FOLLOWING THE SALTMEN

UhlSport Hellenic League Premier Division

20 December 2025 – New Gerrard Buxton Sports Village

The Saltmen return to league action after bowing out of the Who Cares Cup last weekend, with a trip to Royal Wootton Bassett Football Club. Spa edged the ‘best of three’ reverse fixture at Kingys in October against a young RWBFC team who belied their league position to make things tricky for the home side. I think they will fancy their chances on home turf so it should be a very competitive game.

RWB has a population of around 13,500. It is a market town located 6 miles west of Swindon.

In 2011 it became the fourth English town to gain royal status in recognition of its part in the repatriation of military personnel fallen in action overseas. The other three are Leamington, Tunbridge Wells and, presumably just for a laugh – Sutton Coldfield!!

For those getting to the town well ahead of kick-off an essential visit should be made to Wootton Bassett Mud Springs where mud oozes (sometimes spurts) out of the ground. If the danger is too much to risk, you might want to wait until our away fixture at Claines Lane for a similar experience!

There are a number of pubs on the High Street. The nearest pub to the ground is the Royal. I suspect this may be a mainly foody place but there looks to be a comfortable bar at the ground for the weary traveller to ‘rehydrate.’

And finally, for reasons which may never be fully known, the Home Office has issued a Lock up Your Daughters warning to the good people of Cheltenham for Saturday evening. But good form dictates that what goes on a Players’ Xmas Do should stay on a Players Xmas Do. Hope they recover by next week!

Looking forward to this trip.

See you there.

FTS