Corsham Print
Wiltshire Senior League
Season 1979-80

Park’s total domination of the Division One title finally came to an end in the fourth season of the league as Amesbury Town, runners-up the previous season, picked up their first league title. Amesbury finished three points clear of second placed Sanford and six points clear of Park back in third place. In a relatively disappointing season for the Swindon side they also lost 4-1 to Downton in the final of the Wiltshire Senior Cup.

The season started with newly promoted Ferndale surprising everyone by heading the table in mid-August and staying up there for a sustained period. In the fourteen weeks to the end of November they either headed the table (eight of the fourteen weeks) or were generally in second place.   Sanford then took over and, except for one week when Bromham led the table, were the top club until the closing stages of the season. Amesbury were always a threat to Sanford and by winning their games in hand and by winning their last six games with an average of four goals a game they finished those three points ahead of Sanford and were crowned champions. They were fired to the title by the prolific duo of Steve Slade (25 goals and equal top scorer in the division) and Dave Perry (19 goals), who scored over half of Amesbury’s 78 goals. Runners-up Sanford also were very dependent on a couple of strikers with Mick Bohane (18) and Bruce Ponting (17) also scoring over half of their sides goals. At the other end of the table promoted sides Wootton Bassett Town and Tisbury both struggled at the higher level and were relegated back to Division 2 along with Westbury and Corsham Town.

The Division Two title race followed a similar pattern to that of the top division. Marlborough Town led the table in mid-September and stayed there until mid-February when Highworth Town took over top spot to complete their programme still on top. However, Calne Town, who had been either second or third throughout the season, had games in hand and edged past Highworth to claim the championship by a three-point margin. Highworth had the consolation of lifting the Subsidiary Cup, beating Burbage Sports in the final. Kevin Higgs (21) and Steve Slattery (19) scored 40 goals between them for Highworth as they were promoted alongside Calne Town, Marlborough Town and Melksham Town Reserves.

Mirroring their First Team, Sanford Reserves led the way for a long period in Division 3 but unlike the First Team they held on to claim the title of top junior side in the county. Joe O’Brien led the goal scoring hart for the champions and also the division, notching an impressive tally of 36 goals. Disposed champions Shrewton were four points behind in second place. Two promoted Swindon sides, Meadowcroft and Walcot, put in an impressive performance in their first season in Division 3, finishing in 3rd and 4th place respectively. Shrewton had the consolation of lifting the Wiltshire junior Cup, defeating Meadowcroft in the final. Wootton Bassett Town Reserves, Bromham Reserves, Marlborough Town Reserves and Box Rovers finished in the relegation positions, although Bromham were eventually reprieved from such a fate, for one season at least. At the end of the season, with Devizes Town becoming a “contract club” their reserve team were elevated to Division 2.

Dorcan scored more goals (140) than anyone else in Division 4 and conceded fewer (25) than anyone else in their march to the title. Moredon YC were runners-up in their first season in the league. There was a close battle for the two remaining places between Ramsbury, South Marston and Avebury Reserves with Avebury finally missing out on goal difference. Ramsbury’s promotion was helped by 46 goals from Dave Watts who finished as the top scorer in all four divisions of the league. Dorcan won the E C Mills Sportsmanship Award for the third successive season.
Calne Town,Winners of Division 2
Back: Billy Lawrence, John Gaffney, Dale Bartlett, Rex Hancock, Brian Angell, Phillip Slade, Mel Baker, Andy Brewer (Trainer)
Front: Billy Lovesey, Phillip Morgan, Barry Spiers, Kevin Wells, Alan Duncan
League Top Scorers

Division 1 - Season 1979-80
M. Ransome  (Warminster Town)  25
S. Slade  (Amesbury)  25
D. Perry   (Amesbury)  19
M. Bohane (Sanford)  18
N. Hiscocks  (Park)  17
B. Ponting   (Sanford)  17
C. Pike  (Malmesbury Vics)  14
M. Presley  (Amesbury)  14

Division 2 - Season 1979-80
P. Bailey  (Bemerton)  25
K. Higgs (Highworth Town)  21
N. Mapstone  (Wroughton)  20
S. Slattery (Highworth Town)  19
A. White (Burbage Sports)  18
G. Brown (Melksham Town R)  18
J. Quartly (T.W. Pinehurst)  17
A. Duncan (Calne Town)  17

