Wessex Football League
Ninth and Tenth tier of English league football From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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).
 | |
| Founded | 1986 |
|---|---|
| Country | England |
| Divisions | Premier Division Division One |
| Number of clubs | 42 20 (Premier Division) 22 (Division One) |
| Level on pyramid | Levels 9–10 |
| Feeder to | |
| 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 | AFC Portchester (Premier Division) New Milton Town (Division One) (2024–25) |
| Website | Wessex League |
| Current: 2025-26 Season | |
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
Map showing the location of teams in Wessex Football League, Premier Division in 2023–24
| Club | Home ground |
|---|---|
| AFC Stoneham | Stoneham Football Complex |
| Andover New Street | The DH Property Services Stadium |
| Baffins Milton Rovers | PMC Stadium |
| Bemerton Heath Harlequins | A-Class Arena |
| Bournemouth | Victoria Park |
| Brockenhurst | Meadens Skoda Arena |
| Christchurch | Hurn Bridge |
| Cowes Sports | Westwood Park |
| Downton | Brian Whitehead Sports Ground |
| East Cowes Victoria Athletic | Beatrice Avenue |
| Hamble Club | Hamble Community Facility |
| Hamworthy Recreation | The BJM Stadium |
| Hythe & Dibden | Hythe Garage Stadium |
| Laverstock & Ford | Church Road |
| Millbrook | Test Park |
| New Milton Town | The M.A Hart Stadium |
| Petersfield Town | The Southdowns Builders Stadium |
| Portland United | Camp & Satherley Stadium |
| Sherborne Town | The GMS Windows Arena |
| Wincanton Town | Wincanton Sports Ground |
Division One
| Club | Home ground |
|---|---|
| AFC Aldermaston | Waterside Park |
| Alresford Town | Alrebury Park |
| Amesbury Town | Bonnymead Park |
| Ash United | Shawfield Stadium |
| Blackfield & Langley | Gang Warily |
| Clanfield | Westleigh Park |
| Colden Common | The Charters Community Stadium |
| Cove | Oak Farm |
| Fawley | Waterside Sports & Social Club |
| Fleetlands | Powder Monkey Park |
| Folland Sports | The Arrow Arena |
| Frimley Green | The KBO Stadium |
| Hamworthy United | The County Ground |
| Kintbury Rangers | The Recreation Ground |
| Lymington Town | The Sports Ground |
| Newport (IOW) | Beatrice Avenue |
| Ringwood Town | Long Lane |
| Romsey Town | AEC Protection Ground |
| Totton & Eling | Miller Park |
| United Services Portsmouth | HMS Temeraire |
| Whitchurch United | Longmeadow |
| Yateley United | Sean Devereux Park |
Past winners
Summarize
Perspective
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.
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
- 2023–24: Hamble Club
- 2024–25: A.F.C. Portchester
References
External links
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