West Midlands (Regional) League 3761368 225584056 2008-07-14T12:37:04Z ChrisTheDude 625916 /* West Midlands (Regional) League */ +wl {| class="infobox football" style="width: 16em; text-align: center;" |- ! style="" | West Midlands (Regional) League |- | style="line-height: 15px;" | [[Image:LOGOWMRL.jpg|none|100px]] |- | style="background: #BFD7FF;" | '''Founded''' |- | style="" | 1889 |- | style="background: #BFD7FF;" | '''Nation''' |- | style="" | {{ENG}} |- | style="background: #BFD7FF;" | '''Feeder To''' |- | style="" | [[Midland Football Alliance|Midland Alliance]] |- | style="background: #BFD7FF;" | '''Divisions''' |- | style="" | Premier Division<br />Division One<br />Division Two |- | style="background: #BFD7FF;" | '''Number of Teams''' |- | style="" | 53 |- | style="background: #BFD7FF;" | '''Levels on Pyramid''' |- | style="" | [[English football league system|Level 10 to Level 12]] |- | style="background: #BFD7FF;" | '''Cups''' |- | style="" |Premier Division League Cup<br />Division One League Cup<br />Division Two League Cup |- | style="background: #BFD7FF;" | '''Current Champions (2007-08)''' |- | style="" | Bridgnorth Town ''(Premier)''<br />Bloxwich United ''(Division One)''<br />Wellington Amateurs ''(Division Two)'' |- |} The '''West Midlands (Regional) League''' is an [[England|English]] [[association football]] competition for semi-professional and amateur teams based in the [[West Midlands (county)|West Midlands]], [[Shropshire]], [[Herefordshire]], [[Worcestershire]] and [[South Staffordshire]]. It has three divisions, the highest of which is the Premier Division, which sits at step 6 of the [[National League System]], or the tenth level of the overall [[English football league system]]. The league was formed in 1889 as the '''Birmingham & District League''' to cater for teams in [[Birmingham]] and the surrounding area, but soon became established as one of the strongest leagues outside the [[The Football League|Football League]] itself, with teams from as far afield as [[Bristol]] and [[Wales]] taking part. After the [[Second World War]] it absorbed the rival [[Birmingham Combination]] to become firmly established as the leading league in the area, but a gradual decline in its status began in the late 1950s and it now operates at a much lower level than in its heyday. The league currently acts as a feeder to the [[Midland Football Alliance]], to which one or more teams are promoted each season. Approximately fifty teams compete in the league each season, with new members regularly joining from smaller local leagues. ==History== ===Early years=== [[Image:BrHillAlliance.jpg|thumb|right|[[Brierley Hill Alliance F.C.|Brierley Hill Alliance]], pictured in 1912, were members of the league for 90 years and champions on two occasions.]] In the late 1880s, [[Birmingham]] and the surrounding region boasted many of the country's strongest football teams. Six of the region's leading clubs joined the first two national leagues set up in [[England]], the [[The Football League|Football League]] and the [[Football Alliance]], but there were still many teams in the area keen to participate in league play. On [[31 May]] [[1889]] a meeting took place at Birmingham's Grand Hotel with the view to forming a Birmingham & District League. A total of 17 clubs were invited but only 13 attended, of which 12 were selected to form the new league, to commence play in the [[1889-90 in English football|1889&ndash;90]] season. The one club which sent a representative to the meeting but was not invited to take part in the league, for unknown reasons, was Worcester Rovers.<ref name="R88">{{cite book|title=Non-League Football Tables 1889&ndash;2005|publisher=Soccer Books Limited|first=Michael|last=Robinson|date=2005|id=ISBN 1-8622-3125-7|pages=p.88}}</ref> The 12 clubs competing in the league's inaugural season were Aston Victoria, Great Bridge Unity, [[Hednesford Town F.C.|Hednesford Town]], Ironbridge, [[Kidderminster Harriers F.C.|Kidderminster Harriers]], [[Kidderminster Olympic F.C.|Kidderminster Olympic]], Langley Green Victoria, Oldbury Town, Smethwick Carriage Works, Unity Gas Department, Wellington St George's, and [[Willenhall Pickwick F.C.|Willenhall Pickwick]]. Although Kidderminster Olympic topped the final table, no championship was awarded as a number of fixtures had not been completed.<ref name="R96">{{cite book|title=Non-League Football Tables 1889&ndash;2005|first=Michael|last=Robinson|pages=p.96}}</ref> This situation was to be repeated in each of the subsequent two seasons, in both of which [[Brierley Hill Alliance F.C.|Brierley Hill Alliance]], who had joined the league for its second season, topped the table but did not win the title.<ref name="R96" /> The early years of the league also saw new teams joining and existing ones dropping out almost every season,<ref name="R89">{{cite book|title=Non-League Football Tables 1889&ndash;2005|first=Michael|last=Robinson|pages=p.89}}</ref> but once the league's structure settled down, it came to be regarded as one of the strongest leagues outside the Football League itself, rivalled only by the [[Southern Football League|Southern League]] and the [[Midland_Football_League#Midland_League_1889-1960|Midland League]].<ref name="R88" /> Despite the league's name, in the years prior to the [[First World War]] it came to include teams from as far afield as [[Bristol]], [[Wrexham]] and [[Crewe]], as well as including the reserve teams of local Football League clubs. A number of clubs which had enjoyed success in the [[Birmingham Combination]] also joined the league, which was seen as a step up to a better standard of football.<ref name="R89" /> The league's large coverage area began to create problems in the 1930s, however, as many clubs found the long and costly journeys to away matches difficult, and began to drop out in favour of playing in leagues which covered smaller areas. In 1938, [[Bangor City F.C.|Bangor City]], [[Worcester City F.C.|Worcester City]], [[Telford United F.C.|Wellington Town]] and the reserve teams of [[Cardiff City F.C.|Cardiff City]] and [[Wrexham A.F.C.|Wrexham]] all resigned from the league,<ref name="R89" /> reducing the numbers so much that instead of the usual format the organising committee decided to run two separate competitions each lasting for half of the [[1938-39 in English football|1938&ndash;39]] season, the first named the Keys Cup and the second the League Cup.<ref name="R90">{{cite book|title=Non-League Football Tables 1889&ndash;2005|first=Michael|last=Robinson|pages=p.90}}</ref> By the time competitive football was abandoned in 1939 due to the outbreak of the [[Second World War]], the rival Birmingham Combination, which had not chosen to accept teams from such a wide area, had consolidated and come to be regarded as the region's top league.<ref name="R78">{{cite book|title=Non-League Football Tables 1889&ndash;2005|first=Michael|last=Robinson|pagess=p.78}}</ref> ===Post-war years=== Although the league lost further clubs to the Combination, which was quicker to re-start after the war, within a few years the League had regained its position of pre-eminence in the region, increasing to almost twice its pre-war size.<ref name="R88" /> During the [[1952-53 in English football|1952&ndash;53]] season the League's committee proposed a merger of the two competitions, but the Combination rejected the idea, whereupon the Combination's six best teams all resigned and joined the League.<ref name="R78" /> The Combination's committee then attempted to re-open the merger talks but, having just bolstered its ranks with six new members, the League was not interested.<ref name="R78" /> A year later, all of the Combination's 14 remaining clubs, with the exception of [[West Bromwich Albion F.C.|West Bromwich Albion]]'s 'A' (third) team, left to join the League, which effectively absorbed its former rival.<ref name="R80">{{cite book|title=Non-League Football Tables 1889&ndash;2005|first=Michael|last=Robinson|page=p.80}}</ref> The 40 member clubs were split into Northern and Southern divisions, which a year later were re-arranged into Divisions One and Two, with [[promotion and relegation]] taking place between the two.<ref name="R103">{{cite book|title=Non-League Football Tables 1889&ndash;2005|first=Michael|last=Robinson|pages=p.103}}</ref> At the end of the [[1957-58 in English football|1957&ndash;58]] season, [[Burton Albion F.C.|Burton Albion]] and [[Nuneaton Borough F.C.|Nuneaton Borough]] left to join an expanding Southern League, followed a year later by [[Hinckley Athletic F.C.|Hinckley Athletic]].<ref name="R16">{{cite book|title=Non-League Football Tables 1889&ndash;2005|first=Michael|last=Robinson|pages=p.16}}</ref> In an attempt to consolidate the league decided to expel all remaining reserve teams, reducing to a single division of 22 clubs.<ref name="R91">{{cite book|title=Non-League Football Tables 1889&ndash;2005|first=Michael|last=Robinson|pages=p.91}}</ref> Four years later it changed its name to the West Midlands (Regional) League to more accurately reflect its catchment area, which now included very few teams from Birmingham or its immediate environs.<ref name="R101">{{cite book|title=Non-League Football Tables 1889&ndash;2005|first=Michael|last=Robinson|pages=p.101}}</ref> For the [[1965-66 in English football|1965&ndash;66]] season the league was able to revert to a two-division structure when it rebranded its existing single division the Premier Division and added a new Division One.<ref name="R91" /> By 1976, a steady flow of teams joining from smaller regional leagues led to Division One being split into Divisions One (A) and One (B), revised a year later to Divisions One and Two.<ref name="R109110">{{cite book|title=Non-League Football Tables 1889&ndash;2005|first=Michael|last=Robinson|pages=pp.109&ndash;110}}</ref> ===Modern era=== [[Image:Wyrley Rangers Action.jpg|thumb|right|WMRL action from 2006, as the now defunct [[Wyrley Rangers F.C.|Wyrley Rangers]] take on [[Gornal Athletic F.C.|Gornal Athletic.]]]] The [[Alliance Premier League]] was formed in 1979, pushing the Regional League further down the [[English football league system]]. Successful Regional League clubs such as [[Bilston Town F.C.|Bilston Town]], [[Hednesford Town F.C.|Hednesford Town]] and [[Halesowen Town F.C.