Corsham Print
Wiltshire Senior League
Season 1983-84

The previous season had seen Penhill become the first side to do the Wiltshire League Division 1 and Wiltshire Senior Cup double and it was to be another sort of double again in Season 1983-84. This time round they retained the Division 1 League title, but their Reserve side also won Division 3, the top junior division. Both title wins being secured in both the two Penhill sides final games.

Penhill had to fight really hard to retain their Division 1 title in a titanic battle with Salisbury based side Bemerton Athletic. So close was the battle between the two sides that the lead alternated between the two clubs several times in the last three weeks of the season. In the end the league title went down to goal difference, Penhill finishing +8 goals better than Bemerton.

In Division 3 the league title for the top Junior Division in the county was also a close battle involving four clubs, this time the Penhill club were fighting it out with Malmesbury Victoria, Park Reserves and Kington Langley. Going into the final game Penhill were one point behind leaders Park, who had a much better goal difference, and opponents Malmesbury could still finish runners-up if they defeated Penhill. Penhill had to win the game to be champions, any other result would have given that honour to Park, and with ten minutes left Penhill found themselves 3-2 down. However, in a dramatic finish Penhill scored twice to win 4-3 and take the title.

It was not so dramatic in the other two divisions of the league. In Division 2 Wills piled up enough points in an early end to their programme to allow them to sit back for the last three weeks of the season and observe the race for runners-up spot between Aldbourne, Wroughton and Wootton Bassett Town. In the end Aldbourne took second spot on goal difference from Wroughton, both just the one point behind Wills in the end. 

In Division 4 it was not even a close finish as Plessey Sports steamrollered the rest of the division, winning their first 26 games, but they were unable to end it with the “perfect” season, losing their final 2 games to finish 12 points clear of runners-up Oldacre. Plessey hit 141 goals in their title triumph and were the only side in the league to exceed the 100 mark for the season. Striker Jimmy Little was the star man helping himself to a massive tally of 54 goals, easily the top scorer in all four divisions, 28 more than the next highest scorer, Tony Audis of Kington Langley. Little also had the honour of being the only played from a Junior Club to represent the County in the season.

Wootton Bassett Town won the Ghia Senior Cup to become the first team from the Second Division to lift the cup, defeating Sanford 4-0 in the final.  Plessey Sports did the league and cup double, lifting the Ghia Junior Cup by defeating Kington Langley in the final.  Warminster Town Res won the Subsidiary Cup a competition designed to augment the fixtures for the sides in Division 2.  In the final at Avebury they defeated Wroughton 2-0. Dorcan won the E C Mills Sportsmanship Award for the fifth time in seven years.  C G Swatton of Wroughton won the Club Secretary’s Award.  A R Downs was presented with the Ghia Referees Award.
Division One Winners - Penhill 
Top Scorers - 1983-84

Division 1
John Rushton  (Bemerton)  21
Dave Perry  (Amesbury Town)  19
Colin Valters  (Park)  19
Keith Willis  (Westbury United)  19
Martin Tutton  (Bemerton)  18
Tim Diaper  (Amesbury Town)  17

Division 2
Nigel Mapstone  (Wroughton)  21
Mark Baker  (Aldbourne)  18
Nick Offer  (Burbage Sports)  16
Mark Perrett  (Aldbourne)  15
Colin Bagwell  (Wills)  15
Steve Murden  (Warminster Town Res)  14

Division 3
Tony Audis  (Kington Langley)  26
Pat Keville  (Park)  19
Steve Andrews  (Bemerton)  17
Derek Fernanzez  (Kington Langley)  16
Martin Nightingale  (Amesbury)  16
Steve Swinger  (Amesbury)  13
Mark Merrett  (Kington Langley)  13
Carl Baker  (Malmesbury Victoria)  13
Steve Herbert  (Malmesbury Victoria)  13
Brian Blake  (South Newton & Wishford)  13

Division 4
Jim Little  (Plessey Sports)  54
Sean Garoll  (Oldacre)  23
Carlo Cinquegrani  (Oldacre)  23
Ian Muspratt  (Bromham)  17
Jamie Ryan  (Plessey Sports)  17
Steve Lee  (Burmah House)  15
Ghia Senior KO Cup 1983-84

