A CHRISTMAS MESSAGE

December 22, 2024

As we come to the end of my first six months as the chair of the Velocity Wessex League, it is time to reflect on the season 2024-25 so far.


The weather has been kind to us so far and most clubs have completed close to half of their league programme. Both the Premier Division and Division One have competitive battles at both the top and bottom of the tables and I am sure that the race for the title and play-off positions will be interesting right up to the final games.


Special congratulations are offered to the three teams that remain in the FA Vase, namely AFC Stoneham, Andover New Street and Fareham Town. Whilst they all face difficult away ties on January 11, everyone in the League wishes them well and hope they can carry the Velocity Wessex League flag into the next round.


Off the field, focus for clubs will have to be achieving FA ground accreditation by March 31, 2025. There is the threat of relegation for clubs that do not achieve accreditation, and the league do not want to lose any club on this basis, so please can I ask clubs to focus on getting the required work finished in good time so that promotion and relegation is only decided as it should be, on the field.


If you require any assistance regarding ground accreditation, please do not hesitate to contact Ian Harley or myself.


As we reach the end of 2024, I would like to thank my fellow league officers for the work they do on behalf of the league, and the time spent and knowledge they have to offer clubs does not go unnoticed.


I would particularly like to thank the league secretary Steve Smith for his work and dedication to the role, and he has helped make my transition into the Chairman’s role go smoothly. As I thank the officers, I would like to pay tribute to the League President Dennis Challis who sadly passed away following a short illness recently.


Dennis was a font of knowledge and support for me, and our thoughts are with his wife Val and his family at this time.


I also thank and acknowledge the support of Joe, Will and the team at Velocity Sports, our main sponsor. Without their financial backing it would make running the league harder for both the league officers and clubs.


I would also like to thank all club officers and volunteers for the work that they do to keep all clubs functioning to the standard required of a club within the FA’s National League System, it is appreciated.


Finally, I would like to wish everyone in the Velocity Wessex League 'family' a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy 2025.



