# 1996–97 Western Football League

The 1996–97 season was the 95th in the history of the Western Football League.
The league champions for the third time in their history (and the third time in four seasons) were Tiverton Town. The champions of Division One were Melksham Town.

## Final tables
### Premier Division

The Premier Division remained at 18 clubs after Crediton United and Frome Town were relegated to the First Division. Two clubs joined:
* Bridgwater Town, champions of the First Division.
* Chard Town, runners-up in the First Division.
* Odd Down Athletic F.C. reverted to their former name of Odd Down F.C.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Tiverton Town (C) | 34 | 31 | 1 | 2 | 103 | 20 | +83 | 94 |
| 2 | Taunton Town | 34 | 24 | 6 | 4 | 99 | 28 | +71 | 78 |
| 3 | Mangotsfield United | 34 | 19 | 8 | 7 | 75 | 44 | +31 | 65 |
| 4 | Paulton Rovers | 34 | 17 | 10 | 7 | 86 | 42 | +44 | 61 |
| 5 | Chippenham Town | 34 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 58 | 52 | +6 | 48 |
| 6 | Brislington | 34 | 12 | 9 | 13 | 53 | 48 | +5 | 45 |
| 7 | Calne Town | 34 | 13 | 6 | 15 | 55 | 52 | +3 | 45 |
| 8 | Torrington | 34 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 54 | 54 | 0 | 44 |
| 9 | Bridgwater Town | 34 | 12 | 8 | 14 | 53 | 55 | −2 | 44 |
| 10 | Bridport | 34 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 41 | 50 | −9 | 43 |
| 11 | Odd Down | 34 | 11 | 15 | 8 | 42 | 46 | −4 | 39 |
| 12 | Bideford | 34 | 11 | 6 | 17 | 51 | 84 | −33 | 39 |
| 13 | Barnstaple Town | 34 | 10 | 8 | 16 | 54 | 62 | −8 | 38 |
| 14 | Bristol Manor Farm | 34 | 9 | 10 | 15 | 40 | 60 | −20 | 37 |
| 15 | Backwell United | 34 | 9 | 9 | 16 | 42 | 55 | −13 | 36 |
| 16 | Chard Town | 34 | 9 | 7 | 18 | 45 | 67 | −22 | 34 |
| 17 | Westbury United | 34 | 8 | 6 | 20 | 40 | 70 | −30 | 30 |
| 18 | Elmore | 34 | 4 | 4 | 26 | 30 | 132 | −102 | 16 |
* ↑ Odd Down had nine points deducted for fielding ineligible players.

### First Division

The First Division was increased from 19 clubs to 20, after Bridgwater Town and Chard Town were promoted to the Premier Division. Three clubs joined:
* Crediton United, relegated from the Premier Division.
* Frome Town, relegated from the Premier Division.
* Yeovil Town Reserves, rejoining the league after leaving in 1991.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion |
| 1 | Melksham Town (C, P) | 38 | 27 | 8 | 3 | 82 | 20 | +62 | 89 | Promoted to the Premier Division |
| 2 | Keynsham Town (P) | 38 | 27 | 7 | 4 | 77 | 21 | +56 | 88 | Promoted to the Premier Division |
| 3 | Exmouth Town | 38 | 23 | 7 | 8 | 77 | 42 | +35 | 76 | |
| 4 | Clyst Rovers | 38 | 23 | 6 | 9 | 92 | 48 | +44 | 75 | |
| 5 | Bishop Sutton | 38 | 21 | 7 | 10 | 96 | 52 | +44 | 70 | |
| 6 | Wellington | 38 | 21 | 5 | 12 | 82 | 62 | +20 | 68 | |
| 7 | Devizes Town | 38 | 18 | 11 | 9 | 75 | 39 | +36 | 65 | |
| 8 | Dawlish Town | 38 | 18 | 9 | 11 | 66 | 36 | +30 | 63 | |
| 9 | Ilfracombe Town | 38 | 15 | 12 | 11 | 62 | 44 | +18 | 57 | |
| 10 | Welton Rovers | 38 | 15 | 7 | 16 | 68 | 59 | +9 | 52 | |
| 11 | Minehead | 38 | 16 | 4 | 18 | 61 | 56 | +5 | 52 | |
| 12 | Frome Town | 38 | 12 | 11 | 15 | 45 | 60 | −15 | 47 | |
| 13 | Yeovil Town Reserves | 38 | 12 | 8 | 18 | 66 | 77 | −11 | 44 | |
| 14 | Glastonbury | 38 | 12 | 7 | 19 | 54 | 72 | −18 | 43 | |
| 15 | Crediton United | 38 | 12 | 4 | 22 | 58 | 91 | −33 | 40 | |
| 16 | Warminster Town | 38 | 9 | 8 | 21 | 44 | 75 | −31 | 35 | |
| 17 | Larkhall Athletic | 38 | 7 | 13 | 18 | 51 | 92 | −41 | 34 | |
| 18 | Heavitree United | 38 | 7 | 11 | 20 | 44 | 95 | −51 | 32 | |
| 19 | Pewsey Vale | 38 | 5 | 4 | 29 | 26 | 105 | −79 | 19 | |
| 20 | Amesbury Town | 38 | 1 | 9 | 28 | 27 | 107 | −80 | 12 | Left at the end of the season |