The North Division was based around the 3G facilities at Moredon, New College Swindon and the Gerard Buxton Sports Ground at Royal Wootton Bassett, with only Cricklade Town having sole use of a ground of their own with the arrangement they had agreed with Cirencester Town. The addition of Moredon to the list of facilities this season, with up to three slots each week, transformed the dynamic for fixtures in the division with five fixtures now being capable of being played each week. It also meant that teams could effectively, just about, be allocated a sole venue to use for all their home games.

The division started and finished the season with 11 teams, with two new sides ExIntel and FS Swindon playing in the league for the first time, both of whom would have contrasting seasons. The top three sides from the previous season, Cricklade Town, Redhouse and Nationwide were once again expected to do well. Cricklade Town had been champions for two seasons running and were looking to make it three in a row and manager Richard Austen had once again assembled a strong squad. Nationwide, having done a cup double the previous season, were keen to add a league title to their honours list whilst Redhouse were looking to go one better than the previous season and record their second title success having won the division back in Season 2021-22.

All three started the season well and come the end of September were the only unbeaten sides in the division. Both Cricklade Town and Redhouse had won all three of their opening league games whilst Nationwide, who sat one point clear at the top of the table, had won three and drawn one, that draw being against Royal Wootton Bassett Town.

October was to prove to be a good month for Cricklade Town as they secured league wins over ExIntel and then Redhouse to inflict a first defeat of the season on Darren Grace’s side, Cricklade winning 3-0 sending a strong message that they meant to hand onto that league title. Cricklade also made progress in both cup competitions beating Royal Wootton Bassett Town 5-0 in the League Cup and then seeing Devizes Town surprisingly concede their county cup tie given how well Devizes were going in the Mid Wiltshire Division. Redhouse were to play one more league game in the month defeating Penhill United 3-0 but then losing to the same team in the County Cup, Penhill avenging that league defeat with a 1-0 win. Nationwide were the holders in both cup competitions and progressed in both against fellow North Wiltshire Division sides, defeating Swindon Rovers 2-0 in the County Cup before getting the better of AFC Swindon in the League Cup following a penalty shootout after it had finished 0-0 at the end of normal time. The table come the month end saw Cricklade sat top with five wins from five games, Nationwide still unbeaten two points behind from the same number of games with Redhouse a point behind also from five games. At this stage ExIntel were level on points with Redhouse having made a great start in their inaugural season.

November would prove to be an excellent month for Nationwide as they won all four games they played that month, three in the league plus a big 8-0 Wiltshire FA Veterans’ County Cup win over Chippenham Town from the Mid Wiltshire Division. The three league wins included an important 2-0 win over Redhouse which would have a big impact on the final league placings come the end of the season. That was the only defeat Redhouse suffered in the month as they won league fixtures against Royal Wootton Bassett Town, AFC Swindon and Swindon Rovers. Cricklade were to play just three games in the month winning two and drawing one, that a 0-0 draw against Chiseldon, a side who had a knack of getting results against Cricklade. Cricklade started the month with an impressive 2-0 County Cup win over Melksham Town in a battle of two teams unbeaten in their respective divisions and ended the month with an 11-1 victory over AFC Swindon in the league. Nationwide were now top of the table appoint ahead of Redhouse and with a game in hand, with Cricklade Town back in third spot three points behind the leaders with a game in hand.

With both Cricklade and Nationwide engaged in both cup competitions in December it would be Redhouse who sat top of the table at the end of the calendar year, a 4-0 win over Royal Wootton Bassett Town being followed by a points award against Stratton Juniors to give them maximum points from their two league games. They would suffer defeat in their final game of the year though, losing on penalties in a League Cup encounter with Penhill United after it had finished 0-0. No such problems for Cricklade or Nationwide though as they progressed in both cup competitions. In the County Cup Cricklade defeated Penhill on penalties after another 0-0 draw, whilst Nationwide were comfortable 6-0 winners over Chiseldon. In the League Cup Nationwide again won big, smashing 12 unanswered goals against Amesbury Junior Badgers whilst Cricklade were awarded their tie when FS Swindon failed to raise a side. Both sides then won their one league game in the month, Cricklade beating Swindon Rovers 6-1 whilst Nationwide went one better against AF Swindon, winning 7-1.

