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).
 | |
| 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 | |
| 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: 2023–24 Wessex Football League | |
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
| Club | Home ground |
|---|---|
| AFC Portchester | Wicor Recreation Ground |
| AFC Stoneham | Stoneham Football Complex |
| Andover New Street | Foxcotte Park |
| Baffins Milton Rovers | Kendall Stadium |
| Blackfield & Langley | Gang Warily |
| Bournemouth | Victoria Park |
| Brockenhurst | Grigg Lane |
| Christchurch | Hurn Bridge |
| Cowes Sports | Westwood Park |
| Fareham Town | Cams Alders |
| Hamble Club | The Abbey |
| Hythe & Dibden | Clayfields |
| Laverstock & Ford | Church Road |
| Lymington Town | The Sports Ground |
| Moneyfields | Westleigh Park |
| Petersfield Town | Love Lane |
| Portland United | Camp & Satherley Stadium |
| Shaftesbury | Cockrams |
| Sherborne Town | Raleigh Grove |
| United Services Portsmouth | The Victory Stadium |
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 | Lederle Lane |
| Folland Sports | Folland Park |
| Frimley Green | The Frimley Green Recreation Ground |
| Hamworthy Recreation | Magna Road |
| Millbrook | Test Park |
| New Milton Town | Fawcetts Field |
| Newport (IOW) | Smallbrook Stadium |
| Ringwood Town | Long Lane |
| Romsey Town | The Bypass Ground |
| Totton & Eling | Miller Park |
| Verwood Town | Potterne Park |
| Whitchurch United | Longmeadow |
Past winners
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
References
- "HISTORY". wessexleague.co.uk. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
- "HISTORY". hpfl.co.uk. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
- "Velocity Wessex League Cup". www.wessexleague.co.uk. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
