With just over five weeks to go until the start of the new season, we take a look at the new sides competing in the Midland League Division One this term.
The league will consist of 21 teams this season for the first time, with four coming in and just three departures: those of champions Bromsgrove Sporting and relegated Southam United and Pelsall Villa.
Here’s a quick look at how the four sides are shaping up ahead of 2017-18…
Brocton
Last season: 21st in Midland League Premier Division
Manager: Sam Norton
Ground: Sports Ground, Silkmore Lane, Stafford, ST17 4JH
Distance from Hinckley: 43.2 miles
AFC record: The sides are yet to meet
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Brocton’s three-year stay at step five came to a close last season with their relegation from the Premier Division. Promoted in 2013-14, The Badgers won ten games last year but it wasn’t enough to see them stay up as they ended 13 points from safety. The Staffordshire outfit have appointed a new manager in Sam Norton, and re-signed several of last year’s squad along with making some new additions.
Coventry Alvis
Last season: 2nd in Midland League Division Two
Manager: Damian Cassidy
Ground: Alvis Sports and Social Club, Green Lane, Finham, Coventry, CV3 6EH
Distance from Hinckley: 16.7 miles
AFC record: Played 2, won 2
Formerly named Alvis Sporting Club, Coventry Alvis were lifted into second place in Division Two courtesy of Droitwich Spa’s points deduction, ensuring their promotion back to the First Division. They had a two-year spell in Division Two after their relegation in 2014-15, finishing top in their first year but being denied promotion due to ground grading issues. Last season, it was their strong start that earned them success – going up despite winning just four of their last 13 league games (they were unbeaten in the league until March).
The two meetings between the sides in 2014-15 both fell AFC’s way – a 6-1 win in November – despite the best efforts of then-Alvis, now Hinckley goalkeeper Jack Hartopp – and a 2-0 win away in March.
Paget Rangers
Last season: 1st in Midland League Division Two
Manager: Jason Lanns
Ground: Trevor Brown Memorial Ground, Church Road, Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, B73 5RY.
Distance from Hinckley: 25.2 miles
AFC record: Played one, won one
A successful season for Paget saw them finish as Division Two champions courtesy of Droitwich’s points deduction, helped by a sprint finish that saw them win their last seven games in all competitions. They also reached the second round of the Buildbase FA Vase after impressive wins over Highgate United and St Andrews. This brought AFC and Paget together for the first and only time thus far, a Ryan Seal hat-trick ensuring AFC progressed. It was in this game that the record attendance was set for the reformed Paget Rangers – 311 watched the match on a sunit Sunday afternoon in November.
Walsall Wood
Last season: 20th in Midland League Premier Division
Manager: Gary Birch
Ground: ML Safety Stadium, Lichfield Road, Walsall Wood, West Midlands, WS9 9NP
Distance from Hinckley: 27.2 miles
AFC record: Played 2, won 1, drawn 1
Walsall Wood will always have a place in Hinckley AFC history, being our first ever opponents in the FA Cup back in 2015-16. The extra preliminary round match is also our only 0-0 draw in over 150 games, but two late goals earned AFC a win in the replay. The two sides will meet again in 2017-18 after Wood were relegated from the Premier Division on goal difference last term.
After appointing former Lichfield City boss Gary Birch as their new manager, Wood have already paraded a host of new additions from two or even three levels higher, alongside raising AFC for Paul Sullivan and Andy Westwood.