The month of January was to prove a mixed one for Nationwide in the two cup competitions as they failed in their defence of the County Cup, losing on penalties at the semi-final stage to Cricklade after it had finished 0-0. In the final Cricklade’s opponents would be fellow North Wiltshire Division opponents ExIntel who also won a penalty shootout after their semi-final with Mid Wiltshire Division side Bishops Cannings had also finished 0-0. In the League Cup Nationwide’s quarter final opponents were Penhill United and once again penalties were needed to settle matters but, on this occasion, it was Nationwide who held their nerve to progress to the last four. Cricklade Town would not join them in the semi-final though as Melksham Town gained revenge for their earlier County Cup defeat at the hands of Cricklade by winning 1-0. In between their cup games Cricklade had a comfortable 5-0 win over Stratton Juniors to maintain their unbeaten league record. Stratton Juniors were then to cause probably the shock of the whole league season in the division at the end of the month. Nationwide had beaten Chiseldon in their first league game of the month but fell to an astonishing 6-1 defeat at the hands of Stratton in their other league fixture, this after having defeated Stratton 7-2 earlier in the season. With Redhouse taking seven points from their three league fixtures in the month it meant they were the new leaders of the division; six points clear at the top but having played three more games than Nationwide and five more than Cricklade who were failing behind with their fixtures due to the cups and unfortunate postponements and sat nine points behind Redhouse.

Both Cricklade Town and Nationwide were to have a good February, less so league leaders Redhouse who, whilst beating AFC Swindon comfortably 5-1, were held to a 0-0 draw by Penhill United and then lost the vital top of the table clash with Cricklade Town 3-1. In addition to that important win, Cricklade also won league fixtures against Penhill United and ExIntel to make up ground in the title race. They also bagged the Wiltshire Veterans’ County Cup for the first time defeating ExIntel 1-0 in the final at Green Lane. Nationwide played just two games in the month, comfortably beating FS Swindon in the league 9-0 and then narrowly beating Chiseldon 2-1 in a League Cup semi-final to set up a cup final against Durrington from the Mid Wiltshire Veterans’ Division.

Cricklade Town continued their excellent form into the following month picking up maximum points from league fixtures against FS Swindon, AFC Swindon and Royal Wootton Bassett Town. Nationwide also defeated Royal Wootton Bassett and AFC Swindon but fell to a surprise 2-0 defeat at the hands of Penhill United to damage their title aspirations. They did however do their quest for honours a power of good with a comfortable 5-0 win over league leaders Redhouse in what was Redhouse’s final game of the season. Prior to that defeat Redhouse had won their other two games to finish their fixtures one point ahead of Cricklade and four points clear of Nationwide. With Cricklade and Nationwide still to play each other twice Redhouse still had the chance of finishing runners up if Cricklade beat Nationwide twice and then Nationwide failed to beat both Swindon Rovers and ExIntel in their other two games.

The first of these remaining games saw Nationwide host Cricklade Town at New College and it was to prove to be a comfortable evening for Cricklade as they scored three without reply to move top of the table and six points clear of Nationwide. Nationwide bounced back from that defeat with a 5-1 home win over Swindon Rovers the following week to move within a point of Redhouse. The same night Cricklade Town were beating Penhill United 4-0 to move to within a point of the league title as they remained six points clear of Nationwide who now had just the two games to play.

The race for honours was finally decided the following week with two resounding 8-1 wins deciding the top two positions in the division. At Cirencester Town Cricklade Town were up against Chiseldon who had become something of a bogey side for Cricklade, with Cricklade having failed to beat them in their two previous league meetings, with Chiseldon being the only side to have taken points off Cricklade this season ahead of the return encounter. There were no problems for Cricklade in this latest game though as the 8-1 victory saw Cricklade crowned as champions for the third season in a row, also securing a league and County Cup double. 

The same night Nationwide won by the same score against ExIntel at Moredon to secure runners-up spot ahead of Redhouse. Congratulations to both Cricklade Town and Nationwide for securing league honours but also special mention to Redhouse who were up at the top of the table all season and went close to securing honours for a second consecutive season.

