Corsham Print
Wiltshire Senior League
Season 1986-87

After finishing runners-up in the previous three seasons, Bemerton Athletic did not get their 1986-87 Season off to a good start with defeats against Amesbury and Park in their opening four games.  However, they were to lose just two more games all season to finish two points clear of local rivals Old Manor to find the Division One title for the one and only time. When the two sides had met at Bemerton’s County Ground mid-season Bemerton had won comfortably 6-1 but Old Manor picked themselves up from that defeat and pushed their near neighbours all the way. Swindon side Park finished in third spot whilst a late run by Wootton Bassett Town saw them climb to a final position of fourth in the table. At the other end of the table it was a season of struggle for Corsham Town, Wills and Wroughton, with the latter dropping back down to Junior status at the end of the season. Bemerton also made the final of the Wiltshire Senior Cup but lost 2-0 to Hellenic League side Penhill. In the league’s Ghia Senior Knockout Cup it was an all Swindon affair in the final with Ferndale Athletic defeating Wills to take the cup.

It was a successful first season at Senior level for Oldacre as they took the Division Two title, finishing seven points clear of second placed Laverstock & Ford. Calne Town finished in third to join the other two sides in being promoted to Division One for the next season. The Division’s fixtures were supplemented by a Subsidiary Cup which saw Marlborough Town defeat Avon Bradford Reserves in the final.

Division Three saw a three-way battle between the reserve sides of Bemerton, Park and Purton for the title. In the end Bemerton failed to emulate the achievement of their first team finishing three points behind the eventual champions Purton Reserves who lost just two games all season. These two sides were split by Park Reserves who were two points behind the champions. At the other end of the table it was a tough season for Marlborough Town Reserves who won just two games all season. The league’s Junior Knockout Cup saw the top two in Division Three contest the final with Purton Reserves lifting the cup after they defeated Park Reserves to do the "double".

In Division Four Old Manor Reserves went one better than their first team as they took the Division Four title, finishing five points clear of second placed Dorcan. 

In the end of season awards at the AGM, Sanford won the E C Mills Sportsmanship Award, R G Mills of Ramsbury won the Club Secretary’s Award and  C A Skingsley was presented with the Ghia Referees Award.  
Park FC who finished 3rd in Division 1 (Picture courtesy of Les Gill)
Back Row: Les Gill, Dave Woosnam, Jimmy Wright, Niel Gough, Tony Woosnam, Chris Rich, John Roberts
2nd Back Row: Mark Jell, Dave Smith, Mike Harrison, Pete Orsi, Richard Nash, Tim Crouch, Mark Westlake, Leigh Curtis, Gary Dell.
Standing: Terry Arnold, Ian Moores, Paul Britten, John Meare, Mark Bowles, Trevor Jenkins, Phil Watson, Stuart Gould, Gavin Wilkins.
Seating: Danny Dill (3rd Team Manager), Malc Coombs (Trainer), Ray Rivett (2nd Team Manager), Les Crowfoot (Crowfoot Transport), Selwyn Cound (Oxford Hotel), Chris Terry (Oakhurst Construction), Keith Williams (First Team Manager), Paul Bristow (Asst. 1st Team Manager) and Brian Lawrence (Chief Scout).
Boys: Stephen Arnold, Paul Williams, Mark Arnold.
Division 4 Champions Old Manor Res
(picture courtesy of Wiltshire Newspapers)
Division One Champions Programme.
Champions Bemerton Athletic produced a programme. Pictured here is the one for their game towards the end of the season against Plessey Sports. Click on the image of the Programme to bring up a PDF version of the full programme.
League Top Scorers - Season 1986-87

Division 1 - Season 1986-87
M. Tutton  (Old Manor)  26
J. Rushton  (Old Manor)  25
R. Salter  (Allied Dunbar)  17
M. Jell  (Park)  17
N. Walker  (Wootton Bassett Town)  15
D. Perry  (Bemerton)  13
T. Plank  (Bemerton)  13
J. Hendry  (Pewsey)  13
S. Clark  (Park)  12
M. Karns  (Pinehurst)  12

Division 2 - Season 1986-87
R. Moore  (Oldacre)  21
J. Angliss  (Blunsdon)  15
R. Andrews  (Laverstock & Ford)  15
M. Stevenson  (Avebury)  13
C. Donaghue  (Laverstock & Ford)  13
K. Walker  (Blunsdon)  11
T. Matthews  (Laverstock & Ford)  10
T. Hoare  (Oldacre)  10
F. Andrews  (Shrewton)  10
I. Wixon (Devizes Town Res)  9

Division 3 - Season 1986-87
G. Young  (Bemerton Res)  31
P. Romans  (Bromham)  24
J.Barker  (Allied Dunbar Res)  21
A. Robertson  (Bemerton Res)  21
I. Muspratt  (Bromham)  21
R. Preddy  (Purton Res)  16
A. Young  (Allied Dunbar Res)  15
R. Witt  (Bemerton Res)  15
J. Wright  (Park Res)  15
P. Hammond  (Purton Res)  15

