This, the 21 st season of the League finished without the usual flurry of evening fixtures, despite the exceptional period of cold weather which gripped the Country over the Christmas and New Year period. The early completion was aided by having less teams in each Division. The request by Member Clubs to have a later start to the season was also accomplished.

Our main sponsors Skurrays of Swindon and Marlborough continued support of the League and we are deeply indebted to Mr. Derek Walker, Managing Director of Skurrays for his interest shown in all aspects of the League. Mr. Walker was present at the representative fixture at Amesbury in October and kindly presented the trophies to the players after the game.

A happy Doug Perry saw his team again win the Addkey Senior Knock out Cup for the second season in succession. Our sincere thanks to Doug and his fellow Directors of Addkey Print Ltd of Corsham for their continued sponsorship. The Junior Knock-out Cup was again sponsored by Fountain Trophies of Bristol who continue to show interest in the League. The individual awards presented to Divisional winners and runners-up was of a very high standard and were purchased from Fountain Trophies.

A first was achieved during the season when two Wiltshire League teams competed in the final of the Wiltshire Senior Cup. On Saturday 12th April, Corsham Town and Marlborough Town contested the final at Devizes, with Corsham Town eventually winning the Cup after extra time. En route to the final, both teams had disposed of opposition from the Screwfix Western and Hellenic Leagues, which proves the gap is not that great between the Leagues.

An exciting representative fixture was played against our friends from the Dorset Combination League. This fixture was played at Amesbury for which we thank them most sincerely for arranging everything on the evening. The result was a win for the League after a penalty shoot out. The hero of the night was the Shrewton Uniteds goalkeeper who saved penalties and then scored the winner from the spot. Another representative match against the Clubsaver Hampshire League had been arranged as part of their Centenary celebrations. Unfortunately due to a waterlogged pitch at Newbury Town this fixture had to be postponed 24 hours prior to the kick-off. Nothing has been heard from the Hampshire League about a possible re-match.

Corsham Town Football Club staged both Cup finals on Saturday 26th April, to which the League records their gratitude to their hardworking Committee for granting us permission to use their facilities at Southbank. Once their building programme is complete they will have a ground which will match any other in the County.

Carterton and Taunton have been the venues this season for the Pyramid meetings held in connection with the Joint Liaison Committees from other Leagues. No team will be promoted from our League this season, but Street from the Somerset Senior League and Bitton from the Gloucester County League have successfully gained promotion to the Screwfix Western League. Their Management Committee have decided that because the League is understrength there will be no relegation, much to the disappointed of the Joint Liaison Committee.

Once again its that time of the year, another season is coming to a close. A season which I feel had more high spots than low, which is encouraging to say the least. 

Firstly for the first time since the formation of the League both finalist for the Wiltshire F.A. Senior Cup are members of the League. Corsham Town and Marlborough Town, congratulations to both Clubs who did credit to the League and their Clubs, both on and off the pitch.

Secondly congratulations to the Champions of the four Divisions and to Corsham Town Addkey Cup winners and Cricklade Town Fountain Trophies winners.

Thanks to our main sponsor Skurrays and our cup sponsors for their continued support.

We say farewell to our Referees Appointments Secretary, Wally Tanner at the Annual General Meeting who is moving on to pastures new. We wish him well and thank him for his efforts during the past two years.

In closing may I thank the Officers and Management Committee for their hard work and dedication during the past season and wish every Club an enjoyable and successful season in 1997/98.

I am pleased to be able to submit my 13th Annual Report relating to the annual accounts of the League and to tell you that the surplus on the years working is £1,479 as opposed to a loss of £1,275 last year.

Income was up by about £1550 and expenditure down by about £1,250. Relating to income subscriptions were up £1,245 and fines by £654. Registrations fees and transfers were down by about £ 120. Sponsorship was considerably up by just over £650 and we are indeed grateful to Skurrays of Swindon for their great support of the League. The main reason for the increased sponsorship was that a substantial sum was given to the League in April last year so was not included in the accounts for the year ending 31st March, 1996 although it related to the1995/96 playing season.

On the expenditure side administrative expenses were no more than last year and in fact showed a decrease. Last year the accounts showed expenditure on purchasing footballs in the sum of £1,006. These were presented to the Clubs at the Annual General Meetings in 1995 and 1996. No such purchases have been made during the last financial year. A further sum of £500 has been set aside in the Balance Sheet for our League Silver Jubilee celebrations in 2001.

