Corsham Print
Wiltshire Senior League
Formation of the
Wiltshire Senior League
How the Swindon Football Pink reported the start of the league on Saturday August 21 1976
What Football Pink article stated......
In order to make sure it was the best clubs they instituted a rigorous examination of their strengths and amenities before issuing them with the label “senior” which would let them enter the senior divisions of the new league. Prior to that a club gained senior status simply by managing to get itself voted into a senior league. In other words, it was the league – there were three of senior status in the county – that was the deciding factor, not the club’s facilities. Thus, on a vote at a league AGM a club’s status could turn from junior to senior as at the snap of a finger. And, if it left that league, it could change back again to junior without any change in its ground and amenities over that period. All that is now changed.
The Wiltshire FA and not the leagues grant senior status to clubs and that body designed the new league to cater for clubs whose standards meet their requirements and to whom they have previously granted senior status. That was one part of their dream the FA could make come true. But they were powerless to decide on the allocation of the clubs to the two senior divisions. That was left to the clubs themselves and, when the allocation was made, it was not as the FA would have wished.
Long before the final meeting they sensed that the clubs forming last season’s Wiltshire Combination were going to be “difficult”. These clubs did not want the new league and had asked the Wiltshire FA, without success, to continue with the Combination. It soon became obvious that they were determined that, if the new league were to be forced upon them, they would form the top senior division. And, that is exactly what happened at the allocation meeting when none but Combination clubs were voted in. There was not even a place found for the current Wiltshire Senior Cup winners, Pinehurst, who beat Western League Devizes Town in the final and two of the strongest clubs, Park and Amesbury, on the way to that game. Pinehurst, who won over £300 in sponsorship money in Rothmans Hellenic League, gave up a lot to play their part in getting the new Wiltshire League started and the cold shoulder they received for their trouble was more than they could take. So they went back to their old league.
With Pinehurst gone Garrard – runaway Wiltshire League winners and one of the most exciting teams of the day – felt they should have been included in the top division. But they were not. Therefore, instead of getting all the best clubs in the new league’s top division, two of the most desirable have been lost to Wiltshire football. One regrets this and feels that it would have been better for our football had they accepted a place in Division 2 and moved up next season by promotion, as they would undoubtedly would have done. One can also understand, or try to do so, the Combination clubs’ point of view. They felt they had remained loyal to Wiltshire football when others had deserted it. All the best clubs in the Wiltshire League had joined them over the past few seasons, some of them only last season, and as a division they already represented the strongest possible combination of clubs playing in the county. Was it fair they argued, that any of their clubs should have to win their way back again in order to make way for others whether they be Devizes, Melksham, Pinehurst or Garrard.
So the die was cast with the Combination clubs getting their way which means that this season will see a re-run of the Combination so far as senior Division 1 is concerned. Then at the end of the coming season, the bottom four will be replaced by the top four from Division 2, without the certainty that some of the promoted four will be stronger than those they replace – as would have been the case had Pinehurst and Garrard swallowed their pride. These two were not the only clubs to resign after entering the league. For various reasons Plessey also resigned from Senior Division 2 and Broad Hinton and Park A from the junior divisions. Teams who comprise Senior Division 1 are Amesbury, Avon Bradford, Bemerton, Bromham, Calne, Chippenham Town Reserves, Ferndale, Highworth, Malmesbury Victoria, Park, Salisbury Reserves, Sanford, St Josephs, Vickers, Westbury and Wootton Bassett – 16 in all.
The launching of the brand new Wiltshire County League reaches its final stage next Saturday when the clubs make a start with their fixtures. With it comes the fulfilment of a pipe-dream of the Wiltshire FA for one big united county league. Like most dreams when they materialise, circumstances shape them slightly differently than the original conjectured image. The FA wanted to see all the strongest senior clubs in the county forming the top division of their proposed league with the next best in a second division and with promotion and relegation between them to keep everybody on their toes.
In order to make sure it was the best clubs they instituted a rigorous examination of their strengths and amenities before issuing them with the label “senior” which would let them enter the senior divisions of the new league. Prior to that a club gained senior status simply by managing to get itself voted into a senior league. In other words, it was the league – there were three of senior status in the county – that was the deciding factor, not the club’s facilities. Thus, on a vote at a league AGM a club’s status could turn from junior to senior as at the snap of a finger. And, if it left that league, it could change back again to junior without any change in its ground and amenities over that period. All that is now changed.
