sydenhams football league news 2020/21 edition …...top ten appearance makers in the fa cup on the...

Saturday, 14 November 2020 of 19

SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2020/21 EDITION NUMBER 20

Hello and welcome to the latest edition of your Newsletter, if you have anything to contribute, please do get in touch by email- [email protected] You can keep up to date with all the news from around the League by following us on Twitter at - @Sydwessex You are more than welcome to use any material (excluding attributed photographs) but it would be appreciated if any material used is acknowledged. It is hoped you enjoy reading this each week. With readership quite widespread, not only within our own competition, but across the three counties and beyond- if ANY club has anything they’d like to have published in here, whether that be a request for helpers, promotion of forthcoming events, items required or available for sale please contact the Newsletter Editor. As a general reminder- Match Reports, player news and photos are always welcome- it is your Newsletter!

mailto:[email protected]



ARE YOU LISTENING ?

The Sydenhams Wessex Football League Show is the official podcast of the Sydenhams Wessex League. We’re on air live from the 103.9 Voice FM studios in Southampton from 3pm to 5pm every Sunday and you can also listen live on www.voicefmradio.co.uk from anywhere in the world. You can listen again afterwards, normally just one hour after the show has finished via the same website and there is also a Voice FM App you can download to your Phone I-Pad or Computer device. Our aim is to promote all local football but specifically the 38 teams of the Sydenhams Wessex League. So far, we have had managers, chairmen, players, press officers and secretaries joining us as studio guests and phone guests; from many Sydenhams Wessex League clubs, as well as guests from local teams both higher up and lower down the pyramid. This is your show and is a platform for your club to promote its events and raise its profile. If your club produces post-match interviews please either email us a copy of the audio or give permission for us to play them on air straight from your website or social media sites, as we will aim to play them on the show. Please come and join us one Sunday, at the moment, no guests will be allowed in the Studio, but please

email [email protected] or [email protected] for more information.

http://www.voicefmradio.co.uk/





STAT ATTACK

LEADING GOALSCORERS – LEAGUE GAMES ONLY Details are based on clubs being up to date with records on Full Time at time of going to press.

PREMIER DIVISION Dan Cann Hamworthy United 9 Connor Duffin Horndean 9 Ashley Elson Alresford Town 8 - [five on] 7

DIVISION ONE Russell Jones Laverstock & Ford 14 Clayd Roach Folland Sports 10 James Franklyn United Services Portsmouth 9 James Thomson Folland Sports 9

WATCHING BRIEF – TOP THREE LEAGUE ATTENDANCES

PREMIER DIVISION AFC Portchester V Blackfield & Langley 300 31 October Bashley V Brockenhurst 276 3 November AFC Portchester V Fleet Town 271 5 September

DIVISION ONE Andover Town V Andover New Street 289 29 September East Cowes Victoria V Newport IOW 288 29 September Laverstock & Ford V Bemerton Heath Harlequins 287 13 October

SHARPEST AND MEANEST Leading goalscoring teams in the League and the meanest defences

PREMIER DIVISION SHARPEST MEANEST Hamworthy United 35 Lymington Town 1 Fareham Town 32 Christchurch 8 AFC Stoneham 28 Hamworthy United 8 Horndean 26 AFC Portchester 9 Fleet Town 23 Blackfield & Langley 10 Christchurch 22 Fareham Town 11

DIVISION ONE SHARPEST MEANEST Laverstock & Ford 38 Romsey Town 9 Folland Sports 31 Alton 13 United Services Portsmouth 26 Laverstock & Ford 13 Andover Town 24 United Services Portsmouth 13 Newport IOW 24 Folland Sports 14 Alton 23 Newport IOW 14