Division 4 Season 1986-87
K. Heard  (Dorcan)  43
R. Goulding  (Stratton Red Eagles)  35
M. Smith  (Biddestone)  32
A. Marsh  (Stratton Red Eagles)  25
D. Gravestock  (Pewsey Res)  21
D. Martin  (Biddestone)  20
D. Baddeley  (Pinehurst Res)  18
R. Bate  (Spartans)  17
C. Glassland  (Cricklade Town)  16
M. Webb  (Dorcan)  15
Ghia Senior Cup 1986-87

First Round
Amesbury 5 Allied Dunbar 0
Burmah House 3 Avebury 1 (aet)
Calne Town v Dorcan - Awarded to Calne Town
Corsham 2 Blunsdon 2
Laverstock & Ford 2 Westbury United 1
Marlborough Town 2 Plessey Sports 3
Oldacre  1  Wootton Bassett Town 6
Park 2 Old Manor 0
Pewsey Vale  0  Chippenham Town Res  1 (aet)
Pinehurst 0 Wroughton 1
Shrewton 1 Ferndale 2
Warminster Town 2 Avon Bradford 1
Wiils 2 Sanford 0
Aldbourne bye
Bemerton Athletic bye
Devizes Town Res bye

Replay
Blunsdon v Corsham Town

Second Round
Bemerton Ath 4 Wroughton 1
Calne Town 6 Burmah House 1
Warminster Town  0  Chippenham Town Res 3
Wills 5 Blunsdon 3
W. Bassett T 3  Ferndale Ath 3 (aet)
Details of other games to trace

Replay
Ferndale Ath 2 W. Bassett T 2 (4-2 on pens)

Quarter Final
Laverstock & Ford 1 Chippenham Res 3
Calne Town 0 Bemerton Ath 3
Result & details of other games to trace.

Semi Final
Wills 2 Chippenham Town Res 1
Ferndale Athletic 3  Bemerton Ath 1

Final
Ferndale Athletic 2 Wills 1 (at Calne Town)

As reported by the Evening Advertiser.
Ferndale became winners of the Wiltshire League’s Ghia Senior Cup last night by defeating Wills 2-1 in the final at Calne. The first half was a mixture of missed chances by both sides and some good goalkeeping by Ray Hunt (wills) and Paul Stevens (Ferndale). But Wills scored through Mino Vernaschie in the 12th minute and led with that goal until the 60th, when Steve Slattery flicked on a corner for Glen Benson to equalise. The winning goal came in the 73rd minute with a 25-yard shot by Dave Webb, which Hunt let through his hands. Derek Riley of Ferndale was named player of the day.
Ghia Junior Cup 1986-87

Preliminary Round
Allied Dunbar Res 5 West End 0

First Round
Cricklade Town 0 Park Res 4
Dorcan 4 Corsham Town Res 1
Ferndale Res 0 Pewsey Vale Res 5
Liden v Benerton Ath Res - Awarded to Bemerton
Malmesbury Vics 3 W. Bassett T Res 1
Minety 2 Old Manor Res 4
Oaksey 0 Wills Res 5
Plessey Semics 4 Blunsdon Res 3
Purton Res 5 Marlborough Town Res 0
Ramsbury 1 Biddestone 4
Sanford Res 1 Allied Dunbar Res 2
Spartans 3 Box Rovers 0
Upavon 0 Pinehurst Res 4
Walcot 1 Bromham 1
West Swindon 5 Stratton Red Eagles 4
Wroughton Res 3 Aldbourne Res 1

Replays
Bromham 1 Walcot 4

Second Round
Biddestone 3 Wills Res 1 (venue TBC)
Purton Res 3 Wroughton Res 1
Walcot 7 Allied Dunbar Res 0 (Venue TBC)
West Swindon 5 Dorcan 3
Details of other games to trace.

Quarter Final
Biddestone 3 Malmesbury Vics 1 (Venue TBC)
Walcot 3 Old Manor Res 1 (Venue TBC)
Details of other games to trace.

