2022–23 Western Football League#Premier Division
{{Infobox football league season
|competition= Western Football League
|season= 2022–23
|winners=
|promoted=
|relegated=
|prevseason= 2021–22
|nextseason= 2023–24
}}
The 2022–23 Western Football League season (known as the 2022–23 Toolstation Western Football League for sponsorship reasons) was the 121st in the history of the Western Football League, a football competition in England. Teams were divided into two divisions; the Premier and the First.
The constitution was announced on 12 May 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.thefa.com/news/2022/may/12/national-league-system-nls-club-allocations-2022-23-season-20221205 |title=The FA provides update on National League System club allocations at Steps 3–6 |date=12 May 2022 |publisher=The FA}}
With a view to a merger between the Western League and the South West Peninsula League in 2023–24, four clubs were to be automatically promoted from Division One to Step 5, depending on ground grading. The fifth-placed club may also have been promoted, on a PPG (points per game) basis.{{cite web|url=https://www.teignmouth-today.co.uk/sport/football/reaction-peninsula-and-western-league-merger-plans-rubber-stamped-by-fa-556485 |title=REACTION: Peninsula and Western League merger plans rubber-stamped by FA |date=22 July 2022 |access-date=23 July 2022 |publisher=Teignmouth Today}} However, the FA scrapped the merger in February 2023 after a breakdown in negotiations, and promotion was reverted to two clubs, one via a play-off.{{cite web|url=https://www.devonlive.com/sport/football/football-news/merger-western-league-peninsula-league-8173366 |title=Merger of Western League and Peninsula League scrapped |date=22 February 2023 |access-date=12 March 2023 |publisher=Devon Live}}
Premier Division
The Premier Division was increased to 20 clubs from 19 after Exmouth Town and Tavistock were promoted to the Southern League South Division, and Bridport were relegated to the South West Peninsula League Premier Division East. Brislington requested demotion to Division One, which the league accepted.
Five new clubs joined the division.
- Promoted from Division One:
- Sherborne Town
- Welton Rovers
- Promoted from the South West Peninsula League Premier Division East:
- Torpoint Athletic
- Promoted from the South West Peninsula League Premier Division West:
- Falmouth Town
- Relegated from the Southern League Division One South:
- Barnstaple Town
=League table=
{{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WDL
|res_col_header=PQR
|team1=MOU|name_MOU=Mousehole
|team2=SAL|name_SAL=Saltash United
|team3=BAR|name_BAR=Barnstaple Town
|team4=BRW|name_BRW=Bridgwater United
|team5=BUC|name_BUC=Buckland Athletic
|team6=HEL|name_HEL=Helston Athletic
|team7=FAL|name_FAL=Falmouth Town
|team8=SHP|name_SHP=Shepton Mallet
|team9=STR|name_STR=Street
|team10=ABU|name_ABU=Ashton & Backwell United
|team11=CLE|name_CLE=Clevedon Town
|team12=TOR|name_TOR=Torpoint Athletic
|team13=MIL|name_MIL=Millbrook
|team14=WLT|name_WLT=Welton Rovers
|team15=WLL|name_WLL=Wellington
|team16=ILF|name_ILF=Ilfracombe Town
|team17=SHB|name_SHB=Sherborne Town
