Written by Sam Russell
LARKHALL ATHLETIC
STADIUM: Plain Ham
DISTANCE TO TRAVEL: Approximately 49.6 miles
NICKNAME: The Larks
FOUNDED: 1914
MANAGER: John Durbin
25/26 FINISH: 9th – Southern League Division One South
SEASON BUILD
Larkhall Athletics’ 2025/26 season told two very different stories.
Under previous boss Ollie Price, results had been solid without being spectacular, but his resignation in December opened the door for a genuine turning point at Plain Ham.
John Durbin, who had joined as assistant manager ahead of the season, stepped up to take interim charge before being confirmed as first-team manager in January, and the impact was almost immediate.
Larkhall went on an extended winning run under Durbin, including a spell of five straight victories that lifted the club into the top half of the table.
That form ultimately carried them to a 9th-place finish, a significant improvement given where the club had been earlier in the campaign, and it points to a squad now built around Durbin's management style heading into next season.
RECENT MEETINGS
Hartpury and Larkhall met twice this season, with the sides splitting the results.
Larkhall won the first meeting 3-1, catching Hartpury cold earlier in the campaign.
Hartpury responded emphatically in the return fixture, thumping Larkhall 5-0 at 4ED Hartpury Stadium, with Nathan Jenkins scoring a hat-trick in a five-star display.
CLUB HISTORY
Larkhall Athletic were founded in 1914 and have a proud history of local success, including a Western League title.
Plain Ham has been the heart of the club for generations, and the current squad blends experienced heads with promising younger talent under Durbin's leadership.
MELKSHAM TOWN
STADIUM: Oakfield Stadium
DISTANCE TO TRAVEL: 65 miles
NICKNAME: Town
FOUNDED: 1876
MANAGER: Kieran Baggs
25/26 FINISH: 17th – Southern League Division One South
SEASON BUILD
Melksham Town's 2025/26 campaign was one of steady progress under long-serving boss Kieran Baggs.
The club pushed into the top half of the table and stayed there for much of the season, a clear step forward from previous years.
Baggs’ side were difficult to break down at Oakfield Stadium, and their consistency across the campaign was the foundation of their strong finish.
Club legend Luke Ballinger was a key figure once again, having returned to Melksham and quickly become one of the side's most reliable forwards.
There were still moments of real quality throughout the year, with Town showing they could compete with sides higher up the division on their day.
With Baggs settled into the role and a squad building nicely, Melksham will be looking to push
on again next season.
RECENT MEETINGS
Hartpury and Melksham shared the spoils across the season with the first meeting at Oakfield Stadium ending 2-2, with both sides sharing the points in a lively encounter.
Melksham completed the double over Hartpury in the return fixture, winning 1-0 away at the 4ED Hartpury Stadium.
Both games showed how evenly matched the two sides have become in this fixture.
TOWN TALK
Melksham Town were founded in 1876, making them one of the older clubs in Southern League Division One South.
Oakfield Stadium has been home to the club through generations of Wiltshire football, giving Melksham a proud sense of history heading into every season.
WESTBURY UNITED
STADIUM: Meadow Lane
DISTANCE TO TRAVEL: 64 miles
NICKNAME: The White Horse Men
FOUNDED: 1920
MANAGER: Ricky Hulbert
25/26 FINISH: 10th – Southern League Division One South
SEASON BUILD
Westbury United's 2025/26 season saw them settle comfortably into the top half of the table under Ricky Hulbert.
Hulbert, a familiar face at the club for years, continues to double up as a player-manager, still turning out from the bench when needed at the age of 39.
The White Horse Men were competitive throughout the campaign, picking up notable scalps against sides around them in the division.
It capped a solid year of progress, with the club building on previous seasons at Step 4 and showing they belong in the upper half of Division One South.
RECENT MEETINGS
Hartpury and Westbury split the results across a dramatic season series.
Hartpury won the first meeting 1-0 at the 4ED Hartpury Stadium, with Nathan Jenkins scoring the only goal in the opening minutes.
Westbury hit back in stunning fashion in the return fixture at Meadow Lane, winning 2-1 with two goals in the dying stages, one in the 86th minute and a stoppage-time winner in the 91st.
It was a late twist that summed up how unpredictable this fixture has become between the two clubs.
WHITE HORSE ORIGINS
Westbury United were formed in 1920 through a merger of Westbury Old Comrades and the Westbury Great Western Railway XI.
The name "The White Horse Men" comes from the famous Westbury White Horse hill figure that overlooks the town, giving the club one of the most distinctive nicknames in the division.
We look forward to crossing paths with all these new clubs and wish them the best of luck next season!
