 | ||
| Full name | East Cowes Victoria Athletic Football Club | |
|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Vics | |
| Founded | 1885 | |
| Ground | Beatrice Avenue, East Cowes | |
| Chairman | Mark Greenslade | |
| Manager | Alex Smith | |
| League | Wessex League Division One | |
| 2023–24 | Wessex League Division One, 6th of 21 | |
East Cowes Victoria Athletic Football Club is a football club based in East Cowes, Isle of Wight, England They are currently members of the Wessex League Division One and play at Beatrice Avenue.
The club was established in 1885, taking the Victoria part of the name as their Beatrice Avenue ground is in an area owned by Osborne House, one of the homes of Queen Victoria. [1] They were founder members of the Isle of Wight League in 1898, and won the league in its inaugural season. [2] They retained the league title the following season and went on to win the league again in 1930–31, 1934–35 and 1935–36. [3]
In 1947 East Cowes moved up to the Hampshire League. [1] They were Division Two runners-up in 1948–49 and again the following season. [4] After finishing as runners-up for a third time in 1951–52, the club won the division in 1952–53, earning promotion to Division One. [4] However, they were relegated back to Division Two at the end of the 1954–55 season. [4] In 1960–61 the club finished bottom of Division Two and were relegated to Division Three. [5] They were Division Three champions in 1963–64 and were promoted back to Division Two. [5]
East Cowes finished bottom of Division Two in 1966–67, resulting in relegation to Division Three. [5] When Division Three was split into regional divisions in 1968, the club were placed in Division Three West. [6] The two divisions were merged in 1971 to create Division Three and Division Four, with East Cowes placed in Division Three. They went on to win the division, earning promotion to Division Two. [6] In 1977–78 they finished third in Division Two and were promoted to Division One. [6] Although the club were relegated after finishing bottom of Division One in 1981–82, they won Division Two the following season and were promoted back to Division One. [7]
The 1985–86 season saw East Cowes win the Division One title for the first time. After retaining the title the following season, the club moved up to the Wessex League. The club won the Wessex League Cup in their first season in the league. They finished bottom of the league in 1999–2000 they finished bottom of the Wessex League and were relegated back to the Hampshire League, becoming members of its Premier Division. They were runners-up in 2001–02, and in 2004 the Hampshire League merged into the Wessex League, with East Cowes becoming members of Division Two. The division was renamed Division One in 2006. [7]
The Wessex Football League, known as the Velocity Wessex Football League for sponsorship reasons, is an English regional men's football league in southern England. Its members are primarily from Hampshire and Dorset, but clubs from adjoining counties such as Wiltshire, Berkshire, Surrey, and the Isle of Wight are also eligible. The Premier Division is one of the sixteen recognised leagues to form the ninth level of the English football league system, and Division One is one of seventeen recognised leagues at level 10.
Newport Football Club is a semi-pro football club based in Newport on the Isle of Wight, England. They are currently members of the Wessex League Division One and they currently groundshare at East Cowes Vics' Beatrice Avenue ground.
Bashley Football Club is a football club based in Bashley, near New Milton, Hampshire, England. They are currently members of the Southern League Division One South and play at Bashley Road.
Fleet Town Football Club is a semi-professional football club based in Fleet, Hampshire, England. The club are currently members of the Combined Counties League Premier Division South and play at Calthorpe Park.
Christchurch Football Club is a football club based in Christchurch, Dorset, England. They are currently members of the Wessex League Premier Division and play at the Hurn Bridge Sports Ground.
Alton Football Club is a football club based in Alton, Hampshire, England. Formed by a merger of Alton Town and Bass (Alton) in 1991, they are currently members of the Combined Counties League Premier Division South and play at Anstey Park.
Cowes Sports Football Club is a football club based in Cowes, Isle of Wight, England. They play in the Wessex League Premier Division. The club is affiliated to the Isle of Wight Football Association, which is a division of the Hampshire Football Association.
Folland Sports Football Club is a football club based in Hamble-le-Rice, near Southampton, in Hampshire, England. They are currently members of the Wessex League Division One and play at Folland Park.
Lymington Town Football Club is a football club based in the coastal town of Lymington, Hampshire, England. Known as "The Linnets", they are currently members of the Wessex League Division One and play at the Sports Ground.
Andover New Street Football Club is a football club based in Andover, Hampshire, England. Affiliated to the Hampshire Football Association, they are currently members of the Wessex League Premier Division and play at Foxcotte Park in the neighbouring village of Charlton.
Blackfield & Langley Football Club is a football club based in the village of Blackfield, near Southampton, England. Affiliated to the Hampshire Football Association, they are currently members of the Wessex League Premier Division and play at the Gang Warily Recreation Ground. Their local rivals are Fawley and Hythe & Dibden.
Brading Town Football Club is an English football club based in Brading, Isle of Wight. They are currently members of the Isle of Wight League Division One and play at the Peter Henry Ground.
Fawley Association Football Club is a football club based in Fawley, near Southampton, in Hampshire, England. They are currently members of Wessex League Division One and play at the Waterside Sports & Social Club in Holbury.
Hythe & Dibden Football Club is a football club based in Hythe, near Southampton in Hampshire. They are currently members of the Wessex League Premier Division and play at Clayfields.
Ryde Sports (1888–1997) were an English football club based in Ryde, Isle of Wight.
Sholing Sports were a long running Southampton based football team who for many years played with great success in the Hampshire and Wessex League's. They folded in 1994 after suddenly losing their ground.
Andover Town Football Club is a football club based in Andover, Hampshire, England. They are currently members of the Hampshire Premier League Senior Division and play at the Portway Stadium.
The 1999–2000 Wessex Football League was the 14th season of the Wessex Football League. The league champions for the third time in their history were Wimborne Town, who won the title on goal difference. There was no promotion to the Southern League, but East Cowes Victoria Athletic finished bottom and were relegated.
The 2000–01 Wessex Football League was the 15th season of the Wessex Football League. The league champions for the first time in their history were Andover. There was no promotion to the Southern League, but founder members Portsmouth Royal Navy finished bottom and were relegated.
A.F.C. Stoneham is a football club based in Eastleigh, Hampshire, England. They are currently members of the Wessex League Premier Division and play at the Stoneham Football Complex.