Semi Final
Purton Res 1 Biddestone 3
Walcot 2 Park Res 2 (Venue TBC)

Replay
Park Res 3 Walcot 4 (Venue TBC)

Final
Biddestone 1 Walcot 0 (at Chippenham Town)

As reported by the Evening Advertiser.
Biddestone would up their first season in the Wiltshire County League last night by winning the Ghia Junior Cup with a 1-0 win in the final at Chippenham. Biddestone found it difficult to overcome Walcot’s offside trap in the first half, but brought on substitute Trevor Edwards in the 71st minute and straight away scored the only goal of the game through Ian Huxtable from 10 yards. Dave Titchener of Ghia Promotions presented the cup to Biddestone and Walcot’s Stuart Morse was named player of the day.
Wiltshire Senior Cup 1986-87
Teams from other leagues shown in italics

Preliminary Round
Aldbourne v Park - awarded to Park
Amesbury Town  4  Wroughton  4
Burmah House  2  Downton 4
Bemerton Athletic  7  Avebury  0
Corsham Town  1  Marlborough Town  1
Highworth Town  bye
Laverstock & Ford  6  Blunsdon United  4
Oldacre 2  Plessey Sports  1
Penhill  2 Allied Dunbar  0
Pewsey Vale  bye
Pinehurst  bye
Purton  5  Shrewton United  0
Sanford  2  Old Manor  5
Supermarine  3  Ferndale Athletic  2
Wills  bye
Wootton Bassett Town  bye

Replay
Marlborough Town 2 Corsham Town 3
Wroughton  0  Amesbury Town  1

First Round
Amesbury Town  1  Park  3
Corsham Town  2  Wills  4
Downton 2  Bemerton Athletic  3
Highworth Town 3 Purton 0
Oldacre  3  Pewsey Vale  4
Old Manor  3  Laverstock & Ford  1
Pinehurst  1  Penhill 6
Supermarine 1  Wootton Bassett Town  2

Quarter Final
Bemerton Athletic  2  W. Bassett Town  1
Old Manor  1  Wills 0
Park  0 Highworth Town 2
Penhill  5  Pewsey Vale  1

Semi Final
Bemerton Athletic  2  Highworth Town 0
Old Manor 1  Penhill  4

Final
Penhill  2  Bemerton Athletic  0 (at Melksham Town)

Senior Cup Winners Penhill

Management Committee Members and Club Secretaries


There were once again no changes to the Management Committee for the season.


Sixty two teams entered the League and were grouped in four Divisions: two Senior and two Junior Divisions but once again the league suffered withdrawals of clubs either before or during the season from all four divisions.  Aldbourne departed from Division 1, Dorcan from Division 2, Liden United from Division 3 and Box Rovers from Division 4.
Division 1 - Clubs & Secretaries
Aldbourne - S F Watts   
Allied Dunbar - E M Gray
Amesbury Town - C G Baggott   
Bemerton Athletic - S Noke   
Chippenham Town Res - A L Wimble   
Corsham Town - E A Jackson succeeded by: J M Hynes, succeeded by: G A Walder
Ferndale Athletic - I E Sumbler
Old Manor - S Dewey
Park  - K Williams
Pewsey Vale - B M Flippance
Pinehurst - N Merrett
Plessey Sports - M S Little
Sanford - J A Leeson
Wills - A M Pickett
Wootton Bassett Town - R J W Stone succeeded by P C Harrison
Wroughton - C G Swatton

Division 2 - Clubs & Secretaries
Avebury - A V Blake
Avon Bradford Res - C Lewis
Blunsdon United - A J Hibbert
Burmah House - P Laggett   
Calne Town Res - A J Brewer
Devizes Town Res - D R Neate
Dorcan - L Berwick  succeeded by: M Creighton 
Laverstock & Ford - A Lake
Marlborough Town - D W G Cripps   
Oldacre -  A Wilson
Shrewton Utd - M Withers
Warminster Town Res - A D S Lawrie succeeded by H J Theobald
Westbury Utd Res - E L Barber
Division 3 - Clubs & Secretaries
Allied Dunbar Res - E M Gray   
Bemerton Athletic Res - S Noke   
Bromham - B M Ramsay
Corsham Town Res - E A Jackson succeeded by: J M Hynes, succeeded by: G A Walder
Liden United - J T Thorn
Malmesbury Victoria - G Webb 
Marlborough Town Res - D W G Cripps
Park Res - K Williams  
Pewsey Vale Res - B M Flippance   
Purton Res - A Eastwood
Ramsbury - R G Mills
Sanford Res - J A Leeson
Walcot - L Roberts succeeded by: S Rivers, succeeded by K Sears
West End - M L Brewer
West Swindon - J Edmonds succeeded by: P Bathe
Wills Res - A M Pickett
Wootton Bassett Town Res - R J W Stone succeeded by P C Harrison

Division 4 - Clubs & Secretaries
Aldbourne Res - S F Watts   
Biddestone - S M Jennings
Blunsdon Utd Res - A J Hibbert   
Box Rovers - A Phillips succeeded by: R Hall  
Cricklade Town - J Saunders   
Dorcan Res - L Berwick succeeded by: M Creighton  
Ferndale Athletic Res - I E Sumbler
Minety - A Osborn
Oaksey - R H Jackson
Old Manor Res - S Dewey
Pinehurst Res - N Merrett
Plessey Semics - T G Smith
Spartans - L R Fish
Stratton Red Eagles - R F Mortimer
Upavon - G J Spanswick
Wroughton Res - C G Swatton
Share by: