The Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League Premier Division was one of just three of the 50 National League System feeder leagues across the whole country who started the season with 18 teams, noting that all three leagues lost one team over the course of the season, in our case Blunsdon after they had played 22 games. Most other leagues had 16 teams or less. The withdrawal of Blunsdon was disappointing after so many games and the rationale given for withdrawing from our league and continuing their team in the Swindon & District League was unconvincing as there was very little difference in the financial cost of continuing in our league given the fixtures still to play. A big thank you to the clubs for their co-operation and understanding in helping us get the season to a final conclusion despite the enlarged size of the division. The early start to the season and the heavy midweek schedule at the start of the season paid dividends.

For the third season in a row the title race was to turn into a two-team battle. Having had to settle for second place the previous season, Kintbury Rangers, who were under new management with Chris Collin taking over from Danny Langford, showed right from the off that they were looking to go one better. They drew their opening game against Shrivenham but then proceeded to win their next ten league games conceding just five goals in those ten games and keeping six clean sheets, their success being built on a solid defence as much as a free scoring forward line that also saw them finish as second top scorers in the league come the end of the season. That run of victories included a 3-1 away win at Letcombe who had also made a great start to their first season in the league. The run of victories was finally brought to an end by Calne Town Reserves who held Kintbury to a 2-2 draw at Bremhill View.

The following week saw Kintbury Rangers unbeaten start to the season come to an end, although it was not in a league fixture, Division One side Cricklade Town beating them 3-2 on their own ground to knock them out of the Fountain Trophies League Cup. A second defeat quickly followed, this time in the Berks & Bucks Charles Twelftree Trophy losing on penalties to near neighbours Hungerford U23 after it had finished 0-0 at the end of 90 minutes. The quick exit from both cup competitions left Kintbury Rangers to concentrate exclusively on their league campaign.

Their return to league action saw them return to winning ways with an impressive 3-0 win over Pewsey Vale who sat in third place in the table at the time.  A 2-1 away win at Bemerton Heath Harlequins followed by a second 3-0 win over Pewsey Vale in the reverse fixture saw Kintbury sit nine points clear at the top of the table.  These three straight victories were followed by a surprise home 1-1 draw against struggling Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development. The sides met again in Kintbury’s next fixture and this time Kintbury made no mistake winning 3-0 on the 3G at the Gerard Buxton Sports Ground on a day when all other games were postponed due to Storm Darragh. Kintbury ended the calendar year with an impressive 4-0 win over Kingsdown, a side who would eventually finish the season in third place in the table.

Going into the new calendar year Kintbury Rangers remained unbeaten in the league, having concede just nine goals in their opening 18 league fixtures, and sat 11 points clear of second placed Letcombe. Letcombe, however, had two games in hand and had won 12 and drawn one of their opening 16 games and were looking like the leader’s biggest challengers for the title. Park United, in their first season in the division, sat third in the table with Melksham Town Reserves sat fourth but having played more games than the other top four sides. At the other end of the table Malmesbury Vics Development, who were yet to play a home game due to issues with their pitch at the Flying Monk, sat bottom of the table with no points from their opening 14 games with the four they had won on the pitch having been removed due to twice being unable to fulfil a fixture. Larkhall Athletic Development, who had gone so well the previous season, were surprisingly sat second from bottom having lost 14 of their 22 games played to date and having also suffered a two-point deduction for being unable to field a side.

January saw Kintbury carry on how they left off in 2024, winning all three games in January without conceding a goal. The wet weather saw them play just the one game in February and it saw another clean sheet away against Park United on the 3G at Stanley Park as Kintbury won 3-0, a victory that saw them move 21 points clear at the top of the table, with Shrivenham now sat in second place. Letcombe remained in third spot in the table, 23 points behind Kintbury but with four games in hand. Kintbury then proceeded to win their first three games in March with two more clean sheets. However, Saturday 22^nd March would see them taste defeat for the first time in the league, Park United winning at Kintbury 2-1.

