‘Justice at last’ as Shifnal set to earn Prem promotion

Shifnal are on course to play in the Midland League Premier Division next term, after the FA’s Alliance and Leagues Committee recommended pushing ahead with a restructure which will see more than 100 clubs move divisions.

The plan, originally postponed from last year, will see the West Midlands Premier Division axed with all clubs moved into rival divisions.

Shifnal are one of three clubs set to be promoted after recording the division’s best record over the last two seasons, both of which were cut short due to the pandemic.

Carter said: “This feels like justice, after this season when we were top of the table and particularly after last year when we were walking away with it before the pandemic struck.

“When the season was declared null and void it was a bitter pill to swallow.

“This now gives us something to look forward to.

“It means all our hard work over the last two years hasn’t gone to waste.”

Shifnal’s promotion should eventually be confirmed next month, though the process is lengthy, with the FA council first required to ratify the committee’s recommendation.

Clubs eligible for promotion will then be invited to apply, with those applications then ratified by an FA sub-committee in early May.

The restructure is unlikely to be without controversy, with results from a 2019-20 season originally declared null and void now counting in the points-per-game calculation.

There has also been a reduction in the number of clubs set to be promoted since the restructure was first drawn up nearly two years ago.

None of that should affect Shifnal, who comfortably boast the West Midland League’s best record since 2019 and have the facilities ready to make the step up.

Carter said: “I am sure there will be some clubs who kick up a fuss and that’s understandable.

“There was never going to be a solution to suit everyone.

“The bottom line is there have been enough matches played over the last two years for clubs to make their case. We needed this. When me and (joint-boss) Andrew Carrier came to Shifnal we sold them the vision of promotion and this feels like our hard work has paid off.

“After what happened in 2020 we were able to convince most of the team to return and give it another crack. That would have been harder to do this time around, asking them to come back for a third season in the West Midlands League. We feel we deserve to go up.”