Following the conclusion of the regular playing season in the Premier Division on Saturday, we can confirm the promotion play-offs will take place as follows: April 22 - AFC Stoneham (1) v (1) Andover New Street (7.45pm) - ANS won 4-3 on penalties April 23 - Fareham Town (2) v (0) Hamble Club (7.45pm) Play-Off Final Saturday, April 26 - Fareham Town v Andover New Street (at Cams Alders, 3pm k.o) BUY PLAY-OFF FINAL TICKETS HERE - £8 adults/ £4 concessions/ U16 free accompanied by an adult; £1 unaccompanied ________________________ Division One dates as follows: April 29 - (2nd v 5th) - 7.45pm k.o April 30 - (3rd v 4th) - 7.45pm k.o May 3 - (Final @ venue of club finishing highest in regular season) - 3pm k.o The final round of matches in Division One takes place on April 26.

AFC Stoneham claimed the Servio Hampshire Senior Cup with a 3-0 victory over Wessex League rivals, AFC Portchester, in front of 675 at AFC Totton's Snows Stadium on Tuesday evening. Goals from Oliver Jenkins, Oliver Fee and Mat Bainbridge - all inside an eleven minute spell in the first half - put the Purps into what turned out to be an unassailable advantage against the Premier Division champions, to give James Phillips' side their first Senior Cup victory in the club's 106-year history. The two sides meet once more in the final of the Russell Cotes Cup on May 8 at Stoneham Lane, with AFC Stoneham winning the toss to decide the venue. Our congratulations to all AFC Stoneham! Photo: Robin Caddy

We are pleased to share that advance tickets for the Velocity Wessex League Cup final - between AFC Portchester and Hamble Club on May 5 - are now available to buy online. Priced £8 (adults), £4 (concessions) and £10 for a family ticket of an adult and up to two children. Just click the poster below to be redirected to the ticketing website:

New Milton Town are Velocity Wessex League Division One champions for 2024/25. The Brickmakers came from behind at Hamworthy United to claim a 3-2 victory amid late drama at the County Ground on Tuesday night - Brad Snelling with the title-winning effort at the death. It's been a huge turn around in fortunes at the M.A. Hart Stadium, with the New Forest side finishing nineteenth only 12 months prior. Our congratulations to all at New Milton Town, who make a return to Step 5 for the first time since 2012/13. 

AFC Portchester have won the Velocity Wessex League Premier Division title following their 1-0 victory at Cowes Sports on Tuesday night. Marley Ridge's strike on 78 minutes proved to be decisive for Gav Spurway's side, who will grace Step 4 for the first time in the club's relatively short history.

AFC Stoneham will face Millbrook in the final of the Southampton Senior Cup. The Premier Division rivals will go head-to-head at St Mary's Stadium on Wednesday, May 14 (7.30pm). The Purps earned their place with a 5-1 victory over plucky Hampshire Premier League outfit, Broughton, while Millbrook overcame Brockenhurst by the odd goal in three. SOUTHAMPTON SENIOR CUP - ROUTE TO THE FINAL We await details of admission on the night - please keep an eye out on our socials for this information.

The Velocity Wessex League Cup final will once again be contested between Hamble Club and AFC Portchester, after the sides came through their respective midweek semi-finals. Hamble will be looking to retain the trophy they won in 2023/24 in beating the Royals 2-0 at the OnSite Group Stadium. The Monks earned their spot on Wednesday night - seeing off Fareham Town by the same score at Hamble Lane - courtesy of first half strikes from Clayd Road and Nick Yeomans.

Andover New Street kept their Isuzu FA Vase dreams alive on Saturday as they overcame United Counties League side, Heanor Town to reach the semi-finals. Lewis Williams' effort just before half time proved to be decisive for the hosts, in front of a bumper crowd of 953 at the DH Property Services Stadium.

AFC Portchester have received a home draw against Aldershot Town in the semi-finals of the Hampshire Senior Cup. Gav Spurway's table-toppers are in a quest to make it back-to-back victories in the competition, will face the National League outfit - who saw off Tadley Calleva 6-1 to reach the last four. Portchester's path meanwhile has already included triumphs against opposition higher in the pyramid in Basingstoke and Havant & Waterlooville. There's further Velocity Wessex League representation in the other semi-final, with AFC Stoneham visiting either Hamble Club or Sholing. Hamble overcame Southampton's Academy 2-0 in the second round, while fellow Premier Division title-challengers, AFC Stoneham beat Winchester City by the odd goal of three to make this stage. Ties for those semi-finals are to be confirmed, however The Snows Stadium - home to AFC Totton - will host the final on Tuesday, April 15 (7.45pm). See our Fixtures page for updates. Photo: Nathan Lipsham

Andover New Street's march in the Isuzu FA Vase continued on Saturday in a thrilling all-Velocity Wessex League last 16 encounter against AFC Stoneham. A crowds of 565 at Foxcotte Park saw Oliver Jenkins give Stoneham the lead on the quarter-hour - and that's how it stayed until late drama ensued; Greg Peel finding the target to level for New Street - three minutes into added time.