Cricklade and Nationwide still had to play each other ahead of Nationwide’s League Cup final appearance and whilst the result was academic Nationwide were obviously keen to go into the cup final on the back of a win and with the possible honour of becoming the first team to defeat Cricklade. However, once again Cricklade dominated the game recording a second 3-0 win with Nationwide also seeing star player Paul Stonehouse sent off meaning he would be suspended for the upcoming cup final. With Cricklade being awarded the points from their remaining fixture against Swindon Rovers it meant Cricklade ended the season 12 points clear of Nationwide, who were two points clear of Redhouse in third spot.

The League Cup Final between Durrington and Nationwide at Calne Town FC was played in front of a sparse crowd. In a cup competition that had been blighted by a high number of awarded games it was fitting though that two sides who had played in each and every round had made the final. Both sides went into the final missing key players due to suspension and injury though. As noted above Nationwide were without their leading scorer, former Forest Green Rovers and Mansfield Town player, Paul Stonehouse following his sending off the previous week. Meanwhile Durrington were missing leading scorer Shaune Smith, for the same reason having been sent off in their final league game against Melksham Town. They were also without their second top scorer Jesse Walters who had suffered a broken leg suffered in the same game against Melksham. Despite both sides missing their leading marksmen the two sides still produced an entertaining game that saw four goals scored in the 50 minutes with Durrington winning the final 3-1 to claim their first silverware as a member of the league, denying Nationwide a second League Cup win in the process.

Nationwide who finished runners-up in the North Wiltshire Division and also made the League Cup Final

Looking at the rest of the North Wiltshire Division, Penhill United had demonstrated that on their night they were capable of taking points off the top sides and ended the season in fourth spot, seven points behind third placed Redhouse. ExIntel had a good first season in the league, finishing in fifth spot, winning more games than they lost and making the final of the Wiltshire FA County Cup where they pushed Cricklade Town all the way, losing by just that single goal. Swindon Rovers ended up in sixth place in the table, a point above Chiseldon who had a much better second half of the season after getting off to a bad start. Royal Wootton Bassett Town had a disappointing season by their normal standards, at one stage failing to win in eleven consecutive games, ten of which were lost, before finally ending the season on a winning note with a 4-2 win over Chiseldon. The bottom two sides were Stratton Juniors and FS Swindon, although both had their moments. Stratton Juniors recorded that impressive win over Nationwide and FS Swindon beat both ExIntel and Royal Wootton Bassett Town.

The Mid-Wiltshire Division started the season with 12 teams but quickly saw the withdrawal of last season’s champions Corsham Town after playing just two games when they were unable to find a manger to replace Chris Jones who had led them to the league title the previous season.

Once again, the league adopted the approach of awarding postponed games due to teams being unable to field sides, but this clearly was not a sufficient deterrent as the division was to suffer 17 such postponements during the season, a ridiculous amount. Chippenham Town and Westbury United were the worst offenders having six games awarded against them, although two of Chippenham Town’s awarded games were after they withdrew from the league. Radstock Town and Warminster Town were not far behind on four games awarded against them. With four teams playing on grass pitches in the division the number of games lost to the weather (17) was also a lot higher than the North Wiltshire Division but all games, apart from the play-off needed to decide the title saw a result recorded by the deadline date set at last year’s AGM.

Each and every season since the formation of the Mid Wiltshire Veterans’ Division Melksham Town have featured in the top two and Season 2024-25 was to be no different. Moreover, they would achieve something they had not done before which was to go unbeaten in all of their league games, winning 16 and drawing four but a play-off was still needed to decide the title.

Melksham started the season with three straight victories over Calne Town, Amesbury Junior Badgers and Corsham Town, the 5-1 victory over Corsham being the last game that Corsham were to play in the league before their withdrawal and the result was subsequently expunged from the record book. Durrington also started the season with three straight wins, defeating Trowbridge Town Tigers, Warminster Town and Bishops Cannings to sit joint top of the table after the opening month of the season with surprise packet Trowbridge Tigers who had won three of their opening four games, their only loss that game against Durrington.

