Midlands 4 West (North)

Counties 3 Midlands West (North) (formerly Midlands 4 West (North)) is a level 9 English Rugby Union league and level 4 of the Midlands League, made up of teams from the northern part of the West Midlands region including Shropshire, parts of Birmingham and the West Midlands and occasionally Cheshire, with home and away matches played throughout the season. Each year some of the clubs in this division also take part in the RFU Junior Vase - a level 9-12 national competition.

Counties 3 Midlands West (North)

Current season or competition: 2024-25 Counties 3 Midlands West (North)
Sport	Rugby union
Instituted	2005; 20 years ago (2005) (as Midlands 5 West (North))
Number of teams	12
Country	England
Most titles	Eccleshall, Harborne (2 titles)
Website	England RFU

Formed for the 2005-06 season, the division was originally known as Midlands 5 West (North) but changed to its present name for the 2008–09 season due to league restructuring. Further restructuring followed in the wake of the RFU's Adult Competition Review and from season 2022-23 it has been known by its current name.

Promoted teams move up to Counties 2 Midlands West (North) while relegated teams drop to Counties 4 Midlands West (North).

2025-26

Departing were Leek II and Newcastle (Staffs) II, promoted to Counties 2 Midlands West (West). Stoke-on-Trent II (11th) were relegated to Counties 4 Midlands West (North).

Handsworth (6th) left on a level transfer to Counties 3 Midlands West (East).

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Barton-under-Needwood Holland Sports Club Barton-under-Needwood, Staffordshire 3rd Burton III Battlestead Croft, Tatenhill Burton, Staffordshire 10th Cannock Morgan Ground Huntington, Cannock Chase, Staffordshire 7th Eccleshall Baden Hall Eccleshall, Staffordshire 5th Lichfield II Cooke Fields Lichfield, Staffordshire Level transfer from Counties 3 Midlands West (East) (4th) Market Drayton Greenfields Lane Market Drayton, Shropshire Relegated from Counties 2 Midlands West (West) (11th) Newport (Salop) III The Old Showground Newport, Shropshire Promoted from Counties 4 Midlands West (North) (champions) Oswestry Granville Park Oswestry, Shropshire Relegated from Counties 2 Midlands West (West) (10th) Rugeley St Augustine's Field Rugeley, Staffordshire 9th St Leonards Universal Sports and Social Club Stafford, Staffordshire Promoted from Counties 4 Midlands West (North) (runners-up) Stone Stone Hockey Club Aston By Stone, Staffordshire 8th Uttoxeter Oldfields Sports & Social Club 2,000 Uttoxeter, Staffordshire 4th

Barton Burton III Cannock Eccleshall Lichfield II Market Drayton Newport (Salop) III Oswestry Rugeley St Leonards Stone Uttoxeter Locations of the 2025-26 Counties 3 Midlands West (North) teams

2024-25

Departing were Aston Old Edwardians and Trentham, promoted to Counties 2 Midlands West (East) and Counties 2 Midlands West (West) respectively. Cleobury Mortimer (6th) went on a level transfer to Counties 3 Midlands West (South). Shrewsbury II (11th) and Ludlow II (12th) were relegated into the Shropshire merit leagues.

Joining were Burton III, Handsworth, Rugeley, Stoke-on-Trent II and Uttoxeter.

Aldridge (10th in 2023-24) started but did not complete the season leaving eleven sides to contest the remaining fixtures.

