| Season | 2023–24 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Helston Athletic |
| Promoted | Helston Athletic Falmouth Town |
2024–25 → | |
The2023–24 Western Football League season (known as the2023–24 Toolstation Western Football League for sponsorship reasons) was the 122nd in the history of theWestern Football League, afootball 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]
The Premier Division was reduced to 18 clubs from 20 afterMousehole were promoted to the Southern League South Division;Sherborne Town were transferred to theWessex League;Cadbury Heath took voluntary demotion to Division One,Keynsham Town were relegated to Division One, andAshton & Backwell United andBitton resigned from the league.
Mangotsfield United were initially transferred from theHellenic League Premier Division, but were moved back after the resignation ofShrivenham from that league.
Four new clubs joined the division.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Helston Athletic(C, P) | 34 | 25 | 5 | 4 | 104 | 30 | +74 | 80 | Promoted to theSouthern League |
| 2 | Falmouth Town(O, P) | 34 | 24 | 4 | 6 | 80 | 25 | +55 | 76 | |
| 3 | Bridgwater United | 34 | 23 | 3 | 8 | 99 | 48 | +51 | 72 | Qualification for the play-offs |
| 4 | Clevedon Town | 34 | 21 | 7 | 6 | 70 | 26 | +44 | 70 | |
| 5 | Barnstaple Town | 34 | 19 | 10 | 5 | 84 | 44 | +40 | 67 | |
| 6 | Buckland Athletic | 34 | 18 | 7 | 9 | 88 | 53 | +35 | 61 | |
| 7 | Shepton Mallet | 34 | 18 | 6 | 10 | 63 | 46 | +17 | 60 | |
| 8 | Brixham | 33 | 14 | 10 | 9 | 69 | 36 | +33 | 55[a] | |
| 9 | Nailsea & Tickenham | 34 | 14 | 4 | 16 | 68 | 63 | +5 | 46 | |
| 10 | Torpoint Athletic | 34 | 13 | 6 | 15 | 51 | 59 | −8 | 45 | |
| 11 | Ilfracombe Town | 34 | 10 | 10 | 14 | 56 | 65 | −9 | 40 | |
| 12 | St Blazey | 34 | 11 | 6 | 17 | 55 | 68 | −13 | 39 | |
| 13 | Saltash United | 34 | 10 | 6 | 18 | 55 | 64 | −9 | 36 | |
| 14 | Street | 34 | 9 | 7 | 18 | 53 | 75 | −22 | 34 | |
| 15 | Wellington | 34 | 8 | 8 | 18 | 43 | 81 | −38 | 32 | |
| 16 | Oldland Abbotonians | 34 | 7 | 2 | 25 | 44 | 92 | −48 | 23 | |
| 17 | Welton Rovers | 34 | 4 | 8 | 22 | 37 | 100 | −63 | 17[b] | |
| 18 | Millbrook(R) | 33 | 2 | 1 | 30 | 17 | 161 | −144 | 7 | Relegated toSouth West Peninsula League Division One West |
| Semi-finals | Final | ||||||||
| 2 | Falmouth Town | 3 | |||||||
| 5 | Barnstaple Town | 1 | |||||||
| 2 | Falmouth Town | 2 | |||||||
| 4 | Clevedon Town | 0 | |||||||
| 3 | Bridgwater United | 0 | |||||||
| 4 | Clevedon Town | 1 | |||||||
| 30 April | Falmouth Town | 3–1 | Barnstaple Town | Falmouth |
| 19:45 | Brabyn | Report | Montague | Stadium:Bickland Park Attendance: 480 |
| 30 April | Bridgwater United | 0–1 | Clevedon Town | Bridgwater |
| 19:45 | Report | Teall | Stadium:Fairfax Park |
| 4 May | Falmouth Town | 2–0 | Clevedon Town | Falmouth |
| 15:00 | Massey | Report | Stadium:Bickland Park Attendance: 973 |
| Club | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barnstaple Town | Barnstaple | Mill Road | 5,000 |
| Bridgwater United | Bridgwater | Fairfax Park | 2,500 |
| Brixham | Brixham | Wall Park Road | 2,000 |
| Buckland Athletic | Newton Abbot | Homers Heath | 1,000 |
| Clevedon Town | Clevedon | North Somerset Community Stadium | 3,900 |
| Falmouth Town | Falmouth | Bickland Park | 3,572 |
| Helston Athletic | Helston | Kellaway Park | 1,300 |
| Ilfracombe Town | Ilfracombe | Marlborough Park | 2,000 |
| Millbrook | Millbrook | Jenkins Park | 1,000 |
| Nailsea & Tickenham | Nailsea | Fryth Way | 1,000 |
| Oldland Abbotonians | Oldland Common | Aitchison Playing Field | 1,000 |
| Saltash United | Saltash | Kimberley Stadium | 1,000 |
| Shepton Mallet | Shepton Mallet | Old Wells Road | 2,500 |
| St Blazey | St Blazey | Blaise Park | 3,500 |
| Street | Street | The Tannery Ground | 1,000 |
| Torpoint Athletic | Torpoint | The Mill | 1,000 |
| Wellington | Wellington | Wellington Playing Field | 1,000 |
| Welton Rovers | Midsomer Norton | West Clewes Recreation Ground | 2,400 |
The First Division remained at 22 clubs afterNailsea & Tickenham andOldland Abbotonians were promoted to the Premier Division;Bishops Lydeard were transferred to theSouth West Peninsula League Premier Division East,FC Bristol andTytherington Rocks were transferred to theHellenic League Division One, andAlmondsbury were relegated.
Six new clubs joined:
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portishead Town(C, P) | 42 | 31 | 6 | 5 | 122 | 29 | +93 | 99 | Promoted to thePremier Division |
| 2 | Radstock Town | 42 | 28 | 7 | 7 | 100 | 45 | +55 | 91 | Qualification for the play-offs |
| 3 | Bitton | 42 | 27 | 8 | 7 | 100 | 49 | +51 | 89 | |
| 4 | Wincanton Town(P) | 42 | 27 | 4 | 11 | 103 | 75 | +28 | 85 | Promoted (PPG) and transferred to theWessex League Premier Division |
| 5 | Wells City | 42 | 27 | 3 | 12 | 100 | 59 | +41 | 84 | Qualification for the play-offs |
| 6 | Cribbs Reserves | 42 | 27 | 5 | 10 | 105 | 60 | +45 | 83[a] | |
| 7 | Brislington(O, P) | 42 | 25 | 5 | 12 | 125 | 54 | +71 | 80 | Promoted to thePremier Division |
| 8 | Bradford Town | 42 | 19 | 11 | 12 | 87 | 62 | +25 | 68 | |
| 9 | Hallen | 42 | 20 | 8 | 14 | 82 | 66 | +16 | 68 | |
| 10 | AEK Boco | 42 | 19 | 8 | 15 | 71 | 54 | +17 | 65 | |
| 11 | Bristol Telephones | 42 | 19 | 6 | 17 | 71 | 83 | −12 | 63 | |
| 12 | Longwell Green Sports | 42 | 18 | 5 | 19 | 85 | 88 | −3 | 59 | |
| 13 | Middlezoy Rovers | 42 | 18 | 2 | 22 | 76 | 88 | −12 | 56 | Transferred toSouth West Peninsula League Premier Division East |
| 14 | Cadbury Heath | 42 | 17 | 4 | 21 | 84 | 70 | +14 | 55 | |
| 15 | Hengrove Athletic | 42 | 13 | 7 | 22 | 63 | 84 | −21 | 46 | |
| 16 | Odd Down | 42 | 13 | 7 | 22 | 67 | 108 | −41 | 46 | |
| 17 | Shirehampton | 42 | 12 | 7 | 23 | 73 | 86 | −13 | 43 | |
| 18 | Keynsham Town | 42 | 13 | 4 | 25 | 89 | 116 | −27 | 43 | |
| 19 | Warminster Town | 42 | 10 | 7 | 25 | 64 | 106 | −42 | 37 | |
| 20 | Gillingham Town | 42 | 10 | 4 | 28 | 58 | 117 | −59 | 34 | Reprieved from relegation |
| 21 | Cheddar | 42 | 8 | 1 | 33 | 53 | 115 | −62 | 25 | |
| 22 | Bishop Sutton(R) | 42 | 0 | 3 | 39 | 18 | 182 | −164 | 3 | Relegated to theSomerset County League |
| Semi-finals | Final | ||||||||
| 2 | Radstock Town | 0 | |||||||
| 7 | Brislington | 1 | |||||||
| 4 | Wincanton Town | 2 | |||||||
| 7 | Brislington | 3 | |||||||
| 4 | Wincanton Town | 6 | |||||||
| 5 | Wells City | 4 | |||||||
| 30 April | Radstock Town | 0–1 | Brislington | Radstock |
| 19:30 | Report | Griffiths | Stadium:The Southfields Recreation Ground Attendance: 365 |
| 30 April | Wincanton Town | 6–4 | Wells City | Wincanton |
| 19:45 | Hodges Williams Townsend | Report | Murray | Stadium:Wincanton Sports Ground Attendance: 152 |
| 4 May | Wincanton Town | 2–3 | Brislington | Wincanton |
| 15:00 | Thompson | Report | Kington Dunn | Stadium:Wincanton Sports Ground Attendance: 326 |
| Club | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| AEK Boco | Hanham | Greenbank Recreation Ground | 1,000 |
| Bishop Sutton | Bishop Sutton | Lakeview | 1,500 |
| Bitton | Bitton | Bath Road | |
| Bradford Town | Bradford-on-Avon | Trowbridge Road | 1,000 |
| Brislington | Bristol | Ironmould Lane | 3,000 |
