The end of the 19th season arrived so quickly this year that one felt that last season's Annual General Meeting had only just been held.

This season no clubs were promoted under the Pyramid System. At the time of going to Press there is a possibility that the Great Mills Western League will not be receiving any new Clubs from the Leagues in their Pyramid. The Hellenic League meeting to discuss promotion and relegation has not been held yet.

Rumours were rife within the County that the Pyramid System had been withdrawn from the Wiltshire Football League but this is far from the truth. The League has unfortunately lost its Feeder League status, along with many other Leagues in the Country, including our colleagues from the Dorset Combination League who are in the same position. I must emphasise that this does not effect the Pyramid structure, it only concerns referees.

The Football Association decided early in the season to reduce the number of Feeder Leagues and our League was selected for removal. The records show that over the last five seasons, numerous officials have been promoted to Contributory Leagues referees list. The decision was made before this seasons statistics were even compiled, so no blame can be levelled at the Management Committee. However, all is not lost, as referees from higher Leagues can now be appointed to Senior Division fixtures which was not possible before, so Clubs may see a few familiar Senior referees again.

Again this season the two Cup finals were played on the same Saturday. Corsham Town Football Club offered their excellent facilities atSouthbank to the League for staging the ADDKEY Senior cup and the FOUNTAIN TROPHIES Junior Cup. Our sincere thanks must be recorded to Members of the Corsham Town Football Club, who worked so hard during the day to make the event so successful.

Doug Perry and his Directors from ADDKEY PRINT LIMITED kindly sponsored the Senior Cup Competition. The trophies provided were again of the highest quality. A big thank you to Doug for again providing hospitality facilities during the day.

Our friend Ken Clarke from WESTERNS PORT TROPHIES offered to sponsor the Subsidiary Cup Competition, which was accepted. This was greatly appreciated by the participating Clubs.

Debbie Sebastian continued her sponsorship of the FOUNTAIN TROPHIES Junior Cup Competition. Debbie has indicated that sponsorship will be forthcoming next season.

The representative team travelled to Shaftesbury in March for the Annual fixture with the Dorset Combination League. An entertaining game was witnessed, but unfortunately the lads lost 1-0. Luck was not on our side during this match, as most of the play was in the opponents half of the field of play. Their goalkeeper had one of those games and saved everything that went his way.

Looking back on this season which like many others has had its ups and downs.

The League and Cup programmes has been completed with the Clubs co-operation, and hard work of the Officers of the League. I should like to congratulate all League and cup winners on their success this season. I think Walcot Athletic deserve a special mention, they have kept going to complete the season, whilst encountering some heavy defeats, which have folded many clubs in the past.

In their wisdom, the Football Association have removed the Feeder League status of this League for referees, which means possible, an even greater shortage of officials for next season .

Mike Farrow, our Referees Appointments Secretary had decided not to seek re-election for next season. Mike has filled the post for the last seven years. I should like to thank him for the hard work he has put in and the efficient way he has carried out his duties. I wish him well for the future, and hope he will not completely lose touch with the League.

Many Senior Clubs are in the process of improving their facilities ready for the new Senior status standards which start in 1998/99 season. The Wiltshire Football Association have tasked the League to produce a set of standards for Intermediate Status. This is for senior Clubs unable to reach the new Senior standards, and Junior Clubs who are able to step up to reach the Intermediate status. This has been completed and Clubs will be circulated the new standards required.

In closing, may I thank the Officers for their hard work and support this season, and wish each Club an enjoyable and successful season in 1995/96.

In presenting the accounts of the League for the eleventh time, I am once again able to report a profit on the years workings in the sum of £965. 31, which is similar to last year.

Administrative costs overall were slightly up on last season and income overall was very similar.

It should be noted however that there was no expenditure during the last financial year on a Representative match against the Dorset Combination or the purchase of any footballs. These two items last year cost £500.

The representative game was played at the end of March 1995 and the footballs were purchased quite recently. Both these items will be included in the accounts for the coming year.

Interest on investments was up by £87.00 and that from fines was similar to last year but this includes £180.00 still to be collected from a Club which is no longer in existence, having resigned from the League during the season. It is hoped to collect this sum from the players who was playing for the Club when the fines were incurred. It may prove difficult to collect the whole sum however.

In 2001 the League achieves its Silver Jubilee and your Committee have decided to set aside a sum annually towards the cost of a suitable celebratory event during that year. This year &500 has been included in the Balance Sheet for such an event.