|Halesowen Town]] began applying to, and being accepted into, the Southern League, reducing the Regional League to the status of a feeder league,<ref name="R93">{{cite book|title=Non-League Football Tables 1889&ndash;2005|first=Michael|last=Robinson|pages=p.93}}</ref> although their departures continued to be offset by a flow of new members from lower-level leagues. Reflecting the demographics of the West Midlands area, a number of [[British Asian]] teams joined the league,<ref name="R94">{{cite book|title=Non-League Football Tables 1889&ndash;2005|first=Michael|last=Robinson|pages=p.94}}</ref> including Sikh Hunters, England's first ever all-[[Sikh]] team.<ref>{{cite book |last= Matthews|first= Tony|authorlink= |coauthors= |title= Football Firsts|year= 2006|publisher= Capella|location= |id= ISBN 1-8419-3451-8|pages=p.121}} </ref> At the same time the catchment areas of the Regional League and the [[Midland Football Combination]] were increasingly converging, and by the early 1990s the standard of play and geographical coverage of the two competitions were considered to be almost identical. A new competition was formed in 1994 to cater for the best clubs previously split across the two leagues, and thus the Regional League lost ten of its member clubs to the new [[Midland Football Alliance]], further reducing its own status.<ref name="R123">{{cite book|title=Non-League Football Tables 1889&ndash;2005|first=Michael|last=Robinson|pages=p.123}}</ref> The reduction in numbers forced the league to revert to a two-division structure, but within two seasons numbers had grown again to the extent that Division One was split into Divisions One (North) and One (South) for the [[1996-97 in English football|1996&ndash;97]] season,<ref name="R118">{{cite book|title=Non-League Football Tables 1889&ndash;2005|first=Michael|last=Robinson|pages=p.118}}</ref> a format retained until 2004 when the two Division Ones were re-organised into Division One and Division Two.<ref name="R122">{{cite book|title=Non-League Football Tables 1889&ndash;2005|first=Michael|last=Robinson|pages=p.122}}</ref> Although the league now operates at a level much below that which it occupied in its heyday it continues to survive and holds the distinction, jointly with the [[Northern League (football)|Northern League]], of being the second oldest football league in existence, behind only the Football League itself.<ref name="R88" /> ==Structure== Under the terms of a sponsorship deal, the league is currently known as the '''Sport Italia West Midlands (Regional) League'''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/7201054.stm|publisher=BBC|title=Guide to the Non-League Pyramid|accessdate=2008-06-30}}</ref> Previous sponsors include the [[Wolverhampton]]-based [[Express & Star]] newspaper,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archive.ledburyreporter.co.uk/2001/9/14/55573.html|publisher=The Ledbury Reporter|title=8/9/01 &ndash; Weakened side still earns win|accessdate=2008-06-30|date=2001-09-14}}</ref> and [[Black Country]] brewery [[Banks's]].<ref>{{cite book|title=News of the World Football Annual 1986&ndash;87|publisher=Invincible Press|first=Bill|last=Bateson|coauthors=Albert Sewell|pages=p.121|id=ISBN 0-8554-3076-1}}</ref> In the [[2008-09 in English football|2008&ndash;09]] season 53 teams are competing in the league, comprising 21 in the Premier Division, 17 in Division One and 15 in Division two. Some of the teams in the lower two divisions are [[reserve team]]s of clubs playing at a higher level.<ref name="F1" /><ref name="F2" /><ref name="F3" /> Each division is contested on a [[Round-robin tournament|double round-robin]] basis, with each team playing each of the other teams in the division once at home and once away. Three points are awarded for a win (increased from two with effect from the [[1988-89 in English football|1988&ndash;89]] season),<ref name="R93" /> one for a draw and zero for a defeat. [[Goal difference]] is used to separate teams on the same points, having replaced [[goal average]] at the start of the [[1978-79 in English football|1978&ndash;79]] season.<ref name="R92">{{cite book|title=Non-League Football Tables 1889&ndash;2005|first=Michael|last=Robinson|pages=p.92}}</ref> Since the [[1994-95 in English football|1994&ndash;95]] season the Regional League, along with the [[Midland Football Combination]], has served as one of the two official feeders to the [[Midland Football Alliance]]. The highest-placed team which meets the Alliance's entry requirements is promoted to the Alliance, and one or more teams may be relegated into the Regional League from the Alliance depending on the number of clubs remaining in each league.<ref name="R123" /> Prior to the [[2006-07 in English football|2006&ndash;07]] season, the league was defined as a step 7 league within the [[National League System]],<ref>{{cite book|title=Non-League Club Directory 2007|first=Mike|last=Williams|coauthors=Tony Williams|date=2007|publisher=Tony Williams Publications Ltd|id=ISBN 1-8698-3355-4|pages=p.599}}</ref> even though it fed into the Alliance, which is graded as step 5.<ref>{{cite book|title=Non-League Club Directory 2007|first=Mike|last=Williams|coauthors=Tony Williams|date=2007|publisher=Tony Williams Publications Ltd|id=ISBN 1-8698-3355-4|pages=p.833}}</ref> In 2006 the Regional League was re-graded by [[the Football Association]] as a step 6 league.