Corsham Print
Wiltshire Senior League
Season 2003-04
League Sponsored by Plaister Auto Services
Results
After serving for 22 years as General Secretary, Pete Ackrill retired at the 2003 Annual General Meeting and was elected President.  He was succeeded by Jim Thorn from Swindon. 


Dennis Dennis Cripps retired as Vice-Chairman and was succeeded by Bill Shail.  Sadly, President, Pete Ackrill, died suddenly in February 2004.

There were an insufficient number of Clubs at Intermediate Status this season, so the League reverted back to two Junior Divisions.  The league also had new sponsors in Plaister Auto Services and changed the name of the league accordingly.

Trowbridge Town won the Premier Division losing just twice all season and finished two points ahead of runners-up AFC Stratton.  In a tremendous season for the club they also made the finals of both the Corsham Print Senior Cup and the prestigious Wiltshire FA Senior Cup. In the Corsham Print Senior Knockout Cup, they went down narrowly in the final to near neighbours Bradford Town, 2-1 the final score. It was to be a happier ending in the prestigious Wiltshire Senior Cup, however, as they won on penalties after the final had finished all square at two goals apiece after extra-time against Western League side Corsham Town. At the time of writing in 2020 they would be the last side from the league to have made the final of this cup. They were rewarded for their endeavours at the end of this season with promotion to the Hellenic League. Third placed Biddestone were also promoted to the Western League as the flow of clubs to the higher leagues under the pyramid system continued.

Whilst their first team were making the headlines it was also a good season for their reserves in Junior Division 1 as they took the title finishing seven points clear of runners-up Ferndale Rodbourne. 

It was a tight affair in Junior Division 2 and in the end a points deduction suffered by Trax cost them the title as they finished a point below eventual champions Swindon Asians. Swindon Asians took the title with a draw in their final game against New College at Ballards Ash. At kick-off Trax lead the way at the top of the division on goal difference but Asians, needing just a single point to clinch the title, earned a 0-0 draw to take the title. Blunsdon Utd won the Fountain Trophies Junior KO Cup, defeating Ferndale Rodbourne 5-1 in the final.  

The end of season awards at the AGM saw Biddestone win the E C Mills Sportsmanship Award, W McLaughlin of Calne Town win the Club Secretary’s Award and Perry Boyles was presented with the Referees’ Appreciation Award. At the same meeting, D J Smith retired from the Management Committee, whilst Maureen Withers from Shrewton and referee, Paul Boyles from Swindon were elected to the Management Committee.  Treasurer, John Northover was also made a Life Member of the league.
Programme
Trowbridge Town v Cricklade Town
11-05-2004
Trowbridge Town have for many years produced an excellent programme thanks to editor Andy Meaden and his company A.M. Print & Copy.  This programme is for the final game of a very special season for the club which saw them take the Premier League title, win the Wiltshire Senior Cup (the last Wiltshire Senior League side to do so) and almost do the treble, losing narrowly in the final  of the Corsham Print Senior Cup.
Corsham Print Senior KO Cup - 2003-04

First Round
Devizes Town Res 1 Corsham Town Res 0
Melksham Town Res 3 Chiseldon Castrol 3 (4-5 on pens)
All other teams had byes

Second Round
Biddestone 3 Marlborough Town 0
Chiseldon Castrol 2 Warminster T 2 (7-8 pens)
Cricklade Town  3  Malmesbury Vics Res  2
Devizes Town Res 2 Aldbourne 1
Pewsey Vale Res  1  Bradford Town  2
Shrewton United Res  0  AFC Stratton  3 - awarded to Shrewton Utd Res
Trowbridge Town 1 Westbury United Res 0
Wroughton 1 Purton 2

Quarter Final
Bradford Town 2 Cricklade Town 0
Biddestone 4 Devizes Town Res 3
Trowbridge Town 3 Shrewton United Res 0
Warminster Town Res 0 Purton Res 3

Semi Final
Bradford Town 2 Biddestone 1
Trowbridge Town 3 Purton Res 2

Final
Bradford Town 2 Trowbridge Town 1

As reported by the Gazette and Herald. Bradford Town took the Corsham Print Senior Cup, beating Trowbridge Town 2-1. Trowbridge, who caused an upset in midweek by beating Screwfix Direct side Corsham Town in the Wiltshire Senior Cup final, fought hard in an attempt to complete a cup double but on the day their neighbours Bradford just had the edge. Trowbridge started well and central defender Mark Little was left unmarked to head in a corner after just seven minutes. Bradford, stung by the reverse, gradually began to get back in the game and top marksman Tom Pang scored an equaliser on the half hour. Pang struck again early in the second half when the ball was knocked out of defence and he volleyed it back into the top corner for what turned out to be the winning goal. Bradford missed a number of chances and almost paid the penalty in the last minute when a good header looked destined for the net but Bradford keeper Nick Quintin made a great save to tip over. Disappointed Trowbridge boss Neil Kirkpatrick said: "The lads have had a lot of football in recent weeks but I'm not making that an excuse. Bradford played well.

