This was the 30th season of the League and this is my 4th Annual Report as Hon General Secretary.

I would firstly like to extend the League’s sincere thanks to our sponsors:

• Chris Plaister of Plaister Auto Services, who are the main sponsors of the League.
• Chris Perry and Dave Kilmurray of Corsham Print who again sponsored the Senior KO Cup.
• Paul and Denise Sebastianelli of Fountain Trophies, who continued their long-standing sponsorship of the Junior KO Cup.
• Ken Clarke of Westernsport Trophies who has again donated the individual trophy for the Referees Appreciation Award.

The past season has been one of settling in for the League Officers and Management Committee following the changes at the end of last season, with Dennis Kilford, Bill Shail and Stuart Withers all in new positions.  Pete Cox carried on the good work previously done by Brian Busson with Referees’ appointments, whilst Malcolm Baldwin and Adie Cripps completed their first seasons on the Management Committee.

You will see in Agenda Item 8, that we are proposing to make a few changes to Rules.  In the main, these are to bring us in line with other Leagues at our level.  One of these is the time allowed for Clubs to phone in results, which is to change from the present two hour period to 30 minutes.  This will enable results to be e-mailed to local press and radio stations and will also allow the web site to be updated much quicker.  There will be a new (mobile) number for you to phone, which will mean no change should a League Officer be unavailable.  I am aware that other Leagues are investigating a texting service and we will look at this as and when a successful solution becomes available.  A further change to League Rules is to introduce instructions relating to Team Benches.  This proposal was brought about following our meeting with the Wiltshire FA Level 4 Referees’ Academy and brings us in line with Contributory Leagues, as will the new format Team Sheet, on which occupants of the dug-out must now be named.

The Football Association’s restructure of non-League football is ongoing and, over the past season, we’ve attended meetings with the Football Association and other Step 7 Leagues.  Various items are under discussion and we will report these to you once there are some definite proposals.  The Football Association are aiming to standardise facilities for Step 7 Clubs and a Ground Grading document is nearing agreement.  There are currently 43 Leagues at Step 7 and it is planned that this is reduced to 36 with the remainder (those with standards which are lower than the majority) being set at Step 8.  It is therefore vital that Clubs in this League maintain high standards.

One of the most common complaints I received during the past season concerned lack of hospitality and poor changing room accommodation (not swept out, cold showers, etc).  The provision of hospitality is not a Rule in this League, but it is expected that home Clubs, particularly in the Premier Division, provide both the opposition and Match Officials with drinks at half and full time.  Most Clubs do this particularly well, but let’s see everyone do it well.

You may recall that, towards the end of last season, The Football Association decided that this League would retain its Supply League Recognition.  A lot of work was done by the Wiltshire FA on our behalf to ensure that we retained this status, which is very important for Referees in the County.  There are conditions attached to the retention and we are working with the Wiltshire FA to ensure that we conform.  One of those conditions is that Level 4 Referees are to be assessed in at least 50% of their games, which is why you will see Assessors at the majority of Premier Division games.  

During the season we again had to update our 3-year Development Plan for submission to The Football Association and a further updated Plan and Report has to be submitted by 1st July.  With assistance from the League Officers and Management Committee, last season’s Plan was completed and duly submitted.  The Plan was approved and we subsequently received a grant of £3,750 towards the running of the League.  One of the results of the Development Plan you will have noticed is the First Aid Courses that are currently being undertaken.  The League is funding these courses for the benefit of Clubs and it was disappointing to find it so difficult to get Clubs to nominate persons to attend.

The League has again entered the FA National League System Cup, which is a bi-annual competition.  We have been drawn against the Reading League in Round 1, which has to be played by 30th September.  I will confirm the date and venue for this tie once it has been agreed.  I am pleased to announce the appointment of Mark Love and Kevin Cook of Wroughton FC, who will manage the side.  Should any Club wish to nominate players, please submit their names to the Hon General Secretary.