Despite the defeat Kintbury remained 23 points of Letcombe who were in second place with four games in hand but with Kintbury having just the five games still to play. Letcombe still had a mathematical chance of catching Kintbury, and the two sides were set to meet each other in midweek at Kintbury. Kintbury led 1-0 until late on in that game but two late goals for Letcombe extended the title race to Saturday 29^th March. Kintbury were to make no mistake on the following Saturday, this time winning 3-1 at home against Salisbury Development whilst their rivals for the title Letcombe were being held 0-0 at home by Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development who were battling to avoid the drop at the other end of the table. These results saw Kintbury Rangers crowned champions of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League Premier Division for the second time, having previously lifted the title in Season 2017-18. Well done to Chris Collin and his side on their achievement, clearly the best side in the league all season and thoroughly deserving of the title and promotion to Step 6, where they will be playing in the Wessex League next season where they will be able to resurrect their battles with Amesbury Town who had just pipped them to the title the previous season. Letcombe would go on to secure runners-up spot, ten points behind Kintbury but ten points clear of third place Kingsdown.

Letcombe who finished as runners-up in the Premier Division in their first season in the league

Swindon based side Kingsdown had been involved in the battle for third spot with Pewsey Vale and finished just above them thanks to a 2-0 away win at Pewsey on the final day of the season. Shrewton United, who were one of four sides who had applied for promotion to Step 6, finished in fifth place which would have been enough to secure promotion but for the fact that league champions Kintbury had also applied for promotion, with the FA once again just taking the one side from the league into Step 6. An excellent season for Shrewton on the pitch in what had been a very difficult season for the club off the pitch following the tragic news of the death of Chairman and League Vice-Chairman Stuart Withers in November.

Shrivenham finished the season in fifth place just two points behind Shrewton. As had been the case the previous season, they had started the season badly, failing to win any of their first seven games. The turning point in their season came on a very wet night in midweek in October when Faringdon Town played their first ever game under floodlights, Shrivenham winning a tight game 1-0. They then proceeded to go unbeaten in their next ten games, winning seven of them finally suffering defeat again at the end of January when Letcombe beat them at the Ian Richardson Football Ground.

Melksham Town Reserves finished level on points with Shrivenham in Seventh spot with Bemerton Heath Harlequins Reserves two points behind Melksham in their first season in the Premier Division which may well be their only season in the division with them having to consider folding their reserve team due to the issues with their first team that saw them forced to withdraw from the Southern League at the end of the season. Their possible swansong with the league was an appearance in the Fountain Trophies Cup Final where they went so close to lifting the cup, leading 2-1 going into the closing stages of the game only for Division One side Cricklade Town to score a late equaliser and take the game to penalties, Cricklade winning the shootout.

At one-point Wroughton had looked on for a top five finish in what was still a good season for the club as they made the final of the prestigious Wiltshire Senior Cup for the second time in three seasons. Unfortunately, they were to suffer defeat against Step 6 opponents in a final for the second time, going down 3-0 against Devizes Town. In the league four defeats in their final five league games after that cup final defeat saw them miss out on the top five finish.

Unfortunately for Wroughton the management team stepped down at the end of the season and they are one of a number of clubs who will have a new manager next season.

Trowbridge Town finished level on points with Wroughton, this following a two-point deduction for failing to fulfil a fixture. Trowbridge were another side who had applied for promotion but four defeats in their final seven games, coupled with that two-point deduction put paid to any chances of a top five finish. They are another side who will be under new management next season.

After sitting third in the table at the turn of the year, Park United had a disappointing second half to the season despite that win at Kintbury Rangers and also winning away at second placed Letcombe. On their day they showed they were capable of beating the best but twice lost to struggling Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development and let in six goals in games against Pewsey Vale, Melksham Town Reserves and Shrivenham.

Calne Town Reserves finished two points behind Park United but at one point it looked as though they might get sucked into a relegation battle but three wins in their final four games saw them finish well clear of the relegation zone in the end.

After that difficult start to the season, Larkhall Athletic Development had a stunning 2025 to get out of relegation trouble, winning nine of their final 12 league games, their only defeats coming at the hands of champions Kintbury Rangers, third placed Kingsdown and Trowbridge Town. They ended the season on a winning note defeating runners-up Letcombe 3-1.

Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development, Salisbury Development, Faringdon Town and Malmesbury Vics Development spent all season at the bottom end of the table in a battle to avoid the drop, along with Blunsdon. Disappointingly Blunsdon gave up after 22 games citing financial issues and difficulties raising a side due to Swindon & District League rules and withdrew from the league. They carried on with their reserve side in the Swindon & District League, once again highlighting the difficulties with sides who come up from that league to play in our Premier Division. This decision prompted the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League to approach the Wiltshire FA with a view to making our Division One Intermediate status, with promotion from the District Leagues to Division One rather than the Premier Division, what we had originally asked to happen when first looking to establish the pyramid in the county. Discussions around that change are currently ongoing.

With Blunsdon withdrawing this meant there would just be a maximum of three relegations from the Premier Division. However, with no team set to be relegated from Step 6 this was subsequently reduced to two teams and then one team due to resignations. In the end Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development finished eight points clear of the relegation positions with Salisbury five points behind them in 15^th place and in theory benefiting from a reprieve for the second season running except their parent club have subsequently said they will not be running a second team next season.

Faringdon Town’s tenure in the Premier Division looked like it would last for just the one season for now. At home their record was decent with seven victories and one draw from their 16 fixtures. It was their failure to win on the road in any of their 16 away games was what potentially cost them their place in the Premier Division come the end of the season, picking up just three points from those 16 away games. However, Salisbury’s folding of their development side has offered Faringdon a reprieve which they have accepted.

Malmesbury Vics Development were to finish bottom of the sides who completed the season with just 12 points from their 32 games. Due to the problems with their pitch caused by the maintenance at the end of last season and then the wet weather they were unable to play a home game in the league at the Flying Monk until 19^th February and ended the season with 15 home games, many of which had to be in midweek due to their first team having the same issue. To their credit they completed the season for which they have my utmost respect. Others would have probably given up with similar challenges. They will look to rebuild in Division One next season.

Cricklade Town champions of Division One & winners of the Fountain Trophies Senior Cup and Wiltshire Junior Cup

Division One once again started the season with 15 teams, one short of capacity following the late withdrawal of Ludgershall Sports. Ahead of the season new Cricklade Town manager Mani Roper had assembled a side containing players who in recent seasons had been playing at Steps 5 and 6 in the Hellenic League and they were quickly installed as favourites by many to secure a return to the Premier Division. They started the league season with nine straight wins in August and September to sit three points clear at the top of the table at the end of September with two games in hand over second placed Bishops Cannings, with Down Ampney five points behind in third place.  Those nine games had seen Cricklade score 58 goals, an average of over six per game, helped by a massive 19-1 win over a struggling Purton side and that run also saw them defeat Devizes Town Reserves 4-1, a result that would turn out to be very important come the end of the season.

The month of October opened with a break from league action with a game in the Fountain Trophies Senior Cup against Premier Division leaders Kintbury Rangers at Kintbury. Like Cricklade Kintbury were unbeaten at the time and would not lose in the league until March 2025. However, the cup game would see Division One side Cricklade knock out their Premier Division opponents thanks to a 3-2 win to progress to the next round, a theme that would recur throughout the cup competition with several Division One clubs defeating higher league opponents such that come the semi-final stage three of the four remaining sides would be from Division One. Two further league victories in October, including a second big win over Purton, plus progress in the Wiltshire Junior Cup saw Cricklade still fighting on three fronts.

The month of November saw them receive a second free pass in the Wiltshire Junior Cup as Swindon Supermarine Development conceded their tie meaning Cricklade were through to the last 16 of the competition without kicking a ball in the cup but, in reality, they would almost certainly have beaten both their scheduled opponents. On the league front they won their first game of the month with a hard fought 1-0 defeat of Lambourn Sports, but their next league outing was to see them taste defeat for the first time in the season, as they fell to a 3-2 defeat away at Marlborough Town. The defeat saw their lead at the top of the table cut to five points from Down Ampney and Bishops Cannings, with Down Ampney having a game in hand but Bishops Cannings having already played three more games than the leaders. Three days after that first defeat Cricklade met Down Ampney in midweek at Cirencester Town and extended their lead at the top to eight points with an impressive 3-1 win over the side that at the time were looking to be the most likely to mount a challenge to Cricklade’s title aspirations. However, the month would end with a second defeat, Kingsdown Development inflicting a surprise 3-2 defeat on the leaders at Cirencester not helped by Cricklade having a player sent off and another sent to the sin bin leaving them with just nine players at one point.

The wet weather that followed meant Cricklade would play just one more league game before the turn of the year, Mani Roper’s side returning to winning ways with a 5-1 home victory over Kintbury Rangers Development. A week later they finally got to play their first actual game in the Wiltshire Junior Cup, securing a 4-0 win over much fancied Mere Town who were unbeaten in the Dorset Senior League at the time and would eventually finish runners-up in that league just one point behind title winners Cobham Sports Res. This put Cricklade through to the quarter final stage.

Their first game of the new calendar year again saw them in Wiltshire Junior Cup action with Wilton, another Dorset Senior League side, their opponents. In a tight contest it finished all square at 2-2 meaning penalties were needed to settle matters. After ten perfect penalties, the game went to sudden death. Player manager Mani Roper put Cricklade’s sixth penalty away, but Wilton failed to net with their first in sudden death, the spot kick coming back off the crossbar, to see Cricklade Town progress to the semi-final. This cup victory was followed by a home league win over Pewsey Vale Development and then another Premier Division scalp for Cricklade in the Fountain Trophies Cup. Their latest victims were Park United who they defeated 3-2 in a game switched to the 3G at Stanley Park to ensure the game went ahead and avoid further fixture congestion given that Cricklade continued to fight on three fronts. At the end of January Cricklade remained nine points clear of both Down Ampney and Devizes Town Reserves, but the two chasing sides both had games in hand over the leaders with Down Ampney having played three less and Devizes two.

February opened with the semi-final of the Wiltshire Junior Cup with Cricklade making the long journey south to take on Tisbury United from the Dorset Senior League. Cricklade trailed 1-0 at half time but were level early on in the second half. Cricklade then fell behind for a second time, but a penalty restored parity. Cricklade then went ahead for the first time in the game before a fourth made sure that it would be Cricklade who progress to the final, 4-2 the final score. Cricklade followed that county cup win by registering their biggest win of the season putting 19 unanswered goals past Stratton Juniors. They followed this up with two important away wins against sides just below them in the table, a 3-1 win over Bishops Cannings being followed by a 7-3 victory against Down Ampney meaning the destiny of the title was in Cricklade’s own hands with eight games to play. Cricklade led the table by 11 points from Devizes Town Reserves who had now emerged as Cricklade’s main rival for the title along with Down Ampney.



Cricklade would not play another league game until the third week of March. They opened the month with the final of the Wiltshire Junior Cup where their opponents were Laverstock & Ford Reserves from the Hampshire Combination & Development League. In a close final at the Gerard Buxton Sports Ground, Cricklade went two up before Laverstock & Ford pulled one back late on to cause a few anxious moments, but Cricklade saw out the closing stages to lift the cup for a second time, the one previous win had come way back in Season 1967-68 when they had defeated Stockton & Codford in the final.

This Junior Cup win was followed by another Fountain Trophies Cup win over a Premier Division side, Calne Town Reserves becoming Cricklade’s third Premier Division victim as they made it through to the semi-final. In that semi-final they would be up against fellow Division One side Lambourn Sports with a third Division One side, Down Ampney, home to Bemerton Heath Harlequins Reserves, the only Premier Division side through to the semi-final. Cricklade ended the month with two away games at Pewsey Vale Development and Kingsdown Development, maintaining a clean sheet in both games, winning 2-0 at Pewsey and 4-0 at Kingsdown. The same day that Cricklade were beating Kingsdown, Down Ampney were playing their Fountain Trophies Cup semi-final against Bemerton Heath Harlequins Reserves. In a close encounter, Bemerton eventually edged it 3-2 thanks to a very late winner to knock Down Ampney out and mean it would not be an all Division One final.

April would prove to be a busy month for Cricklade. It started with a 6-2 away win at Bradford Town Reserves that saw Cricklade six points clear of second placed Devizes Town Reserves and with a game in hand and with the two sides set to meet at Devizes the following week. Devizes Town Reserves went into the game knowing they knowing they probably needed to beat Cricklade if they were to have any chance of catching and overhauling their opponents. In front of a sizeable crowd, bigger than many Step 5 and 6 clubs that afternoon, it was to prove to be a good day for Devizes as they ran out 3-1 winners which meant the gap at the top was now down to three points but Cricklade remained in the driving seat with that game in hand and four games to play, with Cricklade now needing seven points from those four games to make sure of the title.

The following week Cricklade bounced back from that defeat to Devizes with a convincing 5-1 win over Lambourn Sports in the second Fountain Trophies Senior Cup semi-final to make their second cup final of the season. The same day in the league Devizes Town Reserves were winning 8-0 at Pewsey Vale Development to move level on points with Cricklade but having now played two games more and having just two games to play. Cricklade were back in action two days later with what looked a tricky looking away game at Bratton on the Bank Holiday Monday. It proved to be just that for Cricklade as they fell to their fourth league defeat of the season, meaning they had just the one game in hand now. Both teams had big wins on the Saturday, Devizes winning 4-1 at home against Lambourn Sports whilst Cricklade won 8-1 away at Redhouse, both sides confirming their promotion back to the Premier Division with those victories.

With their far superior goal difference Cricklade knew they would effectively secure the title with a win over Stratton Juniors the following Tuesday but if Devizes also won on the Tuesday against Bratton mathematical certainty would only come on the final Saturday of the season, but the title would effectively be heading Cricklade’s way if they beat Stratton. Both Cricklade and Devizes won their midweek encounters, with Cricklade improving their goal difference even further by scoring 11 unanswered goals against Stratton. They then confirmed the title on the final Saturday of the season with a 4-1 home win over Shrivenham Development to finish three points clear of Devizes Town Reserves. In the end a much closer title race that had looked earlier in the season but in the end a thoroughly deserved title for Cricklade to add to their Wiltshire Junior Cup.



Cricklade would then go on to secure a unique treble with a hard-fought Fountain Trophies Cup Final victory over Bemerton Heath Harlequins Reserves, with penalties being needed to decide matters after it finished 2-2 at the end of 90 minutes after Cricklade’s Callum Parsons scored a last-minute equaliser to deny Bemerton the win. It was Cricklade who held their nerve in the penalty shootout with keeper Will Gage the Cricklade hero saving three of the Bemerton penalties as Cricklade won the shootout 3-1 to lift the cup.

As well as reaching the cup semi-final Down Ampney had the consolation of also securing promotion after they finished in third spot in the table, five points behind Devizes Town Reserves.

Bishops Cannings had an excellent second season in the league finishing in fourth place and also had the honour of being the first Saturday side to complete their fixtures in either of the two divisions. They were, however 13 points adrift of Down Ampney in the final table.

One point and one place below Bishops Cannings were Marlborough Town, a 6-1 defeat at the hands of Bishops Cannings at the beginning of March, along with defeats against Bartton, Down Ampney and Devizes Town Reserves costing them fourth place having been at the top end of the table all season.

Bratton, like Cricklade Town, Kintbury Rangers Development and Down Ampney went deep into their county cup competition and fell behind with their fixtures as had been the case last season. They were also not helped by sides failing to raise a side against them on a couple of occasions and failure to win any of their final three games saw them miss out on a top five finish.

Kintbury Rangers Development ended the season on seventh spot but the highlight for them was their victory in the final of the Berks & Bucks David Grainge Trophy, their county cup competition, where they defeated Wraysbury Village 3-2 in the final. Wraysbury went on to win Division Two of the Thames Valley League, losing just one game all season in winning their league showing what an achievement it was for Kintbury to lift the cup.

Kintbury Rangers Development winners of the Berks & Bucks FA David Grainge Trophy Season 2024-25

Bradford Town Reserves had a solid first season in the league, winning more games than they lost, but being unable to take a point off any of the top three sides as they finished in mid table.

Lambourn Sports finished just below Bradford Town Res and saved their best form for the Fountain Trophies Cup where they defeated Premier Division sides Shrivenham and Trowbridge Town as well as title chasing Devizes Town Reserves before eventually bowing out at the semi-final stage with that defeat at the hands of eventual winners Cricklade Town.

Kingsdown Development had a much-improved season and on their day showed they were capable of beating the top sides in the division, with that 3-2 win over Cricklade Town as well as also doing the double over Bratton.

Similarly, Shrivenham Development who finished three points behind Kingsdown and who drew twice with Devizes Town Reserves and were always never in danger of falling into the re-election zone.

Redhouse finished in 12^th spot, suffering some heavy defeats at home where they conceded 66 goals in their 14 games, but again they were always well clear of the re-election zone.

The three teams at the bottom of the table were Stratton Juniors, Pewsey Vale Development and Purton. Purton had another traumatic season and were to finish the season without a point, losing all 28 league games and conceding 247 goals in the process to finish bottom of the table. Credit to them though for completing their season when others would probably have given up and some did.

This left Stratton Juniors and Pewsey Vale Development to battle it out to avoid the second potential re-election place. The battle would go to the final week of the season and despite Stratton Juniors suffering some very heavy defeats during the season, notably the 19-0 defeat to Cricklade Town and the 21-3 defeat to Bishops Cannings, a 3-3 draw away at Kintbury Rangers Development on the final day of the season saw them finish one point above Pewsey Vale Development.

4 June 2025