First Round
Amesbury 3 Park 2
Burbage Sports 2 Bemerton 1
Corsham Town 4 Dorcan 1
Ferndale Ath 1 Sanford 5
Highworth Town 0 Melksham Town Res 3
Marlborough 4 Wroughton 5 (aet)
Meadowcroft 3 T.W. Pinehurst 1
Penhill YC bye
Pewsey Vale 0 Chippenham Town Res 4
Purton 1 Warminster Town 3
Shrewton Utd 5 Avebury 2
St Joseph's  0  Wootton Bassett Town  2
Tisbury 1 Devizes Town Res 2
Walcot Ath 1 Aldbourne 4
Westbury Utd bye
Wills 1 Calne Town 5

Second Round
Aldbourne 0 Meadowcroft 3
Chippenham Town Res 0 Penhill YC 1
Devizes Town Res  1  W. Bassett Town  2
Melksham Town Res 0 Calne Town 1
Sanford 4 Corsham Town 2 (aet)
Shrewton Utd 3 Westbury Utd 3 (aet)
Warminster Town 1 Burbage Sports 2
Wroughton 2 Amesbury 2 (aet)

Replays
Amesbury 4 Wroughton 2
Westbury Utd v Shrewton Utd - result to trace

Quarter Final
Burbage Sports  0  W. Bassett Town  4
Meadowcroft 2 Penhill  YC 3
Sanford 6 Amesbury 0
Westbury United 4 Calne Town 0

Semi Final
Sanford 1 Westbury United 0 (aet)
Wootton Bassett Town  1  Penhill YC  1 (aet)

Replay
Wootton Bassett Town  4  Penhill YC 2

Final
Wootton Bassett Town  4  Sanford  0

As reported by the Evening Advertiser.

Wootton Bassett won the Wiltshire County League’s Ghia Senior Cup on Saturday by defeating Sanford 4-0 in the final at Avebury and so became the first Division Two team to win it. Sanford impressed in midfield with some clever play, but over-elaborated in front of goal and lacked penetrative power. Against this, Bassett were dangerous on the break and caught Sanford out with well placed through balls. They went ahead in the 18th minute when Neil Timbrell dispossessed Mich Bohane and, spotting goalkeeper Mark McKinley was well off his line, sent a 30-yard shot over his head into the empty net. McKInley was in trouble again in the 42nd minute when he threw the ball out, only for Steve Thomas to gain possession and score before the keeper could recover. Just before half-time Bassett lost Kevin Flavell through injury and replaced him with Kevin Bishop. It was Bishop who increased his side’s lead to three in the 68th minute after fastening onto a long through ball. Six minutes later another through ball caught Sanford out for Graham Smedley to complete his side’s big win. The man of the match award went to Sanford’s Brian Faragher.
Ghia Senior Cup Winners - Wootton Bassett Town  
Back:    Roger Williamson, Graham Large, Paul Comer, Andy Ferguson, Neil Timbrell, Derrick Chambers, Pete Clark (Manager)
Front:    Graham Smedley, Kevin Bishop, Dougie Jee, Steve Thomas, Kevin Flavell, Mike Fieldsend (Picture Terry Onslow (Photography)
Ghia Junior KO Cup 1983-84

Preliminary Round
Corsham Town Res 1 Marlborough Town Res 2 - awarded to Corsham TR
Malmesbury Victoria 3 West Swindon 1

First Round
Aldbourne Res v Corsham Town Res - result to trace
Amesbury Res v Moredon EC - awarded to Amesbury
Avebury Res 5 Pewsey Vale Res 2
Bemerton Ath Res 1 Blunsdon Utd 4
Box Rovers 5 South Marston 2
Burmah House 4 Dorcan Res 0
Calne Town Res 4 Wills Res 4 (aet)
Cricklade Town 0 Plessey Sports 9
Kington Langley 6 Harlequins 2
Malmesbury Victoria 4 Bromham 2
Oldacre 6 Wroughton Res 1
Park Res 3 Purton Res 2
Penhill YC Res 0 Ramsbury 1
Sanford Res 5 Highworth Town Res 1
T.W. Pinehurst Res 3 Oaksey 3 (aet)
W.Bassett Town Res 0 S.Newton & Wish'd 4

