Until the Local Government Act 1972 came into force in 1974, Sutton Coldfield was a municipal borough in its own right and part of Warwickshire, enjoying the title of "Royal Town". The Boldmere St. Michaels badge that was seen on a 1950 club letterhead, reflects symbols from the town’s rich historical past.

Top left: the Tudor rose is to commemorate that in 1528, a charter of King Henry VIII gave the town the right to be known for ever as "The Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield. The bear and staff is the famous badge of the Earls of Warwick. It is also used by the Warwickshire cricket club. The Deer and Crown showed that Sutton Park which was a mediaeval deer park and was given to Sutton Coldfield by King Henry VIII in 1528.

The sword could signify that at the turn of the 18th century, Sutton Coldfield was introduced to industry. The manufacture of blades, gun barrels, spades and spade handles as well as the grinding of knives, bayonets and axes, further helped the town prosper.

This is an extract from my book on `A History of Boldmere St Michaels FC`

The `Mikes` were first formed 125 years ago in 1883 as a youth football team which was attached to the local church of St Michaels, Boldmere. Although Association Football was a fledging sport already hundreds and thousands of supporters were watching the finest Victorian athletes playing the game. Due to the industrial revolution communities were build up especially in places like local mining collieries in the Midlands. Recreational facilities were introduced which made the game of Soccer more and more popular as the worker’s play while others watches.

Meanwhile Boldmere`s youths-who were part of the church Bible class-played friendly matches against other local church teams until 1912. Eventually, the desire for competitive football became evident so the teams entered a local league. As the years passed, the boys were best friends and wanted to continue playing football together. They played in and progressed through several minor local leagues before they became members the Birmingham + District Amateur League.

The 1920-1921 season was a successful time for the club. The won the Aston Villa Cup, The Birmingham Shield and the Cadbury Cup. However a split in the club occurred soon afterwards as some players wanted the club which was a church team to progress. An alternative team called `Boldmere` was formed to play elsewhere. Several seasons later the two teams reformed. The club was renamed Boldmere St. Michaels Social Club and the adopted in 1925 the black and white colours for their playing kit.

Just prior to and after the Second World War, Boldmere was amongst the leading amateur clubs in the country and immediately after winning the Birmingham + District Amateur League Championship, the club entered the Central Amateur League for the 1937/38 season in which they finished 8th out of twelve teams.

The following season saw an improvement to 5th place. In Easter 1939 Boldmere ventured into Europe to play and win the` Verviers Trophy in Belgium. However before a ball was kicked in the 1939/40 season, footballing activities ceased as War broke out on 3rd September 1939.

Hostilities over and Boldmere marked the return to normality by taking the opening post-war Central Amateur League Championship on goal average from Coventry Amateurs.

That success was a prelude to gaining national recognition by reaching the semi-final of the FA Amateur Cup. They started their run in the 1947-1948 campaign on 27th September 1947. They progressed through the rounds by defeating Sheldon Town by a 2-0 scoreline, Coventry Amateurs 5-0, Bridgett United (Stoke) 4-0, Sheffield 4-1, Coalville Town 7-0 at home. The `Mikes` then beat Shildon of Durham 4~1 away, Gosport Borough Athletic 4~1 at home on Saturday 14th February 1948 in front of a crowd of 3,481.

A 1~0 win at home to Moor Green in front of a record crowd of nearly 5,000 meant they were just 90 minutes away from the FA Amateur Cup final. The semi-final saw the club lose 2~0 to Barnet in the game played at Arsenal's Highbury stadium in front of a crowd of over 27,000.

That same season saw Boldmere also perform with great success in the AFA Senior Cup. They played in the final at Villa Park on 1st May 1948 in front of 9,000. The game ended in a 2-2 draw. They shared the trophy with the holders Cambridge Town.

Boldmere also finished runners-up by a single point to Rugby Town in the League.

The following season saw Boldmere regain their crown by finishing two points ahead of Ibstock Penistone Rovers. It was the club's last campaign in the Central Amateur League as their ambitions gained momentum.

The first team were elected to the stronger Birmingham League and the first season saw the club finish 14th out of 19 teams. The new decade began well. Boldmere were placed third in their second season. As semi-professional status came more into being, Boldmere's desire to remain as an amateur club saw them struggle to compete at this level (as evidence by the 7-0 and 8-0 thrashings by Lockheed Leamington) and the playing fortunes of the club went into decline.

In 1963 Boldmere moved leagues again, this time to the Worcestershire Combination which has since become the Midlands Combination. In the first season, a mid-table position was achieved and then the next season saw them finish in third spot.