Nick Taplin

Chairman

Velocity Wessex League


August 15, 2026
We’re delighted to welcome Scorza as the Wessex League’s new Performance Partner. Scorza's wearable technology helps footballers turn their existing Apple Watch or Garmin into a football-specific performance tracker, providing insights including distance, sprints, heatmaps and heart-rate data. The new 2026/27 Laws of the Game permit players to wear a smartwatch in matches, provided it is not dangerous and is safely and securely covered. This means the smartwatch you already own can be turned into a pro tracker.
August 6, 2026
The Wessex League is encouraging its member clubs to explore the opportunities available through the Premier League Stadium Fund , which continues to invest in improving football facilities across England and Wales. Having invested more than £226 million into over 1,000 clubs , the Premier League Stadium Fund is helping transform the non-league matchday experience by supporting projects that enhance facilities for players, volunteers and supporters alike. Funding is available for a wide range of projects, including floodlights, spectator accommodation, pitch improvements, changing facilities, barriers and other essential infrastructure that helps clubs meet ground grading requirements and provide a better environment for their local communities. Clubs considering improvements to their facilities are urged to engage with the Fund at the earliest opportunity to discuss their project and determine eligibility. Investment in facilities not only strengthens clubs on matchdays but also helps secure their long-term future, enabling them to grow participation, improve accessibility and continue serving their local communities for years to come. For further information and to begin an application, visit the Premier League Stadium Fund website or speak to your County FA or League representative for guidance. Premier League Stadium Fund - Poster
July 25, 2026
AFC Stoneham have started the season where they left off the last - collecting more silverware in the form of the Wessex League Charity Cup, following a 3-1 success over Hamble Club. Proceeds from the occasion supported the Geoff Smith Legacy Fund - supporting young children in local communities on their football journeys, set-up in memory of the long-serving AFC Stoneham Chairman who sadly passed away in May. Kian Towse and Braydon Douglas gave the hosts a 2-0 advantage into the interval, before Harry Hamilton pulled one back for the League Cup winners without around ten left to play.
July 4, 2026
Premier Division fixtures have been released for August, in an opening month which includes FA Cup ties for our clubs. Hamble Club host the inaugural fixture of 2026/27 with Andover New Street the visitors on July 28, prior to a full schedule on August 1. Bashley hosting their first Wessex League game for four years, as they face Hamble. Horndean welcome Sherborne Town to Five Heads Park while new side, Sturminster Newton United welcome a returning Fareham Town. Meanwhile, promoted Fleetlands start life in Step 5 with a home fixture against Laverstock & Ford: Tuesday 28 th July PREMIER DIVISION Hamble Club v Andover New Street Saturday 1 st August PREMIER DIVISION Bashley v Hamble Club Bournemouth v Hythe & Dibden Cowes Sports v Brockenhurst Downton v Petersfield Town East Cowes Vics v Andover New Street Fleetlands v Laverstock & Ford Horndean v Sherborne Town Millbrook v Hamworthy Recreation Sturminster Newton United v Fareham Town You can see August's schedule in full via the link below: DOWNLOAD - PREMIER DIVISION - AUGUST FIXTURES The full season for the Premier Division will be released on Full-Time on Sunday. We expect to release Division One fixtures in full by w/c July 13. This is due to ground shares with clubs at Steps 3-4. Further updates will appear on Full-Time and on our X account .
July 3, 2026
Early round draws have been made for the Emirates FA Cup, FA Vase and FA Youth Cup involving Wessex sides, with details as follows: EMIRATES FA CUP EXTRA PRELIMINARY ROUND Ties to be played on Saturday, August 8 Winners receive £1,125 Losers receive £375 Andover New Street v Christchurch Badshot Lea v Brockenhurst Bournemouth v Downton Cowes Sports v Hamble Club Devizes Town v Hamworthy Recreation East Cowes Victoria v AFC Stoneham Horndean v Hartley Wintney Laverstock & Ford v Eversley & California Millbrook v Bradford Town Paulton Rovers v Fleetlands Petersfield Town v Fareham Town Portland United v Sturminster Newton United Shepton Mallet v Bashley Sherborne Town v Baffins Milton Rovers Tadley Calleva v Bemerton Heath Harlequins Westbury United v Hythe & Dibden FAC EP - DRAW IN FULL EMIRATES FA CUP PRELIMINARY ROUND Ties to be played on Saturday, August 22 Winners receive £1,444 Losers receive £481 AFC Portchester v Westbury United or Hythe & Dibden Andover New Street or Christchurch v Shaftesbury Bournemouth or Downton v Millbrook or Bradford Town Cowes Sports or Hamble Club v Tadley Calleva or Bemerton Heath Harlequins Devizes Town or Hamworthy Recreation v Fleet Town or Melksham Town East Cowes Victoria or AFC Stoneham v Badshot Lea or Brockenhurst Moneyfields v Portland United or Sturminster Newton United Paulton Rovers or Fleetlands v Yateley United or Alton Petersfield Town or Fareham Town v Laverstock & Ford or Eversley & California Sherborne Town or Baffins Milton Rovers v Horndean or Hartley Wintney Weymouth v Shepton Mallet or Bashley FAC PR - DRAW IN FULL ISUZU FA VASE FIRST ROUND QUALIFYING Ties to be played on Saturday, August 15 Winners receive £550 Losers receive £160 Andover New Street v Bemerton Heath Harlequins Bashley v Blandford United Bridport v Folland Sports Bristol Telephones v AFC Aldermaston Clanfield v Romsey Town Cove v Laverstock & Ford Fareham Town v Baffins Milton Rovers Fleetlands v Wincanton Town Hamble Club v Cowes Sports Horndean v Totton & Eling Kintbury Rangers v Mangotsfield United Newport (IW) v Colden Common Pagham v Millbrook Sandhurst Town v Wokingham Town Selsey v Hamworthy United FAV 1Q - DRAW IN FULL ISUZU FA VASE SECOND ROUND QUALIFYING Ties to be played on Saturday, September 12 Winners receive £725 Losers receive £225 Bridport or Folland Sports v Alton or Badshot Lea Bristol Telephones or AFC Aldermaston v Newent Town or Almondsbury Camberley Town v Cove or Laverstock & Ford Clanfield or Romsey Town v Bournemouth East Cowes Victoria v Fleetlands or Wincanton Town Eversley & California or AEK Boco v Kintbury Rangers or Mangotsfield United Fareham Town or Baffins Milton Rovers v New Milton Town Fawley AFC v Ash United Frimley Green v Brockenhurst Hamble Club or Cowes Sports v Christchurch Hedge End Rangers v Horndean or Totton & Eling Pagham or Millbrook v Newport (IW) or Colden Common Petersfield Town v Andover New Street or Bemerton Heath Harlequins Ringwood Town v Selsey or Hamworthy United Sandhurst Town or Wokingham Town v Carterton or Wells City Sherborne Town v Bashley or Blandford United Whitchurch United v Midhurst & Easebourne or Warminster Town FAV 2Q - DRAW IN FULL FA YOUTH CUP PRELIMINARY ROUND Ties to be played in w/c August 31 Alton v Bemerton Heath Harlequins Bashley v AFC Portchester Gosport Borough v Fareham Town Hamworthy Recreation v Millbrook Portland United v Hamble Club Shaftesbury v Bournemouth Weymouth or Sholing v Christchurch Wimborne Town v Petersfield Town FAYC PR - DRAW IN FULL
June 24, 2026
The draw for the first and second rounds of the Wessex League Cup has been made, with ten ties scheduled (dates to be confirmed). FIRST ROUND: Ash United v Hamworthy Recreation Bashley v Romsey Town Blandford United v Cowes Sports Bournemouth Poppies v Kintbury Rangers Brockenhurst v Sandhurst Town Christchurch v Totton & Eling Fawley AFC v East Cowes Victoria Athletic Frimley Green v Fareham Town Sherborne Town v AFC Aldermaston Sturminster Newton United v Lymington Town SECOND ROUND: Ash United or Hamworthy Recreation v Baffins Milton Rovers Alresford Town v Whitchurch United Andover New Street v Brockenhurst or Sandhurst Town Bashley or Romsey Town v Ringwood Town Bournemouth Poppies or Kintbury Rangers v Sturminster Newton United or Lymington Town Colden Common v Christchurch or Totton & Eling Downton v Fleetlands Fawley AFC or East Cowes Victoria Athletic v Blandford United or Cowes Sports Frimley Green or Fareham Town v Cove Hamworthy United v New Milton Town Hedge End Rangers v Bemerton Heath Harlequins Hythe & Dibden v Hamble Club Laverstock & Ford v Amesbury Town Millbrook v Horndean Newport (IOW) v Folland Sports Petersfield Town v Sherborne Town or AFC Aldermaston
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