LEAGUE TABLES

RANK PREMIER DIVISION PL W D L F A GD PTS

1 Hamworthy United 11 9 1 1 35 8 27 28

2 Horndean 11 9 0 2 26 15 11 27

3 Fareham Town 10 8 1 1 32 11 21 25

4 Lymington Town 8 8 0 0 19 1 18 24

5 Christchurch 10 6 2 2 22 8 14 20

6 Blackfield & Langley 9 5 1 3 17 10 7 16

7 AFC Stoneham 9 5 0 4 28 13 15 15

8 Fleet Town 10 4 3 3 23 16 7 15

9 AFC Portchester 9 5 0 4 15 9 6 15

10 Bashley 10 5 0 5 16 21 -5 15

11 Bournemouth 11 3 3 5 13 28 -15 12

12 Tadley Calleva 8 3 2 3 14 14 0 11

13 Baffins Milton Rovers 11 3 2 6 17 21 -4 11

14 Brockenhurst 8 2 2 4 9 17 -8 8

15 Hamble Club 9 1 4 4 13 18 -5 7

16 Cowes Sports 9 2 1 6 15 22 -7 7

17 Alresford Town 10 1 3 6 12 28 -16 6

18 Shaftesbury 9 2 0 7 12 30 -18 6

19 Portland United 11 1 2 8 10 40 -30 5

20 Amesbury Town 9 0 1 8 3 21 -18 1

RANK DIVISION ONE PL W D L F A GD PTS

1 Laverstock & Ford 11 9 2 0 38 13 25 29

2 Folland Sports 10 7 1 2 31 14 17 22

3 Alton 9 7 1 1 23 13 10 22

4 Andover Town 10 5 4 1 24 18 6 19

5 United Services Portsmouth 9 6 0 3 26 13 13 18

6 Newport (IOW) 9 5 1 3 24 14 10 16

7 Petersfield Town 8 4 1 3 13 15 -2 13

8 Bemerton Heath Harlequins 8 3 3 2 17 17 0 12

9 Verwood Town 9 3 3 3 16 16 0 12

10 Andover New Street 10 3 3 4 13 16 -3 12

11 Hythe & Dibden 9 3 3 3 13 17 -4 12

12 Romsey Town 7 3 0 4 9 9 0 9

13 Whitchurch United 9 3 0 6 16 25 -9 9

14 East Cowes Victoria 9 2 3 4 10 19 -9 9

15 Ringwood Town 8 3 0 5 16 26 -10 9

16 Downton 11 2 2 7 14 24 -10 8

17 Fawley AFC 9 2 1 6 9 20 -11 7

18 New Milton Town 9 1 2 6 16 21 -5 5

19 Totton & Eling 10 1 0 9 10 28 -18 3



DISCIPLINE – THE TABLE YOU DON’T WANT TO BE TOP OF

PREMIER DIVISION Cautions Standards Misconduct Points

Hamble Club 23 5 2 46

Baffins Milton Rovers 28 2 1 44

Christchurch 25 3 0 44

Alresford Town 21 3 0 38

Fareham Town 28 2 0 35

Fleet Town 20 1 2 35

Cowes Sports 18 2 2 32

Bournemouth 23 1 0 28

Hamworthy United 16 1 0 27

Bashley 20 1 0 26

Horndean 18 1 0 25

Portland United 15 1 0 22

Amesbury Town 17 1 0 21

Brockenhurst 12 2 0 21

Blackfield & Langley 14 1 0 20

Tadley Calleva 13 1 0 20

AFC Portchester 14 1 0 18

Lymington Town 11 0 0 11

AFC Stoneham 10 0 0 10

Shaftesbury 3 1 0 6

DIVISION ONE Cautions Standards Misconduct Points

Downton 23 4 2 50

Andover New Street 23 4 0 39

Folland Sports 30 0 2 33

Andover Town 27 0 0 31

Totton & Eling 20 2 0 30

New Milton Town 18 2 0 29

Romsey Town 19 2 1 29

Alton 16 0 4 28

East Cowes Victoria. 17 3 0 27

Whitchurch United 14 2 1 27

United Services Portsmouth 16 2 0 26

Bemerton Heath Harlequins 19 1 0 23

Petersfield Town 20 0 0 23

Newport IOW 6 2 0 18

Fawley 16 0 0 17

Verwood Town 15 0 0 17

Hythe & Dibden 15 0 1 16

Ringwood Town 13 0 0 15

Laverstock & Ford 12 0 0 13



SEASON 2020 - 2021: YELLOW & RED CARD COUNT SEPTEMBER OCTOBER TOTAL

CLUB Y R Y R Y R

AFC PORTCHESTER 4 1 13 1 17 2

AFC STONEHAM 3 7 10 0

ALRESFORD TOWN 12 1 8 2 20 3

ALTON 8 13 4 21 4

AMESBURY TOWN 7 12 2 19 2

ANDOVER NEW STREET 6 1 14 20 1

ANDOVER TOWN 19 10 29 0

BAFFINS MILTON ROVERS 15 8 23 0

BASHLEY 4 13 1 17 1

BEMERTON HEATH HARLEQUINS 5 14 1 19 1

BLACKFIELD & LANGLEY 4 11 1 15 1

BOURNEMOUTH 10 10 20 0

BROCKENHURST 12 1 5 1 17 2

CHRISTCHURCH 12 1 13 1 25 2

COWES SPORTS 6 13 2 19 2

DOWNTON 11 2 16 2 27 4

EAST COWES VICS 11 2 19 2 30 4

FAREHAM TOWN 18 1 7 25 1

FAWLEY AFC 12 9 21 0

FLEET TOWN 5 15 1 20 1

FOLLAND SPORTS 14 23 1 37 1

HAMBLE CLUB 11 2 9 2 20 4

HAMWORTHY UNITED 6 11 1 17 1

HORNDEAN 14 7 2 21 2

HYTHE & DIBDEN 5 17 1 22 1

LAVERSTOCK & FORD 6 10 16 0

LYMINGTON TOWN 10 5 15 0

NEW MILTON TOWN 8 2 4 12 2

NEWPORT IOW 3 1 8 2 11 3

PETERSFIELD TOWN 13 8 21 0

PORTLAND UNITED 7 10 1 17 1

RINGWOOD TOWN 11 4 15 0

ROMSEY TOWN 9 10 2 19 2

SHAFTESBURY 4 1 4 1

TADLEY CALLEVA 6 1 7 13 1

TOTTON & ELING 10 7 2 17 2

U S PORTSMOUTH 8 1 10 1 18 2

VERWOOD TOWN 10 6 16 0

WHITCHURCH UNITED 10 17 3 27 3

TOTAL 349 18 403 39 752 57

The above represents a summary of Yellow and Red cards issued to clubs to date for September and October league and cup fixtures.



FA CUP RECORD VICTORIES

Highest scoring wins for a team, whilst a member of our League.

HOME WIN SEASON HOME TEAM SCORE AWAY TEAM 2009/10 Alresford Town 8-0 Shaftesbury 2003/04 Lymington & New Milton 8-2 Clevedon United 2020/21 Bashley 8-2 Whitchurch United

AWAY WIN SEASON HOME TEAM SCORE AWAY TEAM 2005/06 Mole Valley Predators 0-8 Gosport Borough 2019/20 Amesbury Town 2-7 Christchurch

FA VASE RECORD VICTORIES Highest scoring wins for a team, whilst a member of our League.

