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Wiltshire Senior League
Season 1978-79

Park made it a hat-trick of Division One titles but things were much closer than the previous season with Park eventually edging it by a single point over runners-up Amesbury. They went into their final game of the season against Westbury knowing that they had to win to be sure of retaining the title and completed their superb hat-trick of titles with a 2-1 home victory. Park went ahead in the10th minute through Joe O’Brien from Steve Burson’s free kick and added a second goal in the 71st minute through Jim Murphy from Dick Brinkworth’s corner kick. Their goalkeeper later punched a corner kick from Dave Gilbert into his own net for Westbury’s goal to cause a few nervous moments, but Park maintained their lead to lift the tile once again. Amesbury who had been hoping for a slip up from the Swindon side finished their season in style putting five goals without reply past Corsham Town, but it was all to no avail in the end.

Both Park and Amesbury lost just two games all season. Park’s two defeats both came against Amesbury who looked like they would wrestle the title from Park’s hands but faltered a little near the end of the season. At the start of the season they had carried on where they had left off the previous campaign which had seen them go unbeaten in their final 14 games of the 1977-78 season. They started the 1978-79 season with an even better run, going 23 games unbeaten to extend that unbeaten run to an impressive 37 league games but those dropped points at the end of the season were to ultimately cost them the title. Once again it was the goal scoring prowess of Steve Burson that fired Park to the title, he scored 21 goals to finish top scorer in the top division for the third consecutive season. Vickers, runners-up the previous season, had to be content with third place this time but were one of the two clubs to defeat Amesbury. Promoted clubs did well generally with Penhill finishing an impressive fourth place and being the only other side to defeat Amesbury. The only one of the promoted sides to be relegated back to Division Two were Marlborough Town, Bemerton, Calne Town and Highworth Town joining them in the Second Division for the following season.

In a good season for the club Ferndale Athletic, who had finished rock bottom of Division One in the first season of the league, bounced back to the top division after two seasons in the second tier. They led the division from start to finish, eventually winning it by a single point over runners-up Wootton Bassett Town. Ferndale also made the final of the Wiltshire Senior Cup but in a one-sided final found Western League side Devizes Town tough opponents, going down 6-1 in the final. Wootton Bassett consoled themselves for missing out in the championship race by defeating Avebury to win the Subsidiary Cup.  Promoted alongside Ferndale and Wootton Bassett were Avebury and Tisbury.

The two Junior divisions both ran with a full complement of 18 clubs and both produced exciting and close title races. The honour of being the top Junior side in the County once again went to Shrewton for the second consecutive season in a dramatic and hectic end to the season. Due to a back-log of fixtures they were forced to play 15 league and cup games in the space of 25 days but came with a tremendous burst which enabled them to pip Vickers Res by one point. They also made the final of the Wiltshire Junior Cup but were unable to achieve the double, going down 1-0 to Division 4 side Walcroft in the final. The reserve sides of Western League sides Devizes Town and Melksham Town had also been involved in what was a dramatic title race, Devizes finishing in third place level on points with Vickers, with Melksham just one point back in fourth spot. At the other end of the table there was relegation for the reserve sides of Wootton Bassett Town, Bromham, Cosham Town and Calne Town.

In Division 4 just two points separated the top three sides. Meadowcroft were the champions finishing two points ahead of Wiltshire Junior Cup winners Walcroft. After overtaking them in the closing weeks of the season. Penhill YC Reserves finished 3rd, level on points with Walcroft. The fourth promotion spot went to Warminster Town Reserves in awkward circumstances. This division posed a problem for the league as Sarsen Reserves failed to fulfil their final 3 games in the final week of the season of their 34-game program. Whether Ramsbury or Warminster Town would be promoted depended on the result of one of three Sarsen games which was against Warminster. The committee eventually decided all they could do was award the two points to the three scheduled opponents of Sarsen, Purton Reserves, Wroughton and most importantly Warminster Town Reserves who had been unable to complete their fixtures because of the actions of Sarsen. The two points awarded to Warminster lifted them above Ramsbury and into that final fourth promotion spot. Had the committee chosen to expunge the record of Sarsen the result would have been the same as Ramsbury would have lost four points and Warminster only two. It was hard on Ramsbury who had led the table for much of the season until mid-April. They completed their season early, going down 4-0 against Penhill Reserves in their final game, and then had to suffer the disappointment of seeing club after club overtake them and then see promotion eventually denied in such difficult circumstances. Sarsen finished bottom of the table and would probably have lost the three games had they been played but the non-fulfilment of the fixtures was a disappointing end to what had been another great season for the league.

