 | |||
| Full name | Highgate United Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname | The Gate | ||
| Founded | 1948 | ||
| Ground | The Coppice,Shirley | ||
| Chairman | Malcolm Ward | ||
| Manager | Malcolm Ward | ||
| League | Midland League Premier Division | ||
| 2024–25 | Midland League Premier Division, 17th of 18 (relegated) | ||
Highgate United Football Club is afootball club based in theShirley district ofSolihull, having relocated from its original home inHighgate, Birmingham. They are currently members of theMidland League Premier Division and play at The Coppice.
The club was established in 1948 by a group of former residents of theSt Vincent's Home for Working Boys, run byFather Hudson's Society.[1] They initially joined the South Birmingham League before moving up to Division Two of theWorcestershire Combination in 1964.[1][2] After finishing fourth in their first season in Division Two, the club was promoted to Division One.[2][3]
In the 1966–67 season, the club reached the quarter-finals of theFA Amateur Cup. During the match againstEnfield, several players collapsed after a lightning strike, and Highgate's Tony Allden died the following day. The game was abandoned and replayed atVilla Park, where a crowd of over 31,000 watched Enfield win 6–0.[1][3]
The 1970s was the most successful era in Highgate United's history. In the1972–73 season, the club won the renamed Midland Combination, claimed the League Cup, and reached the FA Amateur Cup semi-finals. They lost 4–0 in a replay againstWalton & Hersham atSelhurst Park after a 0–0 draw in the first match atHighfield Road.[1][3] They tean retained the league title and League Cup thefollowing season, adding theBirmingham Senior Cup with a 3–2 victory overDarlaston. In1974–75, they secured a third consecutive Midland Combination title and went on to win the League Cup in1975–76 and1976–77.[1]
Highgate finished as Division One runners-up in1981–82 season and won the League Cup in the1984–85.[3][1] In1994–95, the club ended the season at the bottom of the (renamed) Premier Division but avoided relegation due to the division's expansion from 18 to 20 clubs. They claimed theCoventry Evening Telegraph Cup in 2006–07 season,[1] and finished as Premier Division runners-up thefollowing season, earning promotion to theMidland Alliance.[3]
In 2014, the Midland Combination and Midland League merged to form theMidland League. Despite finishing third in the Alliance theprevious season, Highgate were placed in Division One of the new league, one level below their previous position. However, they triumphed in Division One during the Midland League'sinaugural season, earning promotion to the Premier Division.[3] In2023–24 season they secured a spot in the promotion play-offs but were defeated 3–1Lichfield City in the semi-finals.
The club initially played at Billesley Common.[1] By the 1960s, they had relocated to their current ground on Tythe Barn Lane, just a five-minutes walk fromWhitlocks End railway station. In July 1996, a covered stand-partially seated and partially standing-was constructed on one side of the pitch and later named the Patrick & Philomena Meade Stand.[4] Floodlights were installed the following year.[1]
52°23′20.52″N1°50′45.01″W / 52.3890333°N 1.8458361°W /52.3890333; -1.8458361
