There are many changes in the Staffs County League for next season, but the structure has remained the same with the Premier, Division One and Regional Division Twos – North and South.
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.
List of Clubs
Map of the Clubs in the Staffordshire County League
Blue – Premier, Red– Div 1, Green– Div 2 North, Yellow– Div 2 South
Summary of Divisional changes
Premier Division
The Premier division gains an extra club this season, taking the total to 18. No clubs were promoted to a step six league, but MMU were relegated. Also leaving were Norton United Reserves, due to the sad affairs at Community Drive. Newcastle Town Reserves and Brereton Social depart the league also.
Coming in are Uttoxeter Town, who have elected to step back down from the Midland League, after one season. Four teams were promoted from League one – Leek CSOB, Knypersley Victoria, Silverdale Athletic and Cheadle South Moorlands United.
Division One
In Division One we lose the four promoted teams mentioned above. Betley are relegated to Division Two. Featherstone, Norton United Thirds and Uttoxeter Town Reserves withdraw. MMU are relegated from the Premier. Promoted are Cheadle Town Reserves, Longton Area FC (fka LA FC), Market Drayton Tigers, Whittington FC and Wolverhampton Sporting Community U21s. A reformed Stone Dominoes come back and Walsall Phoenix move over from the Birmingham AFA.
Division Two North
Division Two North sees Alsager’s Bank, Betley Reserves and Knypersley Reserves depart. Promoted to division one are Longton Area FC and Market Drayton Tigers. Betley are relegated from division one. New to the division are Audley Reserves, Chesterton, Hardman Development Centre, Keele University Reserves and AFC Wetley Victoria. Florence Reserves have become Norton FC.
Division Two South
Division Two South sees Hawkins Sports U21s and Real Medina depart. Cheadle Reserves, Whittington and Wolverhampton Sporting Community U21s are promoted to Division One. New to the league are Acorn Albion, the reserve side of Barton United of the Midland League 3 and the reserve side of Shenstone Pathfinder, from the WMRL One. Whittington have entered a reserves team and Penkridge Town also join the division.
Key Facts for 2015-16
Things to be aware of regarding ground changes and club information are summarised below:
- Newly formed clubs for this season: Chesterton AFC, Hardman Development FC, Norton FC (although emerging from Florence Reserves), AFC Wetley Victoria, Penkridge FC
- MMU have moved back to the Sandbach Football Development Centre, home of Cheshire League side Sandbach United; moving from the Cumberland Arena in Crewe.
- Cheadle Towns 1 and 2 and SMU all play at Thorley Road, Cheadle
- AFC Alsager are not sharing with Alsager Town, but playing at Dunnocksfold Road.
- Market Drayton Tigers play at the Greenfields complex but on a satellite pitch without floodlights.
- Longton Area FC were known last year as The LA FC.
- While Brereton Social first team have departed the league their U21 side are in Division Two South.
- Stone Dominoes have re-entered the Staffs County League at Division One.
- Eastwood Hanley have moved from Longton Rugby Club to the Hardman Development Centre in Milton, S-O-T.
- Longton Harriers’ old ground at Malthouse Lane is being used again, after a fallow season, by the newly formed club, AFC Wetley Victoria.
- The Hardman Development Centre is now home to three clubs in the League – Milton United, Eastwood Hanley and newly developed eponymous Hardman Development FC.
- Whittington FC have moved from to Beacon Park from Whittington Barracks in Chester Road, both in Lichfield, but still site the latter as an alternative ground, so check before going.
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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 Reserves.
(those with floodlights in their own right)
Ball Haye Green, Leek CSOB, Uttoxeter Town
Programmes
Uttoxeter Town, Wolstanton United
Division One:
Floodlights
(Due to sharing at first teams higher up the non league pyramid) – Wolverhampton Sporting Community U21s
Programmes
None
Division Two North:
Floodlights
(Due to sharing at first teams higher up the non league pyramid) – Leek CSOB
(those with floodlights in their own right) – Norton FC
Programmes
None
Division Two South
Floodlights
(Due to sharing at first teams higher up the non league pyramid) – Acorn Albion Reserves, Brereton Social U21s
(those with floodlights in their own right) – none
Programmes
None
Groundhopping
If you’re a groundhopper looking to try a few from this league I would recommend:
Leek CSOB, Audley, Kynpersley Victoria, Ball Haye Green, Florence, Wolstanton United, Foley, Keele University and Tunstall Town. It’s worth mentioning that the Malthouse Lane ground of Wetley Victoria is worth doing while it’s a Staffs County League venue as it is not used every year.
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.
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 – two stands, one Atcost at near side and bus shelter style cover on opposite side. Floodlights.
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…
Alsager Town Reserves
Founded: 1968
Ground: Law Training Stadium, Wood Park, Alsager ST7 2DP (Shared with Alsager Town, NWCL Premier).
Seated stand, covered terrace and floodlights.
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
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.
more photos…
Cheadle South Moorlands United
Founded: 2009
Ground: Thorley Drive, Cheadle ST10 1SA
Railed pitch, no stands, no floodlights, nice venue though.
more photos…
Cheadle Town
Founded: 1948
Ground: Thorley Drive, Cheadle, Staffordshire. ST10 1SA
Railed pitch, no stands, no floodlights, nice venue though.
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.
more photos…
Florence
Founded: 1995
Ground: Florence Sports & Social, Lightwood Road, Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, ST3 4JS Railed pitch, small stand, no floodlights
more photos…
Hilton Harriers
Founded: 1998
Ground: The Mease, Hilton, Derbyshire, DE65 5LS
(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.
more photos…
Knypersley Victoria
Founded: 2013
Ground: Knypersley Sports & Social, Tunstall Road,ST8 6JP
Small stand behind goal, thin terrace along side, ground shared with cricket club. Floodlights.
Leek County School Old Boys (CSOB)
Founded 1945
Ground: Pointon Park, Felthouse Lane, Cheddleton, Staffordshire, ST13 7BT
Great new venue, railed pitch no stand as yet, floodlights
Redgate Clayton
Founded: 1969
Ground: Clayton Community Centre, Northwood Lane, Clayton, ST5 4BN.
Fully railed pitch, no stands, no floodlights.
Silverdale Athletic
Founded: 1980
Ground: Kents Lane Football Ground, Sutton Lane, Sutton Avenue, Newcastle-u-Lyme, ST5 6TA
Part railed pitch, nice new clubhouse, looks like more development is imminent.
Uttoxeter Town
Founded: 1983
Grounds: Oldfields Sports Ground, Springfield Road, Uttoxeter, ST14 7JX
Railed pitch, Atcost stand and floodlights. Lovely pavillion site shared with cricket.
more photos…
Wolstanton United
Founded: 1946
Ground: Bradwell Community Centre, Riceyman Road, Bradwell, Newcastle-under-Lyme, ST5 8LD Fully railed pitch, some banking, no floodlights.
Small area of hard standing and small cover
more photos…
Division One
Abbey Hulton United Reserves
Founded: 1947
Ground: Birches Head Road, Abbey Hulton, ST2 8DD
more photos… Ashbourne FC
Founded: 1954
Ground: Ashbourne Recreation Ground, Cockayne Avenue, Ashbourne, DE6 1EJ
Cheadle Town Reserves
Founded: 1948
Ground: Thorley Drive, Cheadle, Staffordshire. ST10 1SA
Railed pitch, no stands, no floodlights
more photos…
Foley
Founded: 1947
Ground: Whitcombe Road, Meir , ST3 6NU
One of the best grounds in the Staffs County League, small quirky stand in the corner, raised banks and good views.
more photos…
Hawkins Sports FC
Founded: 1968
Ground: Hawkins Sports Club, Coppice Lane, Cheslyn Hay, WS6 7EY
Keele University
Founded: 1950
Ground: Sports Centre, Keele University, ST5 5BD Railed pitch, no stand, no floodlights, grass banking behind goal.
more photos…
Longton Area FC
Founded: 2013
Ground: Longton Rugby Club, Stanley Matthews Way Trentham Lakes,Trentham, Stoke-on-trent, ST4 8GR
(PIC courtesy of Steve Hardy)
Market Drayton Tigers
Founded: 1975
Ground: Greenfields Sports Ground, Greenfield Lane, Market Drayton, TF9 3SL (adjoining pitch next to Market Drayton Town’s ground)
Milton United
Founded: 2013
Ground: Hardman Centre Millrise Road, Milton, Stoke-on-Trent, ST2 7DN
more photos…
MMU Cheshire
Founded: 1960
Ground: Sandbach United FC, Hind Heath, Sandbach, Cheshire, CW11 3LZ
Check with the club which pitch they will play on. Photo is of the main pitch of Sandbach United
Redgate Clayton Reserves
Founded: 1969
Ground: Northwood Lane, Clayton, Newcastle. ST5 4BN
Stone Dominoes
Founded: 1987
Ground: Wellbeing Park, Yarnfield Lane, Yarnfield, ST15 0NF
Walsall Phoenix
Founded: 1897
Ground: Aldridge Stick & Wicket Club, Aldridge, Walsall, WS9 8NH
Whittington FC
Founded: 1981
Ground: Beacon Park, Greenhough Road, Lichfield, WS13 7AW or
Whittington Barracks, Chester Road, Lichfield, WS14 9PY
Wolverhampton Sporting Community U21s
Founded: 2001
Ground: Great Wryley FC, Hazel Lane, Great Wyrley, WS6 6AA
Division Two North
AFC Alsager
Founded: 2012
Ground: MMU Dunnocksfold Road, Alsager, Stoke-on-Trent ST7 2TH
Audley Reserves
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
more photos…
Betley FC
Founded: 1975
Ground: South Cheshire College, Danebank Avenue, Crewe, CW2 8AB
Chesterton AFC
Founded: 2015
Ground: Red Street Community Centre, Talke Road, Newcastle-u- Lyme, ST57AH
Congleton Rovers
Founded: 2004
Ground: Congleton High School, Box Lane, Congleton, CW12 4NS
Eastwood Hanley
Founded: 2013
Ground: Hardman Centre Millrise Road, Milton, Stoke-on-Trent, ST2 7BN
Hardman Development FC
Founded: 2015
Ground: Hardman Centre Millrise Road, Milton, Stoke-on-Trent, ST2 7BN
Keele University Reserves
Founded: 1950
Ground: Sports Centre, Keele University, ST5 5BD Railed pitch, no stand, no floodlights, grass banking behind goal.
