Premier Division Romulus Romulus have been busy building their squad for the upcoming season and have made some positive moves over the last week to strengthen it. They have signed Jakob Burroughs and Dominic Dell who featured for Tividale last season and impressed at the Beeches. Despite it being a challenging season for Tividale last time out, they were some positives and Jakob Burroughs and Dominic Dell both played well for the step five side throughout 23/24. Jakob Burroughs was one of the key players for them last season and usually played in holding midfield just in front of the back four. He was an ever present with 26 matches started and seven substitute appearances. It’s an encouraging signing for Romulus and should give the midfield some stability. Dominic Dell has a lot of valuable experience at step five and is an excellent signing for Romulus. He gives the squad that leadership and know how up front and is coming off an underrated campaign in the MFL Premier. He scored a total of 12 goals for the likes of Tividale and Shifnal from 33 starts and offers a lot up front such as bringing players into play. They have also signed forward Max McNulty which could work out well. He’s spent a lot of time in the US as part of the American college system and it will be interesting to see how he gets on in the MFL. There’s also been positive news in terms of players staying with the likes of Jordan Francis and Ryan Nesbitt committing for this season. The Roms have also managed to keep hold of promising players such as Fin Douglas and Mason Stevens who impressed last season. It’s going to be an interesting season for the Roms going into 24/25 who will be playing their home games at Coles Lane. If it all clicks, they could be a dark horse for the play offs. Division One Gornal Athletic Gornal have been building their squad over the last week in preparation for their season in MFL (Division One). Manager Dave King has signed a lot of players with valuable experience in step five from the likes of Tividale and AFC Wulfrunians. On paper it looks a really promising squad if it can all click into form. One of the main signings was getting in Louis Connor who impressed for Tividale last season as their first-choice goalkeeper. Despite it being a challenging season for the club, he made some excellent saves in the MFL Premier to keep Tividale in matches and went a bit under the radar. He's started a lot of games for them over the last two seasons with a total of 62 starts at step five level. They have also bought in Joe Burroughs who played well at the back for Tividale throughout 23/24 and was one of their key players. He’s played a lot of games for them over the last two seasons with 67 starts which is encouraging. The likes of Curtis Cocking, Brad Welding and Ben Worthington have come in from AFC Wulfrunians who all have experience of playing at step five. They could take Gornal to the next level this season at step six. Getting in Curtis Cocking is the one that really stands out as he could really strengthen the midfield. He’s got valuable experience at step five and has started 95 matches over the last three seasons for Tividale and AFC Wulfrunians. The midfielder is a bit of an underrated player in the MFL who helps to break up the play and does the work off the ball that can go unnoticed. There’s been a lot of eye-catching signings for the newly promoted club, and it will be interesting to see how they get on at step six throughout this season. FA cup Extra Preliminary round draw The draw for the first two rounds of the FA cup was made last Friday which is usually when step four and five clubs participate in the competition. There’s a lot of interesting matches in the extra preliminary round with a total of 16 ties involving MFL sides. The winners at this stage of the competition will get £1,125 with the losers receiving £375. It’s a good opportunity for MFL sides to showcase themselves against teams either higher up the pyramid (NPL) or in other step five leagues such as the UCL and Hellenic League. Some of the standout matches include Gresley Rovers V Lichfield City which promises to be an excellent cup tie. OJM Black Country V Chasetown should be exciting and is one of the more eye-catching home ties. Stockport Town V 1874 Northwich should also be interesting and is one to keep an eye on. It’s a brilliant weekend for casual ground hoppers with a wide variety of clubs to visit. Worcester Raiders V Stourport Swifts is one that catches the eye and takes place at Sixways Stadium which should be a good match. Below is a full list of fixtures for the extra preliminary round which is scheduled to take place on the 3rd of August 2024: FA Cup Draw (Extra Preliminary round) AFC Wulfrunians V Atherstone Town Brocton V Tividale Gresley Rovers V Lichfield City Hinckley AFC V Highgate United Lutterworth Town V Studley Northwich Victoria V Squires Gate OJM Black Country V Chasetown Shifnal Town V Belper United Sporting Club Inkberrow V Dudley Town Stockport Town V 1874 Northwich Stone Old Alleynians V Bedworth United Sutton Coldfield Town V Romulus Uttoxeter Town V Heanor Town Whitchurch Alport V Irlam Wolverhampton Casuals V Rugby Town Worcester Raiders V Stourport Swifts Round up feature written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League Bilston Town Bilston Town have been building their squad for their upcoming season in MFL (Division One). The Steelmen looked good for large parts of last season and went on to secure a top half finish at step six. The aim this season will be to push for the play offs and they have come close over the last two years under manager Mike Dunn. A lot of players from last season’s squad have stayed on for another season. Aaron Weston has committed to the Steelmen who was a key player for them in 23/24 with 35 starts in all competitions. Mitch Evans and Jake Short have also stayed on for another season who do a lot of work that goes unnoticed from midfield. The main eye-catching signing was Eesa Sawyers committing for another season who was a key attacking threat for them last season. An excellent player to watch on the ball who has the ability to unlock defences and create chances. He made 25 starts for the Steelmen in 23/24 and went on to score 11 goals. There’s also been some new signings with Tarique Hunter joining the Steelmen ahead of the start of preseason to boost the squad. Haydn Hall has also recently committed to the club for the upcoming season who was an integral part of the team in 23/24. It’s all positive for Bilston to make another push for the play offs this season. The main strength is having that continuity and experience in the squad which could really benefit them throughout 24/25. If it all goes to plan, they could be one of the teams to watch at step six this season. Cradley Town Cradley Town have been busy this week with the announcement of a new joint manager in Stuart How to replace Aaron Morris who left the club last week. It’s an interesting appointment for the Hammers just before the start of pre-season and adds some intrigue into how the season is going to go. Despite Tividale struggling last season in step five they showed flashes under Stuart How. They were capable of being a game for anyone on their day such as drawing against Congleton Town but were a bit inconsistent in the league. One of the main positives is that he knows the level well and is capable of turning Cradley into play-off contenders. There’s been encouraging news in terms of the squad with Brad Ward committing for another season who was excellent for them last season. He started 34 matches and went on to score nine goals in helping them to a top half finish in MFL (Division One). Dan Hadley has also committed for another season who was a key player for them at the back throughout last season. He was an ever present with 26 starts in all competitions for the Hammers. Lutterworth Athletic Lutterworth have started their recruitment drive by getting in promotion winner Charlie Jones into the squad. It’s a boost for the Leicestershire side with the midfielder having valuable experience at step five with Racing Club Warwick and being a part of their promotion winning season in the UCL (Premier Division South). He played a lot of games last season for Racing Club Warwick and went on to make a total of 45 appearances with 26 of those being starts. It’s positive news for Lutterworth under new manager Ben Steane and it will be interesting to see how they get on in the MFL. Round up feature written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League |
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July 2024
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