The FA have issued the regulations for the operation of the National League System.

You can read the regulations and download a copy BY CLICKING HERE

The draw for the preliminary round of the Les Phillips Cup was made during the AGM last night and was as follows:
Hengrove Athletic v Bristol Telephones
Brislington v Bishop Sutton
Cadbury Heath v Tavistock
Wellington v Roman Glass St George
Oldland Abbotonians v Portishead Town
Wincanton Town v Street
Odd Down (Bath) v Lebeq United
Almondsbury v Exmouth Town
Sherborne Town v Radstock Town

Matches to be played on 17th & 18th September.

The 133rd AGM of The International FA Board (The IFAB) in Aberdeen, Scotland on 2 March 2019 approved a number of amendments to, and clarifications of, the Laws of the Game for 2019/20. Three changes were approved following 2 years of worldwide experiments:
• The introduction of yellow and red cards for misconduct by team officials
• A player being substituted leaving the field at the nearest point on the boundary line
• At a goal kick and a free kick for the defending team in their own penalty area, the ball is in play as soon as the kick is taken (it can be played before it leaves the penalty area).

Other changes include: clearer wording for 'handball', attacking team players must be at least 1m away from a defensive ‘wall’, the goalkeeper only has to have one foot on the goal line at a penalty kick, and a new dropped ball procedure (including a dropped being awarded if the ball hits a match official and goes into the goal, team possession changes or a promising attack starts).

You can download the full document of changes BY CLICKING HERE

It is with great sadness that we have to report to you that Mike Williams, a former Somerset FA Councillor for many years, has sadly passed away. Mike was previously secretary of Clevedon Town and represented the old A Division on the Somerset FA Council for many years until the divisional structure was replaced. He was also Chairman of the SFA Premier Cup Committee. As well as the Somerset FA Mike was for many years the Chair of the Somerset County League, when he retired from that position he became President of the league and remained an active member of the management committee until ill health prevented him.

The League's Annual Convention took place between Friday 10th May and Sunday 12th May at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Plymouth.

It has been a great season and our congratulations to all the award winners.

Photos from the awards dinner can be viewed BY CLICKING HERE

Plymouth Parkway ran out 2-1 winners against league champions Willand Rovers to lift the Les Phillips Cup.

Our thanks to Sherborne Town for hosting the final. And thanks also to Ian Nockolds and Ray Johnston for providing live match commentary.

Thanks also to John Cuthbertson for his excellent photos which you can view BY CLICKING HERE

More photos of the final can be viewed BY CLICKING HERE

The Gloucestershire County League are celebrating their 50th Anniversary and to mark this achievement, a Representative Match took place between the Western League and the Gloucestershire County League on Saturday 4th May at Stonehouse Town FC.

Pictured above is Gordon Boseley who was the captain of Stonehouse when they won the very first Gloucestershire County League Championship in 1968. Pictured with Gordon are Captain of MGCFL Steve Sparrow (Orange) and the Captain of TWFL Harley Purnell (Yellow).

You can view photos of the game together with a match report BY CLICKING HERE

The Photo of the Season was won by John Newport and was judged by last year's winner, Debbie Gould. Congratulations to John.

Our thanks to all the photographers who take the time and trouble to record our matches. Over the past season there have been some outstanding shots.

You can view all the entries to the competition BY CLICKING HERE

After a thrilling three-way battle, Willand Rovers were crowned Western League champions on Saturday after their 1-1 draw away to Bitton. Their tally of 95 points proved to be enough, with Plymouth Parkway and Bitton falling just short despite each passing the 90-point barrier.

Keynsham Town were crowned First Division Champions on Easter Monday after their 2-1 home win against Ashton & Backwell United.

Director Julian French presents the First Division Team of the Month award for February to Longwell Green Sports.

Pictured are Tom Smallman (Captain) and Mitch Hodge.

Longwell Green Sports are seeking a new Club Secretary to be in place for the start of the new season, to replace the current secretary Dave Heal who is standing down after many years loyal service. The club is now not only a Community Chartered Standard but has just been selected as a new FA Hub club, selected by the FA and is one of just 25 clubs in the Country.

We are a friendly club and if you come and join us you will be made very welcome. If there is anybody out there who wants to put something back into the game and into the community please contact:
Vice Chairman Brad Vickerman 07789 902503
First Team Manager Mitchell Hodge 07837 578993
Or email johngibbs195@gmail.com

Longwell Green Sports are looking for a new manager or management team for their Somerset Floodlit Under 18 League for next season. We have a successful record of working together with the first team management set up and seeing youth players move on to play for the club's senior teams.

