Are Stourbridge F.C. set for another season of mediocracy?

As the final whistle went in Bishop’s Stortford, the few travelling ‘Glass boys’ supporters finished watching Stourbridge F.C.’s third loss in a row, perhaps realised their club’s fate - the same as the previous five seasons, mid-table obscurity in the Southern Premier Division Central.

However, there is nothing ‘Premier’ about this division, unless you count making the gruelling trip to Yarmouth as your cup of tea!

While most non-league clubs bounce about the trenches of semi-professional football, Stourbridge remain stagnant.

Local rivals Bromsgrove Sporting are also facing Stourbridge’s worries. For the last four seasons they’ve been perched on the edge of the relegation zone finishing either 17th or 18th.  

This therefore begs the question, is this a Midlands problem?

Local giants Wolves and West Brom have arguably taken the Midlands mediocracy pill. 

With Wolves not being able to break the glass ceiling of European football since the 2019-20 season, and West Brom trapped in the Championship for the last 5 seasons, even with £100 million parachute payments giving them a huge advantage to help the Baggies bounce back.

So how do Midlands clubs, including Stourbridge, take the right medicine? 

ABC News writers Amanda Smith and Sophie Kesteven writing for Sporty asked Sam Walker, sports editor for the Wall Street Journal, "what does it take to be the best of the best?" 

He found that they all had a great leader, not a star player.

Not Haaland but Dias.

Who? 

So, Stourbridge either need to improve their recruitment (probably not viable for a team who gets limited revenue due to losing a stand to the local cricket club) or, for a player to step up – to be Stourbridge’s soldier at the War Memorial Ground.

I believe midfielder Alex Bradley is the answer; the ex-Finland Under-19 player who also has experience from the West Brom’s youth academy and is Worcester born and bred.

Bradley is a versatile player, playing in the centre of midfield, right midfielder and can do a job as a right-back; he’s a jack of all trades.

The right footed maestro has National League Promotion experience after winning promotion with Harrogate Town in 2019, exactly what Stourbridge need.

Maybe, he is the exit door for promotion. 

After an away trip to Alvechurch, ‘Glass boys’ Supporters are treated to three home fixtures including a possible cup run in the FA Trophy, a competition midlands teams have had recent runs in with Solihull Moors only losing the final on penalties in May and Kidderminster Harriers being four times finalist themselves.

If success isn’t brought soon, do eyes look higher up the Stourbridge pyramid to manager Liam McDonald, or even to the board themselves? 

Whatever the case, this season is a turning point for Stourbridge FC, surely the boyhood team of England International Jude Bellingham can get out of this five-season long rut and achieve promotion? 

1 Source from ABC News written by Amanda Smith and Sophie Kesteven for Sporty on 25th July 2020.