Dorcan retained the E C Mills Sportsmanship Award.
Top Scorers 1978-79
Division 1
S. Burson (Park)       21
P. Laggett (Sanford)  21
O. Murphy (Park)      20

Division 2
B. Coates (Ferndale)  20

Division 3
G,Broom (Melksham T Res)  36

Division 4
R. Salter (Walcroft)  41
Wiltshire Senior Cup
Season 1978-79
Teams from other leagues shown in italics

Preliminary Round
Sarsen  2  Chippenham Town Res  1

First Round
Amesbury  2  Corsham Town  1
Avebury  0  Garrad Athletic  1
Avon Bradford  3  Highworth Town  1
Calne Town  2  Lawn  0
Devizes Town  3  Park  0
Ferndale  5  Marlborough Town  0
Malmesbury Vics  0  Burbage Spts  1
Melksham Town  3  Bemerton Ath  4
Penhill YC  7  Aldbourne  1
Pewsey Vale  0  Rowde  1
Purton  1  Tisbury United  3
Sanford YC  3  Westbury United  3
Sarsen  5  Trowbridge Town Res  5
Vickers  3  Downton  2
W. Bassett Town  3  Warminster T  0
Wroughton  0  Bromham  3

First Round Replays
Trowbridge Town Res  1  Sarsen  2
Westbury United  4  Sanford YC  8

Second Round
Bemerton Athletic  2  Avon Bradford  4
Calne Town  1  Bromham  2
Devizes Town  2  Burbage Sports  0
Ferndale  4  Sarsen  1
Rowde  1  Wootton Bassett Town  2
Sanford YC  0  Amesbury  2
Tisbury United  2  Garrad Athletic  1
Vickers  1  Penhill YC  0

Quarter Final
Avon Bradford  1  Ferndale  2
Devizes Town  1  Tisbury United  1
Vickers  2  Bemerton Athletic  2
Wootton Bassett Town  2  Amesbury  1

Quarter Final Replays
Bromham  0  Vickers  1 (AET)
Tisbury United  0 Devizes Town 2

Semi Final
Devizes Town 3  Vickers  1
Wootton Bassett Town 0  Ferndale  1

Final
Devizes Town   6  Ferndale  1

As reported by the Gazette and Herald.
Although Jon Wakefield provided a quick answer to Archie Stephens 14th minute opener, Ferndale’s first ever Wilts Senior Cup final appearance became a nightmare last Wednesday night as they crashed to a 6-1 defeat against Devizes Town. Ferndale battled bravely but were hopelessly outclassed. They certainly had no answer to the razor-sharp finishing of Devizes outstanding striker Archie Stephens. It was Stephens who really wrecked the County League Division 2 champions. He followed up his early goal by providing the 28th minute cross from which Jimmy Cook restored Devizes’ lead at the second attempt. In the 65th minute the blond striker sealed Ferndale’s fate when he pushed the ball over the line after Mick Fowler had broken through. The much stronger Western League side went further ahead with goals by Jimmy Cook and Paul Kelland before Stephens crowned a glorious night with his hat-trick.
Wiltshire Junior Cup
Season 1978-79
Teams from other leagues shown in italics
Competition was regionalised, North and South

Preliminary Round- 21 October

Section 1
Box Rovers 3 Devizes Town Res 2
Hambro Life v Broad Hinton - result to trace
Hampton 5 Dolphin Hotel 2
Lawn YC 5 Seagry 4 (aet)
Malmesbury Victoria Res 7 Oaksey 2
Park Res 4 Terry Warner Sports 2 (aet)
Penhill YC Res 7 Aldbourne Res 0
Ramsbury 6 Ferndale Athletic Res 1
South Marston 3 Minety 1

