LEAGUE AWARDS NIGHT: Divisional winners recognised (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

LEAGUE AWARDS NIGHT: Divisional winners recognised

9:00am Thursday 21st June 2012 in News

LEAGUE secretary Frank Harvey presented the Premier Division winners’ trophy to Jamie Lyons, from Biddestone Social, FC Bradford taking the runners up award.

FC Jager will join the top flight next term as winners of Division One, but runners up Gladstone Arms have resigned from the league.

Corsham United headed Division Two by virtue of their final day win over Chippenham West End with Steeple Ashton Rangers taking second spot.

Pole position in Division Three went to Staverton, who just piped Somerford to the crown.

Newcomers PSC Galaxy capped a great campaign, winnig all 20 league games, by taking the honours in Division Four ahead of Fortune Inn, who were also in their first season.

After losing both Oaklands FC and Stockley Rangers before the 2011-12 season kicked off and AFC Bell, Bradford News, Blue Circle (Sunday), Lavington (Sunday) during the season, the league then lost Box Rovers and Winsley from the Premier Division, Division One runners-up Hullavington and Mallard FC from Division Four prior to last night’s meeting and presentations.

Team numbers are down to 48 – the lowing for many years but six new applicants – FC United of Chippenham, Melksham Cosmos, Oakhill FC, Pig & Whistle United B, Trowbridge Rangers FC and Worton & Cheverell – are all hoping to join the league for the new season which will begin on Sunday, September 2.

The introduction of electronic team sheets last year, saving stamps and cost for clubs, speeding up data to websites and making the workload of committee members more manageable, proved a great success.

The league hope to get all clubs using this system next season to reduce paperwork for club secretaries and league officials. The 2012/13 season, will see changes to the registration process , with items such as the league’s handbook available only on the FA’s Full Time website.

Mike Rogers, secretary of AFC Melksham and long-time committee member, has taken on the role of league development officer.

Having already overseen the introduction of the Respect campaign, Rogers’ next job will see him helping clubs in their bid to gain Chartered Standard status with the help of funding from an FA grant obtained by AFC Melksham.

The league will offer first aid courses to clubs in the hope that all will have a fully trained first aider in regular attendance at matches. Introductory FA Coaching sessions will also be available at no cost for those wishing to attend.

Also at last night’s event, Emma Small, from the Wiltshire County FA and Mike Rogers, newly-appointed league development officer, delivered a presentation on the Respect system to all member clubs .

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