Corsham Print
Wiltshire Senior League
Season 1982-83

Penhill YC created history in Season 1982-83 by becoming the first side to win both the Wiltshire County League title and the Wiltshire Senior Cup in the same season. This much sought-after double had eluded Park in the first season of the league when they lost to Corsham Town in the cup final but Penhill defeated Melksham Town 4-1 in the Senior Cup Final and took the title finishing five points ahead of runners-up Avebury. 

In winning the title they had to overcome the challenge of having the Management Committee order their two opening games, both of which had been won, to be replayed. This early loss of four points gained saw them lose top spot of the division at the time and they did not get back to the summit until the closing weeks of the season. Of those “lost” four points, when the games were re-staged Penhill won back three of them. The title was eventually won with a midweek win at reigning champions Park. Carl Little put them ahead in the 5th minute at Park after Bob Mason flicked on a Chris Joyce corner. Terry Herring equalised for Park but a brilliant header in the 81st minute from Kevin Higgs, who had joined Penhill from Highworth Town mid-season, from a Carl Little cross gave Penhill the title.

Avebury and Bemerton Athletic had been Penhill’s two big rivals with Bemerton being level on points with Penhill for long periods of the season. Bemerton eventually lost out on the title and also missed out on runners-up spot when they lost their final game of the season whilst Avebury were winning theirs to pip them for that second spot behind Penhill. Avebury received some consolation for just missing out on the top prize by winning the league’s Ghia Senior Cup, defeating Bemerton 2-0 in the final.

The battle in Division Two saw Shrewton United lead early on before falling away in the second half of the season when it became a two-way battle between Chippenham Town Reserves and Purton for the title. The crucial game came on 9th April when Purton visited Chippenham Town and secured a comeback win. After a going a goal behind, goals from Martin Marsh and a last-minute winner from Alan Coole, with what was described by the Gazette & Herald as a ‘blockbuster of a shot’, sent 100 or more visiting Purton fans into raptures. Purton eventually finished three points clear of Chippenham. Highworth Town eventually secured the third promotion spot after a fine winning run at the end of the season.

In the Junior Divisions the Division 3 title went to Avebury Reserves whilst the Division 4 champions were Kington Langley in their first season in the league. It was certainly a good season for the Avebury club with this Division 3 title being added to runners-up the Ghia Senior Cup win and Division 1 runner-up achieved by the first team. For much of the season Avebury were neck and neck with Malmesbury Victoria until the Vics faltered at the end, although they had the consolation of lifting the Ghia Junior Cup, defeating Kington Langley after a replay. It was Calne Town Res who came with a splendid late winning run, coming from nowhere to take second place ahead of Penhill Reserves.

What a first season it was for Kington Langley. They led the way in Division 4 from start to finish, scoring more goals than anyone else in the league with the duo of Bob Turner and Martin Abbott hitting 67 goals between them. They became Division 4 champions following a midweek away win at Sarsen Reserves. A 60th minute winner from Steve Lever with a header from a free kick secured the title. They eventually finished seven points ahead of runners-up Wootton Bassett Town. They also went close in the Ghia Junior Cup, going down in that replay to Malmesbury Victoria. Another club having a good season were Purton who saw their Reserves secure the third and final promotion place.

At the end of season AGM Oaksey won the E C Mills Sportsmanship Award.  R H Jackson of Oaksey won the Club Secretary’s Award.  B L Uzzell was presented with the Ghia Referees Award. At the end of the season the league suffered a set-back with Avon Bradford, St Josephs, Trowbridge Town Res and Warminster Town all resigning from the league. Durrington Sports also resigned from Division 2 but with Walcot Athletic and Warminster Town Res the overall reduction in senior status clubs was in the end limited to just two.
Double Winners, Penhill
Back (from left): B.Little (Chairman), T. Powell (Trainer), M.Northcott, D.Ponting, F.Pasqualitto, K.Yeomans, V.Zarola, K.Higgs, K.Savory (Manager), S.Williams (Secretary).
Front: B.Mason, T.Joyce, K.Little, S.Robinson, A.Dyton, M.Chambers
Division Four Champions - Kington Langley
Picture courtesy of Pete Jefferies
Top Scorers - Season 1982-83

