1979–80 Western Football League

Western Football League 1979–80 Barnstaple Town (Premier Division)Melksham Town (Division One) 1978–79 1980–81 The 1979–80 season was the 78th in the history of the Western Football League. The league champions for the second time in their history were Barnstaple Town. The champions of Division One were Melksham Town.Robinson, Michael (ed.), Non-League Football Tables 1889–2006, Soccer Books, 2006 This season marked a return to the system of two points for a win, after five seasons using the three-point system. The Western League returned to the three-point system after ten seasons, in 1989–90. Premier Division The Premier Division remained at twenty clubs after Glastonbury and Shepton Mallet Town were relegated to the First Division, and two clubs joined: A.F.C. Bournemouth Reserves, champions of the First Division. Portway Bristol, runners-up in the First Division. League table main WDL R 2 BAR Barnstaple Town BOU A.F.C. Bournemouth Reserves WSM Weston-super-Mare FRO Frome Town BRW Bridgwater Town EXE Exeter City Reserves CLE Clevedon Town PBR Portway Bristol SAL Saltash United BID Bideford KEY Keynsham Town FAL Falmouth Town DAW Dawlish CLA Clandown TIV Tiverton Town WLT Welton Rovers PAU Paulton Rovers MNG Mangotsfield United BRP Bridport ILM Ilminster Town 23 10 5 67 31 24 7 7 100 26 22 11 5 81 45 19 10 9 57 38 17 12 9 64 43 16 11 11 71 59 16 10 12 74 58 16 10 12 66 53 14 14 10 64 51 16 10 12 61 51 16 10 12 56 53 14 10 14 58 53 10 11 17 39 67 12 6 20 53 76 8 14 16 36 65 10 9 19 59 84 11 6 21 50 68 7 10 21 37 80 4 14 20 31 67 2 11 25 31 87 R -1 Bridport had one point deducted for fielding an ineligible player. #ffcccc Left at the end of the season LFT LFT #ffcccc Relegated to Division One R complete First Division The First Division increased from nineteen to twenty-two clubs after A.F.C. Bournemouth Reserves and Portway Bristol were promoted to the Premier Division. Five new clubs joined: Bath City Reserves, returning to the league after leaving in 1971. Glastonbury, relegated from the Premier Division. Liskeard Athletic, from the South Western League. Radstock Town, from the Somerset Senior League – returning to the league after leaving in 1960. Shepton Mallet Town, relegated from the Premier Division. League table main WDL P 5 2 MEL Melksham Town DEV Devizes Town LIS Liskeard Athletic BCR Bath City Reserves EXM Exmouth Town TRQ Torquay United Reserves ELM Elmore BMF Bristol Manor Farm OSM Ottery St Mary GLA Glastonbury CHI Chippenham Town RAD Radstock Town SHP Shepton Mallet Town CHA Chard Town YEO Yeovil Town Reserves BRI Brixham United HEA Heavitree United LAR Larkhall Athletic ODD Odd Down WLL Wellington STH Swanage Town & Herston WES Westland-Yeovil 27 8 7 78 27 P 25 9 8 91 42 P 23 10 9 70 31 P 22 8 12 89 62 22 8 12 67 43 21 10 11 84 61 20 9 13 63 45 20 9 13 70 58 16 12 14 64 52 16 11 15 60 68 16 10 16 58 62 15 10 17 63 75 15 9 18 75 78 14 11 17 51 59 14 10 18 71 85 14 9 19 60 70 11 14 17 57 69 11 10 21 48 85 9 12 21 46 76 8 13 21 38 59 6 13 23 45 91 5 9 28 31 81 -1 Swanage Town & Herston had one point deducted for fielding an ineligible player. #ccffcc Promoted to the Premier Division P P P #ffcccc Left at the end of the season LFT The system of using goal difference to separate two teams tied on points was used. The points system: 2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw and 0 points for losing. complete References 1979–80 6