The Wiltshire FA and not the leagues grant senior status to clubs and that body designed the new league to cater for clubs whose standards meet their requirements and to whom they have previously granted senior status. That was one part of their dream the FA could make come true. But they were powerless to decide on the allocation of the clubs to the two senior divisions. That was left to the clubs themselves and, when the allocation was made, it was not as the FA would have wished.
Long before the final meeting they sensed that the clubs forming last season’s Wiltshire Combination were going to be “difficult”. These clubs did not want the new league and had asked the Wiltshire FA, without success, to continue with the Combination. It soon became obvious that they were determined that, if the new league were to be forced upon them, they would form the top senior division. And, that is exactly what happened at the allocation meeting when none but Combination clubs were voted in. There was not even a place found for the current Wiltshire Senior Cup winners, Pinehurst, who beat Western League Devizes Town in the final and two of the strongest clubs, Park and Amesbury, on the way to that game. Pinehurst, who won over £300 in sponsorship money in Rothmans Hellenic League, gave up a lot to play their part in getting the new Wiltshire League started and the cold shoulder they received for their trouble was more than they could take. So they went back to their old league.
With Pinehurst gone Garrard – runaway Wiltshire League winners and one of the most exciting teams of the day – felt they should have been included in the top division. But they were not. Therefore, instead of getting all the best clubs in the new league’s top division, two of the most desirable have been lost to Wiltshire football. One regrets this and feels that it would have been better for our football had they accepted a place in Division 2 and moved up next season by promotion, as they would undoubtedly would have done. One can also understand, or try to do so, the Combination clubs’ point of view. They felt they had remained loyal to Wiltshire football when others had deserted it. All the best clubs in the Wiltshire League had joined them over the past few seasons, some of them only last season, and as a division they already represented the strongest possible combination of clubs playing in the county. Was it fair they argued, that any of their clubs should have to win their way back again in order to make way for others whether they be Devizes, Melksham, Pinehurst or Garrard.
So the die was cast with the Combination clubs getting their way which means that this season will see a re-run of the Combination so far as senior Division 1 is concerned. Then at the end of the coming season, the bottom four will be replaced by the top four from Division 2, without the certainty that some of the promoted four will be stronger than those they replace – as would have been the case had Pinehurst and Garrard swallowed their pride. These two were not the only clubs to resign after entering the league. For various reasons Plessey also resigned from Senior Division 2 and Broad Hinton and Park A from the junior divisions. Teams who comprise Senior Division 1 are Amesbury, Avon Bradford, Bemerton, Bromham, Calne, Chippenham Town Reserves, Ferndale, Highworth, Malmesbury Victoria, Park, Salisbury Reserves, Sanford, St Josephs, Vickers, Westbury and Wootton Bassett – 16 in all.
Unfortunately, the withdrawals of Pinehurst, Garrad and Plessey have left Senior Division 2 with only 12 teams. But it is expected that others with junior status will have improved their amenities in time to qualify for senior status the following season and so increase the division in number. The 12 who will compete this season are: Avebury, Burbage, Corsham, Lawn, Ludgershall, Marlborough, Pewsey, Purton, Rowde, Warminster, West Lavington and Wroughton.
With Senior Division 1 being more or less a re-run of last season’s Combination, one feels fairly safe in predicting another exciting fight at the top. And if the battle continues until the very last game of the season, as it did last April, it will be very rewarding.
Everybody will be keyed up to be the first winners of the new league and have their name at the top of the list of winners for posterity to see. Vickers, the last Combination champions will be especially keen to achieve the distinction.
With Senior Division 1 being more or less a re-run of last season’s Combination, one feels fairly safe in predicting another exciting fight at the top. And if the battle continues until the very last game of the season, as it did last April, it will be very rewarding.
Everybody will be keyed up to be the first winners of the new league and have their name at the top of the list of winners for posterity to see. Vickers, the last Combination champions will be especially keen to achieve the distinction.
They feel well equipped to do so with all last season’s first team squad again available and have reinforced with new signings Bob Mason from Clanfield and Jock Usher. They have improved their referee’s dressing room, re-painted their stand during the summer and reseeded parts of their ground.
Park, by winning the Sanford Charity Cup by defeating Malmesbury Vics and Western League Melksham last week, have already shown they will be a power in the new league. If they have an Achillies heel, it might be from the loss of Roger Sawford, the only really experienced man in their defence now Bob Woodfield had left them. But high-scoring forwards might counterbalance this deficiency.
