CONSTITUTION - 2026/27
May 14, 2026
*Please note appeal updates further to this original post
The FA have released NLS club allocations for Steps 1-6 (subject to appeal) for the 2026/27 season.
It sees a return to the Wessex League Premier Division for Bashley, Fareham Town and Horndean - all rejoining us following their respective Step 4 relegations.
Fleetlands make the step-up as champions of Division One, while Sturminster Newton United also feature following a lateral move from the Western League.
Last season's champions, AFC Stoneham (Isthmian South Central) and runners-up, Portland United (Southern League South) have their promotions rubber-stamped.
Wincanton Town are reprieved from relegation and take their place once more in the 22-team Premier Division.
Meanwhile in a 20-team line-up in Division One, we welcome Blandford United (Dorset Premier League) and Hedge End Rangers (Hampshire Premier League) following their respective promotions, while Sandhurst Town make a lateral switch from the Combined Counties Division One.
New Milton Town are relegated from the Premier Division, while Totton & Eling go once again after a reprieve.
We say goodbye to Yateley United who are moved into the the Combined Counties Premier following their Division One play-off success, with Amesbury Town and Clanfield also making lateral moves to the Western League and Southern Combination League respectively.
US Portsmouth and Blackfield & Langley drop out of the NLS, to be placed in a Regional Feeder Leagues, to be confirmed.
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
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.
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.
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 .
We can confirm that following individual Club appeal and FA Committee review, Amesbury Town have been reinstated into Division One of the Wessex League for the 2026/27 season. In addition, following similar Club appeal and FA Committee review, Wincanton Town have had their request to be relegated accepted, and move to the Western League Division One. This revises our constitution to two 21-teams Divisions for the season ahead. See more about the 2026/27 club allocations...
The FA have confirmed round dates for their competitions to be contested in 2026/27, with details as follows: The Emirates FA Cup will begin with the Extra Preliminary Round on Saturday 8 August 2026, and its First Round Proper will take place around the weekend of Saturday 7 November 2026. The Third Round Proper is scheduled around the weekend of Saturday 9 January 2027, and the competition will culminate with the Final at Wembley Stadium connected by EE on Saturday 22 May 2027. The Women’s FA Cup starts on Sunday 23 August 2026 at the Preliminary Round, and the First Round Proper will be on Sunday 25 October 2026. The Fourth Round Proper is going to play out on Sunday 17 January 2027, and the home of English football will host the Final on Saturday 15 May 2027. Ties in The FA Youth Cup Extra Preliminary Round are to be played in the week commencing Monday 17 August 2026, and First Round Proper ties are to be completed by Saturday 31 October 2026. The Third Round Proper is to be finished by Saturday 12 December 2026, and the Final will be decided by Saturday 8 May 2027. The FA Vase will commence on Saturday 15 August 2026 with their First Round Qualifying and Preliminary Round respectively. Non-league Finals Day for the two competitions will be held at the national stadium on Sunday 16 May 2027. The lists of clubs accepted, lists of exemptions, and the draws for the first two rounds of each of these competitions will be announced in due course. Click on the links below to see the 2026-27 round dates for each competition. EMIRATES FA CUP WOMEN'S FA CUP FA VASE FA YOUTH CUP
