The two Veterans’ Divisions got underway this week with nine games in total played across the two divisions.

There was an early surprise result in the Mid Wiltshire Division on Monday night where last season’s champions Bradford Town were beaten 1-0 at home by Chippenham Town, Martin Riddell with the solitary strike in the first half. This was the first time in eight meetings between the sides that Chippenham had come out on top, Bradford Town having won seven of those previous eight encounters.

Whilst the reigning champions were having an off night on Monday last season’s runners-up Melksham Town were getting their campaign off to a winning start with a comfortable 7-0 home win over Amesbury Junior Badgers. Kris Beasley helped himself to two goals with further strikes from Rob Cousins, Ollie Gee, Tom Stadden, Kai Miller and Nick Rideout.

There was one further game on Monday night in the Mid Wiltshire Division and it involved one of the two new sides to the division, Durrington who entertained Trowbridge Town Tigers at Bulford. It was a winning start for the new Vets’ side, two goals from Leon Collins plus one from Craig Lewis securing a 3-1 win for Durrington, Jay Brown replying for the Tigers.

The final game of the week in the Mid Wiltshire Division saw Westbury United entertain Calne Town at Green Lane. Westbury are one of the sides expected to be challenging for honours in what is their second season in the Vets league, and they got off to a winning start as second half goals from Wayne Wheeler, Kane Scott and Dale Rowland secured a 3-1 win, Ben Trafford with the Calne Town goal.

Action in the North Wiltshire Veterans’ Division also got underway on Monday night with a game on grass at Meadowcroft where Stratton Juniors entertained one of the new sides to the Division, Penhill United. It was to be a winning start for the new side as four unanswered goals saw them come away with all three points against Alun Rossiter’s side. A solitary strike from Shane Davis had given Penhill the lead but two goals from Allan Woodman and one from Chris Flanagan completed a comfortable win for Penhill.

It was a night of draws the following night as AFC Swindon and Swindon Rovers were involved in a rare 0-0 draw in Vets’ football. The two games last season between the two sides had been close affairs with both games being won by just a single goal margin but in this season’s opener there was to be no goals and the two sides had to settle for a point apiece.

There was also a draw on Tuesday night at Chiseldon where the home side entertained Redhouse in an early season clash between two sides expected to be challenging for honours. In contrast to the other game on Tuesday night there were goals in this one with both sides scoring twice, Dave Pratt and Fred Galrito for Redhouse and Adam O’Keefe and Daniel Vaughan replying for Chiseldon.

There were two further games on Wednesday night including one on grass at Sutton Park where Blunsdon entertained Swindon Old Boys. It was the visitors who had the better of things as goals from David Morse and Charlie Knowles in a 2-1 win saw Old Boys get their season off to a good start, Nick Frost with the Blunsdon goal.  

The same night at the Gerard Buxton Ground last season’s runners-up Royal Wootton Bassett Town started their season with a fixture against another one of the new sides to the division, Nomads. Royal Wootton Bassett Town are once again expected to be challenging for honours in the North Wiltshire Division and started their campaign with a comfortable 4-1 success over the Nomads. Two goals for Jeremy Newton and one each for Steve Shaw and Steve House did the damage for Bassett.

Jeremy Newton who scored twice in Royal Wootton Bassett Town's 4-1 win over Nomads.

The draws have been made for the first Round of both the Wiltshire County FA's Veterans' County Cup and the Veterans' League Cup competition. In the Wiltshire FA competition both last season's finalists will be involved in the First Round, holders Melksham Town will be home to Redhouse in a repeat of last season's League Cup final which went to penalties, whilst last season's runners-up Royal Wootton Bassett Town have drawn Stratton Juniors.

In the League Cup competition both last season's finalists have a bye in the First Round with Westbury United v Bradford Town looking the tie of the round.