Following a meeting of the Management Committee last night, it has been confirmed that the 2020-21 league season in the Premier Division of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League has been curtailed. This follows the outcome of our recent consultation exercise with our Premier Division clubs. However, the league competitions in both the Under 18 and Vets Divisions will be continued until conclusion, again based on feedback received from our clubs.

With outdoor football being allowed from 29th March, subject to receiving the updated guidelines from the FA for recommencement of grassroots football, for our Premier Division clubs we will commence a cup competition to provide them with some competitive football. The feedback from our Premier Division clubs in the recent consultation exercise had been that, whilst the league season should be curtailed, there was interest in some form of cup competition in the remaining months of the season should time allow and the playing of football be permitted. Playing in the proposed cup competition, however, is not mandatory and there will be no penalty for clubs not wishing to take part. 

The full details of what has been agreed and what is proposed for each of the three categories of divisions is set out below:

Premier Division

• The intention is to commence a cup competition on Saturday 10th April, which would allow clubs a couple of weeks for training and possible friendlies.

• The format will initially involve a group stage with the group winners then contesting a final.

• We will split the Premier Division into two groups of 8, with teams playing each other once which will give each club at least 7 fixtures through April and May, assuming all clubs participate. The top club of each of the two groups will then play in a Final on Saturday 29th May.

• To help clubs keep travel costs, time and distance to a minimum, the proposal is to split the Premier Division into two geographical groups ….. North and South.

The North Division will comprise:

Cricklade Town

Devizes Town Res

Malmesbury Victoria Dev

Marlborough Town

Purton

Royal Wootton Bassett Town Dev

Stratton Juniors

Wroughton

The South Division will comprise:

Corsham Town Res

Frome Collegians

Ludgershall Sports

Melksham Town Res

Odd Down Res

Pewsey Vale

Shrewton Utd

Trowbridge Town

• As noted above, playing in this competition is not mandatory and there will be no penalty for clubs not wishing to take part. We have sought specific confirmation from all clubs as to their participation in the competition and the two groups will be finalised once confirmation of participation is received from all the clubs.

• We are aware that some leagues above us have ceased their fixtures and we would like to avoid players stepping down a few levels and distorting the competition for our clubs. For this reason, player qualification criteria will be applied.

• With teams playing each other just once we are aware that some teams will have 4 home games and only 3 away. Therefore, the cost of match officials is to be shared equally in all fixtures. 

• A couple of clubs have already advised that their grounds are being taken out of use for pitch maintenance work. The Fixture Secretary will arrange fixtures taking account of this information. If there are any clubs who have not yet advised the league of such work please could they do so when confirming their participation in the competition.

• Fixtures and match official appointments will be published on Full-Time in the coming days.

• All other rules will be the same as the League Premier Division Competition.

Vets Divisions

• New College and Green Lane, Devizes have both confirmed that they will be reopening their facilities on 29th March.

• All the Vets teams have confirmed a willingness to complete the season and the competition is not bound by any season ending constraints.

• The Vets Divisions will restart week commencing 29th March and will continue through to completion. It is going to be tight to complete all fixtures by the end of May date that we had originally scheduled but, as the 3G pitches are open all year round, we can continue for as long as it takes. A couple of clubs have advised that they would prefer a few extra days for training, so we will only arrange fixtures on the 29th and 30th of March for those clubs who have expressed a wish to start straight away.

• As with the Premier Division, a couple of clubs in the Mid Wilts Division who currently use their own pitch for matches have advised that their grounds are being taken out of use for pitch maintenance work. The Fixture Secretary will arrange matches accordingly, making use of the facilities at Green Lane where needed.

• Fixtures and match official appointments will be published on Full-Time in the coming days.

U18 Division

• All the U18 teams have confirmed a desire to complete the season and the competition and the U18 Division will be played until completion. (Update: Chippenham Town are now also taking part).

• The U18 Division will restart week commencing 5th April and will continue through to completion. As most teams play on a Thursday, this should hopefully allow clubs sufficient time for training and maybe a friendly before Thursday 8th April. It’s going to be tight to complete all fixtures by the end of May, but we can extend into June if necessary. 

• As with the other two Divisions, clubs scheduled to undertake pitch maintenance work should make sure that the Fixture Secretary is fully aware of such work so that he can schedule fixtures taking into account any restrictions on pitch availability.

• Fixtures and Match Official appointments will be published on Full-Time in the coming days.