Hampshire League 2004

Last updated

Hampshire League 2004
Hampshire League logo.jpg
Founded2004
Folded2013
CountryEngland
Level on pyramid Level 12
Feeder to Hampshire Premier League
Relegation toSouthampton League
Portsmouth League
Bournemouth League
Isle of Wight League
Aldershot League
Andover & District League,
Basingstoke & District League
Winchester & District League
Domestic cup(s)Hampshire Intermediate Cup
Local FA Divisional Senior Cups

The Hampshire League 2004 was an English football league comprising teams located in Hampshire. It was formed in 2004, ran for nine seasons and served as a feeder league to Step 7 of the National League System. It was an unofficial continuation of the original Hampshire League which had controversially been disbanded earlier the same year.

Contents

History

The competition was originally formed in June 2004 [1] following the expansion of the Wessex League, as not all the clubs from the recently disbanded Hampshire League were able to meet the stricter ground criteria and so re-formed a new successor competition. [2] Other clubs from local leagues, plus the reserve teams of some of the newly elected Wessex League clubs, brought the founding complement up to 16 teams, although one failed to see through the inaugural season. Sporting BTC and Upham were the first league and cup winners, whilst externally Lyndhurst brought some extra credibility to the fledgling league when they won the Southampton Senior Cup. [3]

The following three seasons were dominated by Mottisfont, who won three successive titles (the first two unbeaten!) as well as winning the 200506 League Cup. That season they were also beaten finalists in the Southampton Senior Cup. [4]

The 200708 season saw the formation of the Hampshire Premier League, [5] which accommodated the clubs from the recently disbanded Wessex League Division 2. The Hampshire Football Association then placed the new competition at a higher level in its precedence list, thus making Hampshire League 2004 a feeder League. In May 2008 it was announced that the two county leagues were in talks about merging into a new two tier competition, which it was hoped would officially gain Step 7 status in the National League System. This merger ultimately did not occur, although the HPL was nonetheless awarded Step 7 feeder status.

Netley Central Sports won consecutive doubles in 200809 and 200910, but after this the league became a more even playing field with three different sides clinching the title. A decline in numbers saw the League operating with just ten teams in the 201213 season, of which only three founder members (Broughton, Durley and Michelmersh & Timsbury) had participated each season. In June 2013 the competition was dissolved with its remaining member clubs being invited to join the newly created Division One of the Hampshire Premier League.

Roll of Honour

SeasonChampionsCup WinnersParticipants
200405 Sporting BTC Upham16
200506 Mottisfont Mottisfont 17
200607 Mottisfont Sporting BTC 16
200708 Mottisfont Denmead & Purbrook15
200809 Netley Central Sports Netley Central Sports 15
200910 Netley Central Sports Netley Central Sports 14
201011 Hedge End Rangers US Portsmouth Reserves 17
201112DurleyUpham13
201213LyndhurstUpham10

A to Z of clubs

References

  1. https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/5567954.all-systems-go-as-new-hampshire-league-earns-a-reprieve/
  2. "Football Club History Database - Hampshire League 2004".
  3. A Century of Southampton Local Soccer 1908-2008 by John Moody
  4. Southampton Senior Cup – The Finals 1909-2022 by Gary Day
  5. https://www.hpfl.co.uk/history