Cup Draw
Preliminary Round
| Brislington | 2 | 3 | Bitton | Chard Town | 1 | 0 | Oldland Abbotonians | Hallen | 0 | 2 | Calne Town | Shrewton United | 2 | 3 | Street | Wells City | 3 | 0 | Almondsbury UWE |
First Round
| Barnstaple Town | 3 | 0 | Corsham Town | Bitton | 7 | 0 | Portishead Town | Bridport | 0 | 1 | Odd Down | Bristol Manor Farm | 4 | 0 | Sherborne Town | Calne Town | 3 | 0 | Cadbury Heath | Chard Town | 0 | 4 | Radstock Town | Elmore | 3 | 2 | Bishop Sutton | Gillingham Town | 2 | 0 | Wellington | Melksham Town | 2 | 0 | Hengrove Athletic | Merthyr Town | 3 | 0 | Wells City | Roman Glass St George | 1 | 4 | Larkhall Athletic | Shepton Mallet | 1 | 0 | Keynsham Town | Street | 1 | 4 | Bradford Town | Welton Rovers | 2 | 1 | Longwell Green Sports | Westbury United | 0 | 4 | Ilfracombe Town | Willand Rovers | 2 | 0 | Devizes Town |
Bradford Town Removed from Competition
Second Round
| Barnstaple Town | 2 | 1 | Gillingham Town | Bitton | 3 | 0 | Welton Rovers | Bristol Manor Farm | 1 | 5 | Odd Down | Ilfracombe Town | 2 | 0 | Melksham Town | Merthyr Town | 1 | 0 | Elmore | Radstock Town | 6 | 7 | Calne Town | Street | 1 | 0 | Shepton Mallet | Willand Rovers | Larkhall Athletic |
Quarter Finals
| Barnstaple Town | Calne Town | Ilfracombe Town | Odd Down (Bath) | Merthry Town | Street | Willand or Larkhall | Bitton |
The Les Phillips Cup
Our league cup is named after a former Chairman of the league, Les Phillips. He is noted for bringing sponsorship to the league. In 1973, Les was elected Chairman. Many have said that this was a 'milestone' in the league's history. With a broad smile and a booming voice, Les assured everyone that he would do everything in his power to help the league make further progress. And progress it did. A sponsorship deal with Rothmans followed worth £10,000 per season. And so the 1974/75 season kicked off as The Rothmans Western Football League.
Do you remember the Great Mills Western League? That was Les Phillips too. The deal was announced at Ashton Court on Tuesday 27th April 1982 by Peter Bastin of Great Mills and Lawrie McMenemy. The sponsorship deal was worth £100,000 over five years and introduced a 'pounds-for-goals' bonus system.
In 1988, Les Phillips passed away. This was a great shock. The man who had given so much to the league was gone. It was therefore decided to re-name the Challenge Cup after Les and the first winners in the 1988/89 season were Exmouth Town.
Having a cup named after you may not be much reward for a man who had given so much to Western League Football, but his name will always be remembered and live on in the Les Phillips Cup.
The trophy itself started life in the 1954/55 season as The Western Football League Professional Challenge Cup. This new cup which cost £45-9s-0d was only open to professional clubs. In those days there was a distinction between professional and amateur clubs in the league. Poole were the first team to win the cup having beaten Frome.
In 1961/62 The Professional Challenge Cup was renamed 'The Challenge Cup' and the first winners were Bristol City Reserves.
Source. 'A View From The Terraces - 100 Years of The Western Football League 1892-1992 by Sandie & Doug Webb