Penalty kick in the Premier Division meeting between Purton & Marlborough Town in Season 2021-22 with the teams set to meet in the new enlarged Division One this season
The new football season in the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League gets underway tomorrow and sees two enlarged divisions for Season 2023-24.
The Premier Division sees two additional teams as the division expands to 18 teams and a preview of the Division was published earlier in the week.
The decision at the start of last season to run a second division on a Saturday was being brought into question when two of the teams who had been asking for such a division decided to stay with their current league just prior to the to the AGM in 2022, leaving a proposed division of just seven teams. The decision was made to go ahead with the new division but to give the sides plenty of fixtures the decision was made that the teams would play each other four times. Part way through last season the division was reduced to just six teams, Kintbury Rangers Development being forced to withdraw when the loss of their first team manager and a subsequent exodus of players meant they were only able to field one side on a Saturday. At the end of the season three teams, Larkhall Athletic Development, Kingsdown and Ludgershall Sports were promoted to the Premier Division, the promotion of three teams having always been the intention from the outset. Credit to the six teams for sticking with it and seeing out the season. It was not ideal, but the league was vindicated with the decision by now having 15 teams set to participate in our Division One this coming season and a new Pyramid Agreement in place that now includes a Hellenic League Division 2 as well as the two District Leagues to facilitate promotion through the football pyramid for teams with ambition and the necessary facilities.
The expanded Division One sees no less than ten new clubs join the League, two sides, Marlborough Town and Stratton Juniors, were relegated from the Premier Division at the end of last season, with the three remaining sides from last season's Division One making up the balance of the 15 teams. Both Marlborough Town and Stratton Juniors will be looking to do what Ludgershall Sports did at the end of Season 2022-23 and win promotion back to the Premier Division at the first attempt. Kintbury Rangers Dev, who pulled out part way through last season, are one of the ten new teams elected to the League, the others being Bishops Cannings, Bratton, Cricklade Town, Faringdon Town, Kingsdown Dev, Lambourn Sports, Park United, Shrivenham Dev and Wroughton Dev.
After two very difficult seasons that has seen the club win just twice in 52 league games, things are finally looking up at the Red House where
Purton are under new management for Season 2023-24. Matt Bennett and Peter McGunigall are the new management duo looking to return Purton to their former glory. Bennett last season was back playing in the Hellenic League for Royal Wootton Bassett Town and despite his advancing years has not lost any of his pace or his proficiency in front of goal and will be player manager this coming season at Purton. They have been picking up some good results in pre-season and will start the season as one of the favourites to achieve promotion back to the Premier Division which would be just reward for the hard working individuals who have kept the club going in difficult times, including continuing to produce matchday programmes maintaining the tradition established by the late Alan Eastwood. Purton open their season with a home game against one of the new sides fancied to do well, Bratton.
Matty Bennett one half of the new management team at Purton for Season 2023-24
Marlborough Town were relegated on the last day of the season in May when Odd Down (Bath) Development defeated Wroughton by a solitary goal. However, towards the end of last season Marlborough were picking up some decent results, including a draw with title chasing Devizes Town. They appear to have retained much of last season’s squad and will no doubt be looking forward to a successful season compared to recent seasons and could well bounce back at the first attempt. They have a new man in the dugout with Andy Mullen, who had been joint manager at Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development a few seasons back, Andy takes over from Malcolm Ford. Marlborough Town open their season with a visit from Shrivenham Development.
Marlborough Town who will be looking to bounce back at the first attempt after last seasons relegation
Stratton Juniors will also be looking forward to having a much better season having also suffered the drop down to Division One. They also are under new management with Kieran Curtis taking over from Neil Lee. Stratton have retained the services of leading scorer Corey Cullen who found the back of the net on 20 occasions last season. The quick and lively Moses Naisarani, despite interest from some Premier Division sides, is also back on-board giving Stratton a strong attacking threat. Stratton Juniors open their season with a home fixture against Pewsey Vale Development.
Stratton Juniors leading scorer last season Corey Cullen who will be back at Merton Fields this season
Faringdon Town are one of the ambitious clubs who have joined the league with an eye on progress up the National League System with floodlights set to be installed at their Tucker Park Ground later in the season. Faringdon have moved across from the Hellenic League Division Two South, but no doubt will be hoping to progress back to the Hellenic League in future seasons. Last season they finished in third spot in the Hellenic Division Two South and are expected to be challenging at the top end of our Division One this coming season under manager Chris Homer. Faringdon get their inaugural season in the Wiltshire Senior League with a trip to Devizes Town Reserves.
