HISTORY
Many of the football leagues around the country have long and rich traditions and histories, however the Wessex League is a relatively recent addition to the NLS structure at Steps 5-6.
For many years clubs wishing to progress from County football had to apply to join their local semi-professional league. In the case of Hampshire League clubs this meant an application to the Southern League.
The gap both in playing standards and facilities was great and most clubs were unable to make the change. All this changed in the late 1980's when both the Southern League and Western League expanded and took in many county league teams.
Hampshire lost such old established clubs as Fareham Town, Basingstoke Town, Andover, Salisbury and Gosport Borough. The loss of so many top class clubs obviously weakened the Hampshire League and even today this loss has not been made good.
When the promotional pyramid was finally approved in the early 1980's, football clubs had a direct path via promotion to the Football League for the first time ever. It was obvious however that a majority of the Hampshire League clubs even if they gained promotion could not attain the standards of the Southern League and as a consequence an additional feeder league between the two was required.
Various schemes were launched for a Hampshire Premier League but none came to fruition. Finally in the summer of 1986 the formation of a Wessex League was discussed. It was proposed to draw clubs from the Hampshire, Dorset, Berks and Bucks, Sussex and Wiltshire FA's. After long discussions the full Football Association approved the league.
Although most of the founding members of the Wessex League were drawn from Hampshire, the new League covered a considerable area outside of the county. The seventeen founding members of the League which kicked off in August 1986 were: AFC Totton, Bashley, Bournemouth, Brockenhurst, Eastleigh, Havant Town, Horndean, Lymington Town, Newport IOW, Portals Athletic