If anything, Amesbury expect to be stronger than last season, which means a most determined attack on the title. Not only have they all of their last year’s squad available, except for Mick Crook, but also former stars like Eugene Harrington, Terry Plank and Andy Strange. These three who were in their championship winning team of two years ago, have returned to them. They also have Brian Pearce, who broke his leg 16 months ago, back in training and have signed Paul Bishop from Downton. Neighbours Bemerton are not so well-placed. Neil Blake has returned to them and Tim Rhind-Tutt, the former county youth winger has signed. Mostly, however, they will rely on last season’s team.
Park, by winning the Sanford Charity Cup by defeating Malmesbury Vics and Western League Melksham last week, have already shown they will be a power in the new league. If they have an Achillies heel, it might be from the loss of Roger Sawford, the only really experienced man in their defence now Bob Woodfield had left them. But high-scoring forwards might counterbalance this deficiency.
If anything, Amesbury expect to be stronger than last season, which means a most determined attack on the title. Not only have they all of their last year’s squad available, except for Mick Crook, but also former stars like Eugene Harrington, Terry Plank and Andy Strange. These three who were in their championship winning team of two years ago, have returned to them. They also have Brian Pearce, who broke his leg 16 months ago, back in training and have signed Paul Bishop from Downton. Neighbours Bemerton are not so well-placed. Neil Blake has returned to them and Tim Rhind-Tutt, the former county youth winger has signed. Mostly, however, they will rely on last season’s team.
St Joseph’s, after finishing third in their first season in the Combination last spring look strong. They reckon they learnt a lot last season and have all their first team squad intact, with new signings Keith King, Dave Crocker and Kevin Haugh to add strength to it.
Some good players seem to go on forever and among them are Sanford stalwarts Keith Colsell and Tony Pike, who will again be seen gracing the Youth Centre’s red and black shirts. Sanford were not quite so much in the Combination hunt as usual last season, but could be well in it in the new league. They have strengthened their squad with Derek Wordsworth from Park and Tye Meare from Pinehurst, as well as signing new goalkeepers Paul Scarrott and Peter Nash.
Ferndale, a struggling club last season, look due for another fight to escape relegation after losing several of their players, including ace forward Mick Fowler. They have, however, fixed themselves up with a good goalkeeper in David Elkins.
Wootton Bassett have a new coach in former player Bob Thomas. He has all his old colleagues signed together with nine new men who include Norman Shears and Steve Smith from Highworth. He will be assisted by Amble Sheen. They have completed their stand and are busy installing training floodlights. The clubhouse with bar attached is also finished and they are now getting businessmen taking a greater interest than in the past.
Over at Highworth, much will depend on the younger players. They have lost John Simpkins to Fairford and Dudley Cheeseley has retired to be assistant first team trainer to Chelsea Smith. It is a similar position at Bromham, whose bottom position in the Combination last season is not an attraction to established players from outside. Calne, however, fresh from a pre-season win against Winchester City, display an intense feeling of optimism. They have a bunch of promising youngsters training with the old hands and have signed high-scoring Paul Kelland.
Some good players seem to go on forever and among them are Sanford stalwarts Keith Colsell and Tony Pike, who will again be seen gracing the Youth Centre’s red and black shirts. Sanford were not quite so much in the Combination hunt as usual last season, but could be well in it in the new league. They have strengthened their squad with Derek Wordsworth from Park and Tye Meare from Pinehurst, as well as signing new goalkeepers Paul Scarrott and Peter Nash.
Ferndale, a struggling club last season, look due for another fight to escape relegation after losing several of their players, including ace forward Mick Fowler. They have, however, fixed themselves up with a good goalkeeper in David Elkins.
Wootton Bassett have a new coach in former player Bob Thomas. He has all his old colleagues signed together with nine new men who include Norman Shears and Steve Smith from Highworth. He will be assisted by Amble Sheen. They have completed their stand and are busy installing training floodlights. The clubhouse with bar attached is also finished and they are now getting businessmen taking a greater interest than in the past.
Over at Highworth, much will depend on the younger players. They have lost John Simpkins to Fairford and Dudley Cheeseley has retired to be assistant first team trainer to Chelsea Smith. It is a similar position at Bromham, whose bottom position in the Combination last season is not an attraction to established players from outside. Calne, however, fresh from a pre-season win against Winchester City, display an intense feeling of optimism. They have a bunch of promising youngsters training with the old hands and have signed high-scoring Paul Kelland.
Official Website of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League
© The Wiltshire Senior Football League Limited. All rights reserved.