This was the 35th season of the League and this is my 9th 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 sponsor the Senior KO Cup.
• Paul and Denise Sebastianelli of Fountain Trophies, who sponsor the Junior KO Cup.
• Ken Clarke of Westernsport Trophies who sponsors the Referees Appreciation Award.

For the past few seasons I have been reporting that The FA’s review and restructure of Step 7 was still on-going, but finally, back in June last year, they gave their report.  Amazingly, of the 43 Leagues playing at Step 7, only two met the required standards.  A further 16 Leagues were given provisional status (as they were only just short of the required standards) and the remainder, ourselves included, were suspended from Step 7 pending improvements. We were at a loss as to why this League failed to meet the required standards and, after several of e-mails, finally obtained a meeting with The FA at Wembley in September.  The reason given was the issue of Reserve teams and Club Constitutions. After collating the requested information, this was submitted to The FA in January and, despite constant chasing, we’re still awaiting a response though, at the time of writing, we understand it is to be discussed at a meeting of The FA Leagues Committee in May.  If I have any update, I’ll let you know at the AGM.  Unfortunately, The FA’s attention to correspondence is not of the same standard and efficiency as that of our County FA nor that expected from Leagues or Clubs and sadly, a lot of time is wasted chasing replies.  During the season, you may have read in the press that The FA have now commenced their review of Steps 5 and 6. Personally, I don’t know why this is being done after Step 7.  However, it may lead to a substantial reorganisation of Leagues at that level and hopefully, a return to Step 7 of the Clubs currently playing at Step 6 who don’t meet the standards required at that level.

In last season’s report, I mentioned that we’d signed up with the Wiltshire FA to work towards becoming a Charter Standard League.  During the season, you will have received several e-mails and phone calls from our Development Officer, Stef Kuczynski, chasing you to complete your Charter Standard Club applications.  On 5th April, I’m pleased to report that over 60% of Clubs achieved the award and we were duly awarded Charter Standard League status by The FA.  We’ve still got a few Clubs, mostly in Division 1, who have yet to submit their applications and I would remind them that they must achieve Charter Standard Club status this coming season if they wish to remain in this League the following season.  To those few outstanding Clubs, I would advise that to become Charter Standard, really isn’t that time consuming or difficult and I suspect that many of you are probably there without realising it.  If you have any doubts, please speak with either the Wiltshire FA Football Development Officer, or even one of the Clubs who have been awarded Charter Standard.  Amongst other benefits, being a Charter Standard League gives us access to grants from The FA, which should mean fewer increases in fees for Clubs.

There’s been no news from The FA in the past season regarding Supply League status.  This has meant that we’ve continued to operate our Premier Division with Level 5 Referees.  During the past season, not one Premier Division fixtures went short of an Assistant Referee, which is a testament to the hard work of Adie Cripps.  I am aware that a couple of our neighbouring Step 7 Leagues, who operate their fixtures with only one or two fixtures having Assistant Referees each week.  

Use of The FA Full-Time web site for players’ registrations, fixtures, Match Official appointments, results, tables, etc has continued to be successful.  Clubs can also use the site for player statistics, match reports, etc.  Some Clubs are already making full use of the facilities available but many are not.  If anyone requires a username and password to be set up as a Club Administrator to access the site, please contact me.  The FA offer training for anyone who requires it.  Again, please contact me if you require training.

The registration of players on the Full-Time web site has proved so successful that, next season, we will be dispensing with the Acknowledgement from the player’s Registration Form so, rather than waiting for the acknowledgement to be returned or phoning Rod Wirdnam, you can now simply look at the web site to see if a player is registered.  Rod only adds the player’s name and date of birth to Full-Time.  Club Administrators can then access the site and add further details if you so wish.

As I mentioned last year, the League web site www.wiltshirefootballleague.com continues, but mainly for reference and archive purposes.  Anyone who has accessed this recently will notice that it’s not been updated in recent weeks.  This is due to a problem with the web hosting company, who I am trying to change (without much success so far).  If there are any IT experts among you, I would be grateful for any assistance.

During the close season we again had to update our League Development Plan for submission to The FA and a further updated Plan and Report has to be submitted this year.  Last season’s Plan was completed, presented to The FA and duly approved.  We subsequently received grants from The FA for various initiatives.  One initiative was for further 1st Aid training for Clubs and, thanks to Stef Kuczynski, we duly delivered three such courses earlier in the season.

Our Representative XI didn’t play any games last season but, in the coming months, we have matches in the Western Counties Inter-League Competition against the Gloucestershire and Somerset Leagues.

I mentioned at last year’s AGM that we had ordered 400 Mitre footballs.  Unfortunately, delivery was delayed until almost the start of the season, but most Clubs purchased 10 balls each for £100, which I believe is good value.  The League funded the balance as can be seen in the Accounts and is the main reason for the League making a loss last season.

