Corsham Print
Wiltshire Senior League
Season 1980-81

Having failed to win the Division 1 title for the first time the previous season, Park returned to winning ways dominating the title in Season 1980-81 finishing five points clear of runners-up Sanford. Park took over at the top in September and, although generally lagging behind with fixtures, retained that position to the end except for a couple of weeks at Christmas. Had they not eased off at the end of the season, drawing their last five games, their winning margin could have been much bigger. Unfortunately for Park they could not get back into top gear in time for the final of the inaugural Senior Knockout Cup sponsored this season by Goldliner, losing 3-2 to Calne Town after extra time.

With Park running away with the championship, interest focused on the fight for second place between Sanford and Vickers. Sanford were comfortably in second place with their programme finished whilst Vickers still had three games to play. In the end, despite taking 17 points from their nine games ahead of their final fixture of the season, they fell at the final hurdle. Needing just one point from their final game against lowly Ferndale they crashed to a sensational 4-0 home defeat to miss out on honours on goal difference. At the other end of the table Highworth Town and Marlborough Town were relegated.

Division 2 quickly sorted itself out with four sides leading from the front. The top four of St Joseph’s, Trowbridge Town Reserves, Westbury United and Devizes Town Reserves all gained promotion, finishing in that order with only occasional switches of position throughout the season. The main battle was to see who finished top and in the end Swindon based side St Josephs edged it by a single point.

Division 3 witnessed a terrific battle for the title with four sides, Warminster Town Reserves, Walcot, Meadowcroft and Shrewton United, fighting it out all the way. In the end the two Swindon clubs missed out on honours, Shrewton taking the title finishing two points ahead of Warminster in second place. 

In a good season for the Swindon based Park club, their reserves won the first ever Junior Knockout Cup, again sponsored by Goldliner in this season, defeating Malmesbury Victoria Reserves 2-1 in the final.

In Division 4 both Highworth Town Reserves and Marlborough Town Reserves, in contrast to their first teams, spent time at the top of the table for some time the two teams alternated for top spot. However, both faded although Marlborough recovered to eventually finish fourth and gain promotion. Durrington Sports, Avebury Reserves, Seagry and Terry Warner Reserves were always in the fight. Avebury had the advantage near the end only to be disposed by Durrington who, along with Avebury, Seagry and Marlborough gained promotion to Division 3. Special mention to Pewsey Vale Reserves who gained ten wins and three draws from their final 13 games to shoot up the table to finish only two points behind the fourth placed club. If only they had started better they would have been celebrating promotion.

The end of season awards at the AGM saw Dorcan win the E C Mills Sportsmanship Award for the fourth season in succession and S J Naish awarded the inaugural Referees Award sponsored this season by Ghia.
Programme - Amesbury v Park
29-11-1980
Division One side Amesbury produced a programme and pictured here is the one for their game against eventual champions Park on 29th November 1980. Click on the image of the Programme to bring up a PDF version of the full programme.
Top Scorers

Division 1
J. Quartly (Park)  23
S. Burson (Vickers) 20
A. Balecke (Melksham Town Res) 18
N. Walker (Avebury) 17
K. Higgs (Highworth Town) 16
N. Hiscock (Park) 16
T. Bown (Ferndale Athletic) 15
T. Hanrahan (Sanford) 14

Division 2
M. Perrett  (Aldbourne) 26
M. Hulbert  (Westbury Utd) 23
H. Bailey  (Bemerton) 21
B. Pointing (Devizes Town Res) 19
P. Back  (Westbury Utd) 18
J. Whyte (St. Josephs) 17
A. Audis  (Trowbridge Town Res) 15
M. Bowler (Westbury Utd)    15
M. Cooper (Corsham Town)    15
W. Liddiard  (St. Josephs)    15

Division 3
D. Cox (Shrewton Utd)    23
F. Gardiner  (Walcot)  21
A. Sutton  (Meadowcroft) 19
B. Marsh (Malmesbury V Res) 19
M. Marsh (Meadowcroft)    19
J. Burn (Dorcan) 16
S. Herbert (Malmesbury V Res) 16
D. Fuller (West Swindon) 15
S. Mckee (Warminster T Res) 15
L. Noone (Vickers Res)  15
M. Pratt  (Dorcan) 15

