Mixed reaction from fans as non league club announces new name change

There has been a mixed reaction from fans as non league club AFC Wulfrunians announces a new name change ahead of the new season.

The Midland League Premier Division (9th tier) outfit announced its rebranding to Wolverhampton City Football Club, marking the end of its current identity after two decades.

They’re also aiming to strengthen its junior section and community presence under the new name, which has caught the attention of many Wolverhampton Wanderers fans.

This rebranding aligns with a trend in football where clubs refresh their identity to meet modern demands, while also trying to reach out to a wider audience, to help give the boost they need to match their aspirations.

Club statement: pic.twitter.com/Dbbo0N6p1s

— AFC Wulfrunians (@AFCWulfrunians) March 2, 2025

CLUB STATEMENT:

“Dear AFC Wulfrunians Family, We have some very exciting news to share with you. This will be our final season as AFC Wulfrunians Football Club. The last two decades have been amazing, full of highs and – of course – a few lows.

“There have been memorable moments and incredible friends made throughout the years and we would like to thank everyone that has contributed to the club during that time. Without you, it would not have been possible.

“However, this is far from the end. This is just the start of a new journey for the club and we hope you all will all continue to be part of the next adventure.

“The club is going to be renamed and rebranded to give us a stronger identity of our own and one that we feel will elevate the club to new heights. It will bring us closer to the local community and one that will be recognised across the country.

“This will also enable us to develop our junior section and give them a badge they can wear with pride, as we till will. We would like to introduce you to…. Wolverhampton City Football Club.”

As mentioned, there was a mixed reaction from fans as the non league club announces their new name change…

@Solihull_AFC: Big news guys! Looking forward to seeing the new branding.

@TractorBuck: ‘A stronger identity of our own’, although it’s shared by Wanderers, Sporting Community and Casuals amongst others. Wulfs were unique, and that’s a shame.

@dave_dobbo: Terrible decision 20 years down the drain

@Garypm1234Moore: Love that, good move I think as it provides identity fitting with a club with ambition and a pathway for talent.

@Spooleypoole: Guess it carries a wider appealing name

@ZakWWFC_: Wolverhampton city football club. Think I’ve found my team for next season 😍

@wolfden1877: I played for the original wolverhampton city….. good times great team

@Darren22_WWFC: I like it

@wfcliam_: Shite lads 👍

@UprisingFC: Wow. Exciting times indeed! Wolverhampton City sounds brilliant and will be instantly recognisable to football enthusiasts around the UK and beyond. We are certainly very pleased to have a football relationship with the club. 🇦🇮⚽️⚽️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

@WWFCJL: Genuinely need to start going to more Wulfs games and fuck wolves off, reckon I’d enjoy it 10x more

@cc61wolf: *checks calendar* – you’re 30 days early lads.

@mikeyrob11: Daft

@issacmijas: Why not.. Congrats. Good Luck going forward.

@ShifnalHarrier: Sad to see this, think AFC Wulfrunians is a cracking name. Hope the change works out for the better for you though 🤞

@paullammas37354: Good luck with the new adventures in football pyramid. Here to Wolverhampton City FC

@AjaySharma1993: Ditching a name that represents everyone from your local community will bring you closer to your local community….? As the closest team to the home I grew up in, going to Castlecroft + wearing the badge at school gave me a massive sense of pride. Not sure that will continue.

@OldTeacher01: Having worn the original Wulfrunians badge for nearly 30 seasons I’m more than miffed that you think you need a name change for players to ‘wear it with pride’

@Harry_Stuart04: Yeah, this is awful, generic, soulless stuff. Keep the name!

@Richard43690531: This basically reads. Thanks for all everyone’s done over the last 20 years to create this club. But we don’t actually give a fuck, because we’re a bunch of sell outs.

@KHKOBK95: That is a real shame… Wulfrunians to Wolverhampton City 🤢 I hope whatever you have planned going forward works for you but this is a crying shame.

@DeanGill4L: From outside looking in AFC are trying to improve. Plenty clubs doing Fcuk all and letting clubs go to rack & ruin. Can’t really knock people for having a go unless you’re having a go and doing it better ! Not many of them ..

@garyslade1987: Gone from an original name to a generic one in the hope of getting a few clicks from confused tourists looking for the Premier League side 👎

CLUB HISTORY:

Although AFC Wulfrunians only came into existence in 2005, the club has over ninety years of history behind it. This is because today’s team is an offshoot of Old Wulfrunians FC who were formed in 1922.

Having operated in the Birmingham AFA for many years, the club grew and grew and by the turn of the new millennium the strength of the club was reaching new heights. By the end of the 2004/05 season the first XI had a batch of young players who were deemed too strong for the Birmingham AFA, having done the domestic double three years in a row, and having made three appearances in the Hunt Cup final at Molineux, so the decision was taken to step up to the West Midlands (Regional) League division two under the new name of AFC Wulfrunians. With the Memorial Ground not meeting the criteria for the League, AFC Wulfs ground shared with fellow WMRL side Wolverhampton Casuals.

The first season in the West Midlands (Regional) League was an unmitigated success with the League title won by a commanding 20 points and the League Cup also safely in the trophy cabinet. In the process, a new record was set for the WMRL with just seven goals conceded in the whole season in the league. On top of this the fair play trophy was won thanks to just two bookings and no red cards throughout the entire season.