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Barton-under-Needwood Holland Sports Club Barton-under-Needwood, Staffordshire 4th Burton III Battlestead Croft, Tatenhill Burton, Staffordshire Promoted from Counties 4 Midlands West (North) Cannock Morgan Ground Huntington, Cannock Chase, Staffordshire 8th Eccleshall Baden Hall Eccleshall, Staffordshire 7th Handsworth Charles Lewis Memorial Ground Walsall, West Midlands Relegated from Counties 2 Midlands West (West) Leek II Altrad Park Cheddleton, Staffordshire 3rd Newcastle (Staffs) II Lilleshall Road Clayton, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire 5th Rugeley St Augustine's Field Rugeley, Staffordshire Relegated from Counties 2 Midlands West (West) Stoke-on-Trent II Hartwell Lane Barlaston, Staffordshire Promoted from Counties 4 Midlands West (North) (3rd) Stone Stone Hockey Club Aston By Stone, Staffordshire 9th Uttoxeter Oldfields Sports & Social Club 2,000 Uttoxeter, Staffordshire Relegated from Counties 2 Midlands West (East)

Barton Burton III Cannock Eccleshall Handsworth Leek II Newcastle II Rugeley Stone Stoke II Uttoxeter Locations of the 2024-25 Counties 3 Midlands West (North) teams

2023-24

Departing were Willenhall and Rugeley, both promoted to Counties 2 Midlands West (West). Wednesbury (9th) and Warley (10th) were relegated to Counties 4 Midlands West (North) and Counties 4 Midlands West (South) respectively.

Joining were Aldridge, Cleobury Mortimer, Stone, Leek II, Shrewsbury II and Newcastle (Staffs) II.

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Aldridge Bourne Vale Aldridge, West Midlands Relegated from Counties 2 Midlands West (North) (12th) Aston Old Edwardians ASunnybank Avenue Kingstanding, Birmingham, West Midlands 5th Barton-under-Needwood Holland Sports Club Barton-under-Needwood, Staffordshire 4th Cannock Morgan Ground Huntington, Cannock Chase, Staffordshire 7th Cleobury Mortimer Love Lane Cleobury Mortimer, Shropshire Relegated from Counties 2 Midlands West (North) (11th) Eccleshall Baden Hall Eccleshall, Staffordshire 6th Leek II Altrad Park Cheddleton, Staffordshire New entry Ludlow II The Linney Ludlow, Shropshire 8th Newcastle (Staffs) II Lilleshall Road Clayton, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire New entry Shrewsbury II Sundorne Castle Uffington, Shrewsbury, Shropshire New entry Stone Stone Hockey Club Aston By Stone, Staffordshire Promoted from Counties 4 Midlands West (North) Trentham New Inn Lane Trentham, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire 3rd

Aldridge Aston OE Barton Cannock Cleobury Eccleshall Leek II Ludlow II Newcastle II Shrewsbury II Stone Trentham Locations of the 2023-24 Counties 3 Midlands West (North) teams

2022-23

Departing were Oswestry and Market Drayton, both promoted to Counties 2 Midlands West (North). Birmingham Exiles (10th) departed on a level transfer to Counties 3 Midlands West (South). Essington (12th) were relegated to Counties 4 Midlands West (North). Yardley & District (8th) did not return for the new season.

Joining were Cannock, Eccleshall, Ludlow II

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Aston Old Edwardians ASunnybank Avenue Kingstanding, Birmingham, West Midlands 7th Barton-under-Needwood Holland Sports Club Barton-under-Needwood, Staffordshire 3rd Cannock Morgan Ground Huntington, Cannock Chase, Staffordshire Promoted from Midlands 5 West (South) (runners-up) Eccleshall Baden Hall Eccleshall, Staffordshire Relegated from Midlands 3 West (North) (11th) Ludlow II The Linney Ludlow, Shropshire New entry Rugeley St Augustine's Field Rugeley, Staffordshire 6th Trentham New Inn Lane Trentham, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire 5th Warley Tatbank Road Oldbury, West Midlands 11th Wednesbury Woden Road North Wednesbury, West Midlands 9th Willenhall Bognop Road Essington, Staffordshire 4th

Aston OE Barton Cannock Eccleshall Ludlow II Rugeley Trentham Warley Wednesbury Willenhall Locations of the 2022-23 Counties 3 Midlands West (North) teams

2021–22

Participating teams & locations

Cannock who finished 12th in 2019-20 were relegated to Midlands 5 West (South) with their place taken by Oswestry who were level transferred from Lancs/Cheshire 2 which was disbanded before the start of the 2021-22 season.

