Welcome to the Trade Tyre Community Stadium and thank you for joining us for another exciting season of football with Lichfield City FC.
Whether you are a lifelong supporter, a visiting fan, a player, a volunteer, or joining us for the first time, it is a pleasure to have you here and we hope you enjoy your day with us.
As we compete in the Northern Premier League West Division, we know the challenges ahead will be significant, but we also know the ambition, commitment and togetherness within this club can help us continue to progress.
I would like to thank our sponsors, partners and volunteers for their continued support, and a special thank you to all of our supporters who turn up week after week to get behind the team.
We look forward to sharing many more memorable moments with you throughout the season.
Up the City!
Chairman
Formed in 1970, Lichfield City Football Club grew out of Staffordshire's grassroots scene and joined the West Midlands (Regional) League, climbing into Division One before the decade was out.
Promotion as Division Two runners-up in 1990, then second in Division One four years later, earned the freshly rebranded "Lichfield City" a crack at Premier Division football. Financial pressures later forced a resignation from Saturday competition, yet the club kept its heartbeat alive in Sunday leagues and resurfaced in 2008 with renewed purpose — rewarded in 2011 with the Midland Combination Challenge Vase.
Jamie Hawkins' team turned heads on 26 August 2019, sweeping Haughmond 3–0 to reach the FA Cup first qualifying round for the first time. Hawkins left for Chasetown in 2020, and former Atherstone Town boss Ivor Green arrived a month later, guiding the side to promotion in 2021 via a points-per-game ruling and restoring Step 5 football to the cathedral city.
Green's youthful, largely home-grown squad won the JW Hunt Cup in 2023 and retained it in 2024. A relentless 2023–24 league campaign ended in play-off heartbreak, watched by a record 1,110 spectators — but the response was emphatic. On 6 April 2025, Jack Edwards' early strike set up a 3–0 win at Whitchurch Alport that clinched the Midland League Premier Division title and carried City into Step 4 and the Northern Premier League Division One Midlands, finishing with 95 points and the league's tightest defence.
Ivor Green and Wayne Chapman then guided City through their first Step 4 campaign, cementing the club's place at that level and continuing the progress built over recent seasons. The move to the West Premier League has brought significant change, with a new management team and a refreshed squad marking the start of an exciting new chapter. Under the leadership of Matty, City look ahead to the season with renewed ambition and a determination to continue the club's upward journey.
Stafford Rangers
No one has ever been able to prove conclusively when Stafford Rangers was formed — early minute books were destroyed during the First World War. The club's formation is generally recognised as 1876, based on local newspaper articles, though an alternative account printed in 1891 suggests it was founded a year later by a Bible class. Rangers moved to their present Marston Road home in 1896 and reached the NPL by 1968–69 after title-winning spells in the Cheshire League.
The 1970s remain the club's finest hour: under Roy Chapman, Rangers won the Northern Premier League, FA Trophy and Staffordshire Senior Cup treble in 1971–72, with Ray Williams scoring a club-record 48 goals that season. Three years later they reached the FA Cup Fourth Round, beating Stockport County, Halifax Town and Rotherham United — the home tie with Rotherham drawing a record 8,536 to Marston Road — before losing to Peterborough United in front of 31,160 at Stoke City's Victoria Ground. A second FA Trophy followed in 1979, beating Kettering Town.
After spells across the non-league pyramid, including a return to Conference football via a 2006 play-off win, Rangers have settled in the Northern Premier League in recent years. Graham Deakin took permanent charge last season, guiding the club to safety, and has strengthened the squad significantly for 2026/27 — including several close-season signings from fellow West Division sides.
Matty Lovatt reflects on a challenging period for Lichfield City, evaluating the recent away fixtures against Lower Breck and Shifnal alongside a difficult home result. While the manager noted competitive spells in those away games, the recurring theme has been conceding late, avoidable goals. He describes the recent home defeat as a significant "slap in the face" and a steep learning curve, acknowledging that the current league level is lethal and punishes any drop in intensity or focus.
The primary insight from these matches is the need for greater ruthlessness in both boxes. Lovatt identifies that while the team creates quality chances, they have lacked the clinical edge to dispose of them, whereas opponents have been highly efficient with half-opportunities. Defensively, the focus is on eliminating "scruffy" and "silly" mistakes that have undermined the team's hard work. Furthermore, the manager highlighted a need for increased physicality, noting that the squad must be stronger in winning first and second balls to avoid appearing "flimsy" against tough opposition.
