Western Football League
The Western Football League is a football league in South West England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire. The league's current main sponsor is Toolstation, so it is also known as the Toolstation League.
 | |
| Founded | 1892 |
|---|---|
| Country | England |
| Other club(s) from | Wales |
| Divisions | Premier Division Division One |
| Number of teams | 40 20 (Premier Division) 20 (Division One) |
| Level on pyramid | Levels 9–10 |
| Feeder to | Southern League Division One South |
| Relegation to | Dorset Premier League Gloucestershire County League Somerset County League Wiltshire League South West Peninsula League† †Only relegated from & promoted to Premier Division |
| Domestic cup(s) | Les Phillips Cup |
| Current champions | Willand Rovers (Premier Division) Keynsham Town (Division One) (2018–19) |
| Website | Official |
| Current: 2020–21 season | |
Recent restructuring of the English football league system has placed the two divisions, known as the Premier Division and Division One (each a maximum of twenty-two clubs) at the ninth and tenth tiers overall, known as Step 5 and Step 6 of the National League System.
The champion club may apply for promotion to a Step 4 league, which in practice will almost certainly be the Southern League Division One South and West. Below the Western League are four local leagues covering smaller areas, the Gloucestershire County League, the Somerset County League, the Dorset Premier League and the Wiltshire League.[1] The South West Peninsula League Premier Division is also a feeder to the Western League but due to having Step 6 status (the same level as the Western League Division One), it feeds directly into the Western League Premier Division.
List of 2019–20 member clubs
Premier Division
| Club | Home ground |
|---|---|
| Bitton | Recreation Ground |
| Bradford Town | Trowbridge Road |
| Bridgwater Town | Fairfax Park |
| Bridport | St Mary's Field |
| Brislington | Brislington Stadium |
| Buckland Athletic | Homers Heath |
| Cadbury Heath | Springfield |
| Clevedon Town | Hand Stadium |
| Cribbs | The Lawns |
| Exmouth Town | Southern Road |
| Hallen | The Hallen Centre |
| Keynsham Town | Crown Field |
| Odd Down | Lew Hill Memorial Ground |
| Plymouth Parkway | Bolitho Park |
| Roman Glass St. George | Oaklands Park |
| Shepton Mallet | The Playing Fields |
| Street | The Tannery |
| Tavistock | Langsford Park |
| Wellington | The Playing Field |
| Westbury United | Meadow Lane |
Division One
| Club | Home ground |
|---|---|
| Almondsbury | The Field |
| Ashton & Backwell United | Recreation Ground |
| Bishops Lydeard | Darby Way |
| Bishop Sutton | Lakeview |
| Bristol Telephones | Stockwood Lane |
| Calne Town | Bremhill View |
| Cheddar | Bowdens Park |
| Corsham Town | Southbank |
| Devizes Town | Nursteed Road |
| Hengrove Athletic | Norton Lane |
| Lebeq United | Oaklands Park |
| Longwell Green Sports | Longwell Green Community Stadium |
| Oldland Abbotonians | Aitchison Playing Field |
| Portishead Town | Bristol Road |
| Radstock Town | The Southfields Recreation Ground |
| Sherborne Town | Raleigh Grove |
| Warminster Town | Weymouth Street |
| Welton Rovers | West Clewes |
| Wells City | The Athletic Ground |
| Wincanton Town | Wincanton Sports Ground |
History
The league was formed in 1892 as the Bristol & District League, and became the Western League in 1895. Another Bristol & District League was later formed, which remains active at a much lower level than the Western League. In the years before World War II, many teams played in both the Southern and Western Leagues; the Western League was considered as secondary to the Southern League.
On four occasions, member clubs have lifted the FA Vase, Tiverton Town twice, Taunton Town once and most recently Truro City, who beat A.F.C. Totton in 2007 at the first final to be held at the new Wembley Stadium before a competition record crowd of 27,754. Truro City were the only one of the three to win the FA Vase while in Division One, while none are current members of the Western League, as all three have since progressed to the Southern League.
Founder members
- Bedminster (later merged with Bristol South End to form Bristol City)
- Clevedon (later Clevedon Town)
- Clifton Association
- Eastville Rovers (later Bristol Rovers)
- Mangotsfield
- St. George (later merged with Roman Glass F.C. to form Roman Glass St George)
- Trowbridge Town
- Warmley
- Wells
List of champions
Teams promoted to Southern League (since 1946)
| Year | Team | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1949 | Weymouth | 3rd |
| 1957 | Poole Town | 1st |
| 1958 | Trowbridge Town | 5th |
| 1968 | Salisbury | 2nd |
| 1971 | Andover | 2nd |
| 1972 | Bideford | 1st |
| 1972 | Minehead | 2nd |
| 1972 | Dorchester Town | 7th |
| 1977 | Taunton Town | 9th |
| 1982 | Bridgwater Town | 3rd |
| 1992 | Weston-super-Mare | 1st |
| 1993 | Clevedon Town | 1st |
| 1999 | Tiverton Town | 2nd |
| 2000 | Mangotsfield United | 2nd |
| 2001 | Chippenham Town | 2nd |
| 2002 | Taunton Town | 2nd |
| 2003 | Team Bath | 1st |
| 2004 | Paulton Rovers | 2nd |
| 2007 | Bridgwater Town | 2nd |
| 2008 | Truro City | 1st |
| 2009 | Frome Town | 2nd |
| 2010 | Bideford | 1st |
| 2012 | Merthyr Town | 1st |
| 2014 | Larkhall Athletic | 1st |
| 2015 | Slimbridge | 3rd |
| 2016 | Barnstaple Town | 2nd |
| 2017 | Bristol Manor Farm | 1st |
| 2018 | Street | 1st |
| 2018 | Melksham Town | 2nd |
| 2019 | Willand Rovers | 1st |
References
- "FOOTBALL: Chippenham Park to join Toolstation League". Gazette and Herald. Wiltshire. 24 May 2013. Archived from the original on 28 June 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2013.