Northfield Town F.C.

Although Northfield Town F.C. came into being in 1966, its origins go back to the early 1950s. After spells in the Kings Norton League, Warwickshire & West Midlands Alliance and the Mercian League, they joined the Combination in 1957 (then the Worcestershire Combination). Playing under the name of Allen's Cross they won the League Challenge Cup in their first year and the League Championship in 1961–62. Following amalgamation with another successful local side, Castle Rovers, the club played briefly as Cross Castle United before adopting the present title of Northfield Town.

In 2013 Northfield Town F.C amalgamated with Shenley Radford Youth F.C to create a youth system. This was the beginning of Northfield Town Juniors F.C, with the teams competing in the Central Warwickshire Youth Football League.

The 2013–14 season was the last season in the Midland Football Combination, in which Northfield Town finished 13th before entering the newly formed Midland Football League for the 2014–15 season.

Northfield Town finished the 2016/17 season in 4th place in Midlands Division Three, narrowly missing out on promotion. The team also finished runners-up in the Challenge Vase, losing the final 2–1 to NKF Burbage. Also that season, the club twice broke its record for largest attendance, firstly against Paget Rangers when 101 people watched the game, and then again against Montpellier on the last day with an attendance of 124 people.

The Northfield Town F.C's Logo is based on the history of the club. The red cross represents Allen's Cross F.C and the castle represents Castle Rovers F.C who amalgamated to form Northfield Town F.C in 1966.

The club used to wear black and white due to the amalgamation with Shenley Radford Youth F.C. However, for the start of the 2016/17 season they reverted to their yellow and blue kit, with the black and white strip being used as an away kit.

The home games for both Northfield Town F.C and Northfield Town Juniors F.C are played at Shenley Community Association and Sports Centre, based in the Selly Oak area of Birmingham.

Kings Heath Old Boys F.C who play in the Birmingham & District Football League and Northfield Town S G F.C who play in the Coronation Football League & Alliance[1] (formerly Shenley Green F.C) also pitch share at the Shenley Community Association and Sports Centre.

The present sports ground was initially the playing fields for The Allens Cross Community Association and they remained the "parent body" until 1983.

The field was opened in 1935; that year King George V and Queen Mary were celebrating the Silver Jubilee of their reign to mark the event a fund was set up, called the King George V Playing Fields Fund. At Allen's Cross funds were also obtained from the Birmingham Branch of the National Playing Fields Association, the Birmingham Civic Society, Bournville Village Trust and other donors.[2]

Eventually, in 1937, work started on a clubhouse pavilion, provided by the Feeney Trust, tarmac tennis court and caretaker's house, all of which were officially opened on 27 August 1938 by George Cadbury. The ground itself was laid out for two football pitches and one cricket pitch.

When Cadburys formed a partnership with Schweppes in the early 1970s, three of their properties, the Allens Cross Sports ground, Weoley Hill Cricket and Tennis Club and the Cadbury Club in Bournville Lane, were allowed to have a bar. The sports club then went from strength to strength while the Community Hall was struggling and in the red.[3]

In 1983 the committee from the sports ground requested to break away from Allens Cross Community Association. Discussions took place and Chris Cadbury, President of the Association, reluctantly agreed on the understanding that they became a Community Association. With that, the sports ground "broke" from the "parent body", Allen's Cross. It became a registered charity in its own right and was renamed Shenley Lane Community Association & Sports Centre. It originally comprised Northfield Town F.C, Allens Cross Cricket and Shenley Radford Youth Club.

From this time cricket was the longest surviving sports group at the ground. Allen's Cross Cricket Club ran from 1938 to 2002. In the latter years they survived by recruiting many immigrant cricketers of considerable ability, but these had no permanent connection with the association and the club folded completely in 2002. Cricket is still played regularly at Shenley Lane by a number of local clubs.

At the same time a development plan was put into place and with the help of the Prince's Trust a brand new changing block, entrance, stand and toilets were added. Later an all-weather pitch was built.

Various developments have taken place over recent years, most significantly the security fencing, but are usually limited to "refurbishments" due to limited funds.

• Midland Football Combination Premier Division
  • Champions 1975–76, 1994–95
  • Runners-up 1989–90
• Midland Football Combination Division One
  • Champions 1998–99, 2005–06
• Midland Football Combination Challenge Cup
  • Winners 1983–84, 1988–89
• Midland Football Combination Presidents Cup
  • Winners 1980–81
• Birmingham Senior Amateur Cup
  • Winners 1974–75
• Tony Alden Memorial Cup
  • Winners 1976
• Smedley Crooke Cup
  • Winners 1989–90
• Lord Mayor's Charity Cup
  • Runners-up – 1990–91, 1992–93
• Birmingham County Youth Cup winners _{(Saturday & Sunday combined)}[4]
  • 1969/70, 1970/71, 1971/72 and 1987/88
• Birmingham County Youth Cup runners-up _{(Saturday & Sunday combined)}[4]
  • 1972/73, 1981/82, 1982/83 and 1985/86
• Worcestershire County Youth Cup winners
  • 4 times
• Mercian A.F.A. Premier Championship
  • 1982/83
• Mercian A.F.A. Division One Champions
  • 1973/74
• Mercian A.F.A. Senior Cup
  • 1979/80
• Aston Villa Shield
  • 1973/74 and 1979/80
• Queens Hospital Cup
  • 1985/86
• Birmingham A.F.A Youth Cup winners
  • 1989/90, 1990/91, 1991/92 and 1993/94[5]
• Birmingham A.F.A Youth Cup runners-up
  • 1988/89 and 1992/93
• Birmingham County Minor Cup winners
  • 2013/14 (Under 16's "Colts"[6])

• FA Vase
  • 3rd Round 1988–89[7]

• Official website
• Midland Football Combination Division One clubs
• Midland Football League 2014/15 Division Three