Section 2
Airsprung v Avon Bradford Res
Atworth United v Westmead Saints Res - results to trace
Heytesbury 1 Amesbury Reserves 3
Ludgershall Sports v Boscombe Down - result to trace
Shaw & Whitley v Horningsham
West Harnham v Figheldean - result to trace
West Tytherley v Landford United - result to trace
Winterbourne Sports v Stockton & Codford - result to trace
Woodfalls v Redlynch - result to trace

First Round

Section 1
Citadel Rangers 2 Marlborough T Res 3
Croft 0 Park Res 4
Dauntsey United v Crown Broad Hinton - result to trace
Erlestoke 5 Highworth Town Res 1
Halcrow Wilts 1 Box Rovers 6
Hampton 3 Cricklade Town 1
Lawn Res 1 Malmesbury Victoria Res 8
Lawn YC 0 Vickers Res 3
Penhill Res 7 Lavington & Easterton 4
Purton Res v Burbage Sports - result to trace
Ramsbury 5 Blunsdon United 1
Seend United 5 Wroughton Res 0
South Marston 4 W. Bassett T Res 3
Walcroft 6 Sarsen Utd Res 1
West Lavington v Westbourne Methodists - result to trace
West Swindon 1 Meadowcroft 3

Section 2
Airsprung v Steeple Ashton - result to trace
Amesbury Res v GEC Melksham - result to trace
Boscombe Down Services 3 Mere T 1
Bromham Res 3 Corsham Town Res 1
Broughton Gifford v West Tytherley - result to trace
Durrington Spts 5 Stockton & Codford 2
Enford 0 Bemerton Athletic Res 2
Newton Tony 1 Shrewton United 4
Pewsey Vale Res 2 S. Newton & Wishford 5
Trowbridge A 5 Laverstock SSC 1
Wellworthy Employees v Horningsham - result to trace
Westbury Utd Res 0 Melksham T Res 4
Westmead Saints Res v Porton Sports - result to trace
Westmead Saints v Dowty DFS - result to trace
Wilton RCF v Figheldean - result to trace
Woodfalls 3 Warminster Town Res 4

Second Round - 9 December

Section 1
Box Rovers 0 Penhill 2
Crown Broad Hinton 3 Park Res 2
Marlborough T Res 0 Vickers Res 4
Ramsbury 1 Malmesbury Vics Res 2
South Marston 0 Meadowcroft 3
Walcroft 11 Purton Res 0
Westbourne Methodists 2 Hampton 1
Seend United v Erlestoke - result to trace

Section 2
Bemerton Res 1 Shrewton United 3
Bromham 2 Airsprung 3
S.Newton & Wish'd 5 Melksham T Res 3
Trowbridge A 6 Amesbury Res 1
Warminster Town Res 2 Wellworthy 0
Broughton Gifford v ?
Durrington Sports v ?
Westmead Sports v ?
Missing opponents Boscombe Down Services, Wilton or Figheldean, Wetsmead Spts Res or Porton Spts

Third Round

Section 1
Crown Broad Hinton 4 Penhill 5 (aet)
Malmesbury Vics Res 7 Vickers Res 0
Seend United 1 Walcroft 4
Westbourne Meth's 1 Meadowcroft 2

Section 2
Durrington Spts 5 Broughton Gifford 0
Shrewton Utd 3 S. Newton & Wishford 0
Trowbridge A 3 Westmead Saints 5
Warminster Town Res 3 Airsprung 1 (aet) - awarded to Airsprung

Quarter Final

Section 1
Malmesbury Vics Res 0 Walcroft 2
Penhill 2 Meadowcroft 0

Section 2
Airsprung 3 Shrewton United 5
Durrington Spts 0 Westmead Saints 1

Semi Final
Penhill 1 Walcroft 3
Westmead Saints 3 Shrewton United 3

Replay
Shrewton United 2 Westmead Saints 1

Final
Walcroft 1 Shrewton United 0

As reported by the Gazette and Herald.

