The latest match report from Kerry Miller can be found on the Match Reports page.

MATCH REPORTS

On this weeks podcast Richard Fey, manager of league leaders Street, plus an interview with Conor Ogilvie-Davidson from the Somerset FA, talking about this years Grassroots Survey and Western League Press Officer, Kerry Miller, previews the weekends FA Vase action.

The Western League’s 125th anniversary celebrations continued with a dinner at the Marriott Hotel in Bristol on Saturday night.

Past and present members of the league met up to celebrate this historic occasion and were joined by guest speaker Geoff Twentyman of BBC Radio Bristol.

You can see the photos from the evening byCLICKING HERE

The Western League’s 125th anniversary celebrations got under way on Wednesday night when the representative XI took on an FA XI at Oakfields, home of Melksham Town FC, and the excellent 532 crowd were treated to 90 minutes of faced paced football fitting of such an occasion, writes Kerry Miller.

The driving rain and wind which threatened to drown out the whole night thankfully abated early enough to entice a crowd to watch the match at the newest ground in what is the third oldest league in the country. Guests from many clubs, leagues and FAs attended as England C team manager Paul Fairclough brought a side picked predominantly from Southern League clubs based in the south and west. Gosport Borough, Salisbury, Basingstoke Town, Dorchester Town, Wimborne Town and Winchester City were represented as well as Mangotsfield United and Larkhall Athletic more locally and both teams showed what they could do in a fast paced opening on Melksham’s immaculate playing surface which is made quick passing football.

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Match Photos

Almost 1,700 spectators watched seven Toolstation Western League matches over the past weekend and were treated to 28 goals across the board with all the participating sides putting on a show which sent the disparate group of Groundhoppers home with a collective smile on their faces writes Kerry Miller.

Bishops Lydeard and Cheddar rounded off the series with a cliff hanger at Cothelstone Road on Sunday afternoon leaving the visitors to start their trips home to the likes of Germany, Norway, Sweden, Wales, Scotland, Suffolk, Scunthorpe, Hebden Bridge, Oxford and Ramsgate.

Congratulations were universally offered to all the home sides – Ashton and Backwell United, Welton Rovers, Radstock Town, Odd Down, Hengrove Athletic, Shepton Mallet and Bishops Lydeard – who played their part in what was a superbly run weekend in the main enjoyed in favourable conditions. Chris and Lawrence from Groundhop UK were again the catalyst behind the event which is in its third year which brings in much needed funds to member clubs as well as giving many players the chance to perform in front of crowds rarely seen nowadays in the Western League.

With book, programme and badge dealers plying their wares at all the games and food outlets doing a roaring trade throughout, it was left to the teams themselves to put on a show, and they did not disappoint. Six of the seven games went to the wire with the exception of Shepton’s home win over Brislington and with an average of four goals a game the league was definitely shown in a good light with all hoping for a repeat next season.

Much thanks must also go to the respective bands of merry men and women who worked so hard for their clubs to ensure that the hungry hoards were sent away with full bellies, and in many cases full bladders. At Odd Down the ladies catered for the vegetarians among the visitors with a stroke of genius neatly packaged up as humous salad rolls for just £1 while at Bishops Lydeard there were industrial quantities of veggie curry as well as the chicken variety, on the simmer all afternoon.

Representatives from leagues and clubs all over the country descended on the grounds as the non-League fraternity met up again with friends whose paths sometimes only cross once a year and tales were spun of grounds and clubs far and wide who collectively make up the non-League scene.

You can read the match reports from all seven matches by CLICKING HERE

This is a picture of Peasedown Miners Welfare. It was 1920-21 and their most successful Season – winners of the Western League, Senior Cup, Senior League and Somerset Challenge Cup.

If you have any old photos or know of anyone who does we do not want the original. Please scan it and email it to Andy Radford. If you are unable to scan it and need help, please let us know.

Our thanks to Jen Gregory for this photo.

League President Brian Beer presents the First Division Team of the Month Award to Bristol Telephones.

Director Malcolm Price presents the Premier Division Team of the Month Award to Captain Brett Worbey of Willand Rovers.

Congratulations to all the winners!

The league has for sale a limited number of 125th Anniversary pin bagdes. The cost is £2.50 plus £1 postage.

If you would like to buy a badge, email Sue Merrill sue.merrill@toolstationleague.com

Keynsham Town are looking to appoint a Physiotherapist to join our First Team. The post would suit a hardworking, enthusiastic individual with an interest in sports medicine who is seeking to further their experience base in a sporting environment. Anyone interested should contact Club Secretary Julian French on 07814 609853 or jules1233@live.com

The Android version of our league app is now available on the Google Play Store. And it's FREE!

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

Sports Financial Services was set up to some 2 years ago to help sports club, in particular Toolstation Western League clubs, to help and aid them achieve success with improvements they needed with infrastructure projects to enable them to move up the Pyramid System or to update their current facilities.

During this time we have managed to secure over £300,000 from the Football Foundation and Sports England towards ground improvements for Keynsham Town FC, Barnstaple Town, Oldland Abbottonians, Gillingham FC, and Street FC. We are currently working with three other Toolstation clubs trying to secure funding for projects that they want to achieve.

If you are interested in having a project you have in mind discussed, we would be only be too happy to listen and advise accordingly. If you'd like to make contact with your initial ideas, you can contact us on our website at: sportsfinancialservices.com

Alternatively give us a call on 07754543719 or 07454320934

You can dowload further details by following this link

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

A complete history of the Western League with tables, all time club and ground details, cup results, biographies of personalities etc.

Follow >> THIS LINK for further details and how to buy the book.

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.