[themaclad]

Having done this thread last season, will do another one with one significant change, the competition to follow will be the FA Vase when it eventually gets started.

[Devongone]

Great idea. If it does start.

[themaclad]

The draw has been made and will start with the Midlands Derby between Stafford Town and Lichfield City 19/9/2020



v

https://www.staffordtownfc.co.uk/news

The club was founded in 1976 as Stafford and joined the Midland Combination Division two for the 1977–78 season, winning the league at their second attempt. They changed their name to Stafford Town in 1981[2] and left the Midlands Combination the following year before entering local football in 1984 when they became a founder member of the Staffordshire Senior League. They remained in that competition until 1993 and for two of those seasons the club was known as Stafford MSHD following the merger with Sunday League team MSHD. They joined the West Midlands Regional League for the 1993–94 season and won Division One in their debut season, earning them promotion to the Premier Division. They were champions of the Premier Division in 1999–2000 and earned promotion to the Midland Football Alliance and in their debut season at that level they got to the 3rd Qualifying Round of the FA Cup, going down 3–1 to Harrow Borough in a replay having achieved a 0–0 draw at Harrow's ground. The club finished bottom in 2003–04 and were relegated back to the West Midlands Regional Alliance Division One, getting back into the Premier Division in 2009–10 as runners-up, losing the title on goal difference.[3][4]

The team transferred to the Midland Football Combination Premier Division at the beginning of the 2012–13 season, for which the club appointed Adam Cunningham from Stone Old Alleynians as manager after Steve Dockerty had resigned.

Cunningham left the team in May 2016, after winning the Les James Challenge League Cup. Dave Downing was then appointed as manager in the summer of 2016.

Downing departed the club in February 2018 with the club rooted to the bottom of the division. Jake Robinson and Paul Snape took the helm and guided the club to what was believed to be safety in a 20th place finish. The club fell foul to the restructure of step 6 and 5 and were relegated to the Staffordshire Senior League Premier. During close season Snape departed leaving Robinson working alongside long term club servant Calvin Bailey to rebuild the squad and adapt to a new division. Robinson, assisted by Bailey and Luke Williams then led Stafford to a top 5 finish the following season, and a League Cup win over Leek CSOB, prompting a return to the Midland Football League Division One ahead of the 2019-20 campaign.

The original Lichfield City joined the Birmingham Combination in 1923, but left after two seasons.[2] The modern club was established in 1970 as Lichfield Football Club and joined Division One B of the West Midlands (Regional) League in 1976.[3] They were placed in Division One the following season when the league was reorganised and remained in the division until being relegated to Division Two at the end of the 1985–86 season. The club were Division Two runners-up in 1989–90, earning promotion back to Division One.[3] In 1994 they were renamed Lichfield City.[3] Their first season under the new name saw the club finish as runners-up in Division One, earning promotion to the Premier Division.[3]

Despite finishing in mid-table in their first season in the Premier Division, Lichfield resigned from the league and became a Sunday league team.[4] They returned to Saturday football when the club joined Division Three of the Midland Combination in 2008. Despite only finishing fifth in the division in 2008–09, they were promoted to Division Two. In 2010–11 the club won the league's Challenge Vase with a 2–1 win over Continental Star Reserves in the final.[5] They also finished fourth in the division, earning promotion to Division One. Another fourth-place finish the following season led to them being promoted to the Premier Division.[4]

In 2014 the Midland Combination merged with the Midland Alliance to form the Midland League, with Lichfield placed in Division One.[4]

http://lichfieldcityfc.com/

[themaclad]

Stafford Town 0 Lichfield City 4 Black, Patterson 2 Gardiner

[themaclad]

Cadbury Athletic away next round

[themaclad]

Lichfield City FC’s bright start to the season continued as they eased through to the next stage of the FA Vase.

Ivor Green’s men travelled to Stafford Town and started brightly with in-form Matt Gardner seeing an effort tipped away by the keeper.

The City striker thought he’d gone one better when he tucked home after Kyle Patterson’s shot was fumbled, but the flag was up for offside..