Division 4
W. Birch  (Seagry) 28
R. Ames  (Marlborough T Res) 27
M. Richens (Avebury Res) 25
P. Lewis (Pewsey Vale Res) 24
J. Sprules (Pewsey Vale Res)  23
K. Pound  (Seagry)  22
C. Richings (Cricklade Town)  21
J. Wilkins  (Calne Town Res)  21
S. Sears (Durrington Sports) 21
I. Latham (Durrington Sports) 20
Goldliner Senior Cup 1980-81

First Round
Burbage Sports  2  Avon Bradford  0
Bromham  1  Calne Town  2 (aet)
Chippenham T Res  1  Warminster Town  2
Corsham Town  2  Aldbourne 1
Ferndale Ath  0  Avebury  0 (aet)
Park  4  Amesbury  0
Penhill  3  Highworth Town  0
Purton  1  Melksham Town Res  6
Salisbury Res  3  Marlborough Town  0
Sarsen  2  Pewsey Vale  1
St Josephs  4  Malmesbury Victoria  0
Terry Warner Pinehurst  1  Vickers  1  (aet)
Tisbury Utd  1  Sanford  2
Trowbridge Town Res  3  Bemerton Ath  0
W. Bassett Town  1  Devizes Town Res  3
Wroughton  1  Westbury Utd  2

Replays
Avebury  4  Ferndale Ath  0
Vickers v T. W. Pinehurst - result to trace

Second Round
Avebury  v  Devizes Town - result to trace
Burbage Sports  0  St Josephs  1
Salisbury City Res  1  Sarsen  0
Sanford  2  Penhill 1
Trowbridge Town Res  6  Corsham Town  0
Vickers  v  Melksham T Res - result to trace
Warminster Town  v  Park - result to trace
Westbury Utd  0  Calne Town  2

Quarter Final
Calne Town  3  Sanford  1
Melksham Town Res  5  St Josephs  1 - awarded to St Josephs
Park  4  Avebury  1
Salisbury City Res v Trowbridge Town Res - result to trace

Semi Final
Calne Town  1  Salisbury Res  0
Park  v St Josephs - Result to trace

Final
Calne Town  3  Park  2 (at Devizes Town)

As reported by the Gazette & Herald.
Calne upset the odds-on Friday night when they won the Wiltshire County League Goldliner Senior Cup by defeating League champions Park 3-2 after extra time in the final at Devizes. It was a win they deserved as the better team on the night, when only a good display in goal by Brian Clapham for Park prevented a more decisive Calne win. They went ahead in the 16th minute when a good shot by Brian Newlands, aided by a deflection which gave Clapham no chance. A penalty for a handling offence let Ian Thompson put Park on terms in the 30th minute. Alan Duncan, Calne’s man of the match, had two shots brilliantly saved by Clapham in a goalless second half.

Park’s hopes of the League, Goldliner Junior Cup and Senior Cup treble rose when Tim Crouch headed in a Terry Herring centre in the 15th minute of extra time. But within a minute of the second session starting Duncan put Calne on terms with a header from a free kick. And seven minutes later Mal Baker hit the winner. The thrills were not over, however, for two minutes later Clapham saved a Calne penalty taken by Dale Bartlett. Then Herring headed in from a corner but a split second after the final whistle had gone. Calne skipper Malcolm Baker received the trophy from Mr Dave Pearce of the Goldliner organisation.
Goldliner Senior Cup Winners - Calne Town
Back: Brian Newlands, Malcolm Baker, Alan Duncan, Dale Bartlett, Alan Webster, Derek Norris (Manager), Mickey Leeson
Front: Bill Lawrence, Steve Bell, Phil Slade, Gary Goodwin, Barry Spiers, Andy Brewer (Trainer)
Goldliner Junior Cup 1980-81

Preliminary Round
Bromham Res  4  Wroughton Res 1
Calne Town Res  3  Durrington Sports  0
Meadowcroft  3  Vickers Res  1
Moredon  4  Wootton Bassett Town Res  1