|team18=CAD|name_CAD=Cadbury Heath
|team19=KEY|name_KEY=Keynsham Town
|team20=BIT|name_BIT=Bitton
|win_ABU=14|draw_ABU=6|loss_ABU=16|gf_ABU=60|ga_ABU=52
|win_BAR=24|draw_BAR=3|loss_BAR=9|gf_BAR=77|ga_BAR=49
|win_BIT=0|draw_BIT=0|loss_BIT=0|gf_BIT=0|ga_BIT=0
|win_BRW=20|draw_BRW=9|loss_BRW=7|gf_BRW=84|ga_BRW=41
|win_BUC=22|draw_BUC=2|loss_BUC=12|gf_BUC=69|ga_BUC=48
|win_CAD=4|draw_CAD=6|loss_CAD=26|gf_CAD=34|ga_CAD=87
|win_CLE=13|draw_CLE=7|loss_CLE=16|gf_CLE=60|ga_CLE=69
|win_FAL=16|draw_FAL=8|loss_FAL=12|gf_FAL=62|ga_FAL=48
|win_HEL=18|draw_HEL=12|loss_HEL=6|gf_HEL=60|ga_HEL=38
|win_ILF=7|draw_ILF=11|loss_ILF=18|gf_ILF=47|ga_ILF=65
|win_KEY=5|draw_KEY=3|loss_KEY=28|gf_KEY=39|ga_KEY=113
|win_MIL=11|draw_MIL=7|loss_MIL=18|gf_MIL=45|ga_MIL=59
|win_MOU=26|draw_MOU=8|loss_MOU=2|gf_MOU=93|ga_MOU=32
|win_SAL=26|draw_SAL=6|loss_SAL=4|gf_SAL=98|ga_SAL=39
|win_SHP=15|draw_SHP=10|loss_SHP=11|gf_SHP=58|ga_SHP=45
|win_SHB=8|draw_SHB=7|loss_SHB=21|gf_SHB=41|ga_SHB=64
|win_STR=13|draw_STR=10|loss_STR=13|gf_STR=49|ga_STR=63
|win_TOR=12|draw_TOR=9|loss_TOR=15|gf_TOR=68|ga_TOR=75
|win_WLL=9|draw_WLL=8|loss_WLL=19|gf_WLL=51|ga_WLL=72
|win_WLT=10|draw_WLT=6|loss_WLT=20|gf_WLT=47|ga_WLT=83
|status_MOU=CP
|status_KEY=R
|hth_BIT=Bitton resigned from the league on 21 October 2022 and their playing record of P13 W1 D1 L11 GF10 GA37 Pts4 was expunged.{{cite web|url=http://toolstationleague.com/bitton-withdraw-from-league/ |title=Bitton withdraw from league |date=21 October 2021 |publisher=Toolstation Western League}}
|result1=P
|col_P=green1 |text_P=Promoted to the Southern League
|result2=PO
|col_PO=yellow1 |text_PO=Qualification for an inter-step play-off
|col_RES1=red1|text_RES1=Resigned at the end of the season
|result10=RES1
|result18=R1 |col_R1=red1|text_R1=Voluntarily demoted to Division One |note_res_R1=Cadbury Heath requested voluntary demotion to Division One for the 2023–24 season.
|result19=R |col_R=red1|text_R=Relegated to Division One
|col_RES=black1|text_RES=Resigned from the league
|result20=RES
|result17=T|col_T=#CCCCFF |text_T=Transferred to the Wessex League
|class_rules=1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
|update=complete
|source=[http://www.toolstationleague.com/tables.php Toolstation Western League].}}
=Inter-step play-off=
{{football box collapsible
|date= 29 April 2023
|time= 15:00
|team1= Bristol Manor Farm
|score= 2–0
|report=
|team2= Saltash United
|goals1= Robbins 34
Nielsen 63
|goals2=
|stadium= The Creek
|location= Sea Mills, Bristol
|attendance= 379
|referee=
}}
First Division
The First Division was increased from 21 clubs to 22 after Sherborne Town and Welton Rovers were promoted to the Premier Division, and Devizes Town were relegated.
Four new clubs joined:
- Brislington, voluntarily demoted from the Premier Division
- Hallen, relegated from the Hellenic Football League Premier Division
- Nailsea & Tickenham, promoted from the Somerset County League
- Shirehampton, promoted from the Gloucestershire County Football League
- Lebeq United changed their name to FC Bristol.
- Brislington are ineligible for promotion after taking voluntary demotion from the Premier Division last season.
