As mentioned at the AGM last month, we have 21 teams entered for next season in our Veterans’ category. A meeting will take place this coming Thursday for all Veterans’ teams, the purpose of the meeting is to discuss and agree how the teams would like us to set up the Divisions in Season 2021-22. Details for joining the meeting have been sent to club secretaries and team managers.
Terry McCosh, the Vets teams’ representative has kindly circulated a survey via e-mail, which several of the Veterans’ sides have responded to. The two favoured options appear to be:
1. Create three Divisions of seven, with the top 3 or 4 forming a Veterans Premier Division with the remainder of teams in two regionalised Divisions. The advantages of a Premier Division would provide increased competition for the “more competitive” teams. It would prevent the “less competitive” teams suffering heavy defeats and maintain interest. A disadvantage would mean some increased travelling and less league fixtures, but we could overcome this by teams playing each other 3 or 4 times. Future seasons would include promotion to / relegation from the Premier Division. Having less league fixtures could also allow us to introduce a League Cup competition.
2. Maintain the current format of two Divisions with 10 or 11 teams in each. This would keep all fixtures relatively local and provide 18 - 20 league fixtures. This may also allow us to introduce a League Cup competition.
We are also open to any other suggestions and will go with what the majority of teams prefer on Thursday.
With some teams in the mid / south of the county using their own pitches and a couple more having found alternative 3G pitches, the pressure on the pitches at Green Lane, Devizes should be less next season. For the North Division, we still only have the one slot at New College, Swindon though we are currently in discussion with Royal Wootton Bassett to secure another slot there. Until we can confirm another venue, it may mean that some teams in the North Division have to play some home games at Devizes. However, we will try to make these as few as possible and share them around as much as we can.
Please would all our Veterans’ teams discuss the preferred format for the divisions for next season within their clubs and come to the meeting on Thursday with their preferences. Hopefully, it will then be a fairly quick meeting.
The latest position with just five games to go across the two divisions in the 2020-21 Season is shown below:
Next Week's Fixtures
Mid Wiltshire Division
Monday 19th July 2021
FC Calne v St Andrews
Tuesday 20th July 2021
Marlborough Town v Corsham Town
North Wiltshire Division
Tuesday 20th July 2021
AFC Swindon v Redhouse
18 July 2021