It is not proposed to increase dues and subscriptions for season 1995/96 and neither is it proposed to recommend any increase in honorarium for the Officers .

I once again thank our sponsors namely ADDKEY PRINT LIMITED, FOUNTAIN TROPHIES AND WESTERNSPORT TROPHIES for their generous support of our Cup competitions, and also our President and Vice Presidents.

My thanks are due to Peter Mundy for auditing the accounts. Thank you to everyone who assists me during the season. They all know who they are.

J. S. NORTHOVER

HON. TREASUER

This season completes my 14th as your Registration Secretary.

It has been suggested that some of my comments relating to previous seasons have not always been of a constructively critical nature.

I will therefore limit my observations this time to again giving a sincere acknowledgement to Clubs for their continued co-operation .

Statistically, transfers were down considerably over the previous season (71 against 106); however a new League record number of players were registered, total 2,035.

R.J.M. WIRDNAM

HON. REGISTRATION SECRETARY

The Hon. Referees Appointments Secretary, Mike Farraw has just just completed a very difficult season as far as appointing referees was concerned.

With the unavailability of many officials and the postponement of fixtures, which all caused extra workload. End of seasons fixtures caused problems in obtaining officials, due to so many evening games being played in other Leagues.

After seven years in the position of Hon. Referees Appointments Secretary Mike has decided not to seek re-election at the Annual General Meeting. The League records its most sincere thanks to him for all his hard and diligent work during this period. He will not be completely lost to the League as it is proposed to make him a Vice President.

The vacancy left by Mike will be filled by Wally Tanner from Salisbury who will be introduced at the Annual General Meeting. Wally has been one of our Senior referees for many years and is currently the Salisbury & District League Referees Appointments Sec. I plead for all Clubs to give Wally the same support as was given to Mike Farrow.

The Referees Appreciation Award this year will be presented to long serving Geoff Fisher. Geoff is one of our "veteran" referees who still officiates every week. If all officials gave the same commitment and co-operation to Appointment Secretaries as Geoff has for over 40 years the problem of appointing officials would be that much easier. 

This season proved exceptionally difficult for Phillip Cook, with so many fixtures being lost during January and February when monsoon weather hit the Country.

Despite all obstacles, the fixture programme was completed by the agreed date so Clubs must be congratulated for the co-operation they gave to our Fixture Secretary. Extreme pressure was put on many Clubs at the end of the season and many played three or four games a week to complete their fixtures.

The amalgamation of Aldbourne and Ferndale Athletic at the commencement of the season proved successful as the newly formed team completed the Senior "Double". Aldbourne Ferndale took the major honour in winning Division 1 by six points from the newly promoted Malmesbury Victoria team.

Melksham Town Res who reverted to Senior Status when their first team was promoted to the Great Mills Western League at the end of last season, became Champions of Division 2. Swindon Supermarine Res re-entered the League but despite finishing in Runners-up spot have decided to withdraw.

Newly promoted Raychem sports & Social also completed the Junior "Double" this season, after being declared Champions of Division 3 and winning the Fountain Trophies Cup. Wootton Bassett Sports eventually became Runners-up in Division 3 after tussling with Aldbourne Ferndale Res and Pinehurst Res throughout the season.

Division 4 saw two new entrants take the major honours. Shrewton United Res under the watchful eye of their manager Peter Burden, won the Championship by 15 points from Sundstrand.

Congratulations are extended to all ,the Champions and Runners-up.

A unique situation arose when the four Champions of the League competed in the two Cup finals. Aldbourne Ferndale and Melksham Town Res participated in the ADDKEY Senior CUp final, with Aldbourne Ferndale winning 3 - 0.

The FOUNTAIN TROPHIES Junior final was won by Raychem Sports & Social

who beat Shrewton united Res 3 - 0 after a 1 - 1 draw in the first game.

The WESTERNS PORT TROPHIES Subsidiary Cup for Division 2 teams was won by Chippenham Town Res who defeated Amesbury Town Res 3 - 2 in the final at Marlborough.

The Management Committee record their sincere thanks to Corsham Town, Marlborough Town and Pewsey Vale who all staged Cup finals on their grounds.

May I thank my fellow Officers and Members of the Management Committee for their continued support and co-operation during the season.

All Club Secretaries must as usual be thanked for their help, assistance and co-operation during this hectic season. All the Officers look forward to the same support next season.

Enjoy your break - the new season will soon be starting.

PJ ACKRILL

HON.GENERAL SECRETARY