Division 1
K. Higgs  (Penhill/Highworth)  25
P. Sturman  (Warminster)  19
N. Walker  (Avebury)  18
S. Cox  (Bemerton)  16
C. Joyce  (Penhill)  16
T. Plank  (Bemerton)  15
D. Perry  (Amesbury)  14
K. Willis  (Westbury)  14

Division 2
N. Offer  (Burbage Sports)  26
M. Perrett  (Aldbourne)  24
M. Tutton  (Shrewton)  24
A. Coole  (Purton)  21
T. Bown  (Ferndale Athletic)  18
N. Mapstone  (Wroughton)  18
M. Smith  (Chippenham Res)  15
M. Collier   (Purton)  15

Division 3
R. Oliver (Penhill)  30
S. Murden (Warminster Town Res)  22
S. Andrews (Bemerton Ath Res)  21
D. Hillier (Calne Town Res)  19
M. Richens (Avebury Res)  17
J. Roberts (West Swindon)  16
A. Williams (West Swindon)

Division 4
B. Turner (Kington Langley)  36
M. Abbott (Kington Langley) 31
C. Harris  (Ramsbury)  26
C. Smith (Wootton Bassett Town Res)  22
I. Nusprate (Bromham Res)  21
R. Jefferies (T. Warner Pinehurst Res)  20
Ghia Senior Cup 1982-83

Preliminary Round
St Josephs v Calne Town - result not traced

First Round
Aldbourne 1 Ferndale 3
Avon Bradford 3 Purton 0
Bemerton Athletic  3 W. Bassett Town 1
Burbage Sports 0 Avebury 3
Calne Town 2 Sanford 2 (aet)
Corsham Town 6 Devizes Town Res 1
Durrington Sports 2 Pewsey Vale 1
Malmesbury Victoria v Chippenham Town Res - awarded to Chippenham
Marlborough Town 1 Park 3
Meadowcroft 2 Highworth Town 1
Sarsen 1 Terry Warner Pinehurst 2
Shrewton United 1 Penhill 2
Tisbury 2 Trowbridge Town Res 1
Warminster Town 2 Amesbury 1
Westbury United 2 Melksham Town Res 1
Wroughton 4 Dorcan 1

Replay
Sanford 1 Calne Town 5

Second Round
Avon Bradford 0 Bemerton Athletic 1 (aet)
Chippenham T Res 2 Warminster Town 3
Corsham Town 3 Meadowcroft 2
Ferndale v Westbury Utd - result not traced
Penhill 0 Avebury 1
Terry Warner Pinehurst 3 Calne Town 4
Tisbury 0 Park 2
Wroughton 5 Durrington Sports 4 (aet)

Replay
Warminster Town 3 Chippenham T Res 2

Quarter Final
Bemerton Athletic 2 Wroughton 0
Calne Town 1 Warminster Town 2
Corsham Town 0 Avebury 4
Park  3  Ferndale  1

Semi Final
Avebury  1  Park  0
Bemerton Athletic 4 Warminster Town 3

Final
Avebury 2 Bemerton Athletic 0

As reported by the Gazette and Herald.
Avebury won the Wiltshire County League’s Ghia Senior Cup on Saturday with a 2-0 win over Bemerton in the final at Devizes. Early play favoured Avebury but Bemerton had a good spell midway through the first half when a shot by Neville Beale was cleared off Avebury’s line and one by Terry Blank rebounded off their crossbar. A break down the Avebury right by Nathan Walker in the 31st minute followed by his accurate centre gave Paul Gaston the opening goal of the game from close range.

In a closely contested second half both sides went close before the win was finally sealed for Avebury by Keith Ovens who ran forward from midfield to meet another centre from Walker and score a good goal. The cup and trophies were jointly presented by Mr Dave Titchener on behalf of Ghia Promotions (he also was a former Avebury manager) and Wiltshire County League secretary Mr Peter Ackrill. The special award for the ‘man of the match’ went to Bemerton defender Gordon Smith.
Ghia Senior Cup Winners, Avebury
Back (from left): A. Bake (Secretary), K.Messenger, T.Vines, P.Gadsden, M.Johns, T.Brown, R.Frost, A.Bowden, M.Thompson
Front: C.Herbert (Trainer), P.Johnson, K.Ovens, D.Morgan, N.Walker, M.Woolford (Manager)
Ghia Junior Cup 1982-83

Preliminary Round
Oaksey  1  Purton Res  2
Seagry  1  Walcot  2
W. Bassett Town Res  2  A. Bradford Res  3
 
First Round
Amesbury Res  1  Avon Bradford Res  2
Avebury Res  8 Walcot  1
Blunsdon United  4  Bemerton Ath Res  2
Box Rovers  1  Wroughton  1  (aet)
Bromham  1  Aldbourne  0
Cricklade Town  1  Malmesbury Victoria  3
Dorcan Res  0  Warminster Town Res  7
Highworth Town Res  0  Kington Langley  3
Moredon YC  8  Corsham Town Res  0
Park Res  6  Pewsey Vale Res  0
Penhill Res  4  Durrington Sports  2
Purton Res  0  South Marston  1  (aet)
Ramsbury  6  Shrewton United Res  1
Sanford Res  2  Calne Town Res  5
South Marston  6  Sarsen  0
T. Warner Pinehurst  4 Marlborough T Res 0

Replay
Wroughton  4  Box Rovers  3  (aet)

Second Round
Avebury Res  5  Penhill Res  1
Blunsdon United  v  Avon Bradford Res - Result not yet traced
Calne Town Res  1  Wroughton  4
Kington Langley  8  Purton  4  (aet)
Malmesbury Victoria  3  Bromham  2
Park  7  Ramsbury  0
South Marston  2  Terry Warner Pinehurst  0
Warminster Town Res  v  Moredon - Result not yet traced

Quarter Final
Kington Langley  6  Warminster Town Res  3
Malmesbury Victoria  3  Avebury Res  0
South Marston  0  Blunsdon United  0 (aet)
Wroughton  2  Park Res  1 (aet)

Replay
Blunsdon United v South Marston - Result not yet traced

Semi Final
Kington Langley  3  Wroughton  2
Malmesbury Victoria  4  Blunsdon United  1

Final
Kington Langley  2  Malmesbury Victoria  2 (aet)

Replay
Malmesbury Victoria   2  Kington Langley  1

As reported by the Gazette and Herald.
First Match
In the Ghia Junior Cup the destination of the cup went unsolved last Friday when the final between Kington Langley and Malmesbury Vics ended 2-2 after extra time. Kington Langley, winners of Division 4, looked as though they were to lord it over the Division 3 Vics when, fortified with a goal from a penalty by Martin Abbott in the first half and another from Derek Fernandes in the second, they were within sight of the winning post. But the Vics had a surprise in store for them in the shape of substitute Ben Marsh. He replaced Dave Sheppard and soon made his presence felt by bulldozing his way through Kington Langley’s defence to score an 85th minute goal. Then in the last minute he raced down the Vics right wing to place his centre into Kington’s goalmouth where Mark Rogers diving header finished it off with the equaliser. A goalless extra time meant a replay at Chippenham.

Replay
Malmesbury Vics won the Wiltshire County league Ghia Junior Cup last Wednesday, beating Kington Langley 2-1 in the final at Chippenham. In an excellent and closely fought first half Malmesbury were on top with Carl Baker going close and Dave Merritt having two shots well saved. The half was goalless however, and it was not until the 55th minute that Malmesbury took the lead with a goal by centre half Julian Smith who came up for a Colin Picter corner which was touched on to him by Baker.  Ten minutes later Kington Langley were on terms with a diving header by Dave Rawlings from a free kick by Sean Hughes. Malmesbury’s winner came in the 75th minute, again from a Picter corner and once more it was Smith who rose high above everyone to head home. Smith was awarded the trophy for the outstanding player of the game. The presentation was made by George Highmore, treasurer of the Wiltshire County League.
Ghia Junior Cup Winners, Malmesbury Victoria
Back (from left): P.Ackrill (League Secretary), D.Picter (Assistant Manager), R.Baker, B.Marsh, D,Sheppard, K.Pell, D.Lacey, D.Merritt, K.Pound, M.Curtis (Manager).
Front: C.Baker, L.Pike, M.Rogers, J.Smith, B.Collinson, C.Picter
Wiltshire Senior Cup 1982-83

Preliminary Round
Ferndale Athletic  1  Park  2

First Round
Amesbury  3  Corsham Town  0
Burbage Sports  2  Wroughton  0
Devizes Town  0  Marlborough Town  5
Durrington Sports  0  Penhill 4
Highworth Town  3  Chippenham T Res  2
Meadowcroft  3  Shrewton United  0
Melksham Town  1  Aldbourne  1  (aet)
Pewsey Vale  1  Sanford  3
Purton  3  Westbury United  2
Sarsen  0  Avebury  3
St Josephs  3  Downton  0
Supermarine  2  Park 3
Terry Warner Pinehurst  0  Avon Bradford  4
Tisbury  2  Bemerton Athletic  0
Warminster Town  5  Dorcan  0
Wootton Bassett Town  0  Calne Town  2

Replay
Melksham Town  4  Aldbourne  2

Second Round
Amesbury  4  Meadowcroft  1
Avon Bradford  2  Calne Town  1
Highworth Town  0  Avebury  7
Marlborough Town  1  Warminster Town  4
Melksham Town  3  Burbage Sports  2
Park  1  Penhill  2
Sanford  2  St Josephs  1
Tisbury  0  Purton  3

Quarter Final
Avon Bradford  3  Amesbury  2
Penhill  2  Warminster Town  1
Purton  0  Avebury  3
Sanford  0  Melksham Town  3

Semi Final
Melksham Town  3  Avebury  2
Penhill  2  Avon Bradford  0

Final
Penhill  4  Melksham Town  1

As reported by the Gazette and Herald.

Penhill brought the Wiltshire Senior Cup back to Swindon for the first time since Pinehurst won it seven years ago by defeating Melksham Town 4-1 in Saturday’s final at Devizes. Then on Sunday, Black Horse kept the Wiltshire Sunday Cup in the town where it had been for the last five yeas with a 3-1 win over Castle Combe in the final at Calne.

Penhill were put in arrears in their Senior Cup final when Mark Wright scored for Melksham early on. They levelled at half time with a goal from Martin Ward’s neat hook over his shoulder after a corner kick had been pushed out from goal. Chris Joyce, who had a goal disallowed in the first half, put them in front in the second half by volleying home a rebound off the Melksham crossbar by a shot by Mick Chambers. As the older Melksham players tired Penhill increased the pressure to augment their lead with the best goal of the game when Vince Zarola turned inside a defender to hit a powerful drive to the top corner. An 85th minute goal by Chambers completed their scoring. They were presented with the trophy by Wilts F.A. Chairman Bill Humphries.
Wiltshire Junior Cup 1982-83

Preliminary Round
Avebury Res 5 Purton Res 1
Avon Bradford Res   2  Pewsey Vale Res  1
Cricklade Town 1 Blunsdon United 7
Croft 3 Amesbury Res 2
Dolphin Hotel 9 Penhill RBL 1
Highworth Town Res 2 Woodfalls 3
Holt 2 Bemerton Ath Res 6
Lacock 3 Bromham Res 1
Moredon  2  FC Sporting 3
Oaksey 3 Shaw 1
Oldacre 4 Sarsen Res 1
Park Res 5 Lavington & Easterton 0
Penhill Res 4 Minety 3
Sanford Res  4  West Swindon  4 (aet)
Seend 2 Warminster Town Res 3
Shaw & Witley 4 Marlborough Town Res 1
South Marston 5 Nationwide 1
T W. Pinehurst Res 0 Westbury  Utd Res 3
Top Rank 7 Corsham Town Res 0
Wroughton Res 3 Blue Circle 2

First Round
Avon Bradford Res  2  Penhill Res  4  (aet)
Bemerton Ath Res 1 Supermarine 0
Box Rovers 2 Castle Combe White Hart 0
Calne Town Res  3  Park Res  2
Croft  2  Burmah House  5
Downton  v  FC Olympika - result to trace
Heytesbury  v  Carpenters Arms
Malmesbury Vics 2 W. Bassett Town Res 1
Newton Tony 2 Oaksey 5
Oldacre  v  PO Sports - result to trace
PSF SSC  v  Broughton Gifford - result to trace
Ramsbury  4  Purton Res  0
Raychem  2  Sanford Res 3
Redlynch  v Harlequins - result to trace
Seagry 1 Kington Langley 4
Shaw & Whitley 0 Dolphin Hotel 6
South Marston 1 Bradford United 0
Spartans  v  FC Sporting - result to trace
Stockton & Codford 5 Blunsdon United 7
Sunstrand  v  Sherston - result to trace
Walcot & Parks RBL  v Lacock - result to trace
Walcot Ath Res 2 West Dean 3
West Lavington 0 Top Rank 2
Westbury Utd Res  2  Warminster T Res  1
Wroughton Res  0  South Newton & Wishford  - result to trace
7 games missing

Second Round
Airsprung 6 Box Rovers 1
Blunsdon United 0 Sherston 1
Broughton Gifford v Westbury - result to trace
Calne Town Res 2 Harlequins 1
Carpenters Arms 0 Sanford Res 2
Dolphin Hotel 4 Durrington Sports 1
FC Olympika 1 Kington Langley 4
FC Sporting v West Dean - result to trace
Hilperton v Lacock - result to trace
Oaksey 1 Malmesbury Victoria 2
Old Manor 3 Penhill Res 2
Ramsbury 3 Burmah House 2
Revenue Sports 1 Bemerton Ath Res 2
Shrewton Utd Res 0 Oldacre 3
S. Newton & Wishford 2 Nomansland & L 1
Top Rank 3 South Marston 2

Third Round
Airsprung 2 FC Sporting 1
Bemerton Ath Res  3   Hilperton  1
Malmesbury Victoria 3 Kington Langley 2
Old Manor 2 Calne Town Res 3
Oldacre 3 Dolphin Hotel 5 (aet)
Sanford Res 3 South Newton & Wishford 1
Sherston 1 Broughton Gifford 3
Top Rank 3 Ramsbury 1

Quarter Final
Broughton Gifford 0 Bemerton Ath Res 1
Calne Town Res 2 Malmesbury Victoria 0
Dolphin Hotel  2  Airsprung 0
Top Rank   2  Sanford Res  3

Semi Final
Dolphin Hotel  2  Calne Town Res  0
Sanford Res  2  Bemerton Athletic Res  1

Final
Dolphin Hotel 1 Sanford 0

As reported by the Gazette and Herald.

A Wiltshire Junior Cup record of winning the trophy three consecutive seasons- which had stood for 23 years since Winterbourne Sports created it – was equalled by Dolphin Hotel on Saturday. After beating Redlynch in the final two years ago, they won the trophy again last year with a win over Kington Langley. And at Wootton Bassett they completed their hat-trick with a 1-0 win over Sanford Reserves.