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefa.com/GrassrootsNew/League/Regulations/|publisher=The Football Association|title=NLS Regulations|accessdate=2008-06-30|date=2006-07-12}}</ref> Teams in the top two divisions are eligible to take part in the [[FA Cup]] and [[FA Vase]] as long as their grounds meet the required standards.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefa.com/TheFACup/TheFACup/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2008/02/Competitionsforms.htm|publisher=The Football Association|title=Competition Applications|accessdate=2008-06-30|date=2007-02-20}}</ref> Since the formation of the Midland Alliance, the Regional League has accepted applications for membership from successful teams in smaller local leagues within its catchment area. Leagues whose clubs have joined the Regional League include the [[Shropshire County League]], the [[Herefordshire Football League|Herefordshire League]], the [[Wolverhampton Combination]], and the [[Kidderminster & District League]]. Several ambitious local [[Sunday league football|Sunday league]] teams have also switched to Saturday play and entered the league.<ref name="R9496">{{cite book|title=Non-League Football Tables 1889&ndash;2005|first=Michael|last=Robinson|pages=pp.94&ndash;96}}</ref> [[Bewdley Town F.C.|Bewdley Town]], [[Bromyard Town F.C.|Bromyard Town]] and [[Ellesmere Rangers F.C.|Ellesmere Rangers]] have all joined from county leagues since 1994 and subsequently gone on to gain promotion to the Premier Division.<ref name="R9496" /> Regional League teams could also theoretically be relegated to the local leagues but in practice this almost never happens. The only teams in recent history to drop down to a county league have been Leominster Town and [[Kington Town F.C.|Kington Town]], who dropped down to the Herefordshire League in 2004 and 2006 respectively, although both clubs resigned voluntarily in favour of playing in a more local league as opposed to being relegated due to finishing at the bottom of the table.<ref name="R96" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fchd.info/KINGTONT.HTM|title=Kington Town|publisher=The Football CLub History Database|accessdate=2008-07-08}}</ref> ==Attendance== At one time the league attracted large crowds for matches, with 3,000 spectators watching a match between [[Coventry City F.C.|Coventry City]] and [[Shrewsbury Town F.C.|Shrewsbury Town]] in 1899.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20050430/ai_n14606872|title=Football: A new stadium has Sky Blues looking upwards|publisher=The Independent|accessdate=2008-06-30|date=2005-04-30|author=Phil Shaw}}</ref> By the early 1960s, despite the league's decline in status, [[Kidderminster Harriers F.C.|Kidderminster Harriers]] were still able to attract crowds of around 1,000 fans for home matches.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kidderminsterharriers.com/harriers/results.php?season=1967|title=Kidderminster Harriers Results 1966&ndash;1967|publisher=Kidderminster Harriers F.C.|accessdate=2008-06-30}}</ref> In the modern era, however, crowds are much smaller. In the [[1993-94 in English football|1993&ndash;94]] season [[Rocester F.C.|Rocester]] averaged around 100 fans for home games, and several of the team's away matches drew crowds of less than 40.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rocesterfc.com/Results%20Archives/1993-94.htm|title=West Midlands (Regional) League &ndash; Premier Division: 1993&ndash;94 Season|publisher=Rocester F.C.|accessdate=2008-06-30}}</ref> Attendances are not currently published for league fixtures, however in the [[FA Vase]] in the [[2005-06 in English football|2005&ndash;06]] season home attendances for Regional League teams averaged around 50, with only Wellington's match against [[Alvechurch F.C.|Alvechurch]] of the [[Midland Football Alliance|Midland Alliance]] drawing over 100 spectators.<ref>{{cite book|title=Non-League Club Directory 2007|first=Mike|last=Williams|coauthors=Tony Williams|pages=pp.938&ndash;972}}</ref> ==Current member clubs 2008&ndash;09== The member clubs of the league for the [[2008-09 in English football|2008&ndash;09]] season are as follows:<ref name="F1">{{cite web|url=http://full-time.thefa.com/Index.do?selectedSeason=8581910&selectedDivision=151285|title=West Midlands (Regional) League|publisher=The Football Association|accessdate=2008-06-30}}</ref><ref name="F2">{{cite web|url=http://full-time.thefa.com/Index.do?selectedSeason=8581910&selectedDivision=7248658|title=West Midlands (Regional) League|publisher=The Football Association|accessdate=2008-06-30}}</ref><ref name="F3">{{cite web|url=http://full-time.thefa.com/Index.do?selectedSeason=8581910&selectedDivision=7582798|title=West Midlands (Regional) League|publisher=The Football Association|accessdate=2008-06-30}}</ref> ===Premier Division=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center" !Club !Town !Home stadium !Joined<ref>Indicates the most recent occasion on which the club entered the Premier Division</ref> !2007&ndash;08 position<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shawburyunitedfc.co.uk/htdocs/League_table.html|title=West Midlands Premier|publisher=Shawbury United F.C.