Introducing the new member clubs: Brereton Social
Tue 7th July 2026 | Brereton Social | By Jay Cooper
With the 2026/27 NWCFL campaign fast approaching, now is the perfect time to introduce the new member clubs to their respective divisions.
Or perhaps better – to let the new member clubs introduce themselves.
Last week, I spoke to Chris Mawson – secretary at Brereton Social, who will take their place in the NWCFL First Division South this season following promotion from the Staffordshire County League in 2025/26.
You would need to go back to the reign of Queen Victoria for the founding of Brereton Social FC. They were formed in 1899, and they have spent the majority of the last 127 years playing their football at their Armitage Lane Ground, now called the Red Lion Ground (appropriate when you consider what the club crest looks like).
As far as their well-documented history goes, Brereton Social made their debut in what was their home league for a long time – the West Midlands (Regional) League – in the 1968/69 campaign, and they immediately took the division by storm. They finished as runners-up twice and Champions once in their first four seasons in Division One, and they achieved promotion to the Premier Division in 1972.
From there, they became part of the furniture in the West Midlands Prem, spending 14 years and change in the division. In their first eight seasons, they managed a top five finish in the table on six occasions, which peaked with a third placed finish in their debut campaign in 1973.
The period between 1982 and 1988 was less fruitful for The Social on the pitch, as they failed to finish higher than 10th across their final six full seasons in the Prem. Shortly after the commencement of the 1987/88 season, the club resigned from the West Midlands League pyramid.
They reemerged in the Staffordshire County League (South), but they were unable to set the world on fire there like they had when they first appeared in the West Midlands League.
Sure enough, by the time the 1995/96 season rolled around, they had returned to their old home for the second time, and between 1996 and 1999, they would achieve three more fifth-place-or-above finishes in what was then known as the Division One North until their centenary year, in which they would fold.
That would not be the end of their story, however. Brereton Social FC reformed and rejoined the West Midlands League for a third time ahead of the 2000/01 campaign. Across six further seasons at the same level, the division was rebranded from the Division One North to simply Division One, and in their final season in Division One – 2005/06 – they finished second in the table behind former NWCFL side Ellesmere Rangers.
After that, The Social spent five seasons in the Midland Combination League, suffering one relegation in that stint, before another mid-season resignation from Division One in the 2010/11 campaign.
Following this period, Brereton Social rebuilt at a more local level, competing in the Staffordshire leagues. This era has been characterised by steady development and a renewed emphasis on grassroots football.
They spent the COVID-19 years in the Staffordshire County League pyramid, before a run of finishing second, third, eighth, second again, and finally first in the Staffordshire County Premier Division in 2025/26. The Social finished 13 points clear of the chasing pack, and well and truly earned their place in the upcoming season’s NWCFL First Division South.
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Chris Mawson
1. How would you describe Brereton Social to someone who had never heard of the club?
a. Brereton Social is a community club. Brereton is only a small town, cobbled onto the market town of Rugeley. Established in 1899, we’ve struggled over the years as the funding for the club has always had to be committee-lead - no wealthy benefactors for us, unfortunately.
We average crowds of around 60-70, but we’re hoping to increase that this season. However, we do face a battle, what with having the much larger and very ambitious Hednesford Town just four miles away. As well as Wolves and Aston Villa, who are the two most well-supported teams in this area.
As far as club roles go, myself and the other community members are involved with everything we can – right up to clearing pathways at the ground with JCBs!
2. What does the club mean to the area and local community that you represent?
a. We thrive on hard work. The area we live in was part of the Cannock Chase coalfields, and the club was started as a release for the miners from their hard work. We are very proud of the fact none of our players are from further than 10 miles away.
We can't afford to pay our lads, but there's a team spirit that's akin to the 1988 Wimbledon FC “Crazy Gang”. We are a band of brothers, as corny as that sounds. If there's one thing that the area around here loves, it's a fighter - the mining community had that grit about it, and like the coal around here, there's a seam of grit throughout the Cannock Chase and Rugeley area.