Andover New Street have been reinstated into the Isuzu FA Vase (*subject to appeal) after Roman Glass St George fielded an ineligible player during their Fourth Round tie on January 11. An FA National League System board sub-committee met on Thursday, revealing that Roman Glass St George had fielded a player under suspension. Subject to Roman Glass St George's right to appeal, Street will host an all-Wessex tie in the last 16 of the competition - a record for both sides - on February 1, guaranteeing one a place in the quarter-finals. FA Vase - Full Draw

Dates for the Velocity Wessex League Divisional play-offs and cup final for 2024/25 have been released, with details as follows: PREMIER DIVISION Tuesday, April 22 (2nd v 5th) - 7.45pm k.o Wednesday, April 23 (3rd v 4th) - 7.45pm k.o Saturday, April 26 (Final @ venue of club finishing highest in regular season) - 3pm k.o DIVISION ONE Tuesday, April 29 (2nd v 5th) - 7.45pm k.o Wednesday, April 30 (3rd v 4th) - 7.45pm k.o Saturday, May 3 (Final @ venue of club finishing highest in regular season) - 3pm k.o LEAGUE CUP FINAL Monday, May 5 - Velocity Wessex League Cup Final (at AFC Portchester) - 3pm k.o

The draw for the quarter-finals of the Velocity Wessex League Cup was made on Sunday during the Radio Show . Last season's winners, Hamble Club head to Hamworthy Recreation, while current Premier Division table-toppers, AFC Portchester, head over the Solent to East Cowes Victoria. An intriguing tie will take place at Cams Alders as Fareham Town host Division One leaders, New Milton Town, while Cove will be looking for another Premier Division scalp following their victory over Baffins Milton Rovers, as they head to Millbrook in the last eight. The full draw is below with dates of the ties to be confirmed. Keep an eye on our fixtures page or weekly newsletter for updates: East Cowes Victoria v AFC Portchester Fareham Town v New Milton Town Hamworthy Recreation v Hamble Club Millbrook v Cove Photo: Nathan Lipsham

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

AFC Stoneham, Andover New Street and Fareham Town will all fly the flag for the Velocity Wessex League in the Fourth Round of the Isuzu FA Vase. All three clubs make their first appearances in the competitions last 32 - eclipsing our representation from 2023/24 with Hamworthy Recreation the sole survivor on an impressive debut run. 

A new Wessex League attendance record was set on Saturday in the top-of-the-table clash between local rivals, AFC Portchester and Fareham Town. A crowd of 1,630 saw the Royals run out 3-1 victors at their OnSite Group Stadium, surpassing the previous best of 1,598 in the same fixture, set in 2022/23.

An all-Wessex tie between Downton and Fareham Town was included amongst the Isuzu FA Vase third round draw, made on Monday. Victory for either side at The Nest on December 7 will see their best-ever FA Vase season, while guaranteeing a Wessex representative in the last 32. Both clubs needed penalties from home ties in the second round to progress - as did Andover New Street, who host Western League high-flyers, Clevedon Town. Also facing opposition from Western League are AFC Stoneham, who are rewarded with a home tie against table-toppers, Brixham, having defeated Hamble Club in the last round. The Purples have previously made a name for themselves in the FA Cup, but are now enjoying their best ever return from the FA Vase in reaching this stage - as are Street, who were narrowly defeated by Brixham in the second round in 2022/23. A thorn to Wessex League sides in the past, Downton also lost out by the odd goal in five to Brixham at this stage last season. THIRD ROUND (*Wessex clubs only - ties to be played on Saturday, December 7) Winners Receive £1,125 Losers Receive £350 AFC Stoneham v Brixham Andover New Street v Clevedon Town Downton v Fareham Town

Hamble Club are the recipients of the Velocity Wessex League Premier Division 'Club of the Month' award for October. Frimley Green claimed the Division One accolade, while in the MJM Sport/ Kappa Respect award went to Wincanton Town (Premier) and Clanfield (Division One), respectively. Both clubs receive a £50 voucher from our teamwear partner, MJM Sports. Our congratulations to all the winning clubs. Pictured (l-r): Hamble Club's presentation featuring manager, Matty Gregory, Wessex League Radio Show presenter, Greg Dickson, Hamble Club captain, Matt Casey, and Wessex League Vice Chairman, Bob Purkiss.

The draw for the second round of the Isuzu FA Vase was released at lunch time, featuring nine Velocity Wessex League sides (*at the time of writing), and one all-Wessex tie: SECOND ROUND (*Wessex clubs only - ties to be played Saturday, November 9) Winners Receive £900 Losers Receive £275 Andover New Street v AFC St Austell Downton v Milton United Fareham Town or Bitton v Barnstaple Town Hamble Club v AFC Stoneham Hartpury University v East Cowes Victoria Highworth Town v Sherborne Town Portishead or Fleetlands v Paulton Rovers Roman Glass St George v Hamworthy Recreation