HOME WIN SEASON HOME TEAM SCORE AWAY TEAM 2018/19 Baffins Milton Rovers 14-1 New College Swindon 2007/08 Bournemouth 12-0 Wootton Bassett Town 2002/03 Lymington & New Milton 11-1 Wick

AWAY WIN SEASON HOME TEAM SCORE AWAY TEAM 2015/16 East Cowes Victoria 0-9 Lymington Town 2015/16 Wincanton Town 1-8 Salisbury

Top ten appearance makers in the FA Cup on the left and in the FA Vase on the right hand side since the commencement of our League and whilst teams are members of the League.

APPEARANCES HOME AWAY TOTAL FA VASE TOTAL Brockenhurst 36 35 71 Bemerton Heath Harlequins 90

Wimborne Town 29 41 70 Brockenhurst 82

AFC Totton 28 32 60 Christchurch 82

Fareham Town 25 32 57 Bournemouth 79

Bournemouth 32 24 56 Wimborne Town 74

Bemerton Heath Harlequins 24 31 55 Cowes Sports 62

Newport IOW 21 29 50 AFC Totton 54

Hamworthy United 26 23 49 Moneyfields 54

Thatcham Town 23 26 49 Fareham Town 52

Christchurch 28 18 46 Thatcham Town 50



FROM THE CHAIR

AS we now have a break where there can be no training or playing of matches, it is time to reflect on a busy and trying time for all of us writes Nick Spencer. Take the opportunity to recharge your energy levels, think about what you have done well and perhaps what you could have done differently or will change, when hopefully you start playing again in December. I appreciate that some behaviour is instinctive, however it is not permitted under the guidelines published by Government (DCMS) and The FA. Inappropriate behaviour has been and will be the biggest challenge that we all face when hopefully you start playing again in December. I encourage you to share best practice; if you see something wrong, report it to the league who will offer the appropriate advice. By taking ownership of collective accountability and responsibility I believe we can influence change. It also a time to think about your loved ones and appreciate the support that they have given during what has been a difficult period for everybody. For anyone who has experienced the pandemic first hand, similarly for anyone experiencing other types of illness, I wish you a return to good health. I would like to thank all concerned with the league (board members; match officials; club chairmen/women; secretaries; volunteers; managers; coaches; physios; players and supporters) as well as our colleagues at The FA for their individual and collective contribution to date. Some clubs have excelled in implementing the COVID-19 guidelines; others have needed help, advice and guidance from Bob Purkiss in his role as the league’s COVID-19 Coordinator. Initially I asked Bob to take on the role alone; however it soon became apparent that the workload was too much for one person, so I added Roger Allen, Ian Harley, Greg Dickson and myself to support Bob by allocating a number of clubs to each of us. If you have any queries please refer to the COVID-19 bulletins on the league’s website, if you are unable to find the information you are looking for then please contact your nominated member of the COVID-19 team. I wish you all well, stay safe and healthy.

FIXTURES – RESUMPTION OF THE SEASON

THE League Board met earlier in the week and considered the above and came to a number of decisions which need to be shared. It was decided that a fixture list for December provisional upon us being given the go ahead to start will be prepared and that is shown below. The following decisions will impact on this: SATURDAY DECEMBER 5th After taking soundings from a number of Managers (which were not totally conclusive), it was agreed that clubs should be given the option of not playing a competitive fixture on the above day. Therefore clubs need to let the Fixtures Secretary know by next weekend if they would prefer to have a game on that day rather than train. BUILDBASE FA VASE The F.A. have unfortunately refused to give us any provisional dates for restarting this competition. This means that any fixture list put out will be subject to change. CHRISTMAS FIXTURES The previously circulated fixture list showed no fixtures between December 19th and January 2nd. Given the circumstances, the Board decided that there would be a Christmas fixture this season. Because of the number of local derbies previously fixed for January 2nd, it is likely that at least most of that fixture list will be brought forward to Christmas. The default date for the fixture is Saturday December 26th but clubs will have the option of mutually agreeing to move the fixture to Monday 28th (which is a Bank Holiday) or Tuesday 29th or Wednesday 30th. I am sure that not all written here will be supported by everyone but it is believed this is a proportionate response to the situation we are placed in following the second lockdown and it was one unanimously supported by the Board. Let's hope we can get going again in December and the weather is kind to us.



PROVISIONAL FIXTURE LIST DECEMBER 2020 Tuesday December 8th Sydenhams League Cup 3rd Round Amesbury Town v Folland Sports Verwood Town v Hamworthy United Sydenhams League Cup Quarter Final Andover Town v U.S. Portsmouth Romsey Town v Bemerton Heath Harlequins Premier Division Alresford Town v AFC Stoneham Bashley v Christchurch Bournemouth v AFC Portchester Brockenhurst v Blackfield & Langley Cowes Sports v Lymington Town Fareham Town v Fleet Town Hamble Club v Portland United Tadley Calleva v Shaftesbury Division One Alton v Totton & Eling Downton v New Milton Town Laverstock & Ford v Andover New Street Newport IoW v Hythe & Dibden Petersfield Town v Ringwood Town Wednesday December 9th Division One Fawley AFC v East Cowes Vics Spare: Whitchurch United Portsmouth Senior Cup Semi Final (2019/2020) Baffins Milton Rovers v Horndean Saturday December 12th Premier Division AFC Portchester v Hamworthy United AFC Stoneham v Fareham Town Amesbury Town v Lymington Town Baffins Milton Rovers v Alresford Town Bashley v Bournemouth Brockenhurst v Tadley Calleva Christchurch v Blackfield & Langley Hamble Club v Horndean Portland United v Fleet Town Shaftesbury v Cowes Sports Division One Andover Town v Newport IoW Fawley AFC v Bemerton Heath Harlequins Laverstock & Ford v Romsey Town New Milton Town v Andover New Street Petersfield Town v Hythe & Dibden Totton & Eling v Downton U.S. Portsmouth v East Cowes Vics Verwood Town v Alton

