This is the 29th season of the League and my third Annual Report as Hon General Secretary.

I would firstly like to extend the League’s sincere thanks to our sponsors:

• Chris Plaister of Plaister Auto Services, who are the main sponsors of the League.
• Chris Perry and Dave Kilmurray of Corsham Print who again sponsored the Senior KO Cup.
• Paul and Denise Sebastianelli of Fountain Trophies, who continued their long-standing sponsorship of the Junior KO Cup.
• Ken Clarke of Westernsport Trophies who has again donated the individual trophy for the Referees Appreciation Award.

On 15th January, we were saddened to hear of the sudden death of Mike Taylor, Club Secretary of Westbury Utd FC.  Mike had been Secretary of Westbury Utd for a number of years; was a very efficient Club Secretary and helped the League on several occasions when we played Representative XI matches.  He is greatly missed by both the Club and the League.  Two days after hearing the sad news about Mike, we were informed that Steve Walker, Chairman of Calne Town FC, had also passed away.  Steve was another man who did a lot for local football and will also be greatly missed.

You will read from Agenda Item 7 (election of League Officers, Management Committee) that Dennis Kilford is standing down as League Chairman at the Annual General Meeting.  Dennis has been with the League since its formation in 1976.  He was elected Vice-Chairman in 1983 and became Chairman in 1991 following the death of the inaugural Chairman, J R Nunn.  Dennis has been a great assistance to me since I joined the League and we are out watching games most Saturdays.  Thankfully, Dennis is not leaving the League as he is to be elected to the position of League President and I hope that he will stay as involved with League matters as he was as Chairman.  Bill Shail is to become the new Chairman of the League with Stuart Withers from Shrewton being elected to replace him as Vice-Chairman.

A further change in the League Officers sees Pete Cox from Melksham taking over the post of Hon Referees’ Appointments Secretary from Brian Busson.  Unfortunately, Brian had to resign his position due to work commitments, but will remain on the Management Committee.  Brian has held this post for some nine years and the percentage of games covered by Match Officials is as high now as it’s ever been.

Two new members join the Management Committee: Malcolm Baldwin from Bromham and Adrian Cripps from Marlborough.  Many of you will know Malcolm from his days as Discipline Secretary for the Wiltshire FA and brings with him a lot of experience.  Adrian is a Level 5 Referee and many of you will have had him officiate your fixtures.  We also welcome them and wish them a long and happy association with the League.

The Football Association’s restructure of non-League football is ongoing and, over the past season, we’ve attended meetings with the Football Association and other Step 7 Leagues.  Various items are under discussion and we will report these to you once there are some definite proposals.  The Football Association are aiming to standardise facilities for Step 7 Clubs and a Ground Grading document is nearing agreement.  There are currently 43 Leagues at Step 7 and it is planned that this is reduced to 36 with the remainder (those with standards which are lower than the majority) being set at Step 8.  It is our intention that our Division 1 can be set at Step 8, which (depending on ground standards) will allow promotion and relegation between the Premier and Division 1.  Above our League there are currently 12 Leagues at Step 6.  This should become 14 Leagues next season, with the long-term intention of there being 18 Leagues at Step 6.

A very important matter occurred during the past season and that was the decision of The Football Association that this League will retain its Supply League Recognition for season 2006/07.  A lot of work was done by the County FA on our behalf to ensure that we retained this status, for which we are extremely grateful.  Several Leagues did lose their Supply League Recognition.  This status is very important for Referees in the County.  There are conditions attached to the retention and we will be working with the County FA to ensure that we retain this status.

During the season we had to update our 3-year Development Plan for submission to The Football Association.  With assistance from the League Officers and Management Committee, the Plan was completed and duly submitted.  The Plan was approved and we subsequently received a grant of £3,750 towards the running of the League.  This Development Plan is to be an ongoing exercise and we are already updating it to include for the 2008/09 season.

The League again entered the FA National League System Cup, which is a bi-annual competition.  We were drawn against the Somerset County League in Round 1, which was played at Paulton Rovers FC.  Unfortunately, we were let down by some last-minute withdrawals of players and, with just the bare eleven, lost 1-4.  Prior to that tie, we played a game against the Dorset Premier League and, with a 3-2 win, won the Ramsbury Building Society Trophy.  Thanks go to Dave Hawkins and Pete Levitt of Down Ampney, who managed the side, to Clubs who nominated players and also to Westbury United for the use of their ground for the Dorset match.

Last season I reported that the League had just published our own web site.  This has been further developed during the season and is regularly updated.  I know that Clubs, players and the media regularly visit the web site as I soon get reminders if I am ever late in updating the results ….. even some from Belgium and Holland!