Dolphin put normal midfield player Terry Miles up front to add strength to their attack, and it paid immediate dividends when he prodded the ball home after only four minutes. It came in a goalmouth melee following a centre by Steve Blackford. In a closely fought encounter, the older and more experienced Sanford players like Adrian Humphries, Dave Carter and Peter Laggett gave Dolphin a good test. But the Dolphin players stood up to it well and rarely let Sanford get a clear sight of their goal. Sanford unsuccessfully appealed for a penalty in the second half when Carter was pushed off the ball, but against this Dolphin had an effort by Guy Allen disallowed. The cup was presented by Mick Parry, the Wilts F.A. assistant secretary.
Representative Honours - 1982-83

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

Senior Squad
N. Beale (Bemerton)
R. Diaper (Amesbury)
T. Herring (Park)
K. Lapham (Warminster Town)
G. Smith (Bemerton)

Management Committee Members and Club Secretaries


For the first time, the League Officers and Management Committee remained unchanged this season although Vice-Chairman, W L Miles, resigned at the end of the season


Sixty nine teams entered the League and were grouped in four Divisions: two Senior and two Junior Divisions.
Division 1 - Clubs & Secretaries
Amesbury Town - W J Spreadbury succeeded by: C G Baggott   
Avebury - A V Blake   
Avon (Bradford) - D Jones succeeded by: D L Wilson   
Bemerton Athletic - S Noke   
Calne Town - A J Brewer   
Devizes Town Res - J Butler succeeded by: R W Booth   
Meadowcroft - Mrs B Smith   
Melksham Town Res - M J Perrin   
Park YC - A Smith
Penhill YC - M K Whitaker succeeded by: S Williams
Sanford - J A Leeson
St Joseph’s YC - B W Phillips
Tisbury - W S Rogers
Trowbridge Town Res - R Boxhall
Warminster Town - A D S Lawrie
Westbury Utd - E L Barber

Division 2 - Clubs & Secretaries
Aldbourne - S F Watts   
Burbage Sports - R M Cady   
Chippenham Town Res - A L Knee   
Corsham Town - Ms H C Crow   
Dorcan - A F Jennings   
Durrington Sports - A Sears   
Ferndale Athletic - P D Bathe   
Highworth Town - R Haines succeeded by: K Loveday   
Malmesbury Victoria - J E F Poole succeeded by: D A Rogers    
Marlborough Town - D W G Cripps
Pewsey Vale - Ms S M Baker
Purton - A Eastwood
Sarsen - P P Bond
Shrewton Utd - F H Matthews succeeded by: K P Cummings
Terry Warner (Pinehurst) - D A Miles
Wootton Bassett Town - R J W Stone
Wroughton - C G Swatton
Division 3 - Clubs & Secretaries
Amesbury Town Res - W J Spreadbury succeeded by: C G Baggott   
Avebury Res - A V Blake   
Avon (Bradford) Res - D Jones succeeded by: D L Wilson   
Bemerton Athletic Res - S Noke   
Blunsdon Utd - A J Hibbert   
Calne Town Res - A J Brewer   
Malmesbury Victoria Res - J E F Poole succeeded by: D A Rogers   
Marlborough Town Res - D W G Cripps   
Moredon EC  - J A Freeth succeeded by: D P Simms   
Park YC Res - A Smith
Penhill YC Res - M K Whitaker succeeded by: S Williams
Sanford Res - J A Leeson
Seagry - B N Porter
South Marston - W M A Harrison
South Newton & Wishford - D E Handford
Walcot Athletic - Mrs E M Gray
Warminster Town Res - A D S Lawrie
West Swindon - A C Fall

Division 4 - Clubs & Secretaries
Aldbourne Res - S F Watts   
Box Rovers - A A Trudgeon   
Bromham - B Minett   
Corsham Town Res - Ms H C Crow   
Cricklade Town - J M Sockett   
Dorcan Res - A F Jennings   
Durrington Sports Res - A Sears   
Highworth Town Res - R Haines succeeded by: K Loveday   
Kington Langley - R V Leonard succeeded by: J E Olden   
Oaksey - R H Jackson
Pewsey Vale Res - Ms S M Baker
Purton Res - A Eastwood
Ramsbury - R G Mills
Sarsen Res - P P Bond
Shrewton Utd Res - F H Matthews succeeded by: K P Cummings
Terry Warner (Pinehurst) Res - D A Miles
Wootton Bassett Town Res - R J W Stone
Wroughton Res - C G Swatton
Share by: