Staffs County League Fans’ Guide 2017

Welcome to the seventh edition of the Staffs County League fans’ guide. The divisional structure has reverted back to just one Division Two, from regionalised North and South divisions. This is largely due to a lack of teams forthcoming from South Staffordshire. All existing teams from the previous North and South divisions merge into one Division Two.
Please note that this is the provisional guide and subject to change during the close season. Please let me know of any errors, omissions or changes. Also note that the official league website does not suffix reserve teams with the word Reserves.

The Groundhog

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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 for the 2017-18 Season

Staffs County Teams 2017-18

Final Standings in 2016-17

Staffs County League Premier Table 2016-17

Staffs County League First DivisionTable 2016-17

Staffs County League Second Division N&S Table 2016-17

Map of the Clubs in the Staffordshire County League

Blue – Premier, Red– Division One Green– Division Two

Staffs County map 2017-18

Summary of Divisional changes

Premier Division

Abbey Hulton United leave the League, after 30 years’ service, to join the North West Counties League. Major improvement work continues on their Birches Head Road ground, with upgrades to their car park, hard standing, and a stand placed on the Redhills Road side. Lights aren’t up at time of going to press, but a base for a further stand has been laid.
Cheadle SMU folded early last season and Hilton Harriers are moving to the Central Midlands League. This left three spaces, which meant reprieves for bottom two clubs Eccleshall Reserves and Alsager Reserves. Old favourites Foley Meir (formerly just Foley) return to the top flight with runners-up Stone Dominoes Reserves. Joining them is the resurrected Eastwood Hanley, who finished third.

First Division

Foley Meir, Stone Dominoes Reserves and Eastwood Hanley leave, promoted to the Premier Division. Tunstall Town, erstwhile worst club in England, win Division Two North. Their promotion comes with a sponsorship deal and a name change to OSSMA Blurton TT FC (Ormiston Sir Stanley Matthews Academy Blurton Tunstall Town Football Club, to give them their full name). They moved to the other end of Stoke, from North to South of the city. Shenstone Pathfinder join them in the First, winning Division Two South. After a name change to Pathfinder last season, they have reinserted the Shenstone as a prefix for 17-18.

Hawkins Sports resigned from the league last season. MMU also depart due to the University closing their campus. With the three promotions to the Premier, this left room for two more promotions from each of Divisions Two North and South. From the North Foley Meir Reserves and Leek CSOB Reserves come up in 2nd and 3rd place respectively and Brereton Social and Walsall Phoenix Reserves come up from the South in 2nd and 3rd place respectively.

Division Two

Due to the folding of both Barton United Reserves and Stone Old Alleynians Reserves last season Division Two South finished with just eight clubs. The lack of clubs from the south has forced the league back to the one division two. Norton AFC and Congleton Rovers disappear. AFC Fenton join from the Coors Sunday League Division Four and will play at Longton Rugby Club. Goldenhill Wanderers will be playing at Trubshaw Cross and not their regular venue of Sandyford Cricket club. Hardman Development FC change their name to Norton Development FC (NDFC) and will play at Longton Rugby Club, along with AFC Fenton, but their juniors teams will play at Community Drive (defunct Norton United’s old ground), but not on the main pitch; on a newly created pitch to the side of the cricket ground.

Key Facts for 2017-18

Ashbourne are still sharing with Rocester, while work progresses on their new Shrovetide Stadium.
Eastwood Hanley are at Wellbeing Park, Yarnfield, this season. Stone Old Alleynians’ complex, but on a satellite pitch. However, they are playing two friendlies at their old venue of Trentmill Road (well worth a visit) and two friendlies at Northwood Stadium (£G pitch).
Keele University play on a grass pitch at Keele Sports Centre but have access to a floodlit 3G pitch that has a seated covered stand.
Tunstall Town play at the OSSMA Academy on a grass pitch but have access to a floodlit 3G pitch.
Goldenhill Wanderers are now at Trubshaw Cross, NOT Sandyford Cricket Club.
Hardman Development FC (HDFC) have changed name to Norton Development FC (NDFC). They will now play at Longton Rugby Club, along with AFC Fenton, but their junior teams will play at Community Drive, but not the main pitch, on a new pitch set up where the cricket ground is, the cricket team having merged with Bagnall and departed. For hoppers who never got to visit defunct Norton United, it is now the home of Stoke City Ladies, so still an opportunity to get the ground in.
Red Star Alma move home grounds to the old Bloxwich United ground, the Old Red Lion Ground.
Prison side Featherstone rejoin the Staffs County; they will play all their home games at HMP Featherstone, due to the substantial risk of there being considerably less than 11 players at the end of an away game.

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Paper
Staffs County League grounds don’t generally sell newspapers or reams of A4. However, most in the top two divisions will have toilet paper.

Did you mean Programmes?
Teams who have stated they will be issuing programmes for next season are Florence and Wolstanton United in the Premier and Penkridge in the First.
See table below for programmes, lights, stands and other points of note. I haven’t put notes for grounds that are shared with higher placed teams.

SCSL 2017-18 Progslightsstands Prem

SCSL 2017-18 Progslightsstands First

SCSL 2017-18 Progslightsstands Second

Groundhopping

Premier Division

Just concentrating of those grounds that aren’t shared with higher placed first teams and ignoring Ashbourne at Rocester, there are some great venues in the Premier League. Probably the best is Division One Champions Foley Meir’s Whitcombe Road venue. A ground full of character with a small original seated stand, elevated grass banking on two sides and some great views. Florence is another favourite of mine, with an original covered terrace stand and good views. Knypersley Victoria played at step five for a long while, and so their ground has lights and a small stand behind one goal. One side backs on to the cricket pitch. Pointon Park is worth a visit, it has lights but no stand as yet. While Eastwood Hanley are sharing at Yarnfields, it’s worth trying to make it for a friendly at their spiritual home of Trentmill Road. Remains of the old terrace are still there to stand on. Of the rest I’d recommend Wolstanton United; and they issue a programme, which is a bonus.

Other Divisions

Both Keele University and OSSMA Blurton TT have access to two grounds. Look out for 7.45 kick offs which will be at their 3G pitches. Keele’s has a stand, albeit an Arena style one. Brereton Social’s Red Lion ground is a cracker, with lights, stand and views. Audley’s Town Fields is also worth a visit, with two small bus shelter stands.
Acorn Albion play at the St Georges Park multi pitch venue in Barton-under-Needwood. They play on a floodlit pitch. The other venue of note is AFC Fenton, who are using Longton Rugby Club.

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List of clubs by division

Premier Division

Alsager Town Reserves
Founded: 1968
Ground: Wood Park Stadium (Alsager Town, NWCL One), Wood Park, Alsager ST7 2DP.

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