As we reach the end of another season I reflect, not only on this season, but also on the previous sixteen, because that is how long I have been your Chairman, taking over following the death of our past Chairman, Dick Nunn.  It is however, my intention to stand down at the Annual General Meeting, so this will be my last Annual Report as Chairman.  It is said that time flies when you are enjoying yourself; it has certainly gone quickly and I have enjoyed it very much.

I should sincerely like to thank the League Officers and Management Committee for their support and assistance during my time as Chairman; particularly to the late Pete Ackrill, the past Secretary and to the present Secretary, Jim Thorn.  I should also like to thank all the Clubs for their support over the years.

We have seen a number of changes over the years and I believe there are more to come in the future.  One of the major changes has been being accepted into the National League System as a Step 7 League.  Also, retaining our Supply League Status for Referees from The Football Association, which is essential if we are to maintain our status as a Step 7 League.  I feel that the League is in a position now, where it can go from strength to strength with the support of the Clubs.

As I leave the care of the League in the hands of my successor, Bill Shail, I wish him well and continued success for the League.

Before closing my report, I should like to congratulate all the Divisional winners this season, also the finalists of the Senior and Junior KO Cup Competitions with a special mention to Wroughton FC and Chiseldon Castrol FC, who both reached the final of the Wiltshire County FA Junior Cup.  My thanks again to our sponsors for their continued support, which is greatly appreciated.  Finally, to you the Clubs, for your continued co-operation during the season.

D C Kilford

Chairman

This is the 22nd time I have given my report as Treasurer of the League and am pleased to say that a surplus has been shown in excess of £5,000.  This is about £1,800 less than last year, which is mainly because income from fines is down by £1,348 and income from Clubs’ Annual Fees is down by £440.

The League is indebted to our main sponsor, Plaister Auto Services for their continued support; to Corsham Print and Fountain Trophies for their continued sponsorship of the KO Cup Competitions and also to Westernsport Trophies for their sponsorship of the Referees’ Award.

Although the surplus this year is an appreciable one, it must be borne in mind that we received a grant of £3,750 from The Football Association towards our administration costs and also to assist in purchasing new equipment for League Officers, plus about £1,000 from our main sponsor.  The trophies for the KO Cup Competitions are also paid for by sponsorship.  Without these sources of income, the League would make a loss and Clubs should realise that FA grants are reviewable annually, as are sponsorship deals.  The Management Committee endeavour to keep a keen eye on general running costs.

The assets of the League now stand at over £33,000 and have increased substantially since I became Treasurer, 22 years ago.

I thank all League Officers and Clubs for their help and assistance over the past season.

J S Northover

Hon. Treasurer

Points relevant to pre-season: it is generally accepted that the few days preceding the start of the new season are somewhat ‘manic’ to say the least.  However, thanks to the majority of Clubs, in particular the Senior Clubs, my task is helped considerably by the very good state of submitted registration forms, ie: bottom of slips filled in and return envelopes provided.  My grateful thanks to those of you in this category.  Also, you take the trouble to read the League Handbook, which answers most if not all FAQ’s.

To follow, I am afraid I have a few “grumbles”.  Those few Junior Clubs (six in all this time around) who steadfastly decline to provide return envelopes, usually kick off the season without knowing if all or any of their players are properly registered, because I cannot return every single form before the deadline due to extreme pressure of work in a very short timescale. You are not helping yourselves or me.  A stamped, addressed envelope helps me give you a better service!  Also, certain Junior Clubs have an annual habit of sending me Wiltshire FA Junior Cup Result Sheets - they go to the Wiltshire FA Competitions Secretary.

Will club secretaries please ensure that sufficient postage is prepaid when submitting several forms, ie: pre-season.  Postage rates have recently increased.

Clubs are also reminded of the need to submit a Result sheet for your last game of each season just as throughout the season ….. to include Cup Finals where applicable.

There is no need to telephone me to ask whether I have received forms, if you have hand-posted them through my door!  There is also no need to physically hand me forms.  Please do not ring the door bell unless you have a genuine enquiry.

Due, in part, to some of the above, I have found that this season has been very difficult at times and, following on from last season’s problems with a minority of Clubs, has made this job much more demanding than it should be.  I live in hope that those of you who fall into some of the above “grumbles” will help me by addressing those points next season.  However, of course, the vast majority of you are helpfully co-operative.

There were 59 transfers during the season, 2 less than last season and 1754 registrations, a decrease of 126 on last season.

Finally, and on a lighter note, Purton FC, in a somewhat difficult season for them, appear to have created a new League record by registering in excess of 100 players! 

Have a good summer break.

Rod Wirdnam

Hon. Registration Secretary

The end to another season is upon us and for me, my last season.  I have decided to step down, mainly because of work commitments.  I have enjoyed my nine years as an Officer on the League.     