The pressure was building on the Stafford goal and their rearguard was eventually breached when a cross found Max Black who tapped home from close range.

It was 2-0 when Patterson fired home from the edge off the box.

A third goal almost followed before the break when a long-range Patterson strike went narrowly wide.

Any hopes of a second half rally from Stafford were extinguished when Jordan Hunt’s cross was nodded home by Gardner.

The City striker turned provider to wrap up the result when his chipped pass found Patterson who bagged his second of the game with a composed finish.

[themaclad]

v

Being played at Lichfield



Cadbury Athletic Football Club is an amateur football club based in Birmingham, England. Affiliated with the Cadbury confectionery company and playing in the company colours of purple and white, they are currently members of the Midland League Division One and play at the Triplex Sports Ground.

History
The club was established in 1994,[1] and were admitted to Division Three of the Midland Combination. Despite finishing ninth in their first season, they were promoted to Division Two.[2] In 2000–01 a fourth-place finish was enough to secure promotion to Division One, with the club also winning the league's Challenge Vase.[3] They were Division One runners-up in 2004–05, earning promotion to the Premier Division.[2]

Despite finishing twelfth in the Premier Division in 2011–12, Cadbury Athletic resigned from the division and dropped into Division One. They were Division One champions in 2013–14, the last season before the league merged with the Midland Alliance to form the Midland League, with Cadbury Athletic placed in Division One.[2]

Former players of Athletic include Demari Gray and Daniel Sturridge

Lichfield City Football Club is a football club based in Lichfield, Staffordshire, England. They are members of the Midland League Division One and play at the City Ground.

History
The original Lichfield City joined the Birmingham Combination in 1923, but left after two seasons.[2] The modern club was established in 1970 as Lichfield Football Club and joined Division One B of the West Midlands (Regional) League in 1976.[3] They were placed in Division One the following season when the league was reorganised and remained in the division until being relegated to Division Two at the end of the 1985–86 season. The club were Division Two runners-up in 1989–90, earning promotion back to Division One.[3] In 1994 they were renamed Lichfield City.[3] Their first season under the new name saw the club finish as runners-up in Division One, earning promotion to the Premier Division.[3]

Despite finishing in mid-table in their first season in the Premier Division, Lichfield resigned from the league and became a Sunday league team.[4] They returned to Saturday football when the club joined Division Three of the Midland Combination in 2008. Despite only finishing fifth in the division in 2008–09, they were promoted to Division Two. In 2010–11 the club won the league's Challenge Vase with a 2–1 win over Continental Star Reserves in the final.[5] They also finished fourth in the division, earning promotion to Division One. Another fourth-place finish the following season led to them being promoted to the Premier Division.[4]

In 2014 the Midland Combination merged with the Midland Alliance to form the Midland League, with Lichfield placed in Division One.[4]


In form this should go with the now home side, both teams are in the same divison of the Midland combiination, City are top and Athletic are 15th with 13 points the gap, Athletic having lost their last match 6-1

Question is will City melt the Choclate lads on Saturdayt

[themaclad]

Cadbury won 1-0

[themaclad]

Hopes of an extended FA Vase run for Lichfield City FC were dashed by Cadbury Athletic.

Ivor Green’s men had run out comfortable winners against their opponents earlier this season – and went into the game high in confidence after a run of nine games without defeat in all competitions.

But an even opening showed Cadbury were in no mood to roll over this time round, with keeper Adam Jenkins forced to save a low strike to keep the scores level early on.

Ryan Brooks headed City’s first real chance over the top, before Jenkins saw a free kick go narrowly over the top at the other end.

Lichfield started the second period brightly, Luke Childs beating the defender to the ball in the six yard box only to be denied by a super close range save from the Cadbury keeper.

But it was Cadbury who found the elusive opener when Emile Beckford rode a couple of challenges before firing home from the edge of the box.

Jordan Hunt fired just wide of the post before Matt Gardner sent a header off target as Lichfield desperately sought a leveller.

Max Black tried a spectacular overhead kick late on but the ball went over the top as City’s FA Vase run was ended.

[themaclad]

Away to Loughborough University