Whitchurch United v Ringwood Town Spare: Folland Sports Tuesday December 15th Premier Division AFC Portchester v Baffins Milton Rovers Alresford Town v Bashley Blackfield & Langley v Amesbury Town Brockenhurst v Hamble Club Christchurch v AFC Stoneham Fareham Town v Cowes Sports Fleet Town v Tadley Calleva Hamworthy United v Bournemouth Lymington Town v Horndean Shaftesbury v Portland United Division One Alton v Whitchurch United Andover Town v Bemerton Heath Harlequins East Cowes Vics v Folland Sports Hythe & Dibden v Andover New Street Laverstock & Ford v Downton New Milton Town v U.S. Portsmouth Petersfield Town v Totton & Eling Romsey Town v Fawley AFC Verwood Town v Ringwood Town Spare: Folland Sports Friday December 18th Division One Totton & Eling v Fawley AFC Saturday December 19th Premier Division Alresford Town v Brockenhurst Bournemouth v Portland United Christchurch v Shaftesbury Cowes Sports v Bashley Fareham Town v Horndean Fleet Town v AFC Stoneham Hamble Club v Amesbury Town Hamworthy United v Blackfield & Langley Lymington Town v Baffins Milton Rovers Tadley Calleva v AFC Portchester Division One Alton v New Milton Town Andover New Street v Downton Bemerton Heath Harlequins v Folland Sports East Cowes Vics v Verwood Town Hythe & Dibden v Whitchurch United Petersfield Town v Andover Town Ringwood Town v Laverstock & Ford Romsey Town v Newport IoW Spare U.S. Portsmouth



Saturday December 26th Premier Division AFC Portchester v Fareham Town Blackfield & Langley v AFC Stoneham Brockenhurst v Lymington Town Cowes Sports v Horndean Fleet Town v Alresford Town Hamworthy United v Bashley Division One Bemerton Heath Harlequins v Downton Fawley AFC v Hythe & Dibden Folland Sports v Totton & Eling (KO 14:00) Laverstock & Ford v Petersfield Town Newport IoW v East Cowes Vics Ringwood Town v New Milton Town (KO 14:00) Romsey Town v Whitchurch United Spare: Alton Monday December 28th Division One Andover New Street v Andover Town Verwood Town v U.S. Portsmouth Tuesday December 29th Premier Division Amesbury Town v Tadley Calleva Bournemouth v Shaftesbury Portland United v Christchurch

Wednesday December 30th Premier Division Hamble Club v Baffins Milton Rovers Saturday January 2nd Premier Division AFC Portchester v Horndean Baffins Milton Rovers v AFC Stoneham Bashley v Fleet Town Bournemouth v Brockenhurst Christchurch v Amesbury Town Cowes Sports v Hamworthy United Fareham Town v Hamble Club Portland United v Blackfield & Langley Shaftesbury v Lymington Town Tadley Calleva v Alresford Town Division One Andover New Street v Bemerton Heath H’quins Fawley AFC v Alton Folland Sports v Whitchurch United Hythe & Dibden v East Cowes Vics Newport IoW v Laverstock & Ford Ringwood Town v Andover Town Romsey Town v Downton U.S. Portsmouth v Petersfield Town Verwood Town v Totton & Eling Spare: New Milton Town

The above does of course remain provisional at time of writing and would be subject to change at little notice or if permission to resume has not been given. So far as the Christmas fixture is concerned the default date and time is Saturday December 26th (15:00) except for Ringwood Town and Folland Sports when the kick off time is 14:00. There is an option for clubs to mutually agree within the next 7 days to play the fixture on Monday 28th, Tuesday 29th or Wednesday 30th. Clubs wanting a change please liaise with your opponents straight away.

OCTOBER AWARDS

Congratulations to the four teams who won the Club of the Month and Kappa MJM Sports Respect awards for October. Presentation of Certificates and Shields will be organised upon resumption.

CLUB OF THE MONTH MJM SPORTS-KAPPA RESPECT AWARD

Premier Division Premier Division Sep-20 Lymington Town Blackfield & Langley

Oct-20 Hamworthy United Shaftesbury

Division One Division One Sep-20 Folland Sports Laverstock & Ford

Oct-20 Laverstock & Ford Ringwood Town



HOW THEY BEGAN —PART II

(when our clubs, past and present, started along with events of the time)

It is hoped that you have enjoyed the first part of the ‘club formation’ feature. On the basis that ‘no news

is good news’ we are continuing with Part II in the same format as last week. This one begins at the end of

the nineteenth century (starting in 1892) and moves swiftly on into the nineteen-thirties. Enjoy!

The following sources were used:

● Electronic: Wikipedia, Isle of Wight County Press Archives, Wiltshire League and various club websites

● Books: ‘Historica’ – Dr Geoffrey Wawro; Hampshire League Programme Editors’ Handbook 1998

(Tony Spencer); 50 Glorious Seasons of the Hellenic Football League 1953-2003 (Michael Jenkins);

Whitchurch United – The History of a Football Club (Lloyd Stratton); A History of the Hawks 1998-

2018 (Steve Murray); Association Football – Volume Three (Caxton Publishing Company; 1960)

● Individuals: John Gorman, Stephen Farmery, Mike Robins

1892

Death of poet laureate Alfred, Lord Tennyson (born in 1809). Liverpool Football Club is formed by John Houlding, the

owner of the Anfield ground after tenants Everton had left due to a dispute about the rent. The Football League forms a

second division.

STEYNING FC (later Steyning Town) is formed. The club became founder members of the West Sussex League

in 1896, playing in the Junior (second) Division. They are unbeaten champions of that division in 1899 and

were Sussex Junior Cup winners three years later. Steyning later joined the Brighton, Hove and District

League following the Great War. Steyning Town were a Sussex County League side when they became

founder members of our own league and remained for two seasons, moving on to the Combined Counties

League. They returned to the Sussex County League where they remain (the league is now known as the

Southern Counties Combination). They are the only team based in West Sussex to have played in the Wessex

League.

1894

In the north west Blackpool Tower and the Manchester Ship Canal both open, whilst Tower Bridge in London is opened

to traffic for the first time. In New South Wales, Australia, aviator Lawrence Hargrave is lifted from the ground on an

experimental box kite.

Berkshire based THATCHAM FC (another club to add ‘Town’ later) was founded and played friendly matches

at ‘The Marsh’, Dunston Green before joining the Reading Temperance League in 1896. The league later

became the Reading & District League (the present-day Thames Valley League). The club won the Division 2

title in 1905/06. Thatcham also had spells in the Hellenic, Athenian and Spartan Leagues’ before becoming

founder members of the Wessex League in 1986. They remained until 2006 and when they returned to step

five football it was back in the Hellenic League. The club are presently in the Southern League – Division 1

(South).



STOCKBRIDGE FC has a long history and initially played matches at Common Down before moving to Little

Dean field around 1910 which remained their home until 1971 when road improvements were necessary.

The club waited for a while, playing on a farmer’s field, moving to their present-day Recreation Ground home

in 1978. The club had a long association with the Andover & District League before joining an extended

Hampshire League in 1991. The Robins were Wessex League members between 2005 and 2013 and started

the following campaign but withdrew midway through. They are presently members of the Hampshire

Premier League.

Another team that commenced in this year were LOCKS HEATH FC. It is thought that the team existed prior

to this year as St John’s Chapel, playing against other local church and chapel teams. Competitive football

was played early in the twentieth century in the Gosport & Fareham and Meon Valley Leagues. The

Recreation Ground has been the club’s home for over ninety years. Locks joined the Hampshire League from

the Portsmouth League in 1983. Wessex League members between 2004 and 2007, the club became founder

members of the Hampshire Premier League where they remain.

1898

Following eight years of research, Scottish physician Ronald Ross determines that malaria is transmitted by mosquitos.

In Paris, Marie and Pierre Currie coin the term radioactivity after they discover the elements polonium and radium. A

promotion and relegation system is instigated by the Football League.

BROCKENHURST FC were formed and initially played on a pitch near to Rhinefield. The club became founder

members of the New Forest League in 1904 which proved successful. The club made a

further move prior to the Great War playing on land between the Rose & Crown and

Snakecatcher Public Houses. They joined the Bournemouth League after the war and

had a very brief spell in the Hampshire League, going back to the local association

before returning and then becoming established at county level. Brockenhurst were

another founder member and one of only two clubs to have played in the Wessex

League in every season since its formation.

Swanage Albion FC was formed and won the Dorset Junior Cup in their first season. The original ground was

Swanage Middle School before a move to their present base of Days Park and a name change to Swanage

Town occurred in the twenties. Much later the Town side merged with Herston Rovers to form the present-

day SWANAGE TOWN & HERSTON FC, this occurring in 1966. The club had eight seasons as Wessex League

members in two separate spells, spanning the years between 1990 and 2002.

1900

Louis’s Lunch Diner (a small snack wagon) providing food for factory workers at New Haven, Connecticut, sells steak beef

patty sandwiches and therefore creates the ‘hamburger’. Great Britain loses to the United States in the first Davis Cup

tennis competition.

The Wiltshire Football Association’s records show LUDGERSHALL SPORTS’ formation date to be in 1900 but

the exact origins are not known. Later, in 1918, two teams in the area merged to form the club as it is today.

The club’s HQ was the back bar of the Prince of Wales Hotel in the town and it is reported that those too

young to enter the premises would wait on the pavement outside to see if they’d been selected. The club

moved to their Astor Crescent ground in the 1930s. Wessex-wise, Sports made the move to the enlarged

league from the Hampshire League in 2004 and remained for just the one campaign when they moved to the

Hampshire League (2004). The club is now playing in the Premier Division of the Wiltshire Senior League.



Another club that little regarding formation is known is NETLEY CENTRAL SPORTS who have been shown as

starting in 1900, 1901 and even later in the twenties. There was certainly a Netley Wanderers team playing

in the South Hants League in 1901/02 but it is unknown whether there was a connection at that time. It was

as Netley Sports that the club came to prominence following World War II and had much success in the

Southampton and Hampshire League competitions. They joined up with the Central club to become Netley

Central Sports in 1970. Netley joined the exodus from the Hampshire to the Wessex League in 2004 and

remained for just two seasons. The Hampshire League (2004) and a move back to the Southampton League

followed before going to the Hampshire Premier League Division 1. The club are now known as AFC Netley,

with effect from this season and they curiously now play at Sherfield English, which is near to Romsey and a

fair way from Netley itself.

1901

Queen Victoria, the British monarch for 64 years, dies at Osborne House, Isle of Wight. The Italian inventor Guglielmo

Marconi transmits a wireless telegraphic message from Cornwall to Newfoundland, Canada – a distance of 2,232 miles.

The first six figure crowd for the English (FA) Cup final as 110,820 gathered at the Crystal Palace as Sheffield United and

Tottenham Hotspur drew 2-2. Spurs win the replay by 3-1 a week later in front of a much lower ‘gate’ of 20,470 at

Burnden Park, Bolton and thus became the first team from below the Football League (since it was formed) to win the

trophy – a record that still stands.