The Management Committee are this year recommending an increase in honoraria to the Officers. This will be the first increase since the Annual General Meeting of 1993. As well as thanking Skurrays for their support and interest the League is again appreciative of the support given by Addkey Print and Fountain Trophies towards the Senior and Junior Cup Competitions and to Westemsport (Mr. Ken Clarke) for the Referees Award.

Thanks are again due to Mr. Peter Mundy for reviewing our accounts and the advice he gives especially to me.

Finally I should like to thank the Secretaries and Treasurers of all Member Clubs for their generally prompt payment of dues during the past year.

I must as usual begin by thanking the majority of Club Secretaries for their support during the 1996/97 season.

There are however some areas where your help could perhaps be improved - my report last season requested that pre-season submission of Registrations not be left until the "last minute" - despite a later start to the season however, 10 Clubs sent in their forms in the 24 hours prior to the first day kick-off, leaving little available time for processing and return of acknowledgments.

Where transfers are concerned, these are rarely received in time for acknowledgments to be returned as per Rule 8K. Clubs are reminded that a S.A.E. must be supplied for prompt return of all transfer and registration slips. Previous requests in this connection have received a disappointing response.

Also, end of season result sheets - I have had to "chase" several Clubs for these so that League records could be finalised.

Total Registrations and Transfers were down on last season, 1,747 and 53 respectively 

Once again the end of the season is here and unfortunately I will not be seeking re-election next season due to pressure of work. I am sorry that it has been such a short stay in this job because I actually do like the contact with yourselves as well as referees. With the present system of promoting referees you will find that many new faces will be refereeing each season, please bear with them and I am sure that they will settle in very quickly. May I take this opportunity of thanking you all for your help, and I wish you all the best for the future

Our sincere thanks to Wally for his contributions to the administration of the League during his short stay and best wishes in his next chosen "hobby".

The Referees Appreciation Award this season was presented to Mike Lodge of Swindon at the conclusion of the last Management Committee meeting.Mike will be unable to attend the Annual General Meeting due to being in Malta on holiday. He has given outstanding service to the League and is a worthy recipient of this award.

The manipulation of fixtures by our very experienced Fixture Secretary, Phillip Cook, saw the League fixture programme completed by the agreed date.

Shrewton Utd led the Division 1 race until the Xmas break and then they hit a lean spell which let in Corsham Town to head the table. Shrewton Utd eventually clinched the Championship by winning their last fixture at Bradford. Corsham Town took the runners-up spot, so along with the Wilts Senior Cup and Addkey Senior Cup the Club had a remarkable season. Overall Division 1 was closely contested throughout the season.

Having gained Senior Status at the end of the previous season, Raychem took Division 2 by storm and headed the table from start to finish. The other two promotions spots were up for grabs, with Chippenham Town Reserves, Malmesbury Victoria, Marlborough Town and Warminster Town Reserves evenly matched. Marlborough Town will receive the Runners-up awards with Malmesbury Victoria gaining the other promotion position.

Division 3 was dominated by Chiseldon and Cricklade Town throughout the season. Chiseldon’s cup exploits allowed Cricklade Town to head the table for the first half of the season. Chiseldon won their outstanding games so took the Championship easily in the end. Cricklade Town received the runners-up trophies.

In their first year in the League Raychem Reserves led Division 4 from start to finish to become worthy Champions like their first team. Other promotion spots were hotly contested between Biddestone Res, Ferndale Rodbourne and West Swindon. Eventually another newly elected Club Ferndale Rodbourne took second place with Biddestone Reserves also promoted. I congratulate all Champions and Runners-up.

Corsham Town Football Club staged the Addkey Senior Cup final and their Club duly won the Cup in front of their own supporters. Bradford Town took an early lead but the second period saw Corsham Town fight back strongly to run out 3 - 1 winners. The Fountain Trophies Junior Knock-out Cup was won by Cricklade Town who were too strong on the night for Ferndale Rodbourne. The score line being 3 - 1 but the young Ferndale Rodbourne team did themselves proud and I am sure we will see more of this Club receiving awards in the near future

Congratulations to Member Clubs who reached various Cup finals and received awards as Divisional winners or runners-up - please remember to return Cups etc by the stipulated date and in a clean condition, this saves General Secretaries much work .

Next season will be very interesting and extremely hard work for your Management Committee with the introduction of the new Senior and Intermediate Status. Clubs will be contacted during August to ascertain which category they will be applying for, so that inspections of grounds and facilities can proceed. A special meeting of Member Clubs will be called in February to discuss and approve Rule Amendments necessary to include Intermediate teams in the League.

PJ ACKRILL

HON.GENERAL SECRETARY