|accessdate=2008-06-30}}</ref> |- |align=left|[[A.F.C. Wulfrunians|AFC&nbsp;Wulfrunians]] ||[[Wolverhampton]] ||Brinsford Lane ||2007||6th |- |align=left|[[Bewdley Town F.C.|Bewdley&nbsp;Town]] ||[[Bewdley]] ||Ribbesford Meadows ||2005||3rd |- |align=left|[[Bloxwich United A.F.C.|Bloxwich United]] ||[[Bloxwich]] ||Old Red Lion Ground ||2008||1st in Division One<ref name="Blox">{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/7375296.stm|title=Bloxwich returns to football map|publisher=BBC|accessdate=2008-06-30|date=2008-04-30}}</ref> |- |align=left|[[Bromyard Town F.C.|Bromyard&nbsp;Town]] ||[[Bromyard]] ||Delahay Meadow ||2000||20th |- |align=left|[[Bustleholme F.C.|Bustleholme]] ||[[Tipton]]<ref>Originally formed in [[West Bromwich]]</ref> ||Tipton Sports Academy ||1997||21st |- |align=left|[[Darlaston Town F.C.|Darlaston Town]] ||[[Darlaston]] ||The City Ground ||2007||9th |- |align=left|[[Dudley Sports F.C.|Dudley Sports]] ||[[Dudley]] ||Hillcrest Avenue ||2006||8th |- |align=left|[[Dudley Town F.C.|Dudley&nbsp;Town]] ||[[Brierley Hill]]<ref>Originally formed in [[Dudley]]</ref> ||Dell Sports Centre ||1998||5th |- |align=left|[[Ellesmere Rangers F.C.|Ellesmere Rangers]] ||[[Ellesmere, Shropshire|Ellesmere]] ||Beech Grove ||2006||7th |- |align=left|[[Goodrich F.C.|Goodrich]] ||[[Wolverhampton]] ||Goodrich Sports Ground ||2004||15th |- |align=left|[[Gornal Athletic F.C.|Gornal&nbsp;Athletic]] ||[[Gornal]] ||Garden Walk Stadium ||2004||16th |- |align=left|[[Heath Town Rangers F.C.|Heath Town Rangers]] ||[[Wednesfield]]<ref>Originally formed in [[Heath Town]]</ref> ||Cottage Ground ||2008||3rd in Division One<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tonykempster.co.uk/archive07-08/step7/wmid1.htm|title=West Midlands Reg. &ndash; Div. 1|publisher=Tony's English Football Site|accessdate=2008-06-30}}</ref> |- |align=left|[[Ledbury Town F.C.|Ledbury&nbsp;Town]] ||[[Ledbury]] ||New Street ||2001||19th |- |align=left|[[Ludlow Town F.C.|Ludlow&nbsp;Town]] ||[[Ludlow]] ||SBS Stadium ||2005||12th |- |align=left|[[Lye Town F.C.|Lye&nbsp;Town]] ||[[Lye, West Midlands|Lye]] ||The Sports Ground || 1960||10th |- |align=left|[[Pelsall Villa F.C.|Pelsall&nbsp;Villa]] ||[[Pelsall]] ||Bush Ground ||2004||13th |- |align=left|[[Shawbury United F.C.|Shawbury&nbsp;United]] ||[[Wem]]<ref>Originally formed in [[Shawbury]]</ref> ||Butler Sports Centre ||2000||2nd |- |align=left|[[Tividale F.C.|Tividale]] ||[[Tividale]] ||The Beeches ||1994||11th |- |align=left|[[Wednesfield F.C.|Wednesfield]] ||[[Wednesfield]] ||Cottage Ground||2003||4th |- |align=left|[[Wellington (Herefords) F.C.|Wellington]] ||[[Wellington, Herefordshire|Wellington]] ||Wellington Playing Fields ||2000||14th |- |align=left|[[Wolverhampton Casuals F.C.|Wolverhampton&nbsp;Casuals]]||[[Wolverhampton]] ||Brinsford Lane ||1995||18th |} {{col-begin}} {{col-break}} ===Division One=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: left" |AFC Wombourne United |- | Bilbrook |- | [[Bilston Town F.C.|Bilston Town]] |- | Blackheath Town |- | [[Bridgnorth Town F.C.|Bridgnorth&nbsp;Town]] Reserves |- | Dudley United |- | [[Malvern Town F.C.|Malvern&nbsp;Town]]&nbsp;Reserves |- | Penn Croft |- | Riverway |- | Shenstone Pathfinder |- | Sporting Khalsa |- | [[Stafford Town F.C.|Stafford&nbsp;Town]] |- | Warley Development |- | Warstones Wanderers |- | [[Wednesbury Town F.C.|Wednesbury&nbsp;Town]] |- | Wellington Amateurs |- | [[Wolverhampton United F.C.|Wolverhampton&nbsp;United]] |} {{col-break}} ===Division Two=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: left" |Bentley |- |Black Country Rangers |- | [[Darlaston Town F.C.|Darlaston Town]] Reserves |- |Ettingshall Park Farm |- |Hanwood United |- |[[Heath Town Rangers F.C.|Heath Town Rangers]] Reserves |- |[[Lye Town F.C.|Lye Town]] Reserves |- | Mahal |- | Penkridge Town |- |Stone Old Alleynians |- | Tenbury United |- | Trysull |- |Warstones Wanderers Reserves |- |Wrens Nest |- |Wyrley Juniors |} {{col-end}} ==League champions== ===Birmingham & District League=== ''Initially the league consisted of a single division'' {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: left" !Season !Champions<ref name="R96102">{{cite book|title=Non-League Football Tables 1889&ndash;2005|first=Michael|last=Robinson|pages=pp.96&ndash;102}}</ref> |- |1889&ndash;90 ||''no championship awarded'' |- |1890&ndash;91 ||''no championship awarded'' |- |1891&ndash;92 ||''no championship awarded'' |- |1892&ndash;93 ||[[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]] Reserves |- |1893&ndash;94 ||[[Old Hill Wanderers F.C.|Old Hill Wanderers]] |- |1894&ndash;95 ||[[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]] Reserves |- |1895&ndash;96 ||[[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]] Reserves |- |1896&ndash;97 ||[[Hereford Thistle F.C.|Hereford Thistle]] |- |1897&ndash;98 ||[[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]] Reserves |- |1898&ndash;99 ||[[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]] Reserves |- |1899&ndash;00 ||[[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]] Reserves |- |1900&ndash;01 ||[[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]] Reserves |- |1901&ndash;02 ||[[West Bromwich Albion F.C.