Detail of the BISHOPS WALTHAM FC formation has proved difficult to trace but is documented to be in this

year. They were certainly members of the Botley & District League by 1903 and were its champions in 1906.

It is known that they played Meon Valley football at some point thereon and later joined the Southampton

League. The ‘Town’ suffix was added in the 1980s when they also made the step up to the Hampshire League.

The club completed just two seasons in the Wessex League (2004 to 2006). They started the following

campaign but withdrew. They continued in the Hampshire Premier League in the following season and

undertook a merger to become Sporting Bishops Waltham and then returned to be known as Bishops

Waltham Town before withdrawing from the HPL in November 2013 and an end to a club of 112 years.

1902

Marmite is first produced, in Burton upon Trent. Beatrix Potter’s children’s book The Tale of Peter Rabbit with her own

colour illustrations is published. In football, there is a revolutionary change in pitch markings as the goal area and the

penalty area were reshaped and in essence became as they are now known.

This is the HYTHE & DIBDEN club’s formation year, although a team bearing a similar name has been found

a little before. When the Southampton FA was formed as it is today, back in 1908, the club played in its

inaugural season (Junior Division ‘A’) but later left the association, returning thereafter. One of the ‘masses’

that joined from the Hampshire League in 2004, Hythe have remained thereafter having always played in the

second tier to date.

1903

The conflict between the USA and Canada about the south eastern Alaskan border is resolved. The first heavier-than-air

powered flight is achieved by the brothers Orville and Wilbur Wright at Kitty Hawk, on North Carolina’s outer banks (the

momentous flight was witnessed by just four people). Hampden Park football ground in Glasgow opens.



An amalgamation brought WHITCHURCH UNITED FC into being. The annual meeting of Whitchurch Albion FC at the Kings Arms in June saw a proposal to join with Whitchurch Rovers. This was seen as the best way to encourage players in the area as ‘never before had Whitchurch had so many young players who could play the game’ and it was the ‘best way to have a good club to represent them’ (quotes from the Albion chairman). The first official ground was known as Parsonage Meadow. The first game was a heavy defeat to North Hants Ironworks in the May League (the Ironworks were a strong outfit who joined up with Basingstoke FC seven years later). United went to the Basingstoke & District League in 1906. The Jamboys moved to the Wessex League in 1992 and, except for the 1994/95 season (when they went back to the Hampshire League), have remained since. On to HAVANT TOWN FC next. The first club in this area goes back long before 1903 as Havant Red Star & Church FC was formed in 1883. A recreation ground was purchased in 1888 and was opened a year later as a home for Havant FC. A team known as Havant Eclipse evolved from Havant FC in 1897 and they were successful in the early years of the Portsmouth & District League. Havant Rovers were formed from that club in 1903 and they continued in the Portsmouth League for many seasons. Leigh Park, formed in 1958, was a rival club and the two joined to form Havant & Leigh Park FC in 1969 and entered the Hampshire League a year later. That name was changed to Havant Town in 1976 and they were another Wessex founding club and remained for five seasons. Of course, this story would be incomplete without adding that Town merged with rivals Waterlooville to form the present-day Havant & Waterlooville FC in 1998.

1904

Number plates are introduced as cars are licenced in the UK for the first time. The London Symphony Orchestra performs

its first concert. FIFA is formed.

AMESBURY FC was formed in this year and joined the Salisbury & District League where they remained for

many years. They apparently became known as Amesbury Comrades immediately after the Great War and

had two further names in the 1920s – Amesbury British Legion and Amesbury Corinthians. A record of the

club being Amesbury Sports briefly existed straight after World War II before reverting to Amesbury FC once

more. Amesbury added ‘Town’ to their title as recently as 1984. Town have been members of our league

since 2004.

1905

Alf Common becomes the first £1,000 footballer when he is transferred from Sheffield United to Middlesbrough. The

newly formed Chelsea FC is elected to the Football League for the 1905/06 season. The first use of Newbury Racecourse

(at its current location).

Research by folk connected to VERWOOD FC discovered that they were formed in this

year, having a record of a game and affiliation to the Dorset FA; their founding year having

thought to be 1923. Early club colours had been stated as a white smock, red gaiters and

clogs. The club mainly used the Recreation Ground as their home except for a short period

when a piece of spare ground near Coronation Road was used. A move to Potterne Park

occurred in 1986 and there has since been a pitch relocation within that complex. The

suffix ‘Town’ was added in 1989. (League members 2004 to date)

In Wiltshire, a meeting was arranged by the Rev. J H Phillips which resulted in the formation of DOWNTON

FC. Early results were not very encouraging, and it appears that the club didn’t join a league until after the

Great War when they became members of the Salisbury & District League and they also played in the

Bournemouth League later. (League members 1993 to date).



1913

The foundation stone for the new Australian capital is laid (Canberra). Arsenal FC, previously based at Plumstead, South

London, move north of the River Thames to Highbury. An FA Jubilee Banquet is held to pay due respect to the

organisation and to celebrate how the game has spread in fifty years.

This is the formation year of OVERTON UNITED FC although a record has been found of an Overton FC playing

in the Basingstoke & District League not only in the 1913/14 season but also the season before as well! The

first record of ‘United’ being added to the club’s title has been found in the late 1930s but, although an

addition of ‘United’ often means an amalgamation with others, no further information to that effect has been

found. This club had a period of success in the 1960s and were the first ever North Hants League champions

in 1969. They progressed into the Hampshire League and were Wessex members between 2004 and 2007.

