Programme: No more photos…
Norton United Thirds
Founded: 2011
Ground: Norton C.C. & M.W. Institute, Community Drive, Smallthorne, ST6 1QF
Programme: No more photos…
Redgate Clayton Reserves
Founded: 1969
Ground: Northwood Lane, Clayton, Newcastle. ST5 4BN
Programme: NoSilverdale Athletic
Founded: 1980
Ground: Kents Lane Football Ground, Sutton Lane, Sutton Avenue, Newcastle-u-Lyme, ST5 6TA
Programme: No
Stapenhill FC Reserves
Founded: 1947
Ground: Maple Grove, Stapenhill, Burton-on-Trent, DE15 9NN
Programme: No
Uttoxeter Town Reserves
Founded: 2013
Grounds: Oldfields Sports Ground, Springfield Road, Uttoxeter, ST14 7JX
St Georges’ Park, Barton-under-Needwood
Floodlights: Yes, installed 2014 Programme: Yes more photos…
Division Two North
AFC Alsager
Founded: 2012
Ground: MMU Dunnocksfold Road, Alsager, Stoke-on-Trent ST7 2TH
Programme: No
Alsager’s Bank
Founded: 2012
Ground: The Drive, Alsagers Bank, Stoke-on-Trent ST7 8BB
Programme: No
Betley Reserves
Founded: 1975
Ground: Wellbeing Park, Yarnfield Lane, Yarnfield ST15 0NF
Programme: No
Congleton Rovers
Founded: 2004
Ground: Congleton High School, Box Lane, Congleton, CW12 4NS
Programme: No
Eastwood Hanley
Founded: 2014
Ground: Longton Rugby Club, Stanley Matthews Way Trentham Lakes,Trentham, Stoke-on-trent, ST4 8GR
Programme: No (PIC courtesy of Steve Hardy)
Florence Reserves
Founded: 2012
Ground: Florence Sports & Social, Lightwood Road, Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, ST3 4JS Railed pitch, small stand, no floodlights Programme: no Entrance: u/k more photos…
Knypersley Victoria
Founded: 2013
Ground: Knypersley Sports & Social, Tunstall Road, ST8 6JP
Programme: No
LA FC
Founded: 2013
Ground: Longton Rugby Club, Stanley Matthews Way Trentham Lakes,Trentham, Stoke-on-trent, ST4 8GR
Programme: No (PIC courtesy of Steve Hardy)
Leek County School Old Boys (CSOB) Reserves
Founded: 1945
Ground: Pointon Park, Cheddleton, Staffordshire, ST13 7BT
Programme: No
Market Drayton Tigers
Founded: 1975
Ground: Greenfields Sports Ground, Greenfield Lane, Market Drayton, TF9 3SL (adjoining pitch next to Market Drayton Town’s ground)
Programme: No
Tunstall Town
Founded: 1949
Ground: Sandyford Cricket Club, Shelford Road, Stoke-on-Trent, ST6 5LA.
Programme: No more photos…
Division Two South
Brereton Social Under 21s
Founded: 1899
Ground: Red Lion Ground, Armitage Lane, Brereton, Rugeley
Floodlights: Yes Programme: No
Cannock United
Founded: 2014
Ground: Brownhills Road, Norton Canes WS11 9SF
Programme: No
Cheadle Town Reserves
Founded: 1948
Ground: Thorley Drive, Cheadle, Staffordshire. ST10 1SA Railed pitch, no stands, no floodlights
Programme: no Entrance: no more photos…
Hawkins Sports Under 21s
Founded: 1968
Ground: Hawkins Sports Club, Coppice Lane, Cheslyn Hay, WS6 7EY
Programme: No
Hilton Harriers Athletic
Founded: 1998
Ground: The Mease Pavilion The Mease,, Hilton Derbyshire, DE65 5LS
Programme: No
Real Medina
Founded: 1997
Ground: Eaton Park, Shakespeare Road, Burton-on-Trent, DE14 2RU
Programme:
Stone Old Alleynians
Founded: 1962
Ground: Wellbeing Park, Yarnfield Lane, Yarnfield, ST15 0NF
Programme: No
Walsall Phoenix
Founded: 1897
Ground: Aldridge Stick & Wicket Club, Aldridge, Walsall, WS9 8NH
Programme: No
Whittington FC
Founded: 1981
Ground: Whittington Barracks, Chester Road, Lichfield, WS14 9PY
Programme: No
Wolverhampton Sporting Community
Founded: 2001
Ground: Great Wryley FC, Hazel Lane, Great Wyrley, WS6 6AA
Programme: No
Contributions
Thanks to Pat Brunning and Steve Hardy for contributing some photos I was missing (Pat – Hilton Harriers and Bradwell; Steve – Eastwood Hanley and LAFC (Longton Rugby Club)
Thanks to Dennis Vickers (club secretary for Norton United) for the Staffs County Handbook 2014-15
The Groundhog 
Wrong information. Wolstanton United were last season’s Premier Division Champions, not Uttoxeter Town.
You’re right. Thanks for pointing it out. I’ll change it now.
You should get a medal for this guide – invaluable.
However, just a couple of points. You have the address for Wellbeing Park as Crewe in the entry for Betley Res when it is of course at Yarnfield. The postcodes for Ball Haye Green’s ground are different on the entries for AFC Leek Town and BHG too.
Also some postcodes not on here. The Red Lion Ground, Armitage Lane, Brereton, Rugeley is WS15 1ED.
Clayton Community Centre, Northwood Lane, Clayton, Newcastle-under-Lyme is ST5 4BN.
Sandyford Cricket Club, Shelford Road, Stoke-on-Trent is ST6 5LA.
Hope that helps. Keep up the good work. It was good to chat to you again at Norton’s game against Loughborough the other night.
Regards
Mark (LTFC Programme seller)
Hi Mark,
Good to see you too. Thanks for the compliment and thanks also for the corrections, that’s useful, I’ll update them tonight. Let me know if you think of any improvements I can make generally, cos I love compiling these guides.
Cheers, David
Are you planning to re-visit Hanley Town anytime soon and update your entry for them? They have moved the dug-outs to the opposite side of the pitch to accommodate ‘The Colin Stair’ seated stand. Installed floodlights, tarmacked the area from the ground entrance to the clubhouse, installed a turnstile, extended the car park and had it tarmacked and are in the process of building new pitches beside the ground! You currently cannot go behind the goal at the clubhouse end though as the have not yet constructed hard standing on that side of the ground.
Well worth another visit I would think.
I am afraid that Bradwell FC have now resigned from Division One of the County Senior League and their record has been expunged.