3. Tell me about the manager?
a. Matt Ainger (better known as Bigs, or Big Man) took over a few seasons back after running one of our reserve sides. Many of the lads followed him up to the first team, and they have been there throughout his tenure.
A no-nonsense player, Matt doesn't suffer fools and you could say that he's a throwback to a Sir Alex type - get the ball out to the wingers, get the midfield up in support, and make use of a very experienced centre-back pairing with energetic full-backs.
4. Tell me a bit about last season – your last one in the Staffordshire County League? Was promotion a definite goal, or a happy accident?
a. Last season, Social romped the league. In just a 34-game season, we were clear at the top by 13 points, and we managed to get a goal difference of +75!
We won a staggering 26 games out of 34. There is no star in the team, which is proven by the fact that four players got into double-figures for goals, and two others got nine for themselves!
5. How well have you been getting along with your pre-season prep? New signings, friendlies, etc?
a. Pre-season has only just started, but we've made massive ground improvements. Our new dugouts went in last week - our old ones were an eyesore. Our floodlights have been taken down ready for brand new LEDs, starting on July 20th.
We are very excited to have Stafford Rangers visiting us on Saturday. They were, for many years, the biggest non-league team in Staffordshire, and they still have a healthy fan base. We are also hosting Brocton, who we greatly admire in the way they've conducted themselves, and in a small way, we are trying to emulate them.
6. What are your ambitions for the upcoming 2026/27 season in the NWCFL?
a. Ultimately, we are a minnow at Step Six. We know this, but we also know there's a fight in us that will shock many teams. We aim to compete, and we would like to think we play enough good football to get results when we might not be expected to.
We are really excited to represent the Brereton and Rugeley area in the football pyramid, and we will welcome all and sundry for a pint after our games in our clubhouse where we can discuss the game, that hopefully Social will have won!
----------
We wish everyone at Brereton Social all the best for the 2026/27 season!
Introducing the new member clubs: Brereton Social
Tue 7th July 2026 | Brereton Social
By Jay Cooper
With the 2026/27 NWCFL campaign fast approaching, now is the perfect time to introduce the new member clubs to their respective divisions.
Or perhaps better – to let the new member clubs introduce themselves.
Last week, I spoke to Chris Mawson – secretary at Brereton Social, who will take their place in the NWCFL First Division South this season following promotion from the Staffordshire County League in 2025/26.
You would need to go back to the reign of Queen Victoria for the founding of Brereton Social FC. They were formed in 1899, and they have spent the majority of the last 127 years playing their football at their Armitage Lane Ground, now called the Red Lion Ground (appropriate when you consider what the club crest looks like).
As far as their well-documented history goes, Brereton Social made their debut in what was their home league for a long time – the West Midlands (Regional) League – in the 1968/69 campaign, and they immediately took the division by storm. They finished as runners-up twice and Champions once in their first four seasons in Division One, and they achieved promotion to the Premier Division in 1972.
From there, they became part of the furniture in the West Midlands Prem, spending 14 years and change in the division. In their first eight seasons, they managed a top five finish in the table on six occasions, which peaked with a third placed finish in their debut campaign in 1973.
The period between 1982 and 1988 was less fruitful for The Social on the pitch, as they failed to finish higher than 10th across their final six full seasons in the Prem. Shortly after the commencement of the 1987/88 season, the club resigned from the West Midlands League pyramid.
They reemerged in the Staffordshire County League (South), but they were unable to set the world on fire there like they had when they first appeared in the West Midlands League.
Sure enough, by the time the 1995/96 season rolled around, they had returned to their old home for the second time, and between 1996 and 1999, they would achieve three more fifth-place-or-above finishes in what was then known as the Division One North until their centenary year, in which they would fold.