First Round
Aldbourne Res  0  Malmesbury Vics Res  6
Avebury Res  2  Shrewton Utd  2 (aet)
Avon Bradford Res  0  Pewsey Vale Res  1
Bemerton Ath Res  2  Calne Town Res  1
Box Rovers  1  Terry W. Pinehurst Res  3
Bromham Res  5  Sarsen Res  3
Hampton  1  Warminster Town Res  3
Highworth Town Res  3  Penhill Res  5
Ramsbury  2  West Swindon  2  (aet)
Seagry  4  Ferndale Athletic Res  3
South Marston  1  Marlborough Town Res  2
Walcot Athletic  5  Purton Res 1
Meadowcroft  4  Moredon  1
Park  2  Sanford  0
Amesbury v Dorcan or Cricklade Town
Corsham Town Res v Dorcan or Cricklade T

Replays
West Swindon  1  Ramsbury  1  (West Swindon won 6-5 on pens)
Shrewton Utd v Avebury Res - result to trace

Second Round
Amesbury Res  v  Seagry - result to trace
Bemerton Ath Res  1  West Swindon  2
Bromham Res  1  Warminster Town Res  3
Corsham Town Res  0  Park Res  6
Meadowcroft  0  Malmesbury Vics Res  1
Penhill Res  1  Marlborugh Town Res  1
Shrewton Utd  v  Walcot Ath - result to trace
Terry W. Pinehurst Res 1  Pewsey V Res  0

Quarter Final
Malmesbury Vics Res  6  Amesbury Res  2
Terry W.Pinehurst Res  0  Penhill Res  2
Warminster T Res  v  Park Res - result to trace
West Swindon  v  Shrewton Utd - result to trace

Semi Final
Malmesbury Victoria Res  2  Penhill Res  0
Park Res  v  Shrewton United - awarded to Park Res

Final
Park Res  2  Malmesbury Victoria Res 1

As reported by the Gazette & Herald.

Park Res won the Wiltshire County League Goldliner Junior Cup last night by defeating Malmesbury Victoria 2-1 in the final at Purton. Kevin Hornby put Park in front with a header from a free kick by Lee Curtis but Colin Pike headed Malmesbury level. Park had a scare shortly afterwards before a fine clearance off the line by Lloyd Reynolds kept out another header from Pike. The score remained level until the 85th minute when George Loyden headed against the Vics crossbar and Ken Crabb knocked home the rebound.
Wiltshire Senior Cup 1980-81

First Round
Amesbury  1  Vickers  3
Avebury  1  Highworth Town  1
Avon Bradford bye
Bromham  0  Warminster Town  3
Burbage Sports  0  Westbury United  2
Calne Town  4  Sarsen  0
Chippenham Town Res  6  Wroughton  0
Devizes Town  3  Pewsey Vale  2
Downton  1  Bemerton Ath  1
Malmesbury Victoria  4  Corsham Town 0
Marlborough Town  0  Tisbury Utd  0
Penhill  1  Park  1
Sanford  2  Melksham Town  2
St Josephs  1  Aldbourne  1
Terry Warner Pinehurst  1  Ferndale Ath  1
Wootton Bassett Town  2  Purton  1

Replays
Aldbourne  0  St Josephs  2
Bemerton Ath  0  Downton  3
Ferndale Ath  1  Terry Warner Pinehurst  2
Highworth Town  1  Avebury  7
Melksham Town  2  Sanford  0
Penhill  3  Park  1  (aet)
Tisbury Utd  5  Marlborough Town  1

Second Round
Avon Bradford  0  Devizes Town  0
Calne Town  2  Melksham Town   1
Chippenham Town Res  1  Tisbury Utd  2
Downton  0  Penhill  0
Malmesbury Victoria 1  Vickers  3
Terry Warner Pinehurst  1  St Josephs  0
Warminster Town  1  Westbury United  2
Wootton Bassett Town  0  Avebury  0

Replays
Avebury  2  Wootton Bassett Town  2
Devizes Town  0  Avon Bradford  2
Penhill  0  Downton  1

2nd Replay
Wootton Bassett Town 2  Avebury  0

Quarter Final
Avon Bradford  1  Terry Warner Pinehurst  0
Downton  0  Westbury United  0
Tisbury Utd  1  Vickers  1
Wootton Bassett Town  3  Calne Town  1