Another successful season is over and for once the weather was relatively kind to us causing no major disruption to our fixtures.

Thanks go yet again to all our sponsors.  Their support is very much appreciated.  Many thanks also go to our League Officers and Management Committee for the time and energy they devote to this League.  I would especially mention two people who have performed above and beyond the call of duty, they are League Secretary, Jim Thorn who once again has done many hours of work in an exemplary manner and Stef Kuczynski, whose efforts on the Charter Standard programme were well rewarded when this League was awarded Charter Standard Status by the Football Association.

May I also mention our Treasurer, John Northover who is retiring from this position after many years of keeping this League on a sound financial footing.  Thank you John for your total dedication to this League.

My congratulations go to all Clubs that achieved success in both the League and Cup competitions, also thanks to our Club Secretaries who for the main part have carried out their duties very efficiently and contributed in no small part to the well running of the League.

I wish you all a happy and healthy close season and look forward to starting again in August.

Bill Shail

Chairman

This is my 28th and last report I shall give on the financial state of the League.  I am sorry to report a loss of £1,865 which is the first deficit for a considerable number of years.  I cannot recall more than two annual losses during my period of office and it is disappointing to hand over to my successor with this outcome.

However, the assets of the League are now £45,160.70p and, from memory, they were just over £1,000 when I started in 1984.

Last year, income dropped considerably, excluding receipts from the sale of footballs, by approximately £2,800.  Income from fines was £2,861 against £4,075 the previous year, but still £200 more than in 2009/10.  Annual Subscriptions were down by £350 and Registrations by £149 although income from Transfers rose by £100.  Income from Entry Fees dropped by £300 and FA Grants dropped £1,500.

Expenditure increased by £3,274, mainly due to the purchase of footballs for Clubs.  The total purchase price of 400 footballs was £5,205, which works out at £13.02p each and were in turn sold to Clubs at £100 for 10 footballs, making a considerable saving for Clubs.  Of this cost, £3,208 is shown in the accounts and the unsold balance is shown as an asset of £2,000.  There are still some 200 footballs held in stock by the League, which can be purchased on the same terms and I would advise Clubs to make an early application for this very good offer.

The League also spent £405 staging First Aid courses for the benefit of Clubs who were pursuing Charter Standard.  A further £285 was spent on three new Runners-Up shields.

Unlike when I was elected Hon Treasurer, the League now depends hugely on sponsorship and FA Grants to remain viable.  This year’s loss shows that we must always be prudent in our financial activities.

I have enjoyed being actively engaged as Hon Treasurer of the League for 28 years, have made many friends and wish my successor well for the future.  I am confident you will give him your full support.  As a Life Member, I shall continue to attend Management Committee meetings and maintain my interest in t5he League.

Thank you all for your support over so many years

J S Northover

Hon Treasurer

Although the number of player registrations was comparatively low, the task of entering them on to the Full-Time web site is still rather a slow process and takes up an incredible amount of time, particularly during the obviously very busy pre-season.  We have asked The FA to try to speed up this laborious process, but so far they have failed to do so.  Without wishing to bore you with detail, the system involves far too much duplication.

With regard to the manual registration system I also employ, we are proposing for next season that Clubs no longer have to fill in the bottom tear-off slip from the form.  This now appears to be unnecessary as most clubs do not seem to require the slips to be returned, preferring instead to check the web site to ascertain that their players are registered.  This will also save time for me by my not therefore having to sign / date each slip which is unwanted anyway.

Total player registrations for the season were 1,385 and transfers 46.

Enjoy your summer break.

Rod Wirdnam

Hon Registration Secretary

All games were covered with the correct amount of Match Officials during the season, with the exception of just two games where unfortunately, I was let down by the Match Officials appointed. Generally, I was in a position this year where I was lucky enough to have spare Match Officials most weekends.  I believe that this League is a good stepping stone for Match Officials who want to climb the Refereeing ladder.  The standard of the football is good and can be challenging at times, the League is run well and, with the respect programme in place with the Respect fair play handshake being implemented on our Premier Division, I believe this can only speak volumes for this League and this is why Match Officials and Clubs want to be part of our League.  Becoming a Charter Standard League and winning the FA Bronze Respect Award shows this League is really going in the right direction.  Keep up the good work everyone!

Enjoy your summer break and I look forward working with you during the new season.

Adie Cripps

Hon Referees’ Appointments Secretary

The Discipline Sub-Committee dealt with 176 cases last season, a decrease of 64 on the previous season, which is reflected in the Hon Treasurer’s Statement of Accounts, which shows that income from disciplinary matters down £1,200 on last season.

