HORNDEAN CROWNED CHAMPIONS

April 25, 2023

Horndean have been crowned Wessex League champions for the first time.


Zack Willett's injury-time header proved to be decisive for Michael Birmingham's side against a resilient Portland United on Tuesday evening, in front of bumper crowd of 1,359 at Five Heads Park.


It's been one of the most hotly contested title races in Wessex League history, with the top four sides within three points of one another, going into the final round of fixtures.


HOW THEY FINISHED - LEAGUE TABLES


The Deans only ousted long-time leaders AFC Portchester last Thursday, having been in the hunt all season - winning 32 of their 38 fixtures, and ending the campaign with a remarkable 105 goal difference, having conceded just 21 League goals, amid a demanding end of season schedule.


Portchester were out-gunned 3-0 at Bemerton Heath Harlequins - the Wiltshire side clinching the runners-up spot, and following an FA update on Wednesday afternoon, have also been promoted alongside Horndean to the Southern League Division One South next season, by virtue of their points-per-game.


Bemerton finish with the only unbeaten home record in the Premier Division - one of just eight clubs across the top nine tiers of English football - and secure their second promotion in consecutive seasons after winning Division One in 2021/22.

Zack Willett celebrates his injury time winner for Horndean against Portland United to seal the title (Photo: Martin Denyer)


AFC Stoneham, along with Bemerton, leapfrogged AFC Portchester in the final reckoning – the Purples finished third after a 7-1 romp at rock bottom Alresford.


At the other end of the table, Pagham’s first season in the Premier ended with relegation.


Joe Clarke scored an 86th minute winner for the Sussex club against Baffins, but Bournemouth Poppies – the only other side that could go down – beat Moneyfields 2-0. Baffins were reduced to 10 men on 72 minutes when Dillon North was sent off.


Elsewhere, Laverstock & Ford ended their campaign with a 3-1 home success over US Portsmouth, who finish just above the drop zone.


In Division One, there was play-off heartbreak for Newport IOW for the second season running, as Petersfield Town prevailed 8-9 on penalties after the sides were goalless after ninety minutes.


The Rams will travel to either New Milton Town or Hamworthy Recreation in the final on Saturday, after the second semi-final on Wednesday evening.

An expectant crowd of 1,359 saw Horndean's final match against Portland United at Five Heads Park (Photo: Robin Caddy)



Header Photo: Robin Caddy

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
More Posts