WESSEX CANCER TRUST PARTNERSHIP
February 26, 2023
The Wessex Football League is delighted to announce a new partnership with Wessex Cancer Trust.
Wessex Cancer Trust provides emotional support to anyone affected by cancer and has support centres in Chandlers Ford, Bournemouth, Hythe and Newport on the Isle of Wight.
The partnership builds on Wessex Football League’s commitment to raising awareness of mental health and wellbeing programmes throughout it’s football community across it's membership area of Hampshire, Dorset, Wiltshire, West Sussex and the IOW.
It will promote the charity’s support services through it’s website, social media, newsletter and award-winning radio show on Awaaz FM. The Wessex League will also host a pre-season charity match between the Premier League Champions and League Cup winners, preceded by a pre-match lunch.
Nick Spencer, Executive Vice President of the Wessex Football League, said: “We were really impressed with the charity when they gave a presentation about their work at Eastleigh FC.
"We represent 40 clubs who collectively have in excess of 600 teams competing at many levels from under 5s, to open age, all genders, disability, veterans and walking football; partnering with them immediately felt like a natural fit for the League.
"Cancer affects so many of us and we’re delighted to be partnering with a charity that can provide valuable free and local wellbeing support throughout our football community.”
One in two of us will be diagnosed with cancer in our lifetime. A diagnosis can be a shock and have a huge impact on an entire family.
Wessex Cancer Trust provides free and local emotional support to anyone living with cancer. Through our four cancer support centres we offer a drop-in service, professional counselling, complementary therapies, activities, support groups and courses.
We also run services in the heart of the community, including our popular Sing for Life choirs and transport on our Daisy Buses to help patients get to their hospital appointments. Our ambition is a future where everyone affected by cancer receives the support that empowers them to live well with and beyond cancer. Please visit www.wessexcancer.org.uk
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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