In the Junior Cup Final the goalkeepers were given a quiet time when two good sides cancelled each other out in midfield. Shrewton created the best scoring chances in the first half with Frank Andrews going close. The Swindon side had the better of the second half and won the game with a 76th minute goal by Dave Allen from Howard King’s centre, and they should have made certain if their win a minute later when Allen, with an open goal, shot wide.
Representative Honours -1978-79

League Players Selected for Wilts FA County Teams (where known)

Senior Squad
G. Goodwin (Park)
P. Grand (Vickers)
T. Herring (Park)
M. Hibbs (Amesbury)
N. Hiscock (Vickers)

Youth Squad
A. Bowden (Park)
D. Bull (Avebury)
L. Burnertt (Park)
K. Cranmer (Amesbury)
R. Diaper (Amesbury)
M. Spackman (Sanford)
J. Walters (Avebury)
K. Willis (Westbury Utd)

Management Committee Members and Club Secretaries


One change to the League Officers saw K J Mulraney revert to the Management Committee and, following the withdrawal of D B Cradock, M G Benson was elected Referees' Appointments Secretary.  The role of Assistant Secretary was renamed Fixture Secretary and P M Cook assumed this role.


There were twelve Vice-Presidents: H Beattie, A E Beavis, W H Brown, M A Cutforth, T Gillingham, Mrs E T Mills, D S Mills, E G Newman, W A Shail, W W Sherwood, H J Stevens and P E Stone.


Sixty seven teams entered the League and were grouped in four Divisions: two Senior and two Junior Divisions.
Division 1 - Clubs & Secretaries
Amesbury - W J Spreadbury   
Avon (Bradford) - D Jones   
Bemerton Athletic - G P Broad   
Bromham - B Minnet   
Calne Town - A G Merrett   
Corsham Town - A E Morris   
Highworth Town - D Busson   
Malmesbury Victoria - F G Marsh   
Marlborough Town - D W G Cripps
Park YC - D J Prothero
Penhill YC - M K Whitaker
Salisbury City Res - D F Sharp
Sanford - J A Leeson
Vickers - I G Marsh
Warminster Town - D W Dawkins
Westbury Utd - E L Barber

Division 2 - Clubs & Secretaries
Aldbourne - S F Watts   
Avebury - V R Blake   
Burbage Sports - R M Cady   
Chippenham Town Res - A L Knee   
Ferndale Athletic - P D Bathe   
Lawn - I R Titcombe   
Pewsey Vale - G J Caplin   
Purton - A C Mills    
Rowde - R J Viles
Sarsen  - K Burleigh
Tisbury - W S Rogers
Trowbridge Town Res - B L Coleman
West Lavington - B K Hartley
Wootton Bassett Town - L S Dixon
Wroughton - C G Swatton
Division 3 - Clubs & Secretaries
Amesbury Res - W J Spreadbury   
Avon (Bradford) Res - D Jones   
Bemerton Athletic Res - G P Broad   
Box Rovers - A Cogswell   
Bromham Res - B Minnet   
Calne Town Res - A G Merrett   
Corsham Town Res - A E Morris   
Devizes Town Res - R P Broomham   
Malmesbury Vics Res - F G Marsh   
Marlborough Town Res - D W G Cripps
Melksham Town Res - M J Perrin
Park YC Res - D J Prothero
Sanford Res - J A Leeson
Shrewton - F H Matthews
Terry Warner Sports - R J Miles
Vickers Res - I G Marsh
West Swindon - A C Fall
Wootton Bassett Town Res - L S Dixon

Division 4 - Clubs & Secretaries
Aldbourne Res - S F Watts   
Avebury Res - V R Blake   
Dorcan - A F Jennings   
Ferndale Athletic Res - P D Bathe   
Hampton - Mrs M P Attwood   
Highworth Town Res - D Busson   
Lawn Res - I R Titcombe   
Meadowcroft - Mrs B Smith   
Penhill YC Res - M K Whitaker   
Pewsey Vale Res - G J Caplin
Purton Res - A C Mills
Ramsbury - R G Mills
Sarsen Res - K Burleigh
Seagry - B N Porter
South Marston - W M A Harrison
Walcroft - S W Moore
Warminster Town Res - D W Dawkins
Wroughton Res - C G Swatton
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