A-Z of Clubs Past and Present: A-B

# denotes present member clubs

#ALVECHURCH - The Midland Combination village club were members of the MFYL for it's first nine seasons, with a best finish of third in the Northern section in 84/85. After a break of seven seasons they rejoined in 98/99, finishing 11th in the Southern. In 99/00 they won the Birmingham FA Youth Cup and took third spot in the Central Division, before winning their first league title the following season in convincing style, and reaching another final - this time the Worcestershire FA Youth Cup - before being beaten by Kidderminster Harriers. Presently in the Southern Division.

ALVESTON - The Midland Combination club's youngsters had five seasons together in the Central Warwickshire Boys League, before progressing to the MFYL (Southern Division) in 00/01 and finishing in an excellent third place. Left the league at the end of the following season, after finishing in sixth place.

AP LEAMINGTON - The now defunct works club, whose first team progressed to the Southern League, were one of the 12 founder members of the MFYL in 82/83, taking the runners up spot. After a year's break they returned for one more season in 84/85.

ASTON VILLA - Yes, the Villa did have two seasons with us ! 83/84 saw them fifth in the Southern Division, and they returned in 86/87 to carry off the League Cup and runners up spot in the league.

#ATHERSTONE UNITED - The Doc Martens League club are one of the MFYL's longest-serving clubs. After joining the Southern Division in 83/84, they spent the next eight seasons in the Northern, twice finishing fourth. Returned in 96/97, and last season - their 15th with us - was their fourth in the Premier section.

BARDON HILL - The Leicester Senior League club's only season, 97/98. saw them 11th in the Northern.

BARROW TOWN - Another Leics club, they had three seasons in the Northern Division (best spot fifth)before leaving at the end of the 99/00 season.

BARWELL - Yet another Leics side - joined the Northern section in 99/00 for a single season.

#BEDWORTH UNITED - One of the league's most successful clubs. Joining in 83/84 they promptly won the Southern Division, followed by the Northern the next season. Left the league, but rejoined in 91/92 for six terms in the Northern, finishing champions in 94/95 and completing the "treble" of League, League Cup and Ray Mercer Shield (Supplementary Comp) the following year. 97/98 saw them win the newly-formed Central Division to earn a place in the new Premier Division, where in 99/00 they were runners up and also won the Ray Mercer Shield again.

BILSTON TOWN - The Black Country club had a spell of ten seasons with the MFYL between 1984 and 1995, with a best finish of third in the Southern. After a spell in the West Midland Youth League they returned to the MFYL for 01/02, spending the entire season in the top half of the table, but serious problems within the club over the season saw the first team pulled out of the Dr Martens League and the youth team was axed.

BILSTON UNITED - Their only season, in 83/84, saw them finish sixth in the Northern section.

BIRMINGHAM CITY - The Blues had a very successful five-year stay in the MFYL. In only their first season, 87/88, they were Northern champions. After a season in the Southern (third place) they switched back to the Northern in 89/90 and won that again. Back in the Southern, they took the runners up spot in the next two campaigns.
#BLACKHEATH TOWN - Formed from the management of players of the now defunct Oldbury United youth team, the club are about to commence life in the MFYL for the 03/04 season.

#BLOXWICH TOWN - (see below) - The 02/03 season saw immediate success with victory over Hednesford Town in the Staffordshire FA Youth Cup final, and they enjoyed a steady season of consolidation in the Western Division.

BLOXWICH UNITED - This new club, formed by the amalgamation of Blakenall and Bloxwich Town, installed their youth side in the MFYL for the 01/02 campaign, before reverting to the name of Bloxwich Town for the 02/03 season.

#BOLDMERE ST MICHAELS - With an impressive history of FA Youth Cup runs, which had seen them beat Southend United, take on Spurs at White Hart Lane and Man City at their Church Road ground, the Mikes were a welcome addition to the league in 97/98, when they finished fourth in the Central Division and gained a place in the new Premier section, where they have remained since.

BRIDGNORTH TOWN - The Shropshire club spent five seasons with the MFYL in the 1990's, with a hat-trick of seventh places in the Southern Division.

BROMSGROVE ROVERS - Had ten seasons with us after joining for the 91/92 campaign. Rovers had a good record in the Southern Division - twice winners, twice runners up and a third place - a pedigree which merited inclusion in the Premier Division when it was formed in 98/99. Sadly, the club disbanded their youth and reserve teams at the end of 00/01.

#BROMYARD TOWN - The Herefordshire club, whose first team play in the Banks's West Midland League, joined the MFYL for the first time in 01/02.

BURNTWOOD TOWN - Joining for the first time in 99/00, the young Staffordshire side developed well over the year to finish a creditable sixth in the Northern Division, but disappointingly axed their youth team on the eve of the following season.

#BURTON ALBION - Had one isolated season in 85/86, when they finished second in the Northern Division. They came back for the 1990's with a vengeance however, and proved to be one of the league's most consistently strong clubs. Their finishing positions in the Northern Division (6th-4th-3rd-3rd-4th-3rd-1st-2nd) made them an obvious choice when the Premier Division was formed, and they promptly became the first winners of the new section and were runners up in 2000/01. Another club who have performed well against Football League clubs in the FA Youth Cup.