Division 3 - Season 1979-80
J. O'Brien  (Sanford)  36
K. Hornby  (Park Res)  29
M. Marsh  (Meadowcroft)  24
D. Gawthorn (Meadowcroft)  23
R. Olliver  (Penhill)  21
R. Salter  (Walcot)  21
K. Whitbread  (Bromham)  20
D. Allen  (Walcot)  20
C. Little  (Penhill)  20

Division 4 Season 1979-80
D. Watts  (Ramsbury)  46
G. Sealey  (Moredon)  36
D. Woosnam  (South Marston)  36
S. Hatherall  (Dorcan)  35
J. Burn  (Dorcan)  35
D. Sheppard  (Seagry)  35
G. Buckley  (Moredon)  26
R. Brown  (Dorcan)  24
D. Rushen  (Ramsbury)  22
F. Jurga  (South Marston)  21
Subsidiary Cup 1979-80
Group Stages
Quarter Final
Burbage Sports  3  T. Warner Pinehurst  2
Melksham Town Res  1  Calne Town  0
Highworth Town  2  Trowbridge Town Res  0
Chippenham Town Res  3  Pewsey Vale  1

Semi Final
Burbage Sports  8  Melksham Town Res  0
Highworth Town  4  Chippenham T Res  1

Final
Highworth Town v  Burbage Sports- Highworth won but result still to trace
Wiltshire Senior Cup 1979-80

Preliminary Round
Westbury United  12  Lawn  0

First Round
Amesbury  8  Aldbourne  0
Avebury  v  Rowde  - awarded to Avebury
Avon Bradford  0  Calne Town  0
Burbage Sports  0  Highworth Town  4
Chippenham Town Res  0  Bromham  3
Corsham Town  0  Vickers  3
Devizes Town  5  Tisbury  1
Ferndale Athletic  1  Marlborough Town  0
Malmesbury Victoria  3  Warminster Town  2
Melksham Town  4  Penhill  2
Park  4  Wootton Bassett Town  1
Pewsey Vale  2  Downton  3
Purton  1  St Josephs  4
Sarsen  3  Bemerton Athletic  6
T. Warner Pinehurst  3  Westbury United  5
Wroughton  0  Sanford  3

Replay
Calne Town  3  Avon Bradford  0

Second Round
Amesbury  0  Calne Town  0
Bromham  1  Devizes Town  2
Ferndale Athletic  1  Avebury  2
Melksham Town  2  Malmesbury Victoria  2
Park  2  St Josephs  0
Sanford  4  Highworth Town  1
Vickers  5  Bemerton Athletic  1
Westbury United  0  Downton  2

Replays
Calne Town  2  Amesbury  0
Malmesbury Victoria  3  Melksham Town  2

Quarter Final
Calne Town  1  Devizes Town  2
Malmesbury Victoria  1  Sanford  4
Park  2  Avebury  1
Vickers  1  Downton  3

Semi Final
Devizes Town  1  Downton  2
Malmesbury Victoria  0  Park  0 (aet)

Replay
Park  2  Malmesbury Victoria  0

Final
Downton  4   Park  1

As reported by the Gazette & Herald.
Park were beaten 4-1 by Downton who play in the Hampshire League in the Wiltshire Senior Cup Final at Melksham on Saturday. It was the second time in four years in which Park has been rated as probably the top team in the Wiltshire League, but the cup has eluded them. The winners made good use of three sharp men up front, Terry Plank, Dave Rideout and Ian Drinkwater, by driving long balls over the Park defence for them to run on to. Park’s more clever football wilted against determined Downton tackling. Downton went ahead after 35 minutes from a free kick which Jacobs drove direct into Park’s net, giving Kevin Langley no chance. Two minutes later when Park were attacking a long ball was hit back over their heads for Plank to net Downton’s second goal. Park’s Mick Weicek gave away a penalty in the 74th minute. Langley stopped Rideout’s spot kick, but he could only punch the ball away for Plank to hit it back for another Downton goal. Six minutes later Park gained a penalty from which Ian Thompson scored their only goal. Rideout headed Downton’s fourth goal through Langley’s legs in the last minute. The presentation was made by Bill Humphries chairman of the Wiltshire F.A.
Wiltshire Junior Cup
Season 1979-80
Teams from other leagues in italics
 * = result not traced
** = Opponents to be identified