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Aston Old Edwardians ASunnybank Avenue Kingstanding, Birmingham, West Midlands 7th Barton-under-Needwood Holland Sports Club Barton-under-Needwood, Staffordshire 3rd Birmingham Exiles Old Damson Lane Elmdon, West Midlands 10th Essington High Hill Centre Essington, Staffordshire 8th Market Drayton Greenfields Lane Market Drayton, Shropshire 4th Oswestry Granville Park Oswestry, Shropshire Level transfer from Lancs/Cheshire 2 (3rd) Rugeley St Augustine's Field Rugeley, Staffordshire 5th Trentham New Inn Lane Trentham, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire 6th Warley Tatbank Road Oldbury, West Midlands 11th Wednesbury Woden Road North Wednesbury, West Midlands Relegated from Midlands 3 WN (11th) Willenhall Bognop Road Essington, Staffordshire Relegated from Midlands 3 WN (12th) Yardley & District Cole Hall Lane Stechford, Birmingham, West Midlands 9th

Aston OE Barton B'ham Exiles Essington Rugeley Trentham Warley Wednesbury Willenhall Yardley Locations of the 2021–22 Midlands 4 West (North) teams in Staffordshire and the West Midlands Market Drayton Oswestry Locations of the 2021–22 Midlands 4 West (North) teams in Shropshire

2020–21

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020–21 season was cancelled.

2019–20

Participating teams & locations

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Aldridge Bourne Vale Aldridge, West Midlands 6th Aston Old Edwardians Sunnybank Avenue Kingstanding, Birmingham, West Midlands 5th Barton-under-Needwood Holland Sports Club Barton-under-Needwood, Staffordshire 7th Birmingham Exiles Old Damson Lane Elmdon, West Midlands Promoted from Midlands 5 WS (champions) Cannock Morgan Ground Huntington, Cannock Chase, Staffordshire Relegated from Midlands 3 WN (12th) Clee Hill Tenbury Road Cleehill, Shropshire 4th Essington High Hill Centre Essington, Staffordshire 10th Market Drayton Greenfields Lane Market Drayton, Shropshire 9th Rugeley St Augustine's Field Rugeley, Staffordshire 3rd Trentham New Inn Lane Trentham, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire Relegated from Midlands 3 WN (11th) Warley Tatbank Road Oldbury, West Midlands Promoted from Midlands 5 WN (runners up) Yardley & District Cole Hall Lane Stechford, Birmingham, West Midlands 8th

Aldridge Aston OE Barton B'ham Exiles Cannock Essington Rugeley Trentham Warley Yardley Locations of the 2019–20 Midlands 4 West (North) teams in Staffordshire and the West Midlands Clee Hill Market Drayton Locations of the 2019–20 Midlands 4 West (North) teams in Shropshire

2018–19

Participating teams & locations

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Aldridge Bourne Vale Aldridge, West Midlands Promoted from Midlands 5 West (South) (champions) Aston Old Edwardians Sunnybank Avenue Kingstanding, Birmingham, West Midlands 6th Barton-under-Needwood Holland Sports Club Barton-under-Needwood, Staffordshire Relegated from Midlands 3 West (North) (12th) Bloxwich Stafford Road Sports Club Bloxwich, Walsall, West Midlands 8th Clee Hill Tenbury Road Cleehill, Shropshire 4th Essington High Hill Centre Essington, Staffordshire 9th (not relegated) Linley & Kidsgrove Kidsgrove Cricket Club Kidsgrove, Staffordshire Promoted from Midlands 5 West (North) (runners up) Market Drayton Greenfields Lane Market Drayton, Shropshire 5th Rugeley St Augustine's Field Rugeley, Staffordshire 3rd Willenhall Bognop Road Essington, Staffordshire Relegated from Midlands 3 West (North) (11th) Yardley & District Cole Hall Lane Stechford, Birmingham, West Midlands 7th