They moved on to the Hampshire Premier League where they remain.

1919

Master impressionist painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir dies in France, aged 78. In tennis, Suzanne Lenglen, from France,

wins the first of five successive Wimbledon Women’s singles titles, offending sensibilities with her exposed arms and

ankles. The Football League is extended as both Divisions 1 and 2 have 22 clubs.

A newly formed club in 1919 was Royal Engineers (Ordnance Survey Office) FC who are the present-day AFC

STONEHAM and is attributed to soldiers returning from the hostilities. They briefly threw their lot in with

the Post Office side, amongst others, to become Southampton Civil Service FC in the 1920s but soon reformed

as an independent club again. A more simplified name was chosen in 1929, becoming Ordnance Survey FC.

The club remained in the Southampton League but apparently had a spell playing Sunday football in the early

sixties before reverting back to the Southampton Saturday League once again. Having lost the Civil Service

ground in 1999, the club has been a bit nomadic since but are now settled in their Stoneham Lane facility.

The name was changed to Stoneham in 2006 with ‘AFC’ added a year later. The club has had two spells in

the Wessex League, first in 2004 to 2007, returning in 2015 and are current members.

1921

Car tax discs are introduced. Chequers becomes the official residence of the Prime Minister. Police patrol London on

motorcycles for the first time. Division 3(North) is formed, following on from the southern section which was introduced

a year before.

PORTLAND UNITED FC are on the brink of celebrating their centenary although clubs representing Portland

go back well before the First World War. United joined the Western League quite soon following their

formation and attendances at the old Grove Corner ground (their home until 1994) in those early years were

often over two thousand. The club became semi-professional for a while after World War II. The Blues were

Wessex League members between 2001 and 2006. They returned to the fold in 2015 and remain to date.

1914-1918 – THE GREAT WAR and, if a reminder is necessary, this a most apt time of year to recall those

that didn’t survive the hostilities. This includes many football and sports players who served their

country. We do, of course, remember them. There were also many club casualties too. As temporary

‘War Leagues’ came to an end, organised football got back on its feet as referees’ whistles could once

again be heard up and down the country.



1923

First publication of the Radio Times listings magazine. Wembley Stadium (then known as the Empire Stadium) is opened

and stages the infamous FA Cup final between Bolton Wanderers and West Ham United with an attendance of

approximately 200,000. The BBC broadcasts the chimes of Big Ben for the first time (on New Year’s Eve).

FAWLEY AFC were formed in this year as AGWI United following the establishment of an oil refinery in the

village of Fawley two years before. AGWI stood for Atlantic, Gulf and West Indian Oil

Company. The club can mainly be found playing in the Hampshire or Southampton

Leagues over the intervening time. A change of title to Esso (Fawley) occurred in 1949, the

Esso company having embarked on enlarging the refinery in those times (completed in

1951). When the Esso company gave the sports ground over to the community in 2003 the

club’s present title was adopted. When the Hampshire League ceased in 2004, Fawley

joined the Wessex League and have remained in membership since.

1925

The “Charleston” dance, performed at a frenetic tempo, is increasingly popular throughout the USA and Britain. Scottish

inventor John Logie Baird successfully transmits the first television pictures with a moving greyscale image in at public

demonstration at Selfridges Store, London. A new offside law is introduced as only two opponents had to be nearer the

goal-line than a forward, it had previously been three.

A club who have survived the passage of time having started out as a works team are TOTTON & ELING FC.

This club commenced as Bramtoco FC (the first two letters of each word of the cognomen

British American Tobacco Company which is likely to give away the company’s line of

business). They moved to their own private sports ground off Ringwood Road, Totton four

years later. This club had a long association with the Southampton League before making

the step into the Hampshire League in 1971 and changed its name to BAT a year later. The

club added a Sports suffix in the 1990s (as they had at some point with their initial title).

Beset by ground speculation which briefly affected their playing status, the club moved to

Miller Park in 2010. The club has had thirty years of continuous Wessex League membership.

1927

Up to 1,000 people in England die each week in a nationwide outbreak of influenza. Joe Davis wins the first World

Snooker Tournament which is played in Birmingham and continued to win it every year to 1940. Cardiff City defeat

Arsenal 1-0 in the FA Cup final to take the trophy out of England for the first (and so far) only time. A new honour was

bestowed on the game when J C Clegg, president of the FA, was knighted for his long and faithful service.

Another company side PORTALS ATHLETIC were formed in this year by workers at the paper mill in

Laverstoke (located between Whitchurch and Overton) but there is insufficient further detail available. The

club certainly played in the Basingstoke & District League before World War II. Portals progressed into the

Hampshire League in 1967 and were one of that league’s floodlighting pioneers, installing them at their Batts

Meadow ground when few other teams in the league possessed them. The club had just one season in the

Wessex League, the inaugural one in 1986/87, before the company decided they no longer wanted to sustain

a team at that level.



1930

Plans to build a tunnel from England to France are approved by the Channel Tunnel Committee. British aviatrix Amy

Johnson flies solo between England (Croydon) and Australia (Darwin) and becomes the first woman to do so, achieving

it in 19 days but is three days short of beating Bert Hinkler’s record. The first World Cup competition takes place, but the

home countries do not take part (they were not members of FIFA at that time).

This is a good era for company team start-ups as this is yet another one. WELLWORTHY ATHLETIC FC was

formed and entered teams in the Bournemouth and New Forest Leagues. The company was an engineering

works and had a long-time membership with the Bournemouth League before joining the Hampshire League

in 1985 and then their meteoric rise continued by becoming one of the founding Wessex League teams in

1986. Based in Lymington the club had two Wessex seasons before merging with the Lymington Town club

to form AFC Lymington in 1988.