| Bristol Telephones | Whitchurch | BTRA Sports Ground | 1,000 |
| Cadbury Heath | Cadbury Heath | Cadbury Heath Road | |
| Cheddar | Cheddar | Draycott Road | |
| Cribbs Reserves | Henbury | The Lawns | 1,000 |
| Gillingham Town | Gillingham | Woodwater Lane | 1,000 |
| Hallen | Hallen | Hallen Centre | 2,000 |
| Hengrove Athletic | Whitchurch | Norton Lane | 1,000 |
| Keynsham Town | Keynsham | AJN Stadium | 3,001 |
| Longwell Green Sports | Longwell Green | Longwell Green Community Centre | 1,000 |
| Middlezoy Rovers | Westonzoyland | Ethan Berry Pavilion | 1,000 |
| Odd Down | Bath | Lew Hill Memorial Ground | 1,000 |
| Portishead Town | Portishead | Bristol Road | 1,400 |
| Radstock Town | Radstock | Southfields Recreation Ground | 1,250 |
| Shirehampton | Shirehampton | Penpole Lane | 1,000 |
| Warminster Town | Warminster | Weymouth Street | 1,000 |
| Wells City | Wells | Athletic Ground | 1,500 |
| Wincanton Town | Wincanton | Wincanton Sports Ground | 1,000 |
The2023–24 Les Phillips Cup was the cup competition of the wholeWestern Football League.
Helston Athletic were defending champions, having beatenShepton Mallet in the2022–23 season.
16 clubs participated in the first round.
| Tie | (Tier) Home team | Score | Away team (Tier) | Att. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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) |
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.
| Tie | (Tier) Home team | Score | Away team (Tier) | Att. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Falmouth Town (PD) | 0–2 | Helston Athletic (PD) | |
| 2 | Millbrook (PD) | 1–6 | Brixham (PD) | |
| 3 | Buckland Athletic (PD) | 0–0(4–3p) | 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(4–1p) | 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(4–3p) | 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(4–3p) | AEK Boco (D1) | |
| 16 | Keynsham Town (D1) | 4–9 | Shirehampton (D1) |
| Tie | (Tier) Home team | Score | Away team (Tier) | Att. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brixham (PD) | 1–1(2–3p) | Buckland Athletic (PD) | |
| 2 | Saltash United (PD) | 1–2 | Helston Athletic (PD) | |
| 3 | Bridgwater United (PD) | 1–1(4–2p) | Ilfracombe Town (PD) | |
| 4 | Middlezoy Rovers (D1) | 2–2(7–8p) | 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(4–2p) | Odd Down (D1) | |
| 8 | Bradford Town (D1) | 1–4 | Shirehampton (D1) |
| Tie | (Tier) Home team | Score | Away team (Tier) | Att. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Tie | (Tier) Home team | Score | Away team (Tier) | Att. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barnstaple Town (PD) | 3–2 | Helston Athletic (PD) | |
| 2 | Shepton Mallet (PD) | 6–1 | Shirehampton (D1) |
| 12 May 2024 | Shepton Mallet (PD) | 3–1 | Barnstaple Town (PD) | Ladysmead,Tiverton |
| 15:00 |