more photos…
Leek County School Old Boys (CSOB) Reserves
Founded: 1945
Ground: Pointon Park, Cheddleton, Staffordshire, ST13 7BT
Great new venue, railed pitch no stand as yet, floodlights
Norton FC
Founded: 2015
Ground: Community Drive, Smallthorne, Stoke-on-Trent, ST6 1QF
Covered seating and two stands plus terracing, floodlights.
more photos…
Tunstall Town
Founded: 1949
Ground: Sandyford Cricket Club, Shelford Road, Stoke-on-Trent, ST6 5LA.
more photos…
AFC Wetley Victoria
Founded: 2015
Ground: Malthouse Fields, Cellarshead, Stoke-on-Trent, ST3 5BF
Division Two South
Acorn Albion FC
Founded: 2012
Ground: St Georges Park, Newborough Road Needwood, Burton, DE13 9PD
Barton United Reserves
Founded: 1950
Ground: Holland Sports Club, Efflinch Lane, Barton under Needwood, DE13 8ET
Brereton Social U21
Founded: 1899
Ground: Red Lion Ground, Armitage Lane, Brereton, Rugeley
Great ground, small stand fully railed and elevated views.
Cannock United
Founded: 2014
Ground: Norton Canes Community Centre, Brownhills Road, Norton Canes WS11 9SF
Hilton Harriers Athletic Reserves
Founded: 1998
Ground: The Mease Pavilion The Mease,, Hilton Derbyshire, DE65 5LS
Penkridge FC
Founded: 2015
Ground: Monkton Recreation Centre, Pinfold Lane, Penkridge, Stafford, ST19 5QP
Shenstone Pathfinder Reserves
Founded: 1968
Ground: Shenstone Pavillion Club, Birmingham Road, Shenstone, Staffordshire, WS14 0JR
Stone Old Alleynians
Founded: 1962
Ground: Wellbeing Park, Yarnfield Lane, Yarnfield, ST15 0NF
Walsall Phoenix Reserves
Founded: 1897
Ground: Aldridge Stick & Wicket Club, Aldridge, Walsall, WS9 8NH
Whittington FC ‘A’
Founded: 1981
Ground: Beacon Park, Greenhough Road, Lichfield, WS13 7AW or
Whittington Barracks, Chester Road, Lichfield, WS14 9PY
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 
According to the Staffs County League website from October 1st 2015 Division 2 North newcomers AFC Wetley Victoria will play all of their home fixtures at Sandyford Cricket Club, Shelford Road, Stoke-on-Trent.
After reading that news I went to watch their Division One Cup tie with Brereton Social Reserves today at Malthouse Fields. The Vics came from 0:2 down at HT to win 3:2. The ground has the most delightfully ramshackle dugouts you’ll ever see! There are a number of pitches there and they are using the one that is almost the furthest from the changing rooms!
Hi Mark,
Thanks for dropping by again. So are Wetley Victoria still playing at Malthouse Fields or is it just the reserves? I’ll have to check those dugouts out!
Hi again, Wetley Victoria first team will cease playing at Malthouse Fields and play all their home matches at Sandyford from the 1st October. I’m not aware of them having a reserve side. I do know Wetley Victoria run a Sunday League side so maybe they will continue to play at Malthouse Fields otherwise the ground will be disused again.
I have to say that you can really tell that the Malthouse Fields site wasn’t in use much last season, it is all looking a bit untidy to be honest. The nets that stopped balls going onto the busy main road have gone, though the ‘lamp posts’ they used to be fastened to are still in place. You’ll like the dugouts and the tattered corner flags (they reminded me of pirate flags for some reason). Plus of course local celebrity Neil ‘Nello’ Baldwin is their club president and was on the side-lines with the manager.
One other thing I wanted to mention to you is that there is another new team playing in Division Two South called Eastfield FC. I know nothing about them I’m afraid. But I do know that there is a team based in Wolverhampton of that name so they may be connected to them.
Wetley Victoria are now the re-formed Goldenhill Wanderers, and now play all their home games at Sandyford cricket club.