Preliminary Round - October 20
Avon Bradford Res  2 Minety  0
Broughton Gifford  v  Purton Res*
Citadel Rangers v Cricklade Town *
Croft v West Lavington  *
Enford   v  Mere Town *
FC Olympika v Halcrow (Wilts) *
Great Bedwyn v Erlestoke *
Hilperton  3  Wootton Bassett Town Res  1
Meadowcroft 5 Broad Hinton 1
Oaksey v Aldbourne Res *
Park Res  4  West Harnham  2
Penhill Res  v  Corsham Town Res *
Ramsbury 2 Marlborough Town Res 1
Redlynch v Steeple Ashton *
Stonehenge  v Trowbridge A *
Swindon Sports v Clarendon Sports *
Wellworthy Employees 2  Moredon 4
Wroughton Res  2  Winterbourne Sports  3

First Round - November 10th
Amesbury Res 3 Upavon  0
Avon Bradford Res 0  Redlynch 2
Bemerton Ath Res 4  Great Bedwyn 1
Blunsdon United  v  South Newton & Wishford *
Broadchalke  v  Swindon Sports *
Burbage Sports Res  1  Park Res  7
Citadel Rangers  v  Woodfalls *
Dolphin Hotel  v  Newton Tony Utd *
Durrington SC  4  Laverstock & Ford  3
Enford  4 Penhill Res 0
Ferndale Ath Res 0 Malmesbury Vics Res  4
Hampton 1  Hilperton   2
Heyetsbury 8 Terry Warner Pinehurst Res .0
Highworth Town Res 1 West Swindon 2
Holt v West Tytherley *
Lawn Res  1  Bromham Res  5
Meadowcroft 8 Seagry 1
Oaksey 0 Devizes Town Res 6
Pewsey Res 0 South Marston 10
Potterne  v  Westbury United Res *
Seend United vTrowbridge A *
Shaw & Whitley  v  Lavington & Easterton *
Shaw United  2  Box Rovers  6
Sherston Town v Sarsen Res *
Shrewton United 3 Ramsbury 2
Stockton & Codford  3  Moredon YC  2
Union Carbride v Bradford United *
Walcot Ath  5 West Dean  2
Warminster Town Res 3 Croft 0
Westbourne Meth'sts  v Broughton Gifford *
Westmead Saints  v  Airsprung *
Winterbourne Sports  v  FC Olympika *

Second Round - December 5th
Amesbury Res  3  Warminster Town Res  2
Box Rovers  5  Stockton & Codford  2
Bromham Res  3  Malmesbury Vics Res  1
FC Olympika  3  Trowbridge  A  1
Lavington & Easterton  1  Meadowcroft  4
Park Res  5  Holt  0
Sarsen Res  0  Blunsdon United  4
Shrewton United  3  Airsprung  2  (aet)
South Marston  2  Heytesbury  3
Swindon Sports  7  Bemerton Ath Res  6
Walcot Ath  2  Redlynch  1
West Swindon  1  Enford  3
Dolphin Hotel **
Durrington SSC **
Union Carbide **
Devizes Town Res  **

Third Round
Dolphin Hotel  2  Blunsdon  2 (aet)
Durrington  4  Box Rovers  2
Enford  1  Bromham Res  1  (aet)
Meadowcroft  7 Heytesbury  0
Shrewton United  7 FC Olympika  3
Swindon Sports  2  Park Res  4
Union Carbide  1  Devizes Town Res  7
Walcot  6  Amesbury Res  3  (aet)

Replays
Blunsdon  2  Dolphin Hotel  1
Bromham Res  1  Enford  1  (aet)

2nd Replay
Enford  3  Bromham Res  1  (at Melksham)

Quarter Final
Durrington 1  Shrewton United  2  (aet)
Park Res  3  Devizes Town Res  2
Meadowcroft  2  Enford 0
Walcot  2  Blunsdon 1

Semi Final
Meadowcroft  3  Walcot  1  (aet)
Shrewton United  4 Park Res 3

Final
Shrewton United  2 Meadowcroft 1
Programme - Wilts Junior Cup Final
26-04-1980
The programme from the final was provided to the league by Tim Smith the Meadowcroft goalkeeper who also provided us with the score in the final. Click on the image of the Programme to bring up a PDF version of the full programme.

