Staffordshire 1
Tier 9 English Rugby Union league
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Staffordshire 1 was a tier 9 English Rugby Union league with teams from Staffordshire taking part. Promoted teams moved up to Midlands 5 West (North) and relegated teams dropped to Staffordshire 2 until that division was cancelled at the end of the 2003–04 season. Staffordshire 1 was itself cancelled one year later at the end of the 2004–05 campaign, with the majority of teams transferred into the newly introduced Midlands 6 West (North).
Current season or competition: 2004–05 Staffordshire 1 | |
| Sport | Rugby union |
|---|---|
| Instituted | 1987 |
| Ceased | 2005 |
| Number of teams | 11 |
| Country |  England |
| Holders | Cannock (2nd title) (2004–05) (promoted to Midlands 5 West (North)) |
| Most titles | Handsworth, Uttoxeter (3 titles) |
Original teams
When league rugby began in 1987 this division contained the following teams:
- Burntwood
- Cannock
- Linley & Kidsgrove
- Rugeley
- Trentham
- Wednesbury
- Wulfrun[a]
Staffordshire 1 honours
Staffordshire 1 (1987–1992)
The original Staffordshire 1 was a tier 8 league with promotion up to Staffordshire/Warwickshire 1 and relegation down to Staffordshire 2. At the end of the 1991–92 season the merging of all Staffordshire and Warwickshire leagues meant that Staffordshire 1 was discontinued for the years that these leagues were active[b].
| ||||||||||||||
| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated teams | Reference | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987–88 | 7 | Trentham | Rugeley | Wulfrun, Wednesbury | [2] | |||||||||
| 1988–89 | 7 | Handsworth | Rugeley | Linley & Kidsgrove, Cannock | [3] | |||||||||
| 1989–90 | 7 | Uttoxeter | Eccleshall | Wednesbury | [4] | |||||||||
| 1990–91 | 7 | Eccleshall | Handsworth | Rugeley | [5] | |||||||||
| 1991–92 | 7 | Handsworth[c] | Trentham[d] | No relegation[e] | [6] | |||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
Staffordshire (1996–1999)
Restructuring of the Staffordshire/Warwickshire leagues[f] ahead of the 1996–97 season saw the reintroduction of a single Staffordshire league, which along with its counterpart Warwickshire was a tier 10 league. Promotion was to Staffordshire/Warwickshire 1 and there was no relegation until the reintroduction of Staffordshire 2 at the end of the 1998–99 season.
| ||||||||||||||
| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated teams | Reference | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996–97 | 9 | Burntwood | Wednesbury | No relegation | [7] | |||||||||
| 1997–98 | 8 | Wednesbury | Cannock | No relegation | [8] | |||||||||
| 1998–99 | 11 | Uttoxeter | Bloxwich | Hanford, Eccleshall, Market Drayton, Rugeley[g] | [9] | |||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
Staffordshire 1 (1999–2000)
At the end of the 1998–99 season Staffordshire was split into two divisions, with Staffordshire 1 sitting at level 10 of the league system. Promotion was to the newly introduced Midlands 4 West (North)[h] while relegation was to the reintroduced Staffordshire 2.
Staffordshire 1 (2000–2005)
The cancellation of Staffordshire/Warwickshire 1 would see Staffordshire 1 become a tier 9 league. Promotion was to Midlands 4 West (North) and relegation to Staffordshire 2 until that division was cancelled at the end of the 2003–04 season. At the end of the 2004–05 season Staffordshire 1 was cancelled and all teams transferred to the newly introduced Midlands 5 West (North) and Midlands 6 West (North) divisions.
| ||||||||||||||
| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated teams | Reference | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000–01 | 7 | Wednesbury | Wheaton Aston & Penkridge | Rugeley | [11] | |||||||||
| 2001–02 | 5 | Uttoxeter | St Leonards | Whittingham, Cannock | [12] | |||||||||
| 2002–03 | 6 | Handsworth | Linley & Kidsgrove | Wheaton Aston & Penkridge | [13] | |||||||||
| 2003–04 | 5 | Cannock[j] | St Leonards | No relegation[k] | [14] | |||||||||
| 2004–05 | 11 | Cannock[l] | St Leonards[m] | No relegation | [15] | |||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
Number of league titles
- Handsworth (3)
- Uttoxeter (3)[n]
- Cannock (2)
- Wednesbury (2)[o]
- Burntwood (1)[p]
- Eccleshall (1)
- Linley & Kidsgrove (1)
- Trentham (1)
Notes
- Wulfrun would later merge with Old Oaks and Rubery Owen in 1998 to form Essington RUFC.[1]
- The new format included four divisions; Staffordshire/Warwickshire 1, Staffordshire/Warwickshire 2, Staffordshire/Warwickshire 3 and Staffordshire/Warwickshire 4.
- The restructuring of the Staffordshire & Warwickshire leagues meant that champions Handsworth were promoted two levels up to Midlands West 2.
- Restructuring meant that five clubs including Trentham, Wednesbury, GEC St Leonards, Linley & Kidsgrove and Uttoxeter were promoted into Staffordshire/Warwickshire 1.
- The cancellation of Staffordshire 1 and Staffordshire 2 meant that there was no relegation, with bottom clubs Cannock and Rubery Owen instead being transferred into the new Staffordshire/Warwickshire 2
- This restructuring saw the cancellation of Staffordshire/Warwickshire 2, Staffordshire/Warwickshire 3 and Staffordshire/Warwickshire 4 and the transfer of teams into Staffordshire and Warwickshire.
- Restructuring of the Staffordshire league into Staffordshire 1 and Staffordshire 2 meant that relegation was reintroduced for the 1998–99 season.
- Midlands 4 West (North) was introduced ahead of the 2000–01 season.
- Due to the cancellation of Staffordshire/Warwickshire 1 at the end of the season, there was no promotion.
- The remerging of Staffordshire 1 and Staffordshire 2 into a single Staffordshire 1 division meant that champions Cannock were not promoted.
- No relegation due to the cancellation of Staffordshire 2 at the end of the season.
- The cancellation of Staffordshire 1 at the end of the season, meant that champions Cannock were promoted two levels up into the new look Midlands 5 West (North).
- Runners up St Leonards and the remaining 10 teams were transferred into the new look Midlands 6 West (North) at the end of the season.
- One of Uttoxeter's titles was won when league was single division known as Staffordshire.
- One of Wednesbury's titles was won when league was single division known as Staffordshire.
- Burntwood's title was won when league was single division known as Staffordshire.