Second Round
Avebury Res 1 Amesbury Res 2
Burmah House 4 Kington Langley 4 (aet)
Malmesbury Vics 2 S. Newton & Wish'd 0
Oaksey 5 Blunsdon Utd 0
Oldacre 1 Park Res 2
Plessey Sports 4 Box Rovers 0
Ramsbury 2 Aldbourne Res 1
Sanford Res 1 Calne Town Res 2

Replay
Kington Langley 4 Burmah House 2

Quarter Final
Kington Langley 2 Park Res 1
Oaksey 1 Calne Town Res 1 (aet)
Plessey Sports 4 Amesbury Res 2 (aet)
Ramsbury 1 Malmesbury Vics 4 (aet)

Replay
Calne Town Res 2 Oaksey 0

Semi Final
Calne Town Res 0 Kington Langley 6
Plessey Sports 4 Malmesbury Vics 3 (aet)

Final
Plessey Sports v Kington Langley - result to trace
Wiltshire Senior Cup - 1983-84
Teams from other leagues shown in italics
Preliminary Round
Supermarine  3  Westbury United  0

First Round
Aldbourne  3  Purton  1
Avebury  1  Park  2
Burbage Sports  4  Shrewton United  1
Calne Town  3  Avon Bradford 0
Chippenham Town Res v Wroughton - game drawn result to trace
Corsham Town  0  Tisbury United  2
Devizes Town v Bemerton Athletic - awarded to Bemerton
Dorcan  0  Amesbury Town  2
Highworth Town  1  Supermarine  3
Marlborough Town  0  St Josephs  0
Penhill 5  Downton  1
Pewsey Vale  0  Meadowcroft  4
Sanford  1  Wills  4
Walcot Athletic  2  Ferndale Athletic  3
Warminster Town  0  Melksham Town  3
W. Bassett Town  2  T. Warner Pinehurst  2

Replays
T.Warner Pinehurst  0  W. Bassett Town  1
Wroughton 1 Chippenham Town Res 2

Second Round
Bemerton Athletic  2  Wills 1 (aet)
Burbage Sports  2  Aldbourne  3
Calne Town  2  St Josephs  0
Meadowcroft  1  Wootton Bassett Town  2
Melksham Town  3  Amesbury Town  5
Park v Chippenham Town Res - awarded to Chippenham Town
Penhill  2  Supermarine  1
Tisbury United  7  Ferndale Athletic  0

Quarter Final
Amesbury Town  4  Calne Town  0
Bemerton Ath  1  Chippenham Town Res  3
Tisbury  1  Aldbourne  2 (aet)
Wootton Bassett Town  2  Penhill 2

Replay
Penhill 2  Wootton Bassett Town  1 (aet)

Semi Final
Aldbourne  0  Penhill 4
Amesbury Town  0  Chippenham T Res 0

Replay
Chippenham T Res  0  Amesbury Town  2

Final
Amesbury Town 2  Penhill  1
Wiltshire Junior Cup - 1983-84
Teams from other leagues shown in italics
A number of result still to be traced

Preliminary Round
Bemerton Res  4 Shaw & Whitley 0
Blunsdon Utd  8  Thamesdown 2
Box Rovers  5 Croft  1
Bradford United  1  West Swindon  3
Burbage v John Bull
Carpenters Arms  v  Porton Sports
Colerne  v  Sherston
Corsham Town Res  v  Minety
Dowty v FC Olympika
Durrington Sports  v  Wootton Bassett YC
Faraday Club  v  Laverstock & Ford
Heytesbury  1  Sanford Res   3
Holt  0  Aldbourne  2
Lacock v Raychem
Lawn  v  Shaw
Oaksey 1 Citadel Rangers  3
Old Manor  2  Bromham  0
Oldacre   6  Marlborough Tn Res  3
Park Res  3 Enford 1
Radnor Hall  1  Wills Sports  0
Revenue Sports  v Nationwide
Rodbourne Cheney WMC 4  Redlynch 1
South Marston  0  S. Newton & Wishford 5
Steeple Ashton  v  Blue Circle
Stockton & Codford  v Pressed Steel FSSC
West Dean v  Langford
West Lavington v  Winterslow
Winsley  1  Top Rank Swindon  4
Wootton Bassett Town Res 0  Purton Res  1