Please contact:
Vice Chairman Brad Vickerman 07789 902503
First Team Manager Mitchell Hodge 07837 578993
Or email johngibbs195@gmail.com

Vice Chairman Allan Skuse presents the Premier Division Team of the Month award for February to Plymouth Parkway.

The Toolstation Western League is inviting applicants for the post of Deputy Match Official Appointer, who would be directly responsible to the Match Official Appointer in compiling the monthly appointments of assistant referees on the Western League Division One and Gloucester County League.

The successful applicant would need to establish and maintain good working relationships with the relevant bodies and be available to recruit officials for the Western Pool, coordinate dates and react at short notice to appoint officials.

Other duties include maintaining a merit table of performances and investigating any complaints as well as providing a monthly report to the various league’s management prior to the respective league’s meetings.

The applicant would need to have good interpersonal and communication skills and practical experience in the use of Microsoft Office.

It is also preferred that they have a working knowledge of the Western Pool, and experience as a match official, previous appointing, the FA Full-time system and the FA MOAS appointing system.

Anyone interested should email Western League chairman John Pool with a relevant CV: john.pool@toolstationleague.com

Applications close on Friday 12th April.

Fixtures Director George McCaffrey presents the Premier Division Team of the Month Award for January to Bitton.

Odd Down FC are looking to appoint a Football Secretary for the coming season 2019-2020 following the decision of our Football Secretary Lorraine Brown to stand down at the end of this season. The first team play in the Toolstation Western League, the Reserve Team in the Somerset County League and U18s team playing in the Somerset Floodlight Youth League

This is a voluntary position although expenses for administration and travel will be reimbursed.

Odd Down FC is a friendly club, with lots of social activities taking place throughout the week and live entertainment most weekends.

A knowledge of the FA’s Whole Game System would be a great asset however our current secretary would be willing to help with learning the ropes.

The role will include registration and transfer of players, liaising with team managers, League Officials, Match Officials, Somerset FA as well as club chairman and treasurer. Also Match day administration including team sheets, match confirmation, referee reports.

For more information, please contact Chairman Dave Loxton 07530 110415 or Lorraine Brown 01761 437566 or Mob 07734 924435

Chairman John Pool presents the First Division Team of the Month Award for December to Keynsham Town.

Fixtures Director George McCaffrey presents the Premier Division Team of the Month Award for December to Clevedon Town.

If you're interested in a few 'stats' about your team, you can check them out by CLICKING HERE

The Grant Application Service has been in place for three years now and in that time it has helped a number of clubs in the Western League to achieve successful grant awards totalling £500k

The Service provides advice and guidance to clubs who are looking to update their infrastructure as well as hands on management where required.

The Service can provide advice on all aspeces of grant funding, including planning, finding suppliers and completion of all necessary documents to run your project or prepare documents for the Football Association or other lottery funds.

There is no cost at the initial stage and where a more hands on approach is required in general the costs are low, as costs can be claimed back from the grant received.

Clubs we have assisted so far include Barnstaple, Gillingham, Oldland Abbotonians, Keynsham, Street, Cheddar, Plymouth Parkway.

If you would like to discuss your club's infrastructure needs and funding, please call Steve Nicholls on 07454320934 or Martin on 07754543719

Keep up to date with all the latest fixtures and results for the Toolstation Western Football League. Follow your favourite Western League club with the 'Clubhouse' giving you their last result and their next fixture. Get directions to the match at the touch of a button using your devices maps app. Find information about all the Western League clubs including admission prices, kick off times and contact details.

Our thanks to Cocoon Development for writing and developing both our apps.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE APP

The new Toolstation Legaue App for iPhone and iPad is now available to download.

Keep up to date with all the latest fixtures and results for the Toolstation Western Football League. Follow your favourite Western League club with the 'CLUB HOUSE' giving you their last result and their next fixture. Get directions to the match at the touch of a button using your devices maps app. Find information about all the Western League clubs including admission prices, kick off times and contact details and more...

Click on the image to download the our new App now!

Information is available on how to recognise concussion and on how concussion should be managed from the time of injury through to safe return to football. At all levels in football, if a player is suspected of having a concussion, they must be immediately removed from the pitch, whether in training or match play.

You can dowload a copy of the FA's Booklet by following this link

The current men and women of Her Majesty's Armed Forces are doing such an exceptional job both at home and abroad during these difficult times.

The Toolstation Western Football League is proud to offer all current serving members of HM Forces FREE ADMISSION to all League matches.

Proof of ID will be all that is required at the turnstile.