1996–97 Western Football League

Western Football League
Season1996–97
ChampionsTiverton Town (Premier Division)
Melksham Town (Division One)

The 1996–97 season was the 95th in the history of the Western Football League.

The league champions for the third time in their history (and the third time in four seasons) were Tiverton Town. The champions of Division One were Melksham Town.[1]

Final tables

Premier Division

The Premier Division remained at 18 clubs after Crediton United and Frome Town were relegated to the First Division. Two clubs joined:

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Tiverton Town (C) 34 31 1 2 103 20 +83 94
2 Taunton Town 34 24 6 4 99 28 +71 78
3 Mangotsfield United 34 19 8 7 75 44 +31 65
4 Paulton Rovers 34 17 10 7 86 42 +44 61
5 Chippenham Town 34 12 12 10 58 52 +6 48
6 Brislington 34 12 9 13 53 48 +5 45
7 Calne Town 34 13 6 15 55 52 +3 45
8 Torrington 34 11 11 12 54 54 0 44
9 Bridgwater Town 34 12 8 14 53 55 −2 44
10 Bridport 34 11 10 13 41 50 −9 43
11 Odd Down 34 11 15 8 42 46 −4 39[a]
12 Bideford 34 11 6 17 51 84 −33 39
13 Barnstaple Town 34 10 8 16 54 62 −8 38
14 Bristol Manor Farm 34 9 10 15 40 60 −20 37
15 Backwell United 34 9 9 16 42 55 −13 36
16 Chard Town 34 9 7 18 45 67 −22 34
17 Westbury United 34 8 6 20 40 70 −30 30
18 Elmore 34 4 4 26 30 132 −102 16
Source: [citation needed]
(C) Champions
Notes:
  1. ^ Odd Down had nine points deducted for fielding ineligible players.

First Division

The First Division was increased from 19 clubs to 20, after Bridgwater Town and Chard Town were promoted to the Premier Division. Three clubs joined:

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion
1 Melksham Town (C, P) 38 27 8 3 82 20 +62 89 Promoted to the Premier Division
2 Keynsham Town (P) 38 27 7 4 77 21 +56 88
3 Exmouth Town 38 23 7 8 77 42 +35 76
4 Clyst Rovers 38 23 6 9 92 48 +44 75
5 Bishop Sutton 38 21 7 10 96 52 +44 70
6 Wellington 38 21 5 12 82 62 +20 68
7 Devizes Town 38 18 11 9 75 39 +36 65
8 Dawlish Town 38 18 9 11 66 36 +30 63
9 Ilfracombe Town 38 15 12 11 62 44 +18 57
10 Welton Rovers 38 15 7 16 68 59 +9 52
11 Minehead 38 16 4 18 61 56 +5 52
12 Frome Town 38 12 11 15 45 60 −15 47
13 Yeovil Town Reserves 38 12 8 18 66 77 −11 44
14 Glastonbury 38 12 7 19 54 72 −18 43
15 Crediton United 38 12 4 22 58 91 −33 40
16 Warminster Town 38 9 8 21 44 75 −31 35
17 Larkhall Athletic 38 7 13 18 51 92 −41 34
18 Heavitree United 38 7 11 20 44 95 −51 32
19 Pewsey Vale 38 5 4 29 26 105 −79 19
20 Amesbury Town 38 1 9 28 27 107 −80 12 Left at the end of the season
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: The system of using goal difference to separate two teams tied on points was used. The points system: 3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw and 0 points for losing.
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted

References

  1. ^ Robinson, Michael (ed.), Non-League Football Tables 1889–2006, Soccer Books, 2006