1935

The world’s first parking meters are installed in Oklahoma City, USA, and the end of the era of free parking. Reflective

cat’s-eyes are first used on British roads. Parker brothers releases the board game Monopoly in the USA. Official “two

referee” trials take place, one in each half, and linesmen abolished – two trial games were chosen; and the outcome –

although there is now VAR at the highest level (effectively a second, albeit remotely based, referee) there are still flag

bearers running those touchlines today!

Where a club has ‘and’ in its title there is a suggestion there was once two separate teams and that is the

case with BLACKFIELD & LANGLEY FC but 1935 was the date of the merger between them and has therefore

been established as its formation year. As with many teams, records of the early years are not well known

and they apparently played in the Hythe & District League. They immediately joined the Southampton

League following the hostilities and had a long association in the Hampshire League, mainly being members

of its lower divisions. The club had been competing in the Wessex League since 2000, although they did have

two seasons (2018 to 2020) in the Southern League but have returned to the fold in this present campaign.

1938

The Beano comic goes on sale for the first time. The Munich Agreement is signed to ensure all disputes between France

and Britain with Germany are resolved by peaceful means. The laws of football are rewritten.

Few clubs have made such an instant impact since formation than another works outfit, the plane

manufacturing company known as FOLLAND SPORTS. Based in Hamble-le-Rice, the club was started as

Folland Aircraft FC and was able to put out established professional players during the Second World War

and pretty much scooped every wartime honour they competed for (especially in 1940/41). They were

Southampton League members after the war (when known as ‘Follands’) and they joined the Hampshire

League in 1968 and added ‘Sports’ a season later. The club went to the Wessex League in 1987 and have

remained although they had undergone a series of name changes but have played once again as Folland

Sports since 2013.

Part II of our look back ends, probably at a convenient time as the country was at war between 1939 and 1945 although there is a record of one of our past clubs having been formed during wartime, which is unusual. If you don’t know the answer, then you will have to wait until next time. The next part will cover the period from 1944 up to 1970. Don’t forget, if you have anything to add then you know what to do, we will be very happy to receive your thoughts. Compiled by Gary Day.



FA YOUTH CUP 2nd ROUND DRAW

Oldham Athletic v Lincoln City [Wednesday 18 November] Altrincham v Peterborough United [Friday 20 November] Burton Albion or Worcester City v Bugbrooke St. Michaels or Mansfield Town Cambridge United v Guiseley [Tuesday 17 November] Hull City v Doncaster Rovers [Wednesday 18 November] Wigan Athletic v Irlam or Notts County Fleetwood Town 3-0 Walsall [Played on Friday 13 November] Carlisle United v Bradford City [Thursday 19 November] Salford City v Tranmere Rovers or Hyde United AFC Fylde v Sunderland Basford United v Grimsby Town Milton Keynes Dons v Eastbourne Borough or K Sports Metropolitan Police v Swindon Town Portsmouth v Bromley or Bedfont Sports Chelmsford City v Ipswich Town [Monday 23 November] Chippenham Town v Woking [Wednesday 18 November] Dorking Wanderers v Colchester United [Wednesday 18 November] Exeter City 3-2 aet Cheltenham Town [Played on Wednesday 11 November] Bury Town or AFC Sudbury v AFC Wimbledon Sutton United v Bristol Rovers or Camberley Town Newport County v Brockenhurst Gillingham v Charlton Athletic

CLUB NEWS

Good news this week from the Waterside, at Fawley with the club delighted to share that their planning application has been approved for their new Sports Pavilion. This includes multiple changing rooms, bar and function room. This is great news for all those involved in the club as they look to grow and push forward. Some considerable effort has already been made in getting to this stage, and thanks go to all councillors who voted in support of this, they look forward to working with Exxon and HCSA to complete the project. Despite the lockdown, and as we approach the half way mark- several clubs are bringing in new players for the resumption. Here are just some of those noted over the last few days. Midfielder Joe Stacey has moved from Hythe & Dibden to Brockenhurst. Striker Luke Stone has moved to New Milton Town from Christchurch whilst Callum Parnell is also a new arrival at the JMC Stadium. In the north, Joe Wright is another new face at Andover New Street. There’s change on and off the Bonnymead Park pitch where we see the appointment of Gerwyn Griffiths as Assistant Manager and Coach with Amesbury Town and new players joining the club, in the form of Joe Thompson, Corey Taylor-Kelly, Jordan Brooks, Nathan Donnachie and Will Skillington, are also noted. Griffiths is a UEFA qualified coach and has worked latterly with the Army Under 23s, where most of the new signings have also been involved. Another team adding to their squad is Romsey Town where Ben Rowthorn, Harris Feltham, Ollie Hicks, Ben Wilding and Marcus Gibson have joined, together with Jake Burgess who has moved from Bemerton Heath and Mason Barratt from Brockenhurst. Scott Hassell is another departure from Bemerton moving down the A338 to Downton

WEEK 11 ROUND UP

Please note there is a notice on Full Time about changes to the login. All clubs will have been emailed the details and they should please read the notes on the update carefully and act appropriately.

** This change is currently scheduled for week commencing 23rd November **

The Third Round draw was also released at the end of the week, and what a carrot for the young Badgers. A win over Newport will see them on the road again and a trip to face Tottenham Hotspur in the next round. Good luck! The 2019/20 Final has only just been played, with Manchester City beating Chelsea 3-2 thanks to goals from James McAtee, Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer. Marcel Lewis and an OG for Chelsea.

sydenhams football league news 2020/21 edition …...top ten appearance makers in the fa cup on the...

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