Corsham Print
Wiltshire Senior League
Former Clubs
Down Ampney
Grounds
Poulton Rd, Broadleaze, Down Ampney, GL7 5QX

Seasons in League (Number and period)
14 Seasons (1992-93 to 2005-06)

Status
Now in Swindon & District League Division 1 (Season 2019-20)

League & Cup Honours (when in WSL)
Fountain Trophies Junior Cup Winners 1995-96
Division 3 Winners 1997-98
Intermediate Division Winners 1998-99
Junior Division 1 Winners 2004-05

Club Notes
Down Ampney had been long standing members of the Cirencester & District League with two periods of major success. The first period was in the early 1960’s when they won the Division 1 (top division) title three times, in seasons 1962-63, 1963-64 and again in 1965-66. They also won the Cirencester Senior Charities Cup twice in this period. The second period of major success came in the mid to late 1980’s just prior to joining the Wiltshire League. Runners-up in Division 1 in both 1985-86 and 1986-87 to near neighbours Ashton Keynes, they gained revenge in season 1988-89 when they pipped Ashton Keynes to the title, also winning the Cirencester Senior Charities Cup again. The club then had a brief one season spell in the Cheltenham League before joining the Wiltshire League.

Down Ampney joined the Wiltshire League for season 1992-93 after the league had changed its rules to allow clubs to enter the league who are within 15 miles from the boundary of Wiltshire, becoming the first club to take advantage of the new rule. 

Two seasons in Division 4 saw them finish fourth and fifth, the latter being enough to see them promoted to Division 3 for season 1994-95. Their first three seasons at the higher level were characterised by gradual progression in terms of league position and an impressive Fountain Trophies Junior Cup win in season 1995-96, Down Ampney winning on penalties against Division 3 league champions  Raychem SSC after the game had finished 1-1 after extra time.

However, seasons 1997-98 and 1998-99 were to be the most successful in their time in the league. Season 1997-98 saw Down Ampney lead from the start and clinch the Division 3 title by the end of March from Biddestone Reserves in runners up spot. Season 1998-99 saw the creation of a new Intermediate status, where facility requirements were set between those required for Senior status and those for Junior status and Down Ampney were one of fourteen sides who qualified for the new status, although one team returned to Junior status before the season started. Down Ampney proved to be the dominant force in this first season of the new Intermediate category finishing as champions some six points clear of runners-up Aldbourne. Four more seasons were to be spent at the Intermediate level but Down Ampney were unable to replicate that title success and the final two seasons at the level were something of a struggle, finishing bottom of the table eight points adrift of the nearest team in season 2001-2 and then second from bottom the following season.

With the Intermediate status not proving to be the success the County FA had hoped for, Season 2002-3 having seen just nine clubs operating at the level, it was dropped for Season 2003-4 and Down Ampney returned to Junior Division 1 of the league. The first season back at this level was a tough one for Down Ampney as they finished second from bottom and would have been bottom but for a points deduction suffered by Biddestone Reserves. However, Down Ampney bounced back in style the following season as took the Junior Division 1 title, finishing six points clear of both Swindon Asians and AFC Stratton Reserves. Down Ampney led Junior Division 1 virtually from day one of the season and were the first winners of any silverware in the league that season.

With further work having been done at their Broadleaze ground they made the step up to senior status for Season 2005-6. They made a great start to life at Senior level, scoring nineteen goals in their first four games and were amongst the early leaders but in the end had to settle for sixth spot, even so an impressive first season at the higher level. However, life as a Senior club was to be short lived as they withdrew from the league before the start of the following season and re-joined the Cirencester & District League.

Life back at District League level brought immediate success as they finished runners-up in Division2 of the Cirencester & District to gain immediate promotion to the top division. Life in Division 1 was a different proposition though, as they finished bottom for two successive seasons and were relegated back to Division 2. After a mid-table finish in their first season back in Division 2, they once again took the title in Season 2010-11 with striker Alex Rudd being the top goal scorer in the Division. This time round they had a side which quickly adapted to the higher level and secured back to back title successes as they took the Division 1 title for the first time since 1988-89, Alex Rudd again finishing as the top goal scorer in the division.  However, the following season was a complete contrast as they finished second from bottom and were relegated back to Division 2. They would not return to Division 1 until Season 2017-18 when the Cirencester & District League shrunk down to just one division. A twelfth-place finish and a cup final appearance in the Mills Roberts Cup saw them then elect to join the Swindon & District league for Season 2018-19 where they achieved a seventh-place finish in Division 2 of that league.

Season 2019-20 saw them in Division 1 as the Swindon & District League reduced down to two larger divisions and at the time of suspension of football due to the Coronavirus Down Ampney sat in tenth spot in the table.
Team Record
Down Ampney,  Division 3 Champions 1997-98
(picture courtesy of Jerry Wright)
Share by: