The Wiltshire Football League, also known as the Wiltshire League and the Wiltshire Senior League, is a football league in England which was formed by amalgamation in 1976. All clubs are affiliated to a County Football Association. The area covered by the competition is the county of Wiltshire and 15 miles beyond the county boundary. The league is at Level 11 (Step 7) of England's National League System pyramid, and operates a Premier Division, Division 1, an U18 Youth Floodlight Division and two Veterans (over 35's) divisions.[1]
 | |
| Founded | 1976 |
|---|---|
| Number of teams | 34 |
| Level on pyramid | Level 11–12 |
| Feeder to | Hellenic League Wessex League Western League |
| Promotion to | Hellenic League Division One Wessex League Division One Western League Division One |
| Relegation to | North Berks Football League Swindon & District League Trowbridge & District League |
| Domestic cup(s) | Fountain Trophies Senior KO Cup |
| Current champions | Amesbury Town (2023–24) |
| Website | www |
The league is sponsored by Corsham Print.[2]
History
editThe league was established in 1976 by the Wiltshire Football Association as a replacement for the Wiltshire Combination League and the amateur Wiltshire League.[3][4]
Sponsorship by Corsham Print began in 2015–16.[5] Starting in 2016–17, the Swindon & District League and the Trowbridge & District League became formal feeder leagues, with one club from each potentially promoted to the Wiltshire Senior League each season, and relegation in the other direction.[6]
Wiltshire Senior Football League Limited, a private company limited by guarantee, was established in 2021.[7]
Member clubs 2024–25
editFor the 2023–24 season, the league's Premier Division was increased from 16 to 18 clubs and Division One was expanded from seven clubs to 16.[8]
Where a club is outside Wiltshire, their county is shown in brackets.
Premier Division
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Division Oneedit
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History
editThe formation of the Wiltshire County Football League resulted from the amalgamation of the Wiltshire Combination and Wiltshire Leagues. The following Officers and Committee were elected at the inaugural meeting held in Devizes: J R Nunn (Chairman), W L Miles (Vice-chairman), E S M Ashman (Secretary), F E Jones (Assistant Secretary), C G Scott (Treasurer), P J Ackrill (Registration Secretary), and K J Mulraney (Referees' Appointments Secretary). There was a Management Committee of fourteen Vice-presidents.[9]
The league was initially to consist of no more than 56 clubs.
1976 league constitution
edit- Senior Division 1 – Amesbury, Malmesbury Victoria, Avon (Bradford), Park YC, Bemerton Athletic, Salisbury City Res, Bromham, Sanford, Calne Town, St Joseph's YC, Chippenham Town Res, Vickers (South Marston), Ferndale Athletic, Westbury Utd, Highworth Town, Wootton Bassett Town
- Senior Division 2 – Avebury, Pewsey Vale, Burbage Sports, Purton, Corsham Town, Rowde, Lawn (Swindon), Warminster Town, Ludgershall, West Lavington, Marlborough Town, Wroughton
- Junior Division (Section A) – Box Rovers, Sarsen Utd, Corsham Town Res, Sherston, Croft, Shrewton, Frogwell, Sutton and Seagry, Highworth Town Res, Trowbridge Youth, Laverstock and Ford, Walcot Boys Athletic, Park YC Res, West Lavington Res, Penhill YC, West Swindon
- Junior Division (Section B) – Amesbury Res, Malmesbury Victoria Res, Avon (Bradford) Res, Marlborough Town Res, Bemerton Athletic Res, Pewsey Vale Res, Bromham Res, Purton Res, Calne Town Res, Sanford Res, Devizes Town Res, St Joseph's YC Res, Ferndale Athletic Res, Vickers (South Marston) Res, Lawn (Swindon) Res, Wootton Bassett Town Res
1990–91 season
editThe Cup Competitions had new sponsors and were renamed the Addkey Senior KO Cup and the Fountain Trophies Junior KO Cup.
1991–92 season
editThe league extended its boundaries this season and changed its name to The Wiltshire Football League. This season saw the league enter into a Pyramid of Football Agreement with the Western and Hellenic Football Leagues.
1994–95 season
editA new logo was introduced, changing the design for the first time since the league was formed.
1998–99 season
editWith the introduction of new Senior status standards by the Wiltshire County Football Association, an Intermediate status was introduced and the league amended its rules accordingly. Division 1 became the Premier Division, Division 2 the Intermediate Division, Division 3 became Junior Division 1 and Division 4 became Junior Division 2. The Intermediate Division was sponsored by Plaister Auto Services.
2003–04 season
editThere were an insufficient number of clubs at Intermediate status this season, so the league reverted to two junior divisions. The league had new sponsors this season in Plaister Auto Services and changed their name accordingly.
2014–15 season
editThere were an insufficient number of clubs at Intermediate status this season, so the league closed the Junior Division.
2022–23 season
editDivision One was reintroduced, consisting of seven clubs.
List of champions
edit| Season | Division One | Division Two | Division Three | Division Four | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1976–77 | Park | Warminster Town | Walcot Boys Athletic | Devizes Town Reserves | |
| 1977–78 | Park | Penhill YC | Shrewton | Melksham Town Reserves | |
| 1978–79 | Park | Ferndale Athletic | Shrewton | Meadowcroft | |
| 1979–80 | Amesbury | Calne Town | Sanford Reserves | Dorcan | |
| 1980–81 | Park | St Joseph's | Shrewton | Durrington Sports | |
| 1981–82 | Sutton United | Meadowcroft | Moredon EC | Calne Town Reserves | |
| 1982–83 | Penhill | Purton | Avebury Reserves | Kington Langley | |
| 1983–84 | Penhill | Willis | Penhill Reserves | Plessey Sports | |
| 1984–85 | Park | Wootton Bassett Town | Plessey Sports | Corsham Town Reserves | |
| 1985–86 | Purton | Ferndale Athletic | Calne Town Reserves | Walcot | |
| 1986–87 | Bemerton Athletic | Oldacre | Purton Reserves | Old Manor Reserves | |
| 1987–88 | Wootton Bassett Town | Marlborough Town | Aldebourne Park Reserves | Chiseldon | |
| 1988–89 | Ferndale Athletic | Devizes Town Reserves | Walcot Athletic | Wroughton | |
| 1989–90 | Pewsey Vale | Pinehurst | Walcot Athletic | Wootton Bassett Sports | |
| 1990–91 | Amesbury Town | Wroughton | Sunray Badbury | Ramsbury | |
| 1991–92 | Amesbury Town | Dorcan | Sunray Badbury | Plessey Semics | |
| 1992–93 | Pewsey Vale | Marlborough Town | Salisbury Manor | Dorcan Reserves | |
| 1993–94 | Melksham Town | Bradford Town | National Semi-Conductor | Ashton Keynes | |
| 1994–95 | Aldbourne Ferndale | Melksham Town Reserves | Raychem Sports & Social | Shrewton United Reserves | |
| 1995–96 | Pinehurst | Southbrook Walcot | Raychem Sports & Social | PRC Durrington | |
| 1996–97 | Shrewton United | Raychem Sports & Social | Chisledon | Raychem Sports & Social Reserves | |
| 1997–98 | Corsham Town | Melksham Town Reserves | Down Ampney | GPS Reserves | |
| Season | Premier Division | Intermediate Division | Junior Division One | Junior Division Two | |
| 1998–99 | Raychem Mowlem | Down Ampney | Cricklade Town Reserves | Westside United | |
| 1999–00 | Malmesbury Victoria | Trowbridge Town | Malmesbury Victoria Reserves | Sherston | |
| 2000–01 | Cricklade Town | Wanborough United | Ashton Keynes | Swindon Eagles | |
| Season | Premier Division | Intermediate Division | Junior Division | ||
| 2001–02 | Shrewton United | Stratton Crosslink Reserves | Wootton Bassett United | ||
| 2002–03 | Shrewton United | Dunbar Westside | Cricklade Town Reserves | ||
| Season | Premier Division | Junior Division One | |||
| 2003–04 | Trowbridge Town | Trowbridge Town Reserves | Swindon Asians | ||
| 2004–05 | Corsham Town | Down Ampney | Castle Combe | ||
| 2005–06 | Corsham Town | Wroughton | Chiseldon Castrol | ||
| 2006–07 | Corsham Town | AFC Castrol | Lower Stratton | ||
| 2007–08 | Wroughton | Minety | KC | ||
| 2008–09 | New College Swindon | Minety | Greenmeadow | ||
| 2009–10 | New College Swindon | Minety | Wilton Town | ||
| Season | Premier Division | Division One | |||
| 2010–11 | Corsham Town Reserves | FC Sanford | |||
| 2011–12 | FC Sanford | Box Rovers | |||
| 2012–13 | Wilts Calne Town | Madames | |||
| 2013–14 | Southbrook | Melksham Town Reserves | |||
| Season | Premier Division | ||||
| 2014–15 | Malmesbury Victoria | ||||
| 2015–16 | Trowbridge Town | ||||
| 2016–17 | Wroughton | ||||
| 2017–18 | Kintbury Rangers | ||||
| 2018–19 | Wroughton | ||||
| 2019–20 | Season abandoned, Corsham Town Reserves in the lead | ||||
| 2020–21 | Season abandoned, Pewsey Vale in the lead | ||||
| 2021–22 | Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development | ||||
| Season | Premier Division | Division One | |||
| 2022–23 | Trowbridge Town | Larkhall Athletic Development | |||
| 2023–24 | Amesbury Town | Park United | |||
| Sources: Wiltshire League,[10] Non-League Matters,[11] FA Full Time[2] | |||||
References
edit- ^ "The Non League Pyramid – Leagues". Pyramid Passion. Centre Circle Publishing. Retrieved 20 October 2012.
- ^ a b "Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League: Premier Division". FA Full Time. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
- ^ "History of Senior Football Leagues in Wiltshire". Wiltshire Senior League. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
- ^ "Formation of the Wiltshire Senior League". Wiltshire Senior League. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
- ^ "Season by Season History 2010s". Wiltshire Senior League. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
- ^ "Feeder Leagues to Wiltshire Senior League". Wiltshire Senior League. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
- ^ "Wiltshire Senior Football League Limited". Companies House. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
- ^ "Season 2023–24". Wiltshire Senior League. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
- ^ "Wiltshire Football League History". Wiltshire Football League. Internet Archive. Archived from the original on 7 September 2007. Retrieved 7 September 2007.
- ^ 2013/14 Handbook Wiltshire League
- ^ Wiltshire League 1992–2004 Non-League Matters