HAMWORTHY'S PPG JOY

PAR002_123 • April 7, 2022

The rules this season over who goes up from Step 5 (our Premier Division) to the Southern League is rather complicated.


The 16 Step 5 League champions all take promotion, in addition, in a nutshell, the top 10 points per game ranked teams will be automatically promoted, whilst the six sides finishing second with the lowest points per game record will play an inter-division play-off against sides from Step 4, we hope we shall not need to think about that, not least as the game(s) look to be scheduled the same weekend as our League Cup Final. 


For us, Hamworthy United (pictured) with the 3-1 win at Hurn Bridge on Tuesday earns them a top two finish this season. With a superior points per game figure, even if they end as runners up, they will be promoted automatically in the Summer. They remain on course to pick up the title though so in any event that would secure the promotion. Three points from three games will suffice, currently their points per game tally is 2.432.


However, lurking in second spot are Bashley- looking to jump at the opportunity to overhaul the Hammers- they too have a good points per game tally (namely 2.243), which at time of writing gives them an eighth placed slot, so it looks like we shall potentially see two of our members moving up the ladder this Summer.


On behalf of the League, I send our best wishes to the Hammers on their progress after two difficult seasons both on and off the pitch and wish them well going forwards. The seeds were sown when the late Steve Harvey was in the Chair and it is a tribute to him as much as anybody that sees the club where they are today.


Similarly, we wish Bashley the best of luck in their return to the Southern League after a short break.


However, should the New Forest side fail to collect the points in their remaining three games, Shaftesbury are also still in the hunt for a runners up berth. So, even now there is something to play for this weekend.


Other teams already “promoted” are United Counties South Harborough Town and Hinckley LR (from the same Division as Newport Pagnell Town) and Southern Counties East’s Sheppey United, whilst from Combined Counties North, Hanworth Villa have already secured the title as have Walthamstow in the Essex Senior and Bishops Cleeve from the Hellenic Premier.


PPG DATA - 2021/22 - AT A GLANCE


Article Photo: Ian Middlebrook

VASE GLORY FOR STONEHAM

May 17, 2026
AFC Stoneham capped a historic campaign by beating Cockfosters in the Isuzu FA Vase final at Wembley Stadium. The Velocity Wessex League Premier Division champions triumphed 4-2 on penalties, after a ninety minutes of deadlock to conclude a quite remarkable season for James Phillips' side that yielded a total of four trophies.

CONSTITUTION - 2026/27

May 14, 2026
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.

PURPS ADD CUP DOUBLE

May 12, 2026
AFC Stoneham completed a quick-fire cup double to add to their Premier Division title, with victories in the Russell Cotes Cup and Southampton Senior Cups.

RAMS UPSET ROYALS IN PSC FINAL

May 9, 2026
Petersfield Town clinched the Portsmouth Senior Cup following a tense penalty shoot-out victory over AFC Portchester, on Friday night. Gav Spurway's Royals may wonder how this one got away, with the Isthmian South Central play-off side having the lions share of possession, while the Petersfield goal increasingly lived a charmed life as the game progressed.

MONKS LEAGUE CUP TRIUMPH

May 4, 2026
Hamble Club celebrated their second Velocity Wessex League Cup in three years after defeating Premier Division champions, AFC Stoneham by the odd goal in five at Downton on Bank Holiday Monday. Tyrrell Sampson put the Purps in the ascendency after fifteen, but it was short-lived as Matt Casey drilled home from the edge of the box shortly after to draw level. CUP FINAL - PROGRAMME DOWNLOAD Duarte Martins made no mistake from a loose ball to restore Stoneham's advantage going into the interval, before substitute, Chase Michel restored parity for a second time just before the hour mark with his first touch of the game.

YATELEY MARCH TO STEP 5

May 3, 2026
Yateley United's rise continued on Saturday, as they reached Step 5 for the first time in the club's short history in emphatic fashion, with 6-1 victory over Whitchurch United. A Wessex League season best crowd of 908 witnessed the Division One play-off final at Yateley's Sean Devereux Park - a venue hosting Step 7 football as recently as 2022/23 in the Thames Valley Premier. Read more in our latest Wessex Post Newsletter Both sides came through their respective midweek play-off semi-finals against Colden Common (2-1) and Folland Sports (0-1) respectively, but Yateley prevailed in the final courtesy of Lynford Sackey (2), Harvey Seeman, Tyler Robinson - and two in the closing moments from Josh Blackwood and Callum Scott to add gloss. James Batchelor's netted Whitchurch's reply with fifteen to go, to reduce the arrears to 3-1, but almost immediately after, Robinson restored the host's three-goal advantage. Our congratulations to Yateley United on your achievement, and commiserations to Whitchurch United. Photo: Greg Dickson
More Posts