First Round
Avon Bradford  5  Aldbourne Res  1
Blue Circle v Radnor Hall
Box Rovers  1  Seend  1
Bratton  v  West Lavington
Citadel Rangers   2  Airsprung   4
Colerne  v  FC Sporting
Cricklade Town  5  Minety  0
Dowty   v  Revenue Sports
Durrington SC  v  Melksham Town Res
Faraday Club  2  Calne Town Res  1 (aet)
Hambro Life   v  Penhill RBL
Hilperton Utd  4  Wroughton Res  1
Kington Langley 0  Park Res  5
Lavington & Easterton 3 Pewsey Vale Res 2
Malmesbury Victoria 5 Stockton & Codford 0
Melksham Legion v Lacock
Nomansland & Landford 1 Bemerton Res 3
Old Manor  4  Purton Res  2
Oldacre 3 T. Warner Pinehurst Res  2 (aet)
Plessey Sports  4  Avebury Res  2
Ramsbury  0  Sanford Res 2
Rodbourne Cheney WMC 6 Rudloe 4 (aet)
Shaw Utd v Potterene
South Newton & Wishford  3 Blunsdon Utd 0
Spartans v Westbury Utd Res
Sunstrand  1 Amesbury Res  6
Top Rank Swindon  2 Penhill YC Res  4
Walcot BC v Broughton Gifford
West Dean v John Bull
West Harnham v Carpenters Arms
West Swindon  2 Highworth Town Res  3
Woodfalls v Walcot

Replays
Seend  1 Box Rovers  1

Second Round
Airsprung  3  Shaw United   1
Bratton v ?
Carpenters Arms  6 Malmesbury Victoria  5
Colerne  0  Rodbourne Cheney WMC  2
Cricklade Town  3  Avon Bradford   0
Hambro Life v Durrington Sports - drawn game, score to trace
Highworth Town Res  1  Faraday Club  0
Hilperton Utd  3  Walcot BC  0
Lavington & Easterton  1  Oldacre  4
Old Manor v ?
Plessey Sports  5  Bemerton Res  1
Radnor Hall  3  Top Rank Swindon  5
Sanford Res 2  Park Res  1
Spartans  3  Box Rovers  0
West Dean  1  Amesbury Res  7
Woodfalls 4 South Newton & Wishford 1

Replay
Durrington Sports   3  Hambro Life  2

Third Round
Airsprung  2  Plessey Sports  4
Carpenters Arms 3  Durrington Sports 1
Old Manor  3  Bratton  0
Oldacre  3  Highworth Town Res  2
Rodbourne Cheney WMC  3 Hilperton Utd 5
Spartans  2  Amesbury Res  4
Top Rank Swindon  5  Sanford Res  5 (aet)
Woodfalls   4  Cricklade Town  0

Replay
Sanford Res  0  Top Rank Swindon  1

Quarter Final
Amesbury Res 1 Plessey Sports  6
Hilperton Utd  3  Oldacre  1
Old Manor   5  Carpenters Arms  5 (aet)
Top Rank Swindon  0  Woodfalls  1

Replay
Carpenters Arms  2  Old Manor  4

Semi Final
Hilperton Utd v Woodfalls
Plessey Sports v Old Manor

Final
Old Manor   1  Hilperton Utd  0
Division 2 Subsidiary Cup 1983-84
Group Stages
Details to trace

Semi Final
Details to trace

Final
Warminster Town  2  Wroughton  0 (aet)

As reported by the Evening Advertiser.

The Wiltshire League Division 2 Subsidiary Cup was won by Warminster Town Reserves with a 2-0 verdict over Wroughton in Saturday’s final at Avebury. But it took a period of extra time after the first 90 minutes were goalless to get a result. In normal time, two very competitive sides took the ball from end to end with Duncan Gee hitting Wroughton’s upright and Nigel Mapstone having a shot cleared off Warminster’s line. Wroughton pressed hard near the end with Mapstone and Dave Guthrie getting clean through on their own in the 84th and 87th minutes only to have their final shots brilliantly saved by goalkeeper Richard Crossman. Warminster went ahead in the 103rd minute through Andy Coke who picked up a long clearance from defence before beating advancing goalkeeper Steve Venn with a well-placed shot. The 115th minute goal that consolidated Warminster’s win was scored by Gee from close range during a scramble in the goal area. Dennis Kilford, Vice-Chairman of the league and FA Councillor, made the presentation.
Representative Honours - 1983-84

