Wessex Football League

Wessex Football League

Founded	1986
Country	England
Divisions	Premier Division Division One
Number of teams	41 20 (Premier Division) 21 (Division One)
Level on pyramid	Levels 9–10
Feeder to	Southern League Isthmian League
Promotion to	Level 8 Southern League Division One South Isthmian League Division One South Central
Relegation to	Hampshire Premier League Dorset Premier Football League Wiltshire Football League
Domestic cup(s)	Wessex League Cup
Current champions	Horndean (Premier Division) Andover New Street (Division One) (2022–23)
Website	Wessex League
Current: 2024–25 Wessex Football League

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 (known as Step 5 of the National League System), and Division One is one of seventeen recognised leagues at level 10 (Step 6).

Champions of the Wessex League who meet the relevant ground and financial requirements are eligible for promotion to the Southern League Division One South or Isthmian League Division One South Central.

History

In the summer of 1986 the formation of a Wessex League was discussed. It was proposed to draw clubs from the Hampshire, Dorset, Berks and Bucks, Sussex and Wiltshire FAs. After long discussions the full Football Association approved the league, with the 1986-87 season featuring 17 teams in the league. ^[1]

Bashley were first champions of the new league, with Brockenhurst finishing last. The 1987–88 season saw the number of teams increase from 17 to 19. Four teams joined the league, but two of the founding teams, Road-Sea Southampton and Portals Athletic, left in unfortunate circumstances.

In its third year of existence, the league was gaining in prestige and this was reflected by the fact that 17 of the 19 clubs remained in the league. 1990–91 saw the league reach previously untouched heights as 20 clubs participated.

In 2004, it absorbed most of the clubs from its feeder league, the Hampshire League, which formed a new Division Two and Division Three. In 2006 the divisions were renamed as the Premier Division and Divisions One and Two. At the end of the 2006–07 season, Division Two was disbanded, and most of the clubs formed a new Hampshire Premier League. ^[2]

Current members

Premier Division

AFC Portchester

AFC Stoneham

Andover New Street

Baffins Milton Rovers

Blackfield & Langley

Bournemouth

Brockenhurst

Christchurch

Cowes Sports

Fareham Town

Hamble Club

Hythe & Dibden

Laverstock & Ford

Lymington Town

Moneyfields

Petersfield Town

Portland United

Shaftesbury

Sherborne Town

United Services Portsmouth

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Map showing the location of teams in Wessex Football League, Premier Division in 2023–24

Club	Home ground
AFC Portchester	The On-Site Group Stadium
AFC Stoneham	Stoneham Football Complex
Andover New Street	The DH Property Services Stadium
Baffins Milton Rovers	PMC Stadium
Blackfield & Langley	Gang Warily
Bournemouth	Victoria Park
Brockenhurst	Meadens Skoda Arena
Christchurch	Hurn Bridge
Cowes Sports	Westwood Park
Fareham Town	Cams Alders
Hamble Club	Hamble Community Facility
Hythe & Dibden	Hythe Garage Stadium
Laverstock & Ford	Church Road
Lymington Town	The Sports Ground
Moneyfields	The John Jenkins Stadium
Petersfield Town	The Southdowns Builders Stadium
Portland United	Camp & Satherley Stadium
Shaftesbury	Cockrams
Sherborne Town	The GMS Windows Arena
United Services Portsmouth	HMS Temeraire

The area covered by the Wessex League is coloured in yellow.

Division One

Club	Home ground
AFC Aldermaston	Waterside Park
Alresford Town	Alrebury Park
Andover Town	Portway Stadium
Ash United	Shawfield Stadium
Clanfield	Westleigh Park
Cove	Oak Farm
Downton	Brian Whitehead Sports Ground
East Cowes Victoria Athletic	Beatrice Avenue
Fawley	Waterside Sports & Social Club
Fleetlands	Powder Monkey Park
Folland Sports	The Arrow Arena
Frimley Green	The KBO Stadium
Hamworthy Recreation	The BJM Stadium
Millbrook	Test Park
New Milton Town	The DMW Stadium
Newport (IOW)	Beatrice Avenue
Ringwood Town	Long Lane
Romsey Town	AEC Protection Ground
Totton & Eling	Miller Park
Verwood Town	Potterne Park
Whitchurch United	Longmeadow

Past winners

Season	Champions
1986–87	Bashley
1987–88	Bashley
1988–89	Bashley
1989–90	Romsey Town
1990–91	Havant Town
1991–92	Wimborne Town
1992–93	AFC Lymington
1993–94	Wimborne Town
1994–95	Fleet Town
1995–96	Thatcham Town
1996–97	AFC Lymington
1997–98	AFC Lymington
1998–99	Lymington & New Milton
1999–2000	Wimborne Town
2000–01	Andover
2001–02	Andover
2002–03	Eastleigh
2003–04	Winchester City

In 2004, the league expanded to three divisions.

Season	Division One	Division Two	Division Three
2004–05	Lymington & New Milton	Lymington Town	Colden Common
2005–06	Winchester City	Locks Heath	Paulsgrove

In 2006, the divisions were renumbered, with the top division being renamed the Premier Division.

Season	Premier Division	Division One	Division Two
2006–07	Gosport Borough	Hayling United	Fleetlands

After the 2006-07 season, Division Two was discontinued.

Season	Premier Division	Division One
2007–08	A.F.C. Totton	Tadley Calleva
2008–09	Poole Town	Totton & Eling
2009–10	Poole Town	Hamble A.S.S.C.
2010–11	Poole Town	Downton
2011–12	Winchester City	Verwood Town
2012–13	Blackfield & Langley	Brockenhurst
2013–14	Sholing	Petersfield Town
2014–15	Petersfield Town	Team Solent
2015–16	Salisbury	Portland United
2016–17	Portland United	Hamble Club
2017–18	Blackfield & Langley	Christchurch
2018–19	Sholing	AFC Stoneham
2019–20	Season abandoned (coronavirus pandemic)
2020–21	Season abandoned (lockdown restrictions)
2021–22	Hamworthy United	Bemerton Heath Harlequins
2022–23	Horndean	Andover New Street
2023–24	Moneyfields	Hamworthy Recreation

Wessex League Cup

The Wessex League Cup, or Velocity Wessex League Cup for sponsor purposes, is a domestic cup which all the Wessex League teams participate in.

Wessex League Cup winners

Source: ^[3]

• 1986–87: Road Sea Southampton
• 1987–88: East Cowes Victoria Athletic
• 1988–89: A.F.C. Lymington
• 1989–90: A.F.C. Totton
• 1990–91: Thatcham Town
• 1991–92: Thatcham Town
• 1992–93: Gosport Borough
• 1993–94: Wimborne Town
• 1994–95: Thatcham Town
• 1995–96: Downton
• 1996–97: Thatcham Town
• 1997–98: Aerostructures Sports & Social
• 1998–99: Cowes Sports
• 1999–2000: Wimborne Town
• 2000–01: (no competition held)
• 2001–02: Andover
• 2002–03: A.F.C. Totton
• 2003–04: Winchester City
• 2004–05: Hamworthy United
• 2005–06: A.F.C. Totton
• 2006–07: Lymington Town
• 2007–08: Wimborne Town
• 2008–09: VT
• 2009–10: Bemerton Heath Harlequins
• 2010–11: Bournemouth
• 2011–12: Christchurch
• 2012–13: Alresford Town
• 2013–14: Alresford Town
• 2014–15: A.F.C. Portchester
• 2015–16: Team Solent
• 2016–17: Sholing
• 2017–18: A.F.C. Portchester
• 2018–19: Baffins Milton Rovers
• 2019–20: (not awarded)
• 2020–21: Hamworthy United
• 2021–22: Shaftesbury
• 2022–23: Baffins Milton Rovers

References

1. "HISTORY". wessexleague.co.uk. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
2. "HISTORY". hpfl.co.uk. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
3. "Velocity Wessex League Cup". www.wessexleague.co.uk. Retrieved 2 October 2023.

External links

• Official website