"We have now got to concentrate on winning the Premier Division.
"We have got a busy week ahead and we need four points from our remaining three games."
Fountain Trophies Junior KO Cup - 2003-04

First Round
Aldboune Res  bye
Biddestone Res  2  Bromham  0
Chiseldon Castrol Res   2   Minety  3
Down Ampney bye
Ferndale Rodbourne  10  Purton A  2
Green Baize  0   Cricklade Town Res  7
Lower Stratton  0  New College  4
Marlborough T Res  0  Calne Town Res  3
QT Swindon  0  Westside Res 3
SKS Blyskawica  1  AFC Stratton Res 6
Trax  1  Swindon Asians  2
Trowbridge Town Res bye
Wanborough United  v  Clarendon & Tidworth Garrison - awarded to Wanborough
West Swindon  1  Blunsdon United  1 (Blunsdon won 4-5 on pens)
Wootton Bassett United  v  Sherston - awarded to W.Bassett Utd
Wroughton Res  5  Pinehurst OB  2

Second Round
Aldbourne  Res  2  Wanborough United  5
Biddestone Res   1  New College  6
Down Ampney  0  Cricklade Town Res  3
Ferndale Rodb.  2  AFC Stratton Res  1
Minety  3  Blunsdon United  5
Swindon Asians  1  Calne Town Res  2 (aet)
Trowbridge Town Res  3  Wroughton Res  0 - awarded to Wroughton
Wootton Bassett United  2  Westside 3

Quarter Final
Calne Town Res  1  Ferndale Rodbourne  2
New College    2   Cricklade Town Res  0
Wanborough United v  Wroughton Res - awarded to Wanborough
Westside Res  0   Blunsdon United  5

Semi Final
Wanborough United   1  Blunsdon United  2
New College  1  Ferndale Rodbourne  1  (Ferndale Rodbourne won on pens)

Final
Blunsdon United   5  Ferndale Rodbourne  1

As reported by the Gazette and Herald
Blunsdon United's joint managers Mark Lowrie and Mark Gunter were delighted after their side lifted the Fountain Trophies Junior Cup, beating Ferndale Rodbourne 5-1 in the final at Corsham Town.

"It was a brilliant win," said Gunter. "All the players were excellent and all deserved to be awarded the man of the match.
"I've been told it is the first time Blunsdon has won a cup for 40 or 50 years so if that is true it was an extra special victory.
"We took over the side at the beginning of the season and things have gone pretty well for us.
"This win just capped the season for us all."

Danny Ward emerged one of the heroes with a hat-trick. Ian Bell started the ball rolling by scoring with a neat header after just five minutes, with Ward outstripping the Ferndale defence to add a second 10 minutes later. Ferndale then pulled a goal back when a long throw was flicked on for Richard Saxby to score at the far post. Midway through the half Ward was again on target with a 25 yarder into the top corner and minutes later Danny Pearson crossed for Craig Green to add a fourth. Disaster struck for Ferndale when top marksman Terry Bown was sent off. After the break United sat back on their lead before Ward lobbed the Ferndale keeper to chalk up his treble.
Wiltshire Senior Cup - 2003-04
Teams from other leagues shown in italics
First Round
AFC Stratton bye
Aldbourne bye
Bemerton Heath Harlequins bye
Bradford Town bye
Calne Town bye
Chiseldon Castrol 1 W. Bassett Town 2
Corsham Town bye
Devizes Town 3 Marlborough Town 0
Downton 1 Purton 0
Malmesbury Victoria bye
Melksham Town 0 Highworth Town 1 (aet)
Pewsey Vale 3 Cricklade Town 2
Shrewton United bye
Trowbridge Town 3 Biddestone 0
Warminster Town 0 Amesbury 3
Westbury United 6 Wroughton 0

Second Round
AFC Stratton 4 Bradford Town 5
Amesbury 2 Westbury United 3
Calne Town 5 Highworth Town 3
Corsham Town 8 Aldbourne 0
Devizes Town 1 Trowbridge Town 2
Downton  0  Bemerton Heath Harlequins  4
Malmesbury Victoria 2 Shrewton United 6
Pewsey Vale 4 Wootton Bassett Town 1

Quarter Final
Corsham Town 2 Calne Town 1
Pewsey Vale 1 Bemerton Heath Harls 0
Trowbridge Town 2 Bradford Town 0
Westbury United 1 Shrewton United 4

Semi Final
Corsham Town 3 Shrewton United 1
Trowbridge Town 4 Pewsey Vale 2

Final
Trowbridge Town 2 Corsham Town 2 (5-4 on pens) (at Chippenham Town)

As reported by the Gazette & Herald - TrowbridgeTown goalkeeper Adam Sheppard was the unlikely hero as his side upset Screwfix League Corsham in the Wiltshire Senior Cup final. Sheppard saved one penalty and scored another as Trowbridge won 5-4 on penalties after a 2-2 draw at Chippenham's Hardenhuish Park. Ritchie Trott headed Trowbridge into a first-half lead but Daniel Barnes put through his own net to restore parity. Gordon Saunderson's diving header with 10 minutes to go looked like being enough for the Wiltshire League underdogs but Alan Griffin pounced at the death to send the match into extra-time. Trowbridge were not to be denied though and, after a goalless additional half an hour, Sheppard claimed glory in the shootout. The shot-stopper kept out Scott Lye's effort and then scored the decisive fifth penalty to win the trophy for Neil Kirkpatrick's side.
Secretary of the Year Award 2003-04

Top 6
1. W. McLaughlin (Calne Town)  181 points
2. C. Lewis (Bradford Town)  179 points
3. G. Akers (Warminster Town) 174 points
3. D. Cripps (Marlborough Town)  174 points
5. D. Ram (Swindon Asians)  171 points
6. M. Taylor (Westbury United)  167 points

EC Mills Sportsmanship Award 2003-04 

Top 6
1. Biddestone  652 points
2. West Swindon  646 points
3. Westside  641 points
3. Corsham Town 638 points
5. Chiseldon Castrol Res 634 points
5. Cricklade Town Res  634 points
5. MarlboroughTown  634 points
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