Management Committee Members and Club Secretaries


There was one change on the Management Committee with B Minett replacing F E Jones.  The Officers and Committee were therefore: D S Paget (President), J R Nunn (Chairman), W L Miles (Vice-Chairman), E S M Ashman (Secretary), G A Highmore (Treasurer), P M Cook (Fixture Secretary), P J Ackrill (Registration Secretary), M G Benson (Referees' Appointments Secretary) and a Management Committee of V R Blake, C W Cousins, F E Jones, D C Kilford, K J Mulraney and I R Titcombe.


The twelve Vice-Presidents were: H Beattie, A E Beavis, D B Cradock, M A Cutforth, T Gillingham, Mrs E T Mills, D S Mills, E G Newman, W A Shail, W W Sherwood, H J Stevens and P E Stone.


Sixty nine teams entered the League and were grouped in four Divisions: two Senior and two Junior Divisions.
Division 1 - Clubs & Secretaries
Amesbury - W J Spreadbury   
Avebury - V R Blake   
Avon (Bradford) - D Jones   
Bromham - B Minnet   
Corsham Town - E A Jackson   
Ferndale Athletic - P D Bathe   
Malmesbury Victoria - F G Marsh   
Park YC - D J Prothero   
Penhill YC - M K Whitaker
Salisbury City Res - D F Sharp
Sanford - J A Leeson
Tisbury - W S Rogers
Vickers - I G Marsh
Warminster Town - D W Dawkins
Westbury Utd - E L Barber
Wootton Bassett Town - C S Davis

Division 2 - Clubs & Secretaries
Aldbourne - S F Watts   
Bemerton Athletic - G P Broad   
Burbage Sports - R M Cady   
Calne Town - A G Merrett   
Chippenham Town Res - A L Knee   
Highworth Town - R Haines   
Lawn - I R Titcombe   
Marlborough Town - D W G Cripps   
Melksham Town Res - M J Perrin    
Pewsey Vale - G J Caplin succeeded by: R Fishlock
Purton - A C Mills
Rowde - R J Viles
Sarsen  - R A Mason
St Joseph’s - B W Phillips
Terry Warner (Pinehurst) - R J Miles
Trowbridge Town Res - G Allcott
Wroughton- C G Swatton
Division 3 - Clubs & Secretaries
Amesbury Res - W J Spreadbury   
Avon (Bradford) Res - D Jones   
Bemerton Athletic Res - G P Broad   
Box Rovers - G M Peplow   
Bromham Res - B Minnet   
Devizes Town Res - J Goodship   
Malmesbury Victoria Res - F G Marsh   
Marlborough Town Res - D W G Cripps   
Meadowcroft - Mrs B Smith   
Park YC Res - D J Prothero
Penhill YC Res - M K Whitaker
Sanford Res - J A Leeson
Shrewton - F H Matthews
Vickers Res - I G Marsh
Walcot Athletic - S W Moore
Warminster Town Res - D W Dawkins
West Swindon - A C Fall
Wootton Bassett Town Res - C S Davis

Division 4 - Clubs & Secretaries
Aldbourne Res - S F Watts   
Avebury Res - V R Blake   
Calne Town Res - A G Merrett   
Corsham Town Res - E A Jackson   
Dorcan - A F Jennings   
Ferndale Athletic Res - P D Bathe  
Hampton - P Ely
Highworth Town Res - R Haines
Lawn Res - I R Titcombe  
Moredon YC - T J Hannan
Pewsey V Res - G J Caplin succeeded by: R Fishlock
Purton Res - A C Mills
Ramsbury - R G Mills
Sarsen Res - R A Mason
Seagry - B N Porter
South Marston - W M A Harrison
Terry Warner (Pinehurst) Res - R J Miles
Wroughton Res - C G Swatton
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