The start of October saw Melksham drop their first points of the season after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Warminster Town, whilst Durrington were being awarded their away fixture against Westbury United. There was then a break in the league action due to the two veterans’ cups although Melksham would only get to play one of their cup games as ExIntel from the North Wiltshire Division conceded their League Cup tie. The game Melksham did play was in the Vets’ County Cup and it saw them fall to their first defeat of the season, losing 2-0 at home to Cricklade Town from the North Wiltshire Division who would go on to lift the cup. Durrington meanwhile had two consecutive long trips into Swindon to play FS Swindon and Swindon Rovers both of which were won.

Both Melksham Town and Durrington were to play just one league game in November both winning to maintain their unbeaten league records going into the final month of the calendar year. Durrington were to play one more game in the month though, surprisingly losing to Bishops Cannings 5-1 in the Wiltshire County FA Veterans’ Cup.  The first Monday in December saw the first meeting of the season between Melksham Town and Durrington with their unbeaten records on the line. It would prove to be Melksham’s night as a 3-1 win saw them be the one who maintained their unbeaten league record. The following week both won in the league and followed that up with progress in the League Cup, although once again Melksham saw their tie awarded to them after Warminster Town conceded the cup game, whilst Durrington beat Trowbridge Town Tigers.

At this stage Melksham Town were not the only unbeaten side in the league going into the new calendar year though, as it was Devizes Town who sat top of the table having won all of the eight league fixtures they had played before the turn of the year. Devizes sat three points clear of Durrington at the top having played the same number of games, with Trowbridge Town Tigers three points behind but having played two more games than the top two. Melksham, whilst still unbeaten, were back in fourth place having played two games less than the top two and four less than the Tigers.

January saw both Melksham Town and Durrington pick up two wins in the league but in addition Durrington fell to their second defeat of the campaign, losing 2-1 at home against Warminster Town who again showed on their night they were capable of taking points off the leading sides in the division. This was further highlighted with Devizes Town dropping their first points of the season when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Warminster.  Durrington’s two victories did see them gain revenge for that county cup exit at the hands of Bishops Cannings, beating them 6-0 in the latest league encounter.  Devizes were also the latest side in the division to be gifted points when Westbury United were unable to field a side for their league fixture. January also saw Melksham involved in a quarter final tie in the League Cup and they gained revenge for their county cup defeat at the hands of Cricklade Town by beating them 1-0 in the second meeting of the season. As the month closed Devizes Town remained top of the table on 28 points, with Durrington one point behind having played one more game with Melksham Town in third spot, six points behind Devizes but with two games in hand.

February was to prove to be a good month for Melksham as they played catch up with their fixtures winning all three of their league games beating Warminster Town (although yet another award), Westbury United and Calne Town. The other two leading sides played just the one league game each, both winning, and then met each other in the quarter final of the League Cup. Durrington came out on top in that cup encounter defeating Devizes 2-1 to line up a League Cup semi final with Melksham who now sat top of the table on goal difference, level on points with Devizes from the same number of games, with Durrington one point behind having played one more game.

March was a busy month in the division with all three leading sides set to play four league games, all of which were won, although all three sides were gifted the points by Chippenham Town, with Durrington also being gifted three points by Westbury United. With Chippenham having now withdrawn from the league Melksham were then awarded a second game against Chippenham to see them open up a six-point lead at the top of the table, still unbeaten after 17 games. Devizes were in second spot, also still unbeaten, with Durrington a point behind them having played 16 games like Melksham. In addition to those league games in March there was the small matter of the cup semi final between Melksham Town and Durrington.

Like the earlier semi-final involving Chiseldon and Nationwide, it was to prove to be a close affair that ultimately required penalties to settle matters. Melksham opened up a 2-0 half time lead. Whilst the first half belonged to Melksham, it was a different story after the break as two goals brought Durrington back level meaning those penalties were needed to decide matters. It was Durrington who held their nerve to emerge victorious from the penalty shootout, winning 5-4 to line up a cup final date with Nationwide.

The destination of the league title all came down the final month of the season. As a result of the cup draws and postponements the top three had yet to meet each other,  meaning the title would be decided by the outcome in the four games between the sides. The month started with Durrington winning a close encounter with Devizes by a solitary goal. Four days later Devizes dropped another two points when they drew 1-1 with Melksham Town, a result which went down well at Durrington with their two rivals taking points off each other when the same night they were winning 4-1 away at Radstock Town.

Next up was the return game between Devizes Town and Melksham Town at Nursteed Road and once again it was to prove to be a tight affair with neither side finding the back of the net to once again take points off each other. Eight days later Melksham travelled to Durrington and once again the two sides were unable to muster up a goal meaning yet another 0-0 draw and a sharing of the points. The following night Devizes Town were away at Radstock Town looking to take advantage, but things did not go to plan as they fell to a surprise 1-0 defeat. As a result of these games Melksham ended their regular league season unbeaten in their 20 league fixtures and saw Melksham remain three points clear at the top with Durrington having the one game still to play against Devizes. The position now was that Durrington needed to beat Devizes in their final game to force a play-off for the title else they would finish as runners-up behind Melksham. With Radstock having ended Devizes Town’s hopes of honours that final game between Devizes Town and Durrington did not take place, with Devizes becoming the latest side to concede a game. This  meant a play-off was now needed to decide matters given that goal difference and similar measures could not be used to decide matters given the approach of awarding points when sides fail to raise a side.

Prior to that play-off Durrington met Nationwide in the final of the Veterans’ League Cup at Calne Town FC in front of a sparse crowd. In a cup competition that had been blighted by a high number of awarded games it was fitting that two sides who had played in each and every round had made the final. Both sides went into the final missing key players due to suspension and injury though. Nationwide were without their leading scorer, former Forest Green Rovers and Mansfield Town player, Paul Stonehouse following his sending off the previous week against Cricklade Town. Meanwhile Durrington were missing leading scorer Shaune Smith, also due to suspension having been sent off in that league game against Melksham Town, and their second top scorer Jesse Walters due to a broken leg suffered in that 0-0 draw with Melksham in what was a costly game for Durrington. Despite both sides missing their leading marksmen the two sides produced an entertaining game that saw four goals scored in the 50 minutes with Durrington winning the final 3-1 to claim their first silverware as a member of the league.

Veterans' League Cup winners Season 2024-25, Durrington

The following week saw the staging of the play-off game at Green Lane. The play-off game was a tight affair as was to be expected in a game between two very good veterans’ sides. Durrington were looking to complete a league and cup double whilst Melksham were looking to win the league title for a second time having won the league in Season 2021-22 and having been runners-up in the other three seasons that the league has been operating the Mid Wilts Division. In the end the game was decided by a solitary goal scored just before half time by Melksham’s Kris Beasley to give Melksham Town that second league title in what had been an enthralling title race involving the two sides and Devizes Town. Congratulations to all three teams for their excellent seasons. 

Veterans' Mid Wiltshire Division Champions Season 2024-25, Melksham Town

Elsewhere in the division, Warminster Town finished in fourth place in the table, having taken points off all of the top three sides during the season and will be expected to be up there challenging for honours next season. Despite conceding five games Westbury United finished in fifth place and only lost three times in the games they actually played. Trowbridge Town Tigers after their great start had to settle for sixth place, two points ahead of Calne Town in seventh spot.  

At the bottom end of the table Radstock Town finished in eighth spot but were just one point adrift of Calne Town and had improved over the season culminating in that win over Devizes Town which ended their quest for honours. Chippenham Town finished ninth and had withdrawn come the season end but did so after reaching the 75% threshold as defined by FA rules, so just saw their remaining fixtures awarded to opponents and they are not scheduled to be in the league next season. Amesbury Junior Badgers who finished 10^th with two wins and two draws from their 20 games are also not competing next season which is unfortunate as they have always been one of the better sides in terms of playing their games. Bishops Cannings finished bottom of the table in what was their first season in the league.

In total seven games did not take place in the League Cup competition, one of which was due to the withdrawal of Corsham Town from the League. Changes will need to be made to next season’s competitions to try and eradicate this behaviour, with increased fines, possible regionalisation of the earlier rounds of the competition and/or playing earlier rounds of the cup in the first month of the season when teams are most keen. Something needs to change here.

4 June 2025