|West Bromwich Albion]] Reserves |- |1902&ndash;03 ||[[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]] Reserves |- |1903&ndash;04 ||[[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]] Reserves |- |1904&ndash;05 ||[[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]] Reserves |- |1905&ndash;06 ||[[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]] Reserves |- |1906&ndash;07 ||[[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]] Reserves |- |1907&ndash;08 ||[[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]] Reserves |- |1908&ndash;09 ||[[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]] Reserves |- |1909&ndash;10 ||[[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]] Reserves |- |1910&ndash;11 ||[[Stoke City F.C.|Stoke]] |- |1911&ndash;12 ||[[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]] Reserves |- |1912&ndash;13 ||[[West Bromwich Albion F.C.|West Bromwich Albion]] Reserves |- |1913&ndash;14 ||[[Worcester City F.C.|Worcester City]] |- |1914&ndash;15 ||[[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham]] Reserves |} ''Between 1915 and 1919 the competition was suspended due to the [[First World War]].'' {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: left" !Season !Champions<ref name="R96102" /> |- |1919&ndash;20 ||[[West Bromwich Albion F.C.|West Bromwich Albion]] Reserves |- |1920&ndash;21 ||[[Telford United F.C.|Wellington Town]] |- |1921&ndash;22 ||[[Willenhall F.C.|Willenhall]] |- |1922&ndash;23 ||[[Shrewsbury Town F.C.|Shrewsbury Town]] |- |1923&ndash;24 ||[[Stourbridge F.C.|Stourbridge]] |- |1924&ndash;25 ||[[Worcester City F.C.|Worcester City]] |- |1925&ndash;26 ||[[Cradley Heath F.C.|Cradley Heath]] |- |1926&ndash;27 ||[[Stafford Rangers F.C.|Stafford Rangers]] |- |1927&ndash;28 ||[[Burton Town F.C.|Burton Town]] |- |1928&ndash;29 ||[[Worcester City F.C.|Worcester City]] |- |1929&ndash;30 ||[[Worcester City F.C.|Worcester City]] |- |1930&ndash;31 ||[[Cradley Heath F.C.|Cradley Heath]] |- |1931&ndash;32 ||[[Cradley Heath F.C.|Cradley Heath]] |- |1932&ndash;33 ||[[Wrexham F.C.|Wrexham]] Reserves |- |1933&ndash;34 ||[[Wrexham F.C.|Wrexham]] Reserves |- |1934&ndash;35 ||[[Telford United F.C.|Wellington Town]] |- |1935&ndash;36 ||[[Telford United F.C.|Wellington Town]] |- |1936&ndash;37 ||[[Bristol Rovers F.C.|Bristol Rovers]] |- |1937&ndash;38 ||[[Kidderminster Harriers F.C.|Kidderminster Harriers]] |} ''Due to the number of teams having dropped dramatically, the [[1938-39 in English football|1938&ndash;39]] season consisted of two separate "half-season" leagues. The Keys Cup was contested until Christmas and the League Cup for the remainder of the season.<ref name="R102">{{cite book|title=Non-League Football Tables 1889&ndash;2005|first=Michael|last=Robinson|pages=p.102}}</ref>'' {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: left" !Season !Keys Cup !League Cup |- |1938&ndash;39|| [[Kidderminster Harriers F.C.|Kidderminster Harriers]]||[[Kidderminster Harriers F.C.|Kidderminster Harriers]] |} ''The [[1939-40 in English football|1939&ndash;40]] season was abandoned due to the outbreak of the [[Second World War]] and the league did not resume operations until 1946.'' {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: left" !Season !Champions<ref name="R102103">{{cite book|title=Non-League Football Tables 1889&ndash;2005|first=Michael|last=Robinson|pages=pp.102&ndash;103}}</ref> |- |1946&ndash;47 ||[[Halesowen Town F.C.|Halesowen Town]] |- |1947&ndash;48 ||[[Kettering Town F.C.|Kettering Town]] |- |1948&ndash;49 ||[[Worcester City F.C.|Worcester City]] Reserves |- |1949&ndash;50 ||[[Hereford United F.C.|Hereford United]] Reserves |- |1950&ndash;51 ||[[Brierley Hill Alliance F.C.|Brierley Hill Alliance]] |- |1951&ndash;52 ||[[Brierley Hill Alliance F.C.|Brierley Hill Alliance]] |- |1952&ndash;53 ||[[Oswestry Town F.C.|Oswestry Town]] |- |1953&ndash;54 ||[[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]] 'A' |} ''For the [[1954-55 in English football|1954&ndash;55]] season the league was split into two regional sections.<ref name="R103" />'' {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: left" !Season !Northern Section !Southern Section |- |1954&ndash;55|| [[Nuneaton Borough F.C.|Nuneaton Borough]]||[[Redditch United F.C.|Redditch United]] |} ''For the [[1955-56 in English football|1955&ndash;56]] season the league was re-organised into Division One and Division Two.'' {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: left" !Season !Division One<ref name="R103105">{{cite book|title=Non-League Football Tables 1889&ndash;2005|first=Michael|last=Robinson|pages=pp.103&ndash;105}}</ref> !Division Two<ref name="R103105" /> |- |1955&ndash;56 ||[[Nuneaton Borough F.C.|Nuneaton Borough]]||[[Tamworth F.C.|Tamworth]] |- |1956&ndash;57 ||[[Walsall F.C.|Walsall]] Reserves||[[Bilston Town F.C.|Bilston]] |- |1957&ndash;58 ||[[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]] 'A'||[[Oswestry Town F.C.