=League table=
{{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WDL
|res_col_header=PQR
|show_limit=5
|team1=BRS|name_BRS=Brislington
|team2=N&T|name_N&T=Nailsea & Tickenham
|team3=WLL|name_WLL=Wells City
|team4=OLD|name_OLD=Oldland Abbotonians
|team5=WIN|name_WIN=Wincanton Town
|team6=SHI|name_SHI=Shirehampton
|team7=BSU|name_BSU=Bishop Sutton
|team8=FCB|name_FCB=FC Bristol
|team9=HAL|name_HAL=Hallen
|team10=WAR|name_WAR=Warminster Town
|team11=AEK|name_AEK=AEK Boco
|team12=LGS|name_LGS=Longwell Green Sports
|team13=ODD|name_ODD=Odd Down
|team14=POR|name_POR=Portishead Town
|team15=HEN|name_HEN=Hengrove Athletic
|team16=BRI|name_BRI=Bristol Telephones
|team17=GIL|name_GIL=Gillingham Town
|team18=CHE|name_CHE=Cheddar
|team19=RAD|name_RAD=Radstock Town
|team20=TYT|name_TYT=Tytherington Rocks
|team21=BLY|name_BLY=Bishops Lydeard
|team22=ALM|name_ALM=Almondsbury
|win_AEK=17|draw_AEK=4|loss_AEK=21|gf_AEK=73|ga_AEK=88
|win_ALM=7|draw_ALM=10|loss_ALM=25|gf_ALM=38|ga_ALM=112
|win_BLY=8|draw_BLY=8|loss_BLY=26|gf_BLY=46|ga_BLY=102
|win_BSU=19|draw_BSU=9|loss_BSU=14|gf_BSU=69|ga_BSU=62
|win_BRS=36|draw_BRS=2|loss_BRS=4|gf_BRS=130|ga_BRS=35
|win_BRI=14|draw_BRI=11|loss_BRI=17|gf_BRI=59|ga_BRI=68
|win_CHE=10|draw_CHE=9|loss_CHE=23|gf_CHE=53|ga_CHE=72
|win_FCB=19|draw_FCB=4|loss_FCB=19|gf_FCB=84|ga_FCB=87
|win_GIL=11|draw_GIL=8|loss_GIL=23|gf_GIL=72|ga_GIL=100
|win_HAL=16|draw_HAL=11|loss_HAL=15|gf_HAL=70|ga_HAL=63
|win_HEN=14|draw_HEN=8|loss_HEN=20|gf_HEN=67|ga_HEN=71
|win_LGS=16|draw_LGS=5|loss_LGS=21|gf_LGS=78|ga_LGS=96
|win_N&T=31|draw_N&T=5|loss_N&T=6|gf_N&T=120|ga_N&T=45
|win_ODD=13|draw_ODD=12|loss_ODD=17|gf_ODD=72|ga_ODD=72
|win_OLD=24|draw_OLD=9|loss_OLD=9|gf_OLD=92|ga_OLD=53
|win_POR=15|draw_POR=7|loss_POR=20|gf_POR=55|ga_POR=70
|win_RAD=8|draw_RAD=13|loss_RAD=21|gf_RAD=57|ga_RAD=79
|win_SHI=21|draw_SHI=6|loss_SHI=15|gf_SHI=89|ga_SHI=70
|win_TYT=9|draw_TYT=9|loss_TYT=24|gf_TYT=41|ga_TYT=97
|win_WAR=16|draw_WAR=10|loss_WAR=16|gf_WAR=57|ga_WAR=58
|win_WLL=29|draw_WLL=9|loss_WLL=4|gf_WLL=94|ga_WLL=38
|win_WIN=22|draw_WIN=5|loss_WIN=15|gf_WIN=93|ga_WIN=71
|adjust_points_BRI=-3
|hth_BRI=Bristol Telephones had three points deducted.
|status_BRS=C
|status_N&T=P
|status_OLD=OP
|status_ALM=R
|col_P=green1 |text_P=Promoted to the Premier Division
|col_PO=yellow1|text_PO=Qualification for the play-offs
|result2=P |result3=PO |result4=PO |result5=PO |result6=PO
|result8=T|col_T=#CCCCFF |text_T=Transferred to the Hellenic League|result20=RT|result21=T1|result22=R
|col_RT=#CCCCFF |text_RT=Reprieved and transferred to the Hellenic League
|col_T1=#CCCCFF|text_T1=Reprieved and transferred to the South West Peninsula League
|col_R=red1|text_R=Relegated to the Gloucestershire County League
|class_rules=1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
|update=complete
|source=[http://www.toolstationleague.com/tables.php Toolstation Western League].
}}
=Promotion playoffs=
{{4TeamBracket
| RD1=Semi-finals
| RD2=Final
| RD1-seed1=3
| RD1-team1=Wells City
| RD1-score1=0
| RD1-seed2=6
| RD1-team2=Shirehampton
| RD1-score2=3
| RD1-seed3=4
| RD1-team3=Oldland Abbotonians (pens)
| RD1-score3=2 (11)
| RD1-seed4=5
| RD1-team4=Wincanton Town
| RD1-score4=2 (10)
| RD2-seed1=4
| RD2-team1=Oldland Abbotonians
| RD2-score1=2
| RD2-seed2=6
| RD2-team2=Shirehampton
| RD2-score2=1
}}
References
- [http://www.toolstationleague.com/tables.php League tables]
{{reflist}}