Firstly, I would like to take this opportunity to give a very big thank you to all the Referees that officiate on our League, for all of their hard work during the season, especially during the period with all the evening games.  I would also like to thank all the Club Secretaries for their assistance during the season.  I would also like to say a big thank you to Ian Whitehouse for all the work he has been doing on Referee allocation during the last two years.

The League has kept its Supply League Status for next season although there will have to be some changes to both the Referees appointing and assessments. 

This season has been the second year of a new system of appointing Referees.  Again, it has proved to be a great success.  The only games that did not have a Referee were either due to an error by myself or the Referee going to the wrong ground.  So we need to improve on communication to stop this happening.

During the early part of the season, Ian Whitehouse introduced a new web site: 

(http//uk.geocities.com-wiltsref1-fixtures.doc), which gives you all the latest Referee appointments and changes.

This season has been the smoothest I can remember.  We only had one bad Saturday where we lost most games, so the run in to the end of the season has been quite easy.

This years Referees Appreciation Award goes to Maurice Chilcott, a Level 5, Senior County Referee from Melksham.  Several of you will have had Maurice officiate one of your games as he has given many years of loyal service to this League and the award is richly deserved.

Lastly I would like to say a big thank you to everybody who has supported and helped me during my spell in office.

B L Busson

Hon Referees’ Appointments Secretary

This was the first season that we had a dedicated Discipline Secretary in place.  As a result, fines were sent out promptly after meetings and Clubs who failed to pay on time were promptly chased and, in some cases, suspended from the League until fines had been paid.

As mentioned previously in the Hon Treasurer’s report, income from disciplinary matters is down by £1,348 in the past season.  However, the Discipline Sub-Committee did deal with 315 cases last season.  This is a drop of 65 on the previous season, which is encouraging.

The table below highlights the most common offences:

Ineligible players 37 cases This could be easily remedied by checking with the Hon Registration Secretary.

Late Result Sheets 74 cases Please try and post the Result Sheet immediately after the match.

Incorrect Result Sheets 18 cases If you are in any doubt as to how to complete a Result Sheet, please check with the Hon Registration Secretary.

Failure to notify and/or confirm a postponement 19 cases We’re sure you tell your players if a game is off - try and remember to tell the League as well.

Failure to pay fines 23 cases If you don’t pay fines within 14 days, you are fined again.

Failure to phone in results 66 cases Clubs have two hours to phone in results … and most people have mobiles nowadays.

This season saw 128 fixtures postponed for various reasons, a decrease of 59 on last season, which is encouraging.  The decision of the Discipline Sub-Committee, to deduct a point from Clubs found guilty of postponing games without a satisfactory explanation appears to have had an ongoing positive effect.  Postponements cause a vast amount of additional work for both the Hon Fixture Secretary and for the Hon Referees’ Appointments Secretary.  The Discipline Sub-Committee will review this policy again next season.

There were 66 cases of Clubs failing to telephone in their results, a decrease of 22 on last season, which is also encouraging.  The increased level of fines for this offence may be a contributory factor, but hopefully it is a sign of Clubs becoming more efficient.  This non-phoning of results does cause a lot of additional work in having to phone round and chase results as reports have to be submitted to the local press quite promptly.  Several other Leagues at our level have their results published in the Sunday papers.  In order to achieve this, Clubs in those Leagues have to phone in their results within 30 minutes of games completing.  This is something we are going to look at introducing for season 2007/08.

The Premier Division title race was one of the closest for many years.  The title finally went to Corsham Town for the second successive season.  Runners-Up position wasn’t decided until the final day of the season, when Westside won to edge out Warminster Town.

Wroughton led Junior Division 1 from a very early stage and were the first winners of any silverware, losing only one game during the season.  Pinehurst OB won their final fixture to pip Stratton Rovers for the Runners-Up position.

Chiseldon Castrol caught up a backlog of fixtures and also achieved the remarkable feat of remaining unbeaten throughout the season in winning the Division 2 title.  Long time leaders, AFC Rodbourne were Runners-Up.

Corsham Town clinched a League and Cup double when they defeated Melksham Town 2-0 in the Final of the Corsham Print Senior KO Cup.  Wroughton also clinched a League and Cup double when they defeated Stratton Rover 3-1 in the Final of the Fountain Trophies Junior KO Cup.  Both Finals were played at Corsham Town and we thank them for their hospitality and use of their facilities.

Congratulations must go to Chiseldon Castrol and Wroughton, who both reached the Final of the Wiltshire FA County Junior Cup, which Wroughton won 3-1.  This was the first time since 2001 that this League has had two teams in the Final and the second successive season that a team from this League has won that Cup.

Congratulations must also be extended to Wroughton, who have regained their Senior Status and to Blueprint on achieving theirs.  They will both take their places in the Premier Division next season.

In closing, I must extend my thanks to the Chairman, fellow League Officers and Management Committee for all their help and assistance.

Jim Thorn

Hon General Secretary