|Oswestry Town]] |- |1958&ndash;59 ||[[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]] 'A'||[[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham City]] 'A' |- |1959&ndash;60 ||[[Bromsgrove Rovers F.C.|Bromsgrove Rovers]]||[[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]] 'A' |} ''The league reverted to a single-division format for the [[1960-61 in English football|1960&ndash;61]] season.'' {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: left" !Season !Champions<ref name="R105106">{{cite book|title=Non-League Football Tables 1889&ndash;2005|first=Michael|last=Robinson|pages=pp.105&ndash;106}}</ref> |- |1960&ndash;61 ||[[Bilston Town F.C.|Bilston]] |- |1961&ndash;62 ||[[Leamington F.C.|Lockheed Leamington]] |} ===West Midlands (Regional) League=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: left" !Season !Champions<ref name="R105106" /> |- |1962&ndash;63 ||[[Leamington F.C.|Lockheed Leamington]] |- |1963&ndash;64 ||[[Tamworth F.C.|Tamworth]] |- |1964&ndash;65 ||[[Kidderminster Harriers F.C.|Kidderminster Harriers]] |} ''For the [[1965-66 in English football|1965&ndash;66]] season the league reverted to a two-division format, now comprising the Premier Division and Division One.'' {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: left" !Season !Premier Division<ref name="R106109">{{cite book|title=Non-League Football Tables 1889&ndash;2005|first=Michael|last=Robinson|pages=pp.106&ndash;109}}</ref> !Division One<ref name="R106109" /> |- |1965&ndash;66|| [[Tamworth F.C.|Tamworth]]||Wrockwardine Wood |- |1966&ndash;67|| [[Boston United F.C.|Boston United]]||[[Tamworth F.C.|Tamworth]] Reserves |- |1967&ndash;68 ||[[Boston United F.C.|Boston United]]||[[Warley F.C.|Warley]] |- |1968&ndash;69|| [[Kidderminster Harriers F.C.|Kidderminster Harriers]]||Wrockwardine Wood |- |1969&ndash;70|| [[Kidderminster Harriers F.C.|Kidderminster Harriers]]||[[Warley County Borough F.C.|Warley County Borough]] |- |1970&ndash;71|| [[Kidderminster Harriers F.C.|Kidderminster Harriers]]||[[Brereton Social F.C.|Brereton Social]] |- |1971&ndash;72|| [[Tamworth F.C.|Tamworth]]||[[Warley County Borough F.C.|Warley County Borough]] |- |1972&ndash;73|| [[Bilston Town F.C.|Bilston]]||[[Tividale F.C.|Tividale]] |- |1973&ndash;74|| [[Alvechurch F.C.|Alvechurch]]||[[Armitage F.C.|Armitage]] |- |1974&ndash;75|| [[Alvechurch F.C.|Alvechurch]]||[[Staffordshire Police F.C.|Staffordshire Police]] |- |1975&ndash;76|| [[Alvechurch F.C.|Alvechurch]]||[[Willenhall Town F.C.|Willenhall Town]] |} ''For the [[1976-77 in English football|1976&ndash;77]] season Division One was split into 'A' and 'B' sections.<ref name="R109">{{cite book|title=Non-League Football Tables 1889&ndash;2005|first=Michael|last=Robinson|pages=p.109}}</ref>'' {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: left" !Season !Premier Division !Division One (A) !Division One (B) |- |1976&ndash;77|| [[Alvechurch F.C.|Alvechurch]]||[[Wednesfield F.C.|Wednesfield Social]]||[[Wolverhampton United F.C.|Wolverhampton United]] |} ''For the [[1977-78 in English football|1977&ndash;78]] season Division One (A) and Division One (B) were re-organised into Division One and Division Two.'' {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: left" !Season !Premier Division<ref name="R109117">{{cite book|title=Non-League Football Tables 1889&ndash;2005|first=Michael|last=Robinson|pages=pp.109&ndash;117}}</ref> !Division One<ref name="R109117" /> !Division Two<ref name="R109117" /> |- |1977&ndash;78|| [[Hednesford Town F.C.|Hednesford Town]]||[[Chasetown F.C.|Chasetown]] ||[[Worcester City F.C.|Worcester City]] Reserves |- |1978&ndash;79||[[Willenhall Town F.C.|Willenhall Town]]||[[Shifnal Town F.C.|Shifnal Town]] ||[[Ludlow Town F.C.|Ludlow Town]] |- |1979&ndash;80|| [[Sutton Coldfield Town F.C.|Sutton Coldfield Town]]||[[Rushall Olympic F.C.|Rushall Olympic]] ||Brewood |- |1980&ndash;81|| [[Shifnal Town F.C.|Shifnal Town]]||[[Brierley Hill & Withymoor F.C.|Oldswinford]] ||[[Bromsgrove Rovers F.C.|Bromsgrove Rovers]] Reserves |- |1981&ndash;82|| [[Shifnal Town F.C.|Shifnal Town]]||[[Atherstone United F.C.|Atherstone United]] ||[[GKN Sankey F.C.|GKN Sankey]] |- |1982&ndash;83|| [[Halesowen Town F.C.|Halesowen Town]]||Brewood ||[[Great Wyrley F.C.|Great Wyrley]] |- |1983&ndash;84|| [[Halesowen Town F.C.|Halesowen Town]]||[[Tipton Town F.C.|Tipton Town]] ||[[Halesowen Town F.C.|Halesowen Town]] Reserves |- |1984&ndash;85|| [[Halesowen Town F.C.|Halesowen Town]]||[[Harrisons F.C.|Harrisons]] ||[[Halesowen Harriers F.C.|Halesowen Harriers]] |- |1985&ndash;86|| [[Halesowen Town F.C.|Halesowen Town]]||[[Halesowen Harriers F.C.|Halesowen Harriers]] ||[[Springvale-Tranco F.C.|Springvale-Tranco]] |- |1986&ndash;87|| [[Atherstone Town F.C.|Atherstone United]]||[[Westfields F.C.|Westfields]] ||Donnington Wood |- |1987&ndash;88|| [[Tamworth F.C.|Tamworth]]||[[Rocester F.C.|Rocester]] ||Hinton |- |1988&ndash;89|| [[Blakenall F.C.|Blakenall]]||Newport Town ||Broseley Athletic |- |1989&ndash;90|| [[Hinckley Town F.C.|Hinckley Town]]||[[Darlaston Town F.C.|Darlaston]] ||[[Hill Top Rangers F.C.|Hill Top Rangers]] |- |1990&ndash;91|| [[Gresley Rovers F.C.|Gresley Rovers]]||[[Cradley Town F.C.|Cradley Town]] ||Clancey Dudley |- |1991&ndash;92|| [[Gresley Rovers F.C.