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 FIXTURES - PREMIER DIVISION

July 4, 2026
Premier Division fixtures have been released for August, in an opening month which includes FA Cup ties for our clubs. Two games open the Wessex League season for 2026/27 on July 28, as Hamble Club host Andover New Street, while Cowes Sports head to Petersfield Town. A full schedule then commences on August 1 - fixtures of note include Bashley hosting their first Wessex League game for four years with Hamble Club the visitors. 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 Petersfield Town v Cowes Sports Saturday 1 st August PREMIER DIVISION Baffins Milton Rovers v Bemerton Heath Harlequins 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 here and on our X account .

FA COMPETITION DRAWS - 2026/27

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

LEAGUE CUP DRAW - 26/27

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

VICTOR SPORTS PARTNERSHIP

June 24, 2026
The Wessex League is delighted to announce Victor Sports as its new Official Medical Partner for the next two seasons. The partnership will provide significant benefits to member clubs across the league, helping to reduce the cost of sports medical supplies, while ensuring clubs have access to high-quality medical products and support.

TWELVEYARDS NAMED GRAPHICS PARTNER

June 24, 2026
The Wessex Football League is delighted to announce a new partnership with TwelveYards , as Official Graphics Partners ahead of the upcoming season. This partnership has been put together for one simple reason: to help our clubs save time and stand-out on social media. Alongside the benefits being passed down to our teams, the Wessex League will also be using TwelveYards ourselves to power and enhance the league’s social media channels. Helping Clubs Deal with the Matchday Rush Matchdays are hectic. The same few volunteers are usually juggling the turnstiles, running the tea bar and trying to tweet live match updates all at once. When you’re that busy, putting together high-quality social media graphics is a massive headache. As a result, content isn’t always consistent and local sponsors don’t always get the exposure they deserve. TwelveYards fixes that. Their easy-to-use portal lets anyone - even if you have absolutely zero design experience - create professional matchday, commercial and club graphics in seconds. It gives Wessex League clubs the tools to look just as sharp and polished as professional teams online, which help bring in more fans and attract more commercial revenue. Exclusive Offers for Every Wessex League Club To make sure this partnership directly benefits our teams on a practical level, TwelveYards is offering an exclusive discount and package for Wessex League clubs: ● First 30 Days FREE: Every club in the league can try the platform for free for the first month, with hands-on support to get your club set up. ● 12% Discount: Reduced monthly rates across both packages to keep costs down for the season. ● Founding 15 Price Freeze: The first 15 Wessex League clubs to sign up will lock in their discounted rate for life. As long as your clubs stays signed up, your price will never go up.

TECH PARTNER ANNOUNCED

June 12, 2026
We are pleased to welcome 360Player as our Approved Tech Partner. Their innovative approach to club management and player development aligns with our ambition to support clubs both on and off the pitch. The platform offers a comprehensive solution to help our clubs streamline operations, improve communication, and further develop players at all levels of the game We look forward to working closely with 360Player and seeing the positive impact this partnership will bring to our League." As part of the partnership, 360Player will work alongside the Wessex League and its member clubs to introduce modern tools designed to support club administration, player development, and overall engagement across the competition. Nicholas, UK Area Manager for 360Player, said: "We are incredibly excited to partner with the Wessex League and support its clubs as they continue to evolve. Having experienced football operations at this level, I understand the day-to-day challenges clubs face. Our aim is to help reduce the administrative burden, improve communication across senior and junior sections, and create new opportunities for clubs to grow commercially. There is also a fantastic opportunity to enhance player development utilising the same operating system, whether through structured development plans, video analysis, or support for pathways from youth to senior football. We currently work with aspiring clubs in the area, such as AFC Totton, AFC Portchester, Bournemouth Electric, and many others, and I'm thrilled to be working with clubs like these. We’re looking forward to working with forward-thinking clubs in the Wessex League who are ready to embrace technology and build for the future." For further information on 360Player, please visit www.360player.com .
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