The return of Jordan Davies provides a boost to the attacking rotation, and the eventual return of Tom Brown is expected to add much-needed steel to the lineup. Looking ahead to tonight's fixture against Stafford Rangers, Lovatt demanded a "ready to go to war" mentality, ensuring the players are prepared for the physical and tactical demands required to secure a result.
The management & support team for 2026/27
2026/27 season — full table, live as at 14 Aug 2026
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shifnal Town | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2 | +6 | 6 |
| 2 | Bootle | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | +4 | 6 |
| 3 | Prescot Cables | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 3 | +2 | 5 |
| 4 | Hanley Town | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | +3 | 4 |
| 5 | Stalybridge Celtic | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 7 | -1 | 4 |
| 6 | Witton Albion | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 4 | +4 | 3 |
| 7 | Lower Breck | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | +3 | 3 |
| 8 | Mossley | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 3 |
| 9 | Stafford Rangers | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 3 |
| 10 | 1874 Northwich | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 3 |
| 11 | Runcorn Linnets | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 5 | -1 | 3 |
| 12 | Newcastle Town | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | -1 | 3 |
| 13 | Wythenshawe | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -2 | 3 |
| 14 | Vauxhall Motors | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 2 |
| 15 | Congleton Town | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 16 | Padiham | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | -4 | 1 |
| 17 | Clitheroe | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | Kidsgrove Athletic | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | Atherton Collieries | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 0 |
| 20 | Nantwich Town | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -2 | 0 |
| 21 | Chasetown | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 |
| 22 | Lichfield City | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 14 | -10 | 0 |
| Date | Opposition | Ven | Comp | Res | Att |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAT 8 Aug | Lower Breck | A | West Division | L 1-4 | – |
| WED 12 Aug | Shifnal Town | A | West Division | L 2-4 | 213 |
| SAT 15 Aug | Witton Albion | H | West Division | L 1-6 | 258 |
| Date | Opposition | Ven | Comp | KO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAT 22 Aug | Lye Town | A | Emirates FA Cup | 3:00pm |
| WED 26 Aug | Hanley Town | H | West Division | 7:45pm |
| SAT 29 Aug | Matlock Town | H | Isuzu FA Trophy | 3:00pm |
| MON 31 Aug | Chasetown | A | West Division | 3:00pm |
| SAT 5 Sep | Stalybridge Celtic | H | West Division | 3:00pm |
| SAT 12 Sep | Prescot Cables | A | West Division | 3:00pm |
| WED 16 Sep | Newcastle Town | H | West Division | 7:45pm |
| SAT 19 Sep | Congleton Town | A | West Division | 3:00pm |
| SAT 26 Sep | Mossley | H | West Division | 3:00pm |
| TUE 29 Sep | Kidsgrove Athletic | A | West Division | 7:45pm |
| SAT 3 Oct | Wythenshawe | A | West Division | 3:00pm |
Goals & appearances so far this season
| Player | Goals | Pens | Apps | Mins | Sub Apps | Unused Sub |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dylan Thomas | 2 | 0 | 3 | 224 | 1 | 0 |
| Abdul Bashiru | 1 | 0 | 2 | 56 | 2 | 0 |
| Jordan Davies | 1 | 0 | 1 | 24 | 1 | 0 |
| Callum Griffin | 0 | 0 | 3 | 246 | 0 | 0 |
| Ethan Muckley | 0 | 0 | 3 | 190 | 1 | 0 |
| Isaac Smart | 0 | 0 | 3 | 158 | 1 | 0 |
| Joe Colley | 0 | 0 | 3 | 243 | 0 | 0 |
| Joey Buckley | 0 | 0 | 3 | 248 | 0 | 0 |
| Kane Michael Lewis | 0 | 0 | 3 | 270 | 0 | 0 |
| Luke Hennessy | 0 | 0 | 3 | 252 | 0 | 0 |
| Stefan Cameron | 0 | 0 | 3 | 182 | 0 | 0 |
| Tom Carter | 0 | 0 | 3 | 270 | 0 | 0 |
| Dan Lomas | 0 | 0 | 2 | 90 | 1 | 0 |
| Harry Crook | 0 | 0 | 2 | 158 | 0 | 0 |
| Lewi Burnside | 0 | 0 | 2 | 106 | 0 | 0 |
| Mason Perry | 0 | 0 | 2 | 74 | 2 | 0 |
| Matty Hughes | 0 | 0 | 2 | 47 | 2 | 0 |
| Jack Daniel Fishman | 0 | 0 | 1 | 90 | 0 | 0 |
| Kieran Francis | 0 | 0 | 1 | 44 | 1 | 0 |
Lichfield City 1–2 Coundon Court
We welcomed Coundon Court to the Trade Tyre Stadium this afternoon for our first home league fixture of the season. It was a familiar opponent, with Coundon having knocked us out of the FA Cup last season with a 1-0 victory.