On the subject of Devizes Town Reserves, the Nursteed Road side just missed out on promotion back to the Premier Division at the end of last season, which would have been possible with their first team returning to Step 6 after finishing runners-up in the Premier Division. Last season Devizes very much relied on the goals of Tyler Smith, but he has departed during the summer, joining Cricklade Town, and it will be interesting to see how they replace his goals. Devizes open their campaign with that visit from Faringdon Town.
Park United look to have assembled a very strong squad for the coming season and include a number of players who have previously been with Corsham Town. They have also signed Mark Robinson who last season was playing for Bradford Town in the Vets Division but the previous season had been part of the strong Trowbridge Town side who finished third that season in the Premier Division, scoring 21 goals in 28 appearances. Park United were in the Trowbridge & District League last season, finishing runners-up to FC Devizes United and also winning one of the league’s knockout cup competitions. They start their season at home against another new side to the league, Lambourn Sports.
Mark Robinson seen in action here for Trowbridge Town (picture courtesy of Gary Caldicott)
Lambourn Sports had sought to join the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League Premier Division a couple of seasons ago but when their management team departed to Shrivenham on the eve of the season they withdrew just prior to the start of the season. This time round it is hoped they will come to the tapes and ironically have the management team who left to join Shrivenham back in charge at the club. Dan Broadbank will be the man in the dugout for their first season in the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League. Last season Lambourn finished seventh in Division Two of the North Berks League, a division that had just nine teams.
One of the fancied teams are Bratton who will have a tough start to the season in that they will have to play all of their opening league games away from home with their pitch not being available until the 9th of September. Last season the majority of the side played under the name The Duke, finishing third in the Premier Division and making two of the Trowbridge & District League’s cup finals, although losing both. Pre-season has seen impressive performances against Premier Division sides, Bratton defeating Shrewton United, drawing with Ludgershall Sports and losing narrowly 1-0 to last season’s champions Trowbridge Town. Bratton open their season with what should be a fascinating game at the Red House when they take on Purton.
Cricklade Town return to the league after two seasons away playing first in the Hellenic League Division Two and then last season in the Premier Division of the Swindon & District League where they finished in 5th place in the table. New signing Tyler Smith from Devizes will be joined up top by Jason Tatum for what should be a strong strike force for Cricklade. Cricklade are the odd one out on the opening day and are without a game, they will get their season underway when they entertain near neighbours Purton in midweek.
Tyler Smith who has made the move from Devizes Town Res to Cricklade Town (picture courtesy of David Giles)
Bishops Cannings are the second side to move across from the Trowbridge & District League Division Two having finished in 10th spot last season. They will be strengthened this coming season by a number of players progressing from their successful Under 18 side and are expected to have a better season. Based at the Wiltshire FA headquarters at Devizes, Bishops Cannings will play their games on the 3G pitch at Green Lane and open their season with a home game against Kingsdown Development, another side who play on a 3G pitch.
The remaining five sides are all Development teams of clubs whose first team are in our Premier Division, Kingsdown Dev, Kintbury Rangers Dev, Pewsey Vale Dev, Shrivenham Dev and Wroughton Dev.
After having to pull out last season Kintbury Rangers Dev will be looking to last the distance this season and with a strong first team squad having been assembled by Danny Langford the Dev team are expected to be a lot stronger this coming season. Kintbury Rangers Dev open their season with a home game against a young Wroughton Development side who move across from the Hellenic League Division Two South.
Last season Pewsey Vale Development finished in fifth spot in a division of six teams but were a good 20 points clear of bottom side Purton. Results improved towards the back-end of the season and on their day they will be capable of beating many teams in the division. Pewsey start the season with that trip into Swindon to take on Stratton Juniors.
Kingsdown Development are a newly formed side and are expected to feature a number of players from last seasons Under 18 team. They open their campaign with that trip to Devizes to take on Bishops Cannings.
The final side are Shrivenham Development who are another side expected to focus heavily on young players. Last season they finished in fourth place in the Hellenic League Division Two South.
All in all, the new enlarged Division One is a hard division to predict but the League's Media Officer expects Purton, Faringdon Town, Bratton and Park United to be amongst the title challengers this coming season looking to earn a place in the Premier Division.
Last Season's Results & League Table
Opening Saturday Fixtures
10 August 2023