One of the biggest problems in the past season involved Clubs fielding ineligible players, although it is now very easy for Clubs to check a player’s eligibility.  The majority of players are also registered for Clubs in other Leagues.  Unfortunately, some players are either forgetful or dishonest and, if they pick up suspensions whilst playing for other Clubs, they may not tell you.  Access to the County FA web site is available to all Clubs whereat you can see lists of players under suspension.  This also applies when you register a new player ….. when you send in a Registration Form, Rod Wirdnam will register that player for your Club (provided he’s not registered for another Club in this League) and add his details to our web site.  It is not Rod’s responsibility to inform Clubs if a player is suspended, so please check the County FA web site at least weekly.

There is still an on-going problem with late payment of fees / fines and Clubs do incur additional charges for late payment.  Towards the end of last season, we experimented by sending out all fines by e-mail, which proved successful and we will continue with the practise.  This will have the ongoing effect of reducing expenditure on postage and should eradicate the “lost in the post” excuse.  From next season, Clubs will be able to pay all fees and fines by Bank Credit Transfer, so there should be no excuse for late payment.

The table below highlights the most common offences:

Ineligible players 26 cases

(21 cases in 10/11) As stated above, this can be easily remedied by checking the web site.

Late Result Sheets 44 cases

(57 cases in 10/11) Please try and post the Result Sheet immediately after the match.

Incorrect Result Sheets 14 cases

(16 cases in 10/11) 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 21 cases

(64 cases in 10/11) We’re sure you tell your players if a game is off, so try and remember to tell the League as well.  Phone in first then confirm the reason in writing on the form provided.

Failure to fulfil fixture 23 cases

(34 cases in 10/11) 

As you can see from the table above, the number of discipline cases is generally decreasing.  We believe that the increased use of the internet / mobile phones is a major contributory factor

This season saw 88 fixtures postponed for various reasons, a decrease of 61 on last season, though we did have fewer Clubs in membership.  The policy of deducting a point from Clubs found guilty of postponing games without a satisfactory explanation continues to have 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.

There were just 18 cases of Clubs failing or being late in telephoning / texting their results (mostly for County Cup ties) ….. this figure was 85 just three seasons ago!

The Premier Division title was won by FC Sanford, who were in the top three almost all season and followed up their Division 1 title last season.  They finished just ahead of AFC Bradford Town, who fought off a late challenge from FC Chippenham Youth, who recovered strongly after a poor start.

Box Rovers won Division 1 without dropping a point, a feat that’s not been done before in this League, so many congratulations to them.  Old Town Wanderers took Runners-Up spot just ahead of Madames.

Southbrook belied their League position and scored a last minute goal to defeat AFC Bradford Town 3-2 in the final of the Corsham Print Senior KO Cup.  The top two in Division 1 contested the Fountain Trophies Junior KO Cup and Box Rovers continued their unbeaten run through the season with a 4-0 victory over Old Town Wanderers.  Both finals were again played at Corsham Town and we thank them for their hospitality and use of their facilities.

Congratulations must go to FC Sanford and Box Rovers for winning the Premier and Division 1 titles respectively.  Congratulations also Southbrook and Box Rovers for lifting the Senior and Junior KO Cups respectively.  Special mention must be made of Box Rovers who went through the League season without dropping a point and narrowly lost out at semi-final stage of the Wiltshire FA Junior Cup.  It was also pleasing to see five of our Clubs reach Round 2 of the Wiltshire FA Senior Cup, two of whom defeated Hellenic League opposition in Round 1.

You will see from the proposed Constitution that we’re proposing to operate two Divisions again next season.  We welcome back both Chiseldon and Trowbridge Town to the Premier Division and Wootton Bassett Town to Division 1.  It’s a shame that, due to facilities, Box Rovers are unable to test themselves against Premier Division opposition next season.  However, I am aware that they, along with two or three other Clubs, are actively looking at ground improvements in order to achieve promotion to Step 7.  I’m also aware that, in these tough economic times, several Clubs at Step 6 are considering a return to Step 7 in an effort to reduce costs.  This could be very good for both the League and for Clubs as they would reduce travelling costs, have more local derbies, bigger crowds, more takings over the bar, etc.

I must thank our President, Dennis Kilford and Chairman, Bill Shail with whom I work very closely and are both always there for help and assistance.  I also extend my thanks to my fellow League Officers and Management Committee for all their help and assistance over the past season.

I must also offer my congratulations to our Chairman, Bill Shail and John Gingell, Chairman of the Finance Committee, who have both completed 20 years service and become Life Members of the League.

I could not close this report without special mention of John Northover, who is standing down after serving 28 years as Hon Treasurer.  I have only worked with John for 9 of those 28 years, but have always found his dedication and attention to detail unfaltering ... there’s never a penny unaccounted for and I don’t believe that control of the League’s finances could have been in better hands.  I know that John was particularly disappointed that, for the first time in many years, the League made a loss this season, but this was due to circumstances beyond his control.  As a Life Member, John will continue to attend Management Committee meetings and I know he’ll keep us on our toes when it comes to matters of expenditure.

Best wishes to all Clubs for a good summer break and a successful season in 2012 - 2013.

Jim Thorn

Hon General Secretary