Aldridge Aston OE Barton Bloxwich Essington Linley Rugeley Willenhall Yardley Locations of the 2018-19 Midlands 4 West (North) teams in Staffordshire and the West Midlands Clee Hill Market Drayton Locations of the 2018-19 Midlands 4 West (North) teams in Shropshire

2017–18

Participating teams & locations

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Aston Old Edwardians Sunnybank Avenue Kingstanding, Birmingham, West Midlands 9th Bloxwich Stafford Road Sports Club Bloxwich, Walsall, West Midlands 4th Church Stretton Church Stretton School Church Stretton, Shropshire 8th Clee Hill Tenbury Road Cleehill, Shropshire Relegated from Midlands 3 West (North) (11th) Eccleshall Baden Hall Eccleshall, Staffordshire Relegated from Midlands 3 West (North) (12th) Essington High Hill Centre Essington, Staffordshire 7th Market Drayton Greenfields Lane Market Drayton, Shropshire Promoted from Midlands 5 West (North) (runners up) Rugeley St Augustine's Field Rugeley, Staffordshire 3rd Wednesbury Woden Road North Wednesbury, West Midlands 6th Yardley & District Cole Hall Lane Stechford, Birmingham, West Midlands 10th

Aston OE Bloxwich Church Stretton Clee Hill Eccleshall Essington Market Drayton Rugeley Wednesbury Yardley Locations of the 2017–18 Midlands 4 West (North) teams

Teams 2016-17

• Aston Old Edwardians
• Barton-Under-Needwood
• Bishops Castle & Onny Valley
• Bloxwich (relegated from Midlands 3 West (North))
• Church Stretton
• Essington (promoted from Midlands 5 West (North))
• Five Way Old Edwardians
• Rugeley
• St Leonards (promoted from Midlands 5 West (North))
• Trentham
• Wednesbury (relegated from Midlands 3 West (North))
• Yardley & District

Teams 2015-16

• Aldridge (promoted from Midlands 5 West (North))
• Aston Old Edwardians (relegated from Midlands 3 West (North))
• Barton-Under-Needwood
• Bishops Castle & Onny Valley
• Bromyard
• Church Stretton (promoted from Midlands 5 West (North))
• Market Drayton
• Rugeley
• Telford Hornets
• Uttoxeter (relegated from Midlands 3 West (North))
• Yardley & District

Teams 2014-15

• Barton-Under-Needwood (transferred from Midlands 4 West (South))
• Bishops Castle & Onny Valley
• Bromyard
• Cannock
• Cleobury Mortimer
• Greyhound
• Market Drayton (relegated from Midlands 3 West (North))
• Rugeley (promoted from Midlands 5 West (North))
• Telford Hornets (promoted from Midlands 5 West (North))
• Tenbury
• Yardley & District (relegated from Midlands 3 West (North))

Teams 2013-14

• Bishops Castle & Onny Valley
• Bromyard
• Cannock
• Clee Hill
• Cleobury Mortimer (relegated from Midlands 3 West (North))
• Five Ways Old Edwardians
• Greyhound
• Harborne
• St Leonards (promoted from Midlands 5 West (North))
• Tenbury
• Warley (promoted from Midlands 5 West (North))

Teams 2012–13

• Barton-Under-Needwood
• Bishops Castle & Onny Valley
• Bromyard
• Cannock
• Clee Hill
• Five Ways O.E.
• Harborne
• Market Drayton
• Telford Hornets
• Tenbury
• Uttoxeter

Teams 2008–09

• Bishops Castle & Onny Valley
• Burntwood
• Cleobury Mortimer
• Handsworth
• Leek
• Moseley Oak
• Newcastle
• Old Yardleians
• Shrewsbury
• Tamworth
• Veseyans
• Willenhall

Teams 2007–08

• Bishops Castle & Onny Valley
• Bournville
• Burntwood
• Harborne
• Old Halesonians
• Old Yardleians
• Moseley Oak
• Tamworth
• Telford Hornets
• Veseyans
• Willenhall

Original teams

When this division was introduced in 2005 as Midlands 5 West (North), it contained the following teams:

• Bloxwich - transferred from North Midlands (North) (4th)
• Bournville - transferred from North Midlands (North) (9th)
• Cannock - transferred from Staffordshire 1 (champions)
• Essington - transferred from North Midlands (North) (7th)
• Five Ways Old Edwardians - transferred from North Midlands (North) (6th)
• Old Griffinians - transferred from North Midlands (North) (3rd)
• Selly Oak - relegated from Midlands 4 West (North) (9th)
• Warley -transferred from North Midlands (North) (5th)
• Yardley & District - relegated from Midlands 4 West (North) (10th)

Midlands 4 West (North) honours

Midlands 5 West (North) (2005–2009)

Midlands 5 West (North) was introduced ahead of the 2005–06 season as a tier 9 league to replace the discontinued North Midlands (North) and Staffordshire 1 leagues. Promotion was to Midlands 4 West (North) and relegation to Midlands 6 West (North).

Midlands 5 West (North)
Season	No of teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated teams	Reference
2005–06	9	Old Griffinians	Selly Oak	Essington, Warley	[1]
2006–07	10	Bournville	Kings Norton	Yardley & District, Rugeley	[2]
2007–08	10	Handsworth	Cleobury Mortimer	Aldridge	[3]
2008–09	11	Bloxwich	Telford Hornets	Five Ways Old Edwardians, Stourport	[4]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Midlands 4 West (North) (2009–present)

Further league restructuring by the RFU meant that Midlands 5 West (North) and Midlands 5 West (South) were renamed as Midlands 4 West (North) and Midlands 4 West (South), with both leagues remaining at tier 9. Promotion was now to Midlands 3 West (North) (formerly Midlands 4 West (North)) and relegation to Midlands 5 West (North) (formerly Midlands 6 West (North)) until that league was discontinued at the end of the 2018–19 season.

Midlands 4 West (North) Honours
Season	No of teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated teams	Reference
2009–10	9	Eccleshall	Yardley & District	No relegation[a]	[5]
2010–11	11	Harborne	Cleobury Mortimer	Warley, Essington	[6]
2011–12	11	Edwardians	Bloxwich	Rugeley, St Leonards	[7]
2012–13	11	Market Drayton	Uttoxeter	Telford Hornets, Barton-Under-Needwood	[8]
2013–14	11	Harborne	Clee Hill	St Leonards, Warley	[9]
2014–15	11	Cleobury Mortimer	Cannock	Tenbury, Greyhound	[10]
2015–16	11	Uttoxeter	Telford Hornets	Market Drayton, Aldridge	[11]
2016–17	12	Trentham	Barton-under-Needwood	St Leonards, Bishops Castle & Onny Valley	[12]
2017–18	10	Eccleshall	Wednesbury	Church Stretton [b]	[13]
2018–19	11	Linley	Willenhall	Bloxwich	[14]
2019–20	12	Clee Hill	Aldridge	Cannock	[15]
2020–21	12
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Number of league titles

• Eccleshall (2)
• Harborne (2)
• Bloxwich (1)
• Bournville (1)
• Clee Hill (1)
• Cleobury Mortimer (1)
• Edwardians (1)
• Handsworth (1)
• Linley (1)
• Market Drayton (1)
• Old Griffinians (1)
• Trentham (1)
• Uttoxeter (1)

Notes

1. No relegation as the division would be increased from 9 to 11 teams for the following season.
2. Church Stretton dropped out of the league before the season and were automatically relegated. No other teams were relegated this season.

See also

• Midlands RFU
• North Midlands RFU
• Staffordshire RU
• English rugby union system
• Rugby union in England