Replays
Vickers 1  Tisbury  2
Westbury United  1  Downton  2

Semi Final
Downton 6  Avon Bradford  1
Wootton Bassett Town  1  Tisbury Utd  3

Final
Downton  2   Tisbury United  1

As reported by the Gazette & Herald.
Downton won the Wiltshire Senior Cup for the second successive season on Saturday when they defeated Tisbury 2-1 in the first all South-Wilts final. Downton took the lead at Victoria Park, Salisbury with a goal from Jack Burden. Mick Presley equalised, but Downton scored again through Stuart Bapty to gain a well-deserved win. Tisbury, however, went close to forcing extra time when a shot by Peter Betts in the last minute looked a goal all the way until Downton’s young reserve keeper, David Middleton, flung himself sideways to bring off a magnificent save. The cup was presented to the winners by Mr Bill Humphries, chairman of the Wiltshire FA.
Representative Honours - 1980-81

League Players Selected for Wilts FA County Teams (where known)

Senior Squad
P. Clark (Shrewton Utd)
A. Davitt (Vickers)
R. Diaper (Amesbury)
M. Teasdale (St Josephs)

Management Committee Members and Club Secretaries


Both K J Mulraney and I R Titcombe left the Management Committee and were replaced by S W Moore and B W Phillips.  The League reported the sad loss of V R Blake who passed away suddenly during the season.


The Vice-Presidents remained as: 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 eight 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   
Calne Town - A G Merrett   
Ferndale Athletic - P D Bathe   
Highworth Town - D Busson   
Malmesbury Victoria - F G Marsh   
Marlborough Town - D W G Cripps
Melksham Town Res - M J Perrin
Park YC - D J Prothero
Penhill YC - M K Whitaker
Salisbury City Res - D F Sharp
Sanford - J A Leeson
Vickers - E Stott
Warminster Town - D W Dawkins

Division 2 - Clubs & Secretaries
Aldbourne - S F Watts   
Bemerton Athletic - G P Broad   
Burbage Sports - R M Cady   
Chippenham Town Res- A L Knee   
Corsham Town - J R Gingell   
Devizes Town Res - J Goodship   
Pewsey Vale - R Fishlock   
Purton - A C Mills   
Sarsen - R A Mason
St Joseph’s YC - B W Phillips
Terry Warner (Pinehurst) - D A Miles
Tisbury - W S Rogers
Trowbridge Town Res - K Owens
Westbury Utd - E L Barber
Wootton Bassett Town - R G Smedley
Wroughton - C G Swatton
Division 3 - Clubs & Secretaries
Amesbury Res - W J Spreadbury   
Avon (Bradford) Res - D Jones   
Bemerton Athletic Res - G P Broad   
Bromham Res - B Minnet   
Dorcan - A F Jennings   
Malmesbury Victoria Res - F G Marsh   
Meadowcroft - Mrs B Smith   
Moredon YC - T J Hannan   
Park YC Res - D J Prothero   
Penhill YC Res - M K Whitaker
Ramsbury - R G Mills
Sanford Res - J A Leeson
Shrewton - F H Matthews
South Marston - W M A Harrison
Vickers Res - E Stott
Walcot Athletic - Mrs E M Gray
Warminster Town Res - D W Dawkins
West Swindon - A C Fall

Division 4 - Clubs & Secretaries
Aldbourne Res - S F Watts   
Avebury Res - V R Blake   
Box Rovers - G M Peplow   
Calne Town Res - A G Merrett   
Corsham Town Res - J R Gingell   
Cricklade Town - A M Large   
Durrington Sports - M L Spreadbury   
Ferndale Athletic Res - P D Bathe   
Hampton - T Ayres   
Highworth Town Res - D Busson
Marlborough Town Res - D W G Cripps
Pewsey Vale Res - R Fishlock
Purton Res - A C Mills
Sarsen Res - R A Mason
Seagry - B N Porter
Terry Warner (Pinehurst) Res - D A Miles
Wootton Bassett Town Res - R G Smedley
Wroughton Res - C G Swatton
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