As we come to the end of the 2006 - 2007 season, my first as Chairman of the Wiltshire Football League, I would firstly like to thank all the League Officers and Management Committee for all their efforts throughout the season, especially our League Secretary Jim Thorn, whose devotion to the cause is a credit both to himself and the League.

Secondly, I would like to say well done to all our Clubs, particularly the Club Secretaries who, for the most part, have helped to maintain the esteem in which this, your League, is held.  Regrettably, certain Clubs have failed to maintain the standards required in this League, both on and off the field of play.  They should know who they are and I trust they will make every effort to improve next season.

May I express the League’s gratitude to all the Referees and their Assistants who have officiated during the past season.  I would like to remind all Clubs that the Match Officials enjoy their football as much as you do in playing, and they should never be subjected to verbal or physical abuse.

In closing my report, I should like to congratulate all the Clubs who achieved success in our League and Cup Competitions and wish everyone connected with the Wiltshire Football League a happy and successful 2007 - 2008 season.

Bill Shail

Chairman

This is the 23rd occasion where I have submitted the accounts of the League for your approval.  The excess of income over expenditure for the year 2006 - 2007 is £4,261.89p as compared with £5,027.94p last year, 2005 - 2006.

Although the income from fines was up by over £400 and interest on investments exceeded £220, this was offset by a considerable increase in the costs of printing and stationery.  In addition, as the League now has a Discipline Secretary, there was an additional honorarium awarded at last year’s Annual General Meeting.  There were no Representative XI matches played during the last financial year, which considerably reduced our expenditure when compared to last year.

The League is very grateful for the continued support of our main sponsor, Plaister Auto Services, who cover the cost of the League Handbooks and also to Corsham Print and Fountain Trophies for their continued sponsorship of the KO Cup Competitions and to Westernsport Trophies for their sponsorship of the Referees’ Award.  Without the support of our sponsors and also the Football Association grant of £3750, the accounts would have shown a substantial loss.

I thank all League Officers and Clubs for their help and assistance over the past season.

J S Northover

Hon. Treasurer

As always, my thanks to those Club Secretaries who are most helpful in making my job easier, particularly at the extremely busy pre-season.  This includes filling in the ‘bottoms’ of Registration Forms and supplying a stamped, addressed envelope so that I am able to return their acknowledgement slips straight away.  This is one of the key areas where I determine my end of season marks for the Secretary’s award.  I would suggest that those few Clubs who do not send a supplying a stamped, addressed envelope, check with me before each relevant match to see if I have received (and actioned) their submitted forms, in case of any irregularities.  I would like to also remind Clubs that failure to submit a Referee Marking Report attracts an automatic fine for an incorrect result sheet.

During this season, I processed 1829 Registrations (up 75) and 66 transfers (up 7).  Disappointingly, double registrations were also up, with the offending players receiving fines accordingly.  These cause a lot of extra work, both for me and the County FA if the fine is not paid promptly - so if in doubt just ask me first.

Enjoy your summer break.

Rod Wirdnam

Hon. Registration Secretary

Firstly, I would like to thank Brian Busson and all the Management Committee for all their help and advice through my first season in the job.

Also, I would like to thank Ian Whitehouse from the Wiltshire FA and all our Referees for all their hard work through the season.

All Premier Division fixtures were covered by three Match Officials during the past season, but unfortunately two Junior Division matches went ahead with out a qualified Referee.

The age limit for Referees is now abolished, so we will probably see a few old faces returning as Level 4 Referee's in the Premier Division this coming season.

Finally, I would like to thank all Club Secretaries for their help through the season and wish everybody an enjoyable 2007 - 2008 season.

Pete Cox

Hon Referees’ Appointments Secretary

This was our second season with a dedicated Discipline Secretary in place.  As a result, fines were sent out promptly after meetings and Clubs who failed to pay on time were promptly chased and, in some cases, suspended from the League until fines had been paid.

As mentioned previously in the Hon Treasurer’s report, income from disciplinary matters increased by some £434 on last season.  The Discipline Sub-Committee dealt with 359 cases last season, an increase of 44 on the previous season, which is disappointing as we had fewer teams in membership.

The table below highlights the most common offences:

Ineligible players 20 cases

(37 cases in 05/06) This could be easily remedied by checking with the Hon Registration Secretary.

Late Result Sheets 88 cases

(74 cases in 05/06) Please try and post the Result Sheet immediately after the match.

Incorrect Result Sheets 20 cases

(18 cases in 05/06) If you are in any doubt as to how to complete a Result Sheet, please check with the Hon Registration Secretary.

Failure to notify and/or confirm a postponement 75 cases

(19 cases in 05/06) We’re sure you tell your players if a game is off - try and remember to tell the League as well.  Phone in first then confirm the reason in writing on the form provided.

Failure to phone in results 43 cases

(66 cases in 05/06) Most people have mobiles nowadays.  This shouldn’t really be a problem

The 43 cases of Clubs failing to telephone in their results was a decrease of 23 on last season, which is encouraging and a great improvement on the 88 cases we had in 2005 - 06 ….. maybe a benefit of the growth of mobile phone ownership!  Next season, we are proposing to change the League Rule so as results are phoned in within 30 minutes of the game’s conclusion.  This will bring us in line with other Step 7 Leagues, enable us to get results published on the web site much sooner and also circulate the media. We hope that you’ll be able to hear the results on the local radio stations on a Saturday evening and also read them in your Sunday ‘papers.

An item of concern was the fact that we had two games abandoned during the season due to the behaviour of Clubs.  These were the first two such occurrences in the history of the League and both offending Clubs were severely dealt with.

This season saw 191 fixtures postponed for various reasons, an increase of 63 on last season, which is disappointing as we had fewer teams in membership.  The decision of the Discipline Sub-Committee, to deduct a point from Clubs found guilty of postponing games without a satisfactory explanation continues to have an ongoing positive effect.  Postponements cause a vast amount of additional work for both the Hon Fixture Secretary and for the Hon Referees’ Appointments Secretary.  The Discipline Sub-Committee will review this policy again next season.

The Premier Division title race was very close up until Christmas, when Corsham Town forged ahead to take the title for the third successive season ….. only the second time that’s been achieved in the League’s history.  Runners-Up position wasn’t decided the 1st of May, when Wroughton won their final match to edge out New College, Swindon.

Pinehurst OB led Division 1 from a very early stage and were only caught and overtaken by eventual Champions, AFC Castrol in April.  A second successive title for AFC Castrol and a second successive Runners-Up position for Pinehurst OB, just ahead of a much improved Minety.

Lower Stratton went top of Division 2 early in 2007, never to be caught.  The battle for Runners-Up position eventually went to Stratton Juniors, in their first season in the League, with Wroughton Res in third place.

Corsham Town clinched a second successive League and Cup double ….. the first time that’s been achieved in the League, when they defeated Melksham Town 4-2 in the Final of the Corsham Print Senior KO Cup.  SKS Blyskawica condemned Pinehurst OB to their second set of Runners-Up medals of the season, but needed extra-time to lift the Fountain Trophies Junior KO Cup by 3-1.  Both Finals were played at Corsham Town and we thank them for their hospitality and use of their facilities.

Congratulations must go to Corsham Town on their third successive Premier Division title and their second successive League and Cup double, an excellent achievement.  Congratulations also to AFC Castrol on their second successive League title and also to both Lower Stratton and SKS Blyskawica on winning their first honours in this League.

Congratulations must also be extended to Aldbourne, who have regained their Senior Status.  They will take their place in the Premier Division next season.

In closing, I must congratulate both Bill Shail and Pete Cox following their first seasons as League Chairman and Hon Referees’ Appointments Secretary respectively.  I also extend my thanks to my fellow League Officers and Management Committee for all their help and assistance over the past season and not least our President, Dennis Kilford, who’s out with me most Saturday afternoons watching a game.

Best wishes to all Clubs for a good summer break and a successful season in 2007 - 2008.

Jim Thorn

Hon General Secretary