This placing was repeated in the 1966/67 season, however the 1970's saw them mainly in the lower reaches, although silverware did arrive at Church Road in the shape of the Combination's Challenge Cup after beating Blakenall 1-0 in the 1978-79 final. The following season saw Boldmere lift the Tony Allden Memorial Cup after a thrilling win against Sutton Coldfield Town. The 1980's got of to a slow start but eventually, in the 1985-86 season the Premier Division Championship was won by a three point margin over local rivals Paget Rangers.

There then followed a sustained period of success, which saw the Championship secured in both 1988-89 and 1989-90. While the Challenge Cup was won in 1989/90 and 1990/91. Additionally the `Runners Up` position was achieved in this competition in both 1987/88 and 1993/94 together with Tony Allden Memorial Cup wins in three successive seasons from 1989 to 1991.

In June 1971 a fire devasted the club and almost put them out of business however many changes have taken place with regard to upgrading the facilities and the building of a superb clubhouse. Other additions have been the E******N of floodlights and the building of new dressing rooms and Boardroom facilities to raise the club up to Southern League standards, a level to which Boldmere aspire to play at.

The 1994/95 season saw Boldmere as founder members of the `Interlink Express` Midland Football Alliance and a successful campaign led to them finishing in a creditable 7th place in the inaugural season. The following season saw a slight improvement with the "Mikes" finishing in sixth position.

The 1996/97 season saw Boldmere challenging for honours throughout the season. A very creditable third place was achieved in the league behind the Champions, Blakenhall and the runners up Hinkley Athletic both of whom, had a large budget and money to spend that season.

The 2004-2005 season began an new era with Rob Mallaband taking over the reins from Alan Parsons who had 15 seasons as a player and then Manager.

Church Road was renamed the "Trevor Brown Memorial Ground` after the Trevor Brown who died while he was Club Chairman. He did so much to improve the club off the field that it was named in his honour.

The President of the club is Harry Peakman who has fulfilled nearly ever role in the club since 1943 and still inspires others at the club with his energies and lifetime commitments. At 86 years old he is approaching his 70th year of service to the club.

When Rob Mallaband resigned due to business commitments, 1st team Coach Mick Bayley took over as Caretaker Manager. After leading the team to some impressive results he was appointed as the Manager of the club in December 2005.

His first piece of silverware was the Walsall Senior Cup with a 1-0 win over Tipton Town in season 2005-2006 season at Bescot Stadium. The team retained the trophy at the end of the 2006-2007 season with a 3-1
win over Goodrich.

Honours Won: Midland Combination - Champions: 85-86 | 88-89 | 89-90 - Runners Up: 87-88 Midland Combination Challenge Cup - Winners: 77-78 | 89-90 | 90-91 - Runners Up: 80-81 | 87-88 | 93-94 Midland Combination Tony Allden Cup - Winners: 78-79 | 89-90 | 90-91 | 91-92 Midland Combination Challenge Trophy - Winners: 86-87 Midland Combination Presidents Cup - Runners Up 84-85 Midland Combination Reserve Division - Winners: 2000-2001 Walsall F.A. Senior Cup - Winners: 1986-1987. Worcester F.A. Youth Cup - Winners: 91-92 - Runners Up: 92-93 Birmingham County F.A. Junior Cup - Winners: 71-72 F.A. Amateur Cup - Losing Semi-Finalists: 1947-48 Fazeley Charity Cup 1997-1998 Birmingham County Youth Cup 1997-1998 Sutton Charity Cup 68-69 | 70-71 | 96-97 | 97-98.

In 2004-2005 the Reserves won the Smedley Crooke Charity Cup beating Northfield Town at Bromsgrove Rovers ground.

In 2005-2006 the youth team were finalists in the Birmingham County F.A. Youth Midweek Cup losing 1-0 to Coleshill Town at Tamworth F.C and were runners up in the Midland Youth Floodlit League.

In the 2006-2007 season, under the leadership of Manager Paul Casey, the youth team went on their best F.A. Youth Cup run for 13 years in the F.A. Youth Cup. They beat Burton Albion (5-3) Stone Dominoes (6-0) and Malvern Town (on penalties) before losing 2-0 away to Lincoln City on 8th November 2006.

In the 2006-2007 season despite a feeling of under achievement in league matches they reached an impressive 7th position in the `Polymac Services` Midland Football Alliance-the best position for several seasons gaining more points, wins and goals. Mykel Beckley was the top scorer in the team and the 3rd best scorer in the MFA goal scoring charts.

In the 2007-2008 season they finished 4th in the MFA (see a resume of that season in my other website on `Club History. `