That would not be the end of their story, however. Brereton Social FC reformed and rejoined the West Midlands League for a third time ahead of the 2000/01 campaign. Across six further seasons at the same level, the division was rebranded from the Division One North to simply Division One, and in their final season in Division One – 2005/06 – they finished second in the table behind former NWCFL side Ellesmere Rangers.
After that, The Social spent five seasons in the Midland Combination League, suffering one relegation in that stint, before another mid-season resignation from Division One in the 2010/11 campaign.
Following this period, Brereton Social rebuilt at a more local level, competing in the Staffordshire leagues. This era has been characterised by steady development and a renewed emphasis on grassroots football.
They spent the COVID-19 years in the Staffordshire County League pyramid, before a run of finishing second, third, eighth, second again, and finally first in the Staffordshire County Premier Division in 2025/26. The Social finished 13 points clear of the chasing pack, and well and truly earned their place in the upcoming season’s NWCFL First Division South.
----------
Chris Mawson
1. How would you describe Brereton Social to someone who had never heard of the club?
a. Brereton Social is a community club. Brereton is only a small town, cobbled onto the market town of Rugeley. Established in 1899, we’ve struggled over the years as the funding for the club has always had to be committee-lead - no wealthy benefactors for us, unfortunately.
We average crowds of around 60-70, but we’re hoping to increase that this season. However, we do face a battle, what with having the much larger and very ambitious Hednesford Town just four miles away. As well as Wolves and Aston Villa, who are the two most well-supported teams in this area.
As far as club roles go, myself and the other community members are involved with everything we can – right up to clearing pathways at the ground with JCBs!
2. What does the club mean to the area and local community that you represent?
a. We thrive on hard work. The area we live in was part of the Cannock Chase coalfields, and the club was started as a release for the miners from their hard work. We are very proud of the fact none of our players are from further than 10 miles away.
We can't afford to pay our lads, but there's a team spirit that's akin to the 1988 Wimbledon FC “Crazy Gang”. We are a band of brothers, as corny as that sounds. If there's one thing that the area around here loves, it's a fighter - the mining community had that grit about it, and like the coal around here, there's a seam of grit throughout the Cannock Chase and Rugeley area.
3. Tell me about the manager?
a. Matt Ainger (better known as Bigs, or Big Man) took over a few seasons back after running one of our reserve sides. Many of the lads followed him up to the first team, and they have been there throughout his tenure.
A no-nonsense player, Matt doesn't suffer fools and you could say that he's a throwback to a Sir Alex type - get the ball out to the wingers, get the midfield up in support, and make use of a very experienced centre-back pairing with energetic full-backs.
4. Tell me a bit about last season – your last one in the Staffordshire County League? Was promotion a definite goal, or a happy accident?
a. Last season, Social romped the league. In just a 34-game season, we were clear at the top by 13 points, and we managed to get a goal difference of +75!
We won a staggering 26 games out of 34. There is no star in the team, which is proven by the fact that four players got into double-figures for goals, and two others got nine for themselves!
5. How well have you been getting along with your pre-season prep? New signings, friendlies, etc?
a. Pre-season has only just started, but we've made massive ground improvements. Our new dugouts went in last week - our old ones were an eyesore. Our floodlights have been taken down ready for brand new LEDs, starting on July 20th.
We are very excited to have Stafford Rangers visiting us on Saturday. They were, for many years, the biggest non-league team in Staffordshire, and they still have a healthy fan base. We are also hosting Brocton, who we greatly admire in the way they've conducted themselves, and in a small way, we are trying to emulate them.
6. What are your ambitions for the upcoming 2026/27 season in the NWCFL?
a. Ultimately, we are a minnow at Step Six. We know this, but we also know there's a fight in us that will shock many teams. We aim to compete, and we would like to think we play enough good football to get results when we might not be expected to.
We are really excited to represent the Brereton and Rugeley area in the football pyramid, and we will welcome all and sundry for a pint after our games in our clubhouse where we can discuss the game, that hopefully Social will have won!
----------
We wish everyone at Brereton Social all the best for the 2026/27 season!