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

Senior Squad
T. Diaper (Amesbury)
P. Haines (Highworth Town)
T. Herring (Park)
A. Kee (Bemerton)
K. Lapham (Warminster Town)
J. Rushton (Bemerton)
M. Tutton (Bemerton)
Season 1983-84 celebrated the centenary of the Wiltshire County Football Association. The celebrations included a mini-tournament involving Swindon Town FC, Salisbury FC, Trowbridge Town FC and a Wiltshire County Select side. The players listed above were either involved in this tournament of selected for games against other counties in the season.

Management Committee Members and Club Secretaries


D C Kilford was elected Vice-Chairman with D W G Cripps filling the vacant position on the Management Committee.  W L Miles was made a Life Member of the League.


The Officers and Committee were therefore: D S Paget (President), J R Nunn (Chairman), D C Kilford (Vice-Chairman), P J Ackrill (Secretary), G A Highmore (Treasurer), P M Cook (Fixture Secretary), R J M Wirdnam (Registration Secretary), M G Benson (Referees' Appointments Secretary) and a Management Committee of E S M Ashman, C W Cousins, D W G Cripps, B Minett, S W Moore, and B W Phillips.


There were now fourteen Vice-Presidents: 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, W J Spreadbury, H J Stevens and P E Stone.


Sixty four teams entered the League and were grouped in four Divisions: two Senior and two Junior Divisions.
Division 1 - Clubs & Secretaries
Amesbury Town - C G Baggott   
Avebury - A V Blake   
Bemerton Athletic - S Noke   
Calne Town - A J Brewer   
Chippenham Town Res - A L Knee   
Devizes Town Res - R W Booth   
Highworth Town - K Loveday   
Meadowcroft - A J Rowe   
Melksham Town Res - M J Perrin
Park YC - M Alexander
Penhill YC - G D F Dean
Purton - A Eastwood
Sanford - J A Leeson
St Joseph’s YC - B W Phillips
Tisbury - W S Rogers
Westbury Utd - E L Barber

Division 2 - Clubs & Secretaries
Aldbourne - S F Watts   
Burbage Sports - R M Cady   
Corsham Town - Mrs J Harris   
Dorcan - A F Jennings succeeded by: L Berwick   
Ferndale Athletic - P D Bathe   
Marlborough Town - D W G Cripps   
Pewsey Vale - Ms S M Baker   
Sarsen - P P Bond
Shrewton Utd - K P Cummings
Terry Warner (Pinehurst) - D A Miles
Walcot Athletic - Mrs E M Gray
Warminster Town Res - A D S Lawrie
Wootton Bassett Town - R J W Stone
Wroughton - Secretary: C G Swatton
Division 3 - Clubs and Secretaries
Amesbury Town Res - C G Baggott   
Avebury Res - A V Blake   
Bemerton Athletic Res - S Noke   
Blunsdon Utd - A J Hibbert   
Calne Town Res - A J Brewer   
Kington Langley - J E Olden  
Malmesbury Victoria Res - D A Rogers   
Marlborough Town Res - D W G Cripps   
Moredon EC - D P Simms   
Park YC Res - M Alexander
Penhill YC Res - G D F Dean
Purton Res - A Eastwood
Ramsbury - R G Mills
Sanford Res - J A Leeson
South Marston - J Knight
South Newton & Wishford - D E Handford
West Swindon - A C Fall
Wootton Bassett Town Res - R J W Stone

Division 4 - Clubs & Secretaries
Aldbourne Res - S F Watts   
Box Rovers - A Phillips   
Bromham - B Minett succeeded by: R Paget   
Burmah House - K J Walker   
Corsham Town Res - Mrs J Harris   
Cricklade Town - J M Sockett   
Dorcan Res - A F Jennings succeeded by: L Berwick   
Harlequins - M A Scarrott succeeded by: P Foster   
Highworth Town Res - K Loveday
Oaksey - R H Jackson
Oldacre - K Iles
Pewsey Vale Res - Ms S M Baker
Plessey Sports - Mrs C E Jones
Sarsen Utd Res - P P Bond
Terry Warner (Pinehurst) Res - D A Miles
Wroughton Res - C G Swatton
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