Following a meeting of the Management Committee tonight, we are now in a position to provide a further update on the restart of the Season 2020-21 competitions.

Premier Division Cup Competition

• The competition will be called the Fountain Trophies Senior Cup.

• The competition will commence on Saturday 10th April, allowing clubs a couple of weeks for training and possible friendlies.

• The format will initially involve a group stage with the two group winners then contesting a final, with the final being scheduled for Saturday 29th May (venue to be announced at a later date).

• 14 of the 16 Premier Division clubs have confirmed their participation in the competition, the two who have decided not to enter are Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development and Wroughton.

• The 14 teams will be split into two groups of 7, with teams playing each other once which will give each club at least 6 fixtures through April and May.

• To help clubs keep travel costs, time and distance to a minimum, the 14 teams have been split into two geographical groups ….. North and South. With the two sides not participating having been originally allocated to the North Group, Pewsey Vale have agreed to now move to the North grouping. The revised split is as follows:

The North Group will comprise:

Cricklade Town

Devizes Town Res

Malmesbury Victoria Dev

Marlborough Town

Pewsey Vale

Purton

Stratton Juniors

The South Group will comprise:

Corsham Town Res

Frome Collegians

Ludgershall Sports

Melksham Town Res

Odd Down Res

Shrewton Utd

Trowbridge Town

• 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. The eligibility rule is that all players who are currently registered for a club in the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League, can play in the cup competition, except that players who have played 3 games or more at a higher level (e.g. Hellenic League, Western League, Wessex League or higher) during Season 2020-21, are not eligible. Clubs are also free to register any new players up until 31st March, provided they have also not played 3 or more games at a higher level in Season 2020-21.

• Whilst the aim will be to have 3 home and 3 away fixtures, lack of ground availability may mean some teams play a different number of home and away games hence the cost of match officials is to be shared equally in all fixtures. 

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

• In affiliating the competition, at the request of the clubs, we will also amend the substitute rule allowing the use of 5 substitutes from a named 5. All other rules will be the same as the League Premier Division competition.

Vets Divisions

• Fixtures for March and April are now available on FA Full-Time, with the first fixtures set to commence on Monday 29th March.

U18 Division

• All the U18 teams have now confirmed they will be restarting the 2020-21 League season and the U18 Division will be played until completion.

• The U18 Division will restart week commencing 5th April. 

• Fixtures and Match Official appointments will be published on Full-Time in the coming days, once certain pitch availability issues have been confirmed.