2023–24 Western Football League Explained

Competition:Western Football League
Season:2023–24
Winners:Helston Athletic
Promoted:Helston Athletic
Falmouth Town
Prevseason:2022–23
Nextseason:2024–25

The 2023–24 Western Football League season (known as the 2023–24 Toolstation Western Football League for sponsorship reasons) was the 122nd in the history of the Western Football League, a football competition in England. Teams are divided into two divisions; the Premier and the First.

The constitution was announced on 15 May 2023.[1] Starting this season, the Premier Division (step 5) promotes two clubs; one as champions and one via a four-team play-off. This replaced the previous inter-step play-off system. For this season only, there was only one club relegated from the Premier Division.[2]

Premier Division

The Premier Division was reduced to 18 clubs from 20 after Mousehole were promoted to the Southern League South Division; Sherborne Town were transferred to the Wessex League; Cadbury Heath took voluntary demotion to Division One, Keynsham Town were relegated to Division One, and Ashton & Backwell United and Bitton resigned from the league.

Mangotsfield United were initially transferred from the Hellenic League Premier Division, but were moved back after the resignation of Shrivenham from that league.

Four new clubs joined the division.

Promotion playoffs

Final

First Division

The First Division remained at 22 clubs after Nailsea & Tickenham and Oldland Abbotonians were promoted to the Premier Division; Bishops Lydeard were transferred to the South West Peninsula League Premier Division East, FC Bristol and Tytherington Rocks were transferred to the Hellenic League Division One, and Almondsbury were relegated.

Six new clubs joined:

Promotion playoffs

Final

Les Phillips Cup

The 2023–24 Les Phillips Cup was the cup competition of the whole Western Football League.

Helston Athletic were defending champions, having beaten Shepton Mallet in the 2022–23 season.

First round

16 clubs participated in the first round.

TieScore
1 Cheddar (D1) 2–4 Barnstaple Town (PD) 88
2 Clevedon Town (PD) 0–3 Bridgwater United (PD)
3 Hengrove Athletic (D1) 5–2 Bishop Sutton (D1)
4 Hallen (D1) 1–0 Welton Rovers (PD)
5 Warminster Town (D1) 2–4 Street (PD)
6 Cadbury Heath (PD) 1–2 Longwell Green Sports (D1)
7 Brislington (D1) 0–4 AEK Boco (D1)
8 Cribbs Reserves (D1) 3–0 Bristol Telephones (D1)

Second round

The 8 clubs who made it through the first round were joined in the draw by 24 clubs who received a bye to the second round, making 32 clubs.

TieScore
1 Falmouth Town (PD) 0–2 Helston Athletic (PD)
2 Millbrook (PD) 1–6 Brixham (PD)
3 Buckland Athletic (PD) 0–0 Torpoint Athletic (PD)
4 St Blazey (PD) 1–5 Saltash United (PD)
5 Wellington (PD) 2–3 Ilfracombe Town (PD)
6 Portishead Town (D1) 1–3 Bridgwater United (PD)
7 Middlezoy Rovers (D1) 1–1 Radstock Town (D1)
8 Nailsea & Tickenham (PD) 0–4 Barnstaple Town (PD)
9 Bitton (D1) 3–2 Gillingham Town (D1)
10 Wincanton Town (D1) 6–0 Hallen (D1)
11 Hengrove Athletic (D1) 1–2 Shepton Mallet (PD)
12 Wells City (D1) 1–1 Street (PD)
13 Odd Down (D1) 3–1 Longwell Green Sports (D1)
14 Bradford Town (D1) 2–0 Oldland Abbotonians (PD)
15 Cribbs Reserves (D1) 0–0 AEK Boco (D1)
16 Keynsham Town (D1) 4–9 Shirehampton (D1)

Third round

TieScore
1 Brixham (PD) 1–1 Buckland Athletic (PD)
2 Saltash United (PD) 1–2 Helston Athletic (PD)
3 Bridgwater United (PD) 1–1 Ilfracombe Town (PD)
4 Middlezoy Rovers (D1) 2–2 Barnstaple Town (PD)
5 Wincanton Town (D1) 0–6 Shepton Mallet (PD)
6 Bitton (D1) 0–2 Wells City (D1)
7 Cribbs Reserves (D1) 4–4 Odd Down (D1)
8 Bradford Town (D1) 1–4 Shirehampton (D1)

Quarter-finals

TieScore
1 Helston Athletic (PD) 3–2 Buckland Athletic (PD)
2 Bridgwater United (PD) 1–4 Barnstaple Town (PD)
3 Shepton Mallet (PD) 2–0 Wells City (D1)
4 Cribbs Reserves (D1) 3–4 Shirehampton (D1) 57

Semi-finals

TieScore
1 Barnstaple Town (PD) 3–2 Helston Athletic (PD)
2 Shepton Mallet (PD) 6–1 Shirehampton (D1)

Final

References

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: REVEALED: Club allocations 2023-24 announced by The FA . 15 May 2023 . The Non-League Football Paper.
  2. Web site: STEP 5 TO 4 PROMOTION/RELEGATION UPDATE . 16 March 2023 . 18 May 2023 . The FA.
  3. Web site: THE FA RELEASES NATIONAL LEAGUE SYSTEM CLUB ALLOCATIONS FOR STEPS 1-6 IN 2024-25 TERM . 17 May 2024 . The FA.