# 1997–98 Western Football League

The 1997–98 season was the 96th in the history of the Western Football League.
The league champions for the fourth time in their history (and the fourth time in five seasons) were Tiverton Town, who finished the season unbeaten. The champions of Division One were Bishop Sutton.

## Final tables
### Premier Division

The Premier Division was increased from 18 to 20 clubs after there was no relegation to the First Division last season. Two clubs joined:
* Keynsham Town, runners-up in the First Division.
* Melksham Town, champions of the First Division.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Relegation |
| 1 | Tiverton Town (C) | 38 | 36 | 2 | 0 | 154 | 20 | +134 | 110 | |
| 2 | Taunton Town | 38 | 31 | 3 | 4 | 107 | 28 | +79 | 96 | |
| 3 | Melksham Town | 38 | 22 | 7 | 9 | 75 | 37 | +38 | 73 | |
| 4 | Bridgwater Town | 38 | 22 | 6 | 10 | 73 | 43 | +30 | 72 | |
| 5 | Paulton Rovers | 38 | 19 | 6 | 13 | 76 | 69 | +7 | 63 | |
| 6 | Mangotsfield United | 38 | 18 | 8 | 12 | 76 | 50 | +26 | 62 | |
| 7 | Barnstaple Town | 38 | 18 | 5 | 15 | 79 | 64 | +15 | 59 | |
| 8 | Brislington | 38 | 17 | 8 | 13 | 62 | 55 | +7 | 59 | |
| 9 | Calne Town | 38 | 16 | 9 | 13 | 68 | 67 | +1 | 57 | |
| 10 | Backwell United | 38 | 15 | 7 | 16 | 70 | 68 | +2 | 52 | |
| 11 | Bridport | 38 | 16 | 4 | 18 | 62 | 72 | −10 | 52 | |
| 12 | Chippenham Town | 38 | 13 | 11 | 14 | 53 | 57 | −4 | 50 | |
| 13 | Bideford | 38 | 14 | 6 | 18 | 68 | 90 | −22 | 48 | |
| 14 | Elmore | 38 | 10 | 8 | 20 | 54 | 100 | −46 | 38 | |
| 15 | Westbury United | 38 | 9 | 8 | 21 | 39 | 65 | −26 | 35 | |
| 16 | Bristol Manor Farm | 38 | 8 | 10 | 20 | 37 | 73 | −36 | 34 | |
| 17 | Keynsham Town | 38 | 10 | 4 | 24 | 46 | 94 | −48 | 34 | |
| 18 | Odd Down | 38 | 9 | 6 | 23 | 33 | 80 | −47 | 33 | |
| 19 | Chard Town (R) | 38 | 8 | 8 | 22 | 44 | 77 | −33 | 32 | Relegated to the First Division |
| 20 | Torrington (R) | 38 | 2 | 8 | 28 | 21 | 88 | −67 | 14 | Relegated to the First Division |

### First Division

The First Division was reduced from 20 clubs to 19, after Keynsham Town and Melksham Town were promoted to the Premier Division, and Amesbury Town left the league. Two clubs joined:
* Bitton, promoted from the Gloucestershire County League.
* Street, promoted from the Somerset Senior League – rejoining after leaving the league in 1960.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion |
| 1 | Bishop Sutton (C, P) | 36 | 26 | 8 | 2 | 86 | 25 | +61 | 86 | Promoted to the Premier Division |
| 2 | Yeovil Town Reserves (P) | 36 | 24 | 6 | 6 | 95 | 47 | +48 | 78 | Promoted to the Premier Division |
| 3 | Devizes Town | 36 | 22 | 7 | 7 | 83 | 38 | +45 | 73 | |
| 4 | Street | 36 | 21 | 7 | 8 | 61 | 32 | +29 | 70 | |
| 5 | Clyst Rovers | 36 | 20 | 10 | 6 | 89 | 39 | +50 | 67 | |
| 6 | Minehead | 36 | 16 | 14 | 6 | 60 | 39 | +21 | 62 | |
| 7 | Dawlish Town | 36 | 17 | 10 | 9 | 78 | 48 | +30 | 58 | |
| 8 | Crediton United | 36 | 15 | 8 | 13 | 65 | 67 | −2 | 53 | Left to join the Devon County League |
| 9 | Exmouth Town | 36 | 15 | 6 | 15 | 68 | 60 | +8 | 51 | |
| 10 | Bitton | 36 | 14 | 8 | 14 | 55 | 53 | +2 | 50 | |
| 11 | Wellington | 36 | 13 | 10 | 13 | 72 | 54 | +18 | 49 | |
| 12 | Ilfracombe Town | 36 | 14 | 7 | 15 | 75 | 67 | +8 | 49 | |
| 13 | Larkhall Athletic | 36 | 12 | 7 | 17 | 45 | 58 | −13 | 43 | |
| 14 | Welton Rovers | 36 | 9 | 6 | 21 | 51 | 78 | −27 | 33 | |
| 15 | Warminster Town | 36 | 9 | 5 | 22 | 40 | 83 | −43 | 32 | |
| 16 | Glastonbury | 36 | 9 | 4 | 23 | 41 | 86 | −45 | 31 | |
| 17 | Frome Town | 36 | 8 | 6 | 22 | 47 | 74 | −27 | 30 | |
| 18 | Heavitree United | 36 | 3 | 7 | 26 | 34 | 135 | −101 | 16 | |
| 19 | Pewsey Vale | 36 | 3 | 8 | 25 | 40 | 102 | −62 | 14 | |
* 1 2 3 Clyst Rovers, Dawlish Town and Pewsey Vale all had three points deducted for fielding ineligible players.