Lichfield started brightly and created several opportunities during the opening 20 minutes. Unfortunately we couldn't find the finishing touch to convert our chances.
Coundon gradually grew into the game and eventually broke the deadlock with a well taken header to make it 0-1.
As half time approached, Lichfield continued to search for an equaliser but were dealt another blow when Coundon were awarded a penalty. Grace Glass came close to keeping it out getting a hand to the effort but the ball found the net to give the visitors a 0-2 lead at the break.
HT | Lichfield City 0–2 Coundon Court
The second half couldn't have started much better for Lichfield. A perfectly delivered free kick from Loz found her centre back partner Liv Lloyd who rose highest to power her header home and give City a route back into the game.
The second half saw tired legs begin to play their part for both sides as the afternoon progressed, but Lichfield continued to push for a way back into the game. Ultimately Coundon held on to secure all three points.
FT | Lichfield City 1–2 Coundon Court
A frustrating afternoon for City but plenty of positives to take despite the result.
An outstanding defensive performance from Liv saw her stand strong at the back throughout the game. She was composed and committed to her defensive duties.
Her performance was topped off with her first competitive goal for Lichfield, a brilliant header from a perfectly delivered free kick — a fantastic debut league performance from Liv.
2026/27 season
GKCommanding between the sticks, an assured goalkeeper with excellent shot-stopping and a strong presence in the box for his age.
DFAn imposing centre-half who dominates in the air and brings leadership to the back line, calm in possession.
DFA composed and intelligent player who reads the game well and offers quality in possession.
DFA dependable performer combining a strong work ethic with consistency and reliability week after week. A true leader.
DFStanding head and shoulders above most opponents, Matty brings experience, leadership and a commanding presence at the heart of defence.
DFAn energetic wide player who loves to get forward, take on defenders and create opportunities for his teammates.
Photo TBCReturns to the club after a previous successful spell, back from Chasetown.
Photo TBCA no-nonsense defender with a fierce competitive edge, known for his high, consistent standards.
DFA young and upcoming talent with a great attitude and plenty of eagerness to impact a game while developing at senior level.
DFA committed and competitive defender who brings intensity, character and a strong team-first mentality.
DFA modern, pacey full-back who will run himself into the ground for 90 minutes, defends well and loves getting forward.
DFA promising defender on loan from Halesowen Town, strong in the tackle and composed bringing the ball out from the back.
MF (Captain)An experienced midfielder and captain who brings a creative spark, a killer pass and a good aerial presence.
MFA true box-to-box midfielder who sets high standards with his work rate, consistency and influence at both ends of the pitch.
MFA composed midfielder with plenty of quality on the ball, combining hard work with creativity to unlock a defence.
MFCaptain of the youth side, high energy, enjoys the physical side of football and gets amongst goals.
MFA lively attacking player with an eye for goal and the ability to make things happen in the final third.
Photo TBCA hardworking, committed player who brings energy, determination and a real competitive edge to the side.
UTILSharp and dependable. Kieran's versatility allows him to contribute effectively in multiple positions.
MFA technically gifted young footballer who chips in with goals thanks to his brilliant awareness of where to be.
Photo TBCA tricky, skilful, brave forward. Joins us from our youth section.
Photo TBCA dynamic player with plenty of energy, always willing to work hard for the team and drive play forward.
CMEx-Walsall player. A technical playmaker who is full of energy and an astute finisher.
CMA technical player with a good IQ and movement. Loves getting on the ball and making things happen. Another joining from our youth section.
STAn energetic and athletic player who covers every blade of grass, strong in possession and driving the team forward with his powerful running.
STA proven goalscorer. Quick, direct and always a threat in and around the penalty area.
STA pacey, versatile player with plenty of determination, capable of making an impact wherever he's asked to play.
STA handful for any defender with his physical presence and stature — an eye for goal and a fantastic work ethic.
