This was the 36th season of the League and this is my 10th 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 David 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 we received their report last June.  Several months of correspondence and arguing our case ensued and we were finally awarded Step 7 Status towards the end of June last year along with 18 other Leagues.  15 Leagues were graded at Step 7A, 4 were graded at Step 7B and 12 did not meet the minimum standard and left The FA National League System.  For those of you running Clubs, the status of the League may appear to have little relevance.  However, if we had been graded at 7A instead of 7, the level of grant from The FA would have been at least £1,000 less.  We now await the outcome of The FA’s review of Steps 5 and 6 to see if that also leads 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 over 60% of our Clubs had achieved Charter Standard and that we’d been awarded Charter Standard League status by The FA.  There are still a few Clubs who have yet to submit their applications and I would urge them to do so.  To become a Charter Standard Club really isn’t that time consuming or difficult.  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.

For the second season in succession, we gained a Bronze Award from The FA for our work in support of their Respect Campaign.  They have again given us some match balls which, as last season, we will present to the highest marked Clubs in the EC Mills Sportsmanship Award scheme.

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 a Referee or an Assistant, which is testament to the hard work of Adie Cripps.  I am aware that a couple of neighbouring Step 7 Leagues, who operate their fixtures with only one or two games having Assistant Referees each week.  

Use of The FA Full-Time web site for players’ registrations, fixtures, Match Officials’ appointments, results, tables, etc has continued.  Clubs can also use the site for player statistics, match reports, etc and some Clubs already make  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 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 months.  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 to set up an U.21 Division, which received backing from The FA.  We’ve had excellent support from the Wiltshire FA for this initiative and quite a bit of interest from Youth / Minor Clubs.  At the time of writing, it looks like an U.21 Division should be up and running for the start of next season.  I believe such a Division will be vital for the future of the League.

Our Representative XI didn’t play any games last season but, we have again entered the FA Inter-League Cup and have received a bye in the Preliminary Round.

Another successful season is over and, although the rather wet weather caused some disruption, all the fixtures were completed on time.

Many thanks go yet again to all our sponsors.  Without their excellent support, the League would really struggle to function.  Thanks also go to our League Officers and Management Committee for the time and energy they devote to this League, especially our League Secretary, Jim Thorn, for all the work he has done for the League and always in a most exemplary manner.

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.

Enjoy your summer break and come back in August, refreshed and raring to go again.

Bill Shail

Chairman

This is my first Annual Report and I am pleased to advise that the League Accounts record a healthy profit of £3,091.09 as opposed to a loss last year of £1,865.12.

This is mainly due to FA Grants totalling £5,900; £1,500 of which was allocated to cover start-up expenses of the proposed Under 21 Division.   

Income has fallen by approximately £900 from the previous accounting year which is a direct correlation to the fall in income from fines which have reduced to £1,950 from £2,861.  I would be delighted to see fines reduced in coming years although of course it is valuable income to the League and thus a double-edged sword.  However Clubs could assist themselves by not incurring late payment fines unnecessarily. 

To assist Clubs in the payment of monies owed, the League has adopted the Faster Payment Service and whilst this has been embraced by some Clubs.  It would be nice to see more Clubs utilising this system as it reduces administration for both the League and Clubs.

Expenditure has seen a dramatic fall from £18,385 to £12,522.  I am unable to give a detailed explanation of this because I have also reduced the number of categories from 30 to 12 however the 2011/2012 Accounts included the cost of footballs at £3,208 which obviously has not been repeated this year.  In addition, Telephone and Computer Expenses reduced by approximately £500 and this year, I have not included an expenditure entry for Officials Expenses.  Rather, as in theory these should always balance out at nil, I have included a negative income entry of -£39.35 under income. 

The League is in an extremely healthy position with total assets of £48,291.79.  Given that I now operate the accounts through online banking I have opened an instant access deposit account.  Whilst the interest on this is negligible, I considered that the League held too much money on current account and I am able to transfer money between the accounts online. 

I would like to thank the Management Committee for their assistance especially the Registration Secretary and Disciplinary Secretary who assist on the financial side of things and the Sponsors for their continued financial support.

I can confirm that the accounts have been audited by our Auditor, Mr Peter Mundy.

R Cook

Hon Treasurer

A very disappointing season in many ways; the withdrawal of 4 teams prior to the season opening, followed by 3 others during the season, clearly resulted in a disruptive pattern for all concerned.

As a consequence, transfers were down from 46 to 32 and total registrations from 1,385 to 1,235, compared with last season.

I have decided, albeit reluctantly, that I will no longer be available to hand out transfer / registration forms at my home except in very special circumstances.  This is due to an increasing number of persons who phoned to say they were calling to collect forms and failing to do so.  This caused me considerable inconvenience by my staying in unnecessarily at that time.  If you require extra forms in future, please send me a SAE with your request and I will return them to you ASAP. 

Also, I have given up the unequal struggle with the increasing number of individuals who clearly do not understand the words CAPITAL LETTERS which appear at the top of the registration form.  Any forms incorrectly completed with regard to this from now on, will be rejected.  The player(s)  concerned will therefore NOT be registered until the form is corrected, returned to me and the player entered on the web site; he may therefore not be eligible for the next match. 

It is therefore in your interest to check that forms are properly and fully completed before submission.

Rod Wirdnam

Hon Registration Secretary

I am pleased to report that all games were covered with their quota of Match Officials during the past season.  I was in a great position to have plenty of Officials on the League looking for games, so I even had some spare most weeks.  I get new Officials joining quite often, so I believe this speaks volumes for the League.

Next season will be interesting, with more teams joining our Premier Division, so it should be in a healthy position next season.  A couple teams from Division 1 are looking to go up a division to test themselves against our already established teams in the Premier Division. The League is also looking to introduce the U.21's Division next season, which will be great for up and coming Referees to test themselves against a fast League. 

Enjoy the close season and I look forward to working with you again next season.

Best wishes.

Adie Cripps

Hon Referees’ Appointments Secretary

The Discipline Sub-Committee dealt with 126 cases last season, a decrease of 50 on the previous season, which is reflected in the Hon Treasurer’s Statement of Accounts, which shows that income from disciplinary matters is down by approximately £900 on last season.

The biggest problem in the past season involved Clubs failing to notify the League (Fixtures Secretary and Referees’ Appointments Secretary) that a game is postponed.  We’re sure you phone round and tell your players if a game is off, so please avoid fines by making those two extra calls to the League.  If we get sufficient notice, Phil Cook may be able to rearrange a game for your opponents or Adie Cripps may be able to send the Match Official(s) to a fixture that is short.

The number of offences involving ineligible players showed an amazing fall.  As a reminder, it is very easy for Clubs to check a player’s eligibility.  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 isn’t 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 many Clubs do incur additional charges for late payment.  Last season all fines were sent out by e-mail, which reduced League expenditure on postage and largely eradicated the “lost in the post” excuse, but some Clubs are failing to pay on time, which results in additional charges.

The table below highlights the most common offences:

Ineligible players 5 cases

(26 cases in 11/12) As stated above, this can be easily remedied by checking the web site.

Late Result Sheets 39 cases

(44 cases in 11/12) Please try and post the Result Sheet immediately after the match.

Failure to notify and/or confirm a postponement 51 cases

(21 cases in 11/12) 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 13 cases

(23 cases in 11/12) 

This season saw 149 fixtures postponed for various reasons, an increase of 61 on last season, even though we had fewer Clubs in membership.  The policy of deducting a point from Clubs found guilty of postponing games without a satisfactory explanation will continue.  Postponements cause a vast amount of additional work for both the Hon Fixture Secretary and for the Hon Referees’ Appointments Secretary.

The Premier Division title was won by Wilts Calne Town FC, who were at the top most of the season. They finished just ahead of Purton FC Res, who just fought off the challenge from Chippenham Park FC.

Madames FC led Division 1 from start to finish whilst Ashton Keynes FC put in a good second half to the season to finish in Runners-Up spot.  Wootton Bassett Town FC Development team pipped NALGO Wanderers FC for third place on goal difference.

The Corsham Print Senior KO Cup final echoed the League positions with Champions, Wilts Calne Town FC meeting Runners-Up, Purton FC Res.  The result was a similar echo with a victory for the Club from Calne, scoring the only goal of the game in extra time.  The third and fourth placed teams from Division 1 contested the Fountain Trophies Junior KO Cup final.  Runners-up last year, NALGO Wanderers FC went one better with a 2-0 victory over Wootton Bassett Town FC Development.  Both finals were again played at Corsham Town and we thank them for their hospitality and use of their facilities.

Congratulations must also be extended to both Madames FC and NALGO Wanderers FC on reaching the final of the Wiltshire FA County Junior Cup and for providing an exciting final.  Both teams led at points in the game and, after extra time, Madames FC triumphed 10-9 after a penalty shoot-out.  Mention must also be made of Ashton Keynes FC who reached the Semi-Final.

Congratulations must go to Wilts Calne Town FC for completing a League and Cup double and to Purton FC Res for their own double of Runners-Up in both competitions.  By finishing 3rd in the Premier Division, Chippenham Park FC qualified for promotion to Step 6 and we wish them well in the Western League next season.  Congratulations also to Madames FC on winning the Division 1 title and, having secured use of a ground which complies with the required Step 7 standard, they will play in the Premier Division next season.  Congratulations also to NALGO Wanderers on lifting the Junior KO Cup and to Wootton Bassett Town FC Dev on reaching the Final in their first season.

You will see from the proposed Constitution that we’re proposing to operate two Divisions again next season.  Most striking though is the reduction in numbers.  Division 1 looks like it may run with only 8 Clubs.  If so, we’ll arrange fixtures so that Clubs play each other 4 times.  I do believe that these tough economic times are the main reason for the fall in numbers.  For this reason and for this season only, the Management Committee has decided to reduce Annual League fees by £30 to assist Clubs with their running costs.  We’re also looking at further ways to assist Clubs.  As you may recall, we bulk-purchased footballs last season and we will be looking at other initiatives to help Clubs in the coming weeks.  If you have any suggestions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

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.

Best wishes to all Clubs for a good summer break and a successful season in 2013 - 2014.

Jim Thorn

Hon General Secretary