The 2006/07 season proved tougher in Division One but still a great success. A second-place finish in the league ensured promotion to the Premier Division at the first attempt while also finishing runners up in the League Cup. The major success of the season was winning the Birmingham Vase for the first time in the club’s history by beating Midland Combination Division One side Stockingford AA at the Birmingham FA headquarters in Ray Hall Lane.

The club’s first season in the WMRL Premier Division was also a success. As well as a fantastic top six finish, Wulfs also managed to win the Birmingham FA Midweek Floodlit Cup, beating Bartley Green 4-0 in the Final, as well as narrowly missing out on winning the JW Hunt Cup after a last minute 3-2 loss against Wednesfield in the Final at Molineux.

The improvement continued and in the 2008/09 season AFCW won the WMRL Premier Division, only to be denied promotion due to ground grading issues. More disappointment came as another JW Hunt Cup final at Molineux was lost, this time to Bloxwich United.

The 2009/10 season was the most exciting in AFC Wulfrunians’ short history. It started with the signing of a long lease on their new ground, Castlecroft Stadium, and continued with a FA Cup run that saw them reach the second qualifying round having beaten higher division opponents Boldmere St Michaels, Chasetown and Kidsgrove Athletic before eventually bowing out to Blue Square North play-off finalists Alfreton Town. The league campaign saw them eventually finish third after holding top spot for a long time. Disappointment came in the form of losing 1-0 to Bustleholme in the final of the League Cup.

The 2010/11 season brought another title challenge which ultimately ended in a third-place finish, but the club did win the JW Hunt Cup beating Gornal Athletic 3-0 in the final. Also, the Under 18’s, set up just one year earlier, won the Midland Floodlit Youth League Northern Division to secure promotion to the topflight.

The 2011/12 season’s title challenge faded away to a 5th place finish, but more silverware came in the League Cup with a 3-2 victory over Wednesfield in the final. The final of the JW Hunt Cup was not quite as successful losing out 4-3 to Black Country Rangers at Molineux. The Under 18’s finished second in the MFYL Premier North division behind Newcastle Town and lost in the final of the Birmingham FA Youth Cup at St Andrews against Birmingham City FITC.

The 2012/13 season saw manager Tim Tipton step down and he was replaced by Steve Palmer and Jon Purdie, who stepped up from running the youth team, but the success continued as they led the team to another fantastic WMRL Premier Division success. This time there were no problems and promotion was achieved.

In the Midland Football Alliance and with Steve Palmer now as sole manager, the campaign ended with a very creditable eighth place finish. Further positive news came in the shape of the club’s first main sponsor as European Mezzanine Systems joined in partnership with the club.

This was followed up with an improvement to seventh at the end of the 2014/15 season. However, as the strength of the teams in the league improved for the following season, the club finished thirteenth after a disappointing second half of the season but did reach the last sixteen of the FA Vase.

The 2015/16 campaign was the most competitive since joining the league, and in the final game of the season survival was confirmed, finishing seventeenth winning fourteen of forty-two games and achieving fifty points. After four years as Manager and establishing the club in the Midland Football League, Steve Palmer stepped down – the time and effort he gave the club will never be forgotten.

Filling the role at the start of the 2017/18 season was Richard Forsyth, but after a solid start several heavy defeats made him relinquish his post as manager. Stepping into the breach for an interim period, Steve Palmer agreed to return to help the club whilst replacement options were considered, and he ensured that the league position was consolidated.

The following term started with Darren Goodall and Richard Brown as the new managerial team, with Tim Jackson added to the Coaching staff. Darren, Richard and Tim bought a wealth of experience, not just from their playing careers, but also as managers and coaches at a number of clubs and they secured a creditable twelfth place finish, one point off tenth spot.

With Tim and Richard moving on, for season 2019/2020, Scott Moore was brought in to assist Darren, with Matthew Johnson being added to the coaching staff. The following campaign, although reaching the quarter finals of the Walsall Senior Cup and the JW Hunt Cup, both competitions were curtailed due to the coronavirus as was the league programme with the team finishing thirteenth. Following Scott Moore’s departure, the Assistant managers role was taken over by Mark Jones, with Richard Gardner coming in as First team coach. Both well versed with “grassroots football”.

With Darren Goodall stepping down due to work commitments, Mark Jones took over the role as manager for the start of the 2021/22 campaign with his assistant Steve Wynn. With Wynn relinquishing his position early on, Mark Smith was brought in to assist Jones with first team duties.

Jones, along with the remainder of his management team, Ben Jevons and Mat Johnson left the club in November 2021. Club stalwart Craig Gregg and captain James Hill took over the management hot seat for the interim period and following successful results on the pitch, Gregg was made permanent manager with Nick Turton returning to the club as first team coach. The duo guided the club to their best ever league finish, ending the 2021/22 campaign in a very respectable fifth place.

Season 2022/23 saw a twelfth-place finish in the league, but they reached the fifth round of the Isuzu FA Vase, the best run in the club’s history, losing out narrowly by a solitary goal to Congleton Town.

Craig Gregg and Nick Turton stepped down after ten games of the 2023/24 campaign and the club moved to appoint former Gresley manager, Carl Abbott and his assistant Paul Tomlinson.