Wessex Football League

Last updated

Wessex Football League
Wessex Football League.png
Founded1986
CountryEngland
DivisionsPremier Division
Division One
Number of teams41
20 (Premier Division)
21 (Division One)
Level on pyramid Levels 9–10
Feeder to
Promotion toLevel 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: 2023–24 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, and the Isle of Wight are also eligible. The Premier Division 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).

Contents

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

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AFC Portchester
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AFC Stoneham
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Andover New Street
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Baffins Milton Rovers
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Blackfield & Langley
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Bournemouth
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Brockenhurst
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Christchurch
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Cowes Sports
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Fareham Town
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Hamble Club
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Hythe & Dibden
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Laverstock & Ford
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Lymington Town
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Moneyfields
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Petersfield Town
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Portland United
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Shaftesbury
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Sherborne Town
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United Services Portsmouth
Map showing the location of teams in Wessex Football League, Premier Division in 2023–24
ClubHome 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. Levels 9-10 Football League areas in England.svg
The area covered by the Wessex League is coloured in yellow.

Division One

ClubHome 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

SeasonChampions
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.

SeasonDivision OneDivision TwoDivision 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.

SeasonPremier DivisionDivision OneDivision Two
2006–07 Gosport Borough Hayling United Fleetlands

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

SeasonPremier DivisionDivision 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]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dorset Premier Football League</span> Association football league in England

The Dorset Premier Football League is a football league based in Dorset, England, which sits at Step 7 of the National League System, or level 11 of the overall English football league system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sholing F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Sholing Football Club is an English football club based in Sholing, Southampton, Hampshire. Formerly known as Vosper Thorneycroft FC and later VTFC the club changed its name in 2010 to Sholing FC. In 2013–14 they won both the FA Vase and the Wessex League Premier Division and have three times been runners up in the Wessex Premier, in 2007, 2009 and 2016. They are currently members of the Southern League Premier Division South. The club has twice won the Hampshire League, in 2001 and 2004. Sholing are also 8 times Southampton Senior Cup Winners.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brockenhurst F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Brockenhurst Football Club is a football club based in Brockenhurst, near Lymington, in Hampshire, England. They are currently members of the Wessex League Premier Division and play at Grigg Lane.

The Hampshire Senior Cup is a cup competition open to football teams affiliated with the Hampshire Football Association. The competition was founded in 1887 and has been contested every year since, with the exception of 1914 to 1919 when it was postponed due to the First World War.

The 2010–11 season was the 108th in the history of the Southern League, which is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales.

The 2011–12 season was the 109th in the history of the Southern League, which is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales.

The 2012–13 season was the 110th in the history of the Southern League, which is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales. From the previous season onwards, the Southern League was known as The Evo-Stik League Southern, following a sponsorship deal with Evo-Stik.

The 2012–13 Wessex Football League was the 27th season of the Wessex Football League since its establishment in 1986.

The 2013–14 Wessex Football League was the 28th season of the Wessex Football League since its establishment in 1986.

The 1998–99 Wessex Football League was the 13th season of the Wessex Football League. The league champions were Lymington & New Milton, in their first season as a merged club. There was no promotion to the Southern League, and neither was there any relegation this season.

The 2004–05 Wessex Football League was the 19th season of the Wessex Football League, and the first in which the league consisted of three divisions, with two new sections being added. The league champions for the second time in their history were Lymington & New Milton, who were promoted to the Isthmian League. There was a full programme of promotion and relegation between the three divisions.

The 2005–06 Wessex Football League was the 20th season of the Wessex Football League. The league champions for the second time in their history were Winchester City, who were promoted to the Southern League along with runners-up Thatcham Town and third-placed Andover. The extra promotions were because of the pyramid reorganisations that took place in 2006.

The 2007–08 Wessex Football League was the 22nd season of the Wessex Football League. The league champions for the first time in their history were A.F.C. Totton, who were promoted to the Southern League. The league consisted of two divisions, Division Two having been disbanded. There was some promotion and relegation between the two Wessex League divisions.

The 2014–15 season was the 112th in the history of the Southern League, which is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales. From the current season onwards, the Southern League is known as Evo-Stik Southern Premier, following a sponsorship deal with Evo-Stik.

The 2014–15 Wessex Football League season was the 29th in the history of the Wessex Football League since its establishment in 1986.

The 2015–16 Wessex Football League season was the 30th in the history of the Wessex Football League since its establishment in 1986.

The 2016–17 Wessex Football League season was the 31st in the history of the Wessex Football League since its establishment in 1986.

The 2017–18 Wessex Football League season was the 32nd in the history of the Wessex Football League since its establishment in 1986.

The 2022–23 Southern Football League season was the 120th in the history of the Southern League since its establishment in 1894. The league has two Premier divisions at Step 3 of the National League System (NLS) and two Division One divisions at Step 4. These correspond to levels 7 and 8 of the English football league system.

The 2023–24 Wessex Football League season is the 38th in the history of the Wessex Football League since its establishment in 1986. The league consists of two divisions: the Premier Division and Division One.

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.