|Gresley Rovers]]||[[Ilkeston Town F.C.|Ilkeston Town]] ||K Chell |- |1992&ndash;93|| [[Oldbury United F.C.|Oldbury United]]||[[Biddulph Victoria F.C.|Knypersley Victoria]] ||[[Rushall Olympic F.C.|Rushall Olympic]] Reserves |} ''For the [[1993-94 in English football|1993&ndash;94]] season Division Two was discontinued.'' {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: left" !Season !Premier Division<ref name="R117118">{{cite book|title=Non-League Football Tables 1889&ndash;2005|first=Michael|last=Robinson|pages=pp.117&ndash;118}}</ref> !Division One<ref name="R117118" /> |- |1993&ndash;94|| [[Ilkeston Town F.C.|Ilkeston Town]]||[[Stafford Town F.C.|Stafford Town]] |- |1994&ndash;95|| [[Pelsall Villa F.C.|Pelsall Villa]]||[[Wolverhampton Casuals F.C.|Wolverhampton Casuals]] |- |1995&ndash;96|| [[Wednesfield F.C.|Wednesfield]]||Goodyear |} ''For the [[1996-97 in English football|1996&ndash;97]] season Division One was split into two regional sections.'' {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: left" !Season !Premier Division<ref name="R122" /> !Division One (North)<ref name="R122" /> !Division One (South)<ref name="R122" /> |- |1996&ndash;97|| [[Wednesfield F.C.|Wednesfield]]||[[Great Wyrley F.C.|Great Wyrley]] ||[[Kington Town F.C.|Kington Town]] |- |1997&ndash;98|| [[Lye Town F.C.|Lye Town]]||[[Bandon F.C.|Bandon]] ||[[Smethwick Rangers F.C.|Smethwick Rangers]] |- |1998&ndash;99|| [[Kington Town F.C.|Kington Town]]||[[Heath Hayes F.C.|Heath Hayes]] ||[[Wellington (Herefords) F.C.|Wellington]] |- |1999&ndash;00|| [[Stafford Town F.C.|Stafford Town]]||[[Shawbury United F.C.|Shawbury United]] ||[[Bromyard Town F.C.|Bromyard Town]] |- |2000&ndash;01|| [[Ludlow Town F.C.|Ludlow Town]]||[[Wolverhampton United F.C.|Wolverhampton United]] ||[[Ledbury Town F.C.|Ledbury Town]] |- |2001&ndash;02 ||[[Causeway United F.C.|Causeway United]]||Ounsdale ||[[Sedgley White Lions F.C.|Sedgley White Lions]] |- |2002&ndash;03|| [[Westfields F.C.|Westfields]]||Newport Town ||[[Bewdley Town F.C.|Bewdley Town]] |- |2003&ndash;04|| [[Malvern Town F.C.|Malvern Town]]||[[Goodrich F.C.|Goodrich]] ||[[Gornal Athletic F.C.|Gornal Athletic]] |} ''For the [[2004-05 in English football|2004&ndash;05]] season Division One (North) and Division One (South) were re-organised back into Division One and Division Two.'' {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: left" !Season !Premier Division !Division One !Division Two |- |2004&ndash;05<ref name="R122" /> ||[[Tipton Town F.C.|Tipton Town]]||[[Great Wyrley F.C.|Great Wyrley]] ||Parkfields Leisure |- |2005&ndash;06 ||[[Market Drayton Town F.C.|Market Drayton Town]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fchd.info/M-DRAYTT.HTM|title=Market Drayton Town|publisher=The Football Club History Database|accessdate=2008-07-01}}</ref>||[[Ellesmere Rangers F.C.|Ellesmere Rangers]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fchd.info/ELLESMER.HTM|title=Ellesmere Rangers|publisher=The Football Club History Database|accessdate=2008-07-01}}</ref> ||[[AFC Wulfrunians]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fchd.info/AFC-WULF.HTM|title=AFC Wulfrunians|publisher=The Football Club History Database|accessdate=2008-07-01}}</ref> |- |2006&ndash;07 ||[[Shifnal Town F.C.|Shifnal Town]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fchd.info/SHIFNALT.HTM|title=Shifnal Town|publisher=The Football Club History Database|accessdate=2008-07-01}}</ref>||[[Darlaston Town F.C.|Darlaston Town]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fchd.info/DARLASTT.HTM|title=Darlaston Town|publisher=The Football Club History Database|accessdate=2008-07-01}}</ref> ||[[Heath Town Rangers F.C.|Heath Town Rangers]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fchd.info/HEATHTR.HTM|title=Heath Town Rangers|publisher=The Football Club History Database|accessdate=2008-07-01}}</ref> |- |2007&ndash;08 ||[[Bridgnorth Town F.C.|Bridgnorth Town]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://icsolihull.icnetwork.co.uk/sport/local/tm_headline=highgate-celebrate-alliance-decision&method=full&objectid=20985579&siteid=91411&ndash;name_page.html|title=Highgate celebrate alliance decision|publisher=Solihull Times|accessdate=2008-07-01|date=2008-05-28}}</ref>||[[Bloxwich United A.F.C.|Birchills United]]<ref name="Blox" /> ||Wellington Amateurs<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fchd.info/WELLINAM.HTM|title=Wellington Amateurs|publisher=The Football Club History Database|accessdate=2008-07-01}}</ref> |} ==References== {{reflist|2}} ==External links== *[http://full-time.thefa.com/gen/Index.do?league=3244788 FA Full Time page] {{fb start}} {{WMRL teamlist}} |- {{West Midlands One teamlist}} |- {{English football league system cells | level = 10/11/12 | promotion = [[Midland Football Alliance]]|relegation = ''in theory to county leagues but very unlikely to actually occur'' }} |- {{Football in England table cells}} {{fb end}} [[Category:English football competitions]] [[Category:1889 establishments]] [[Category:Sport in the West Midlands]] [[Category:West Midlands (Regional) League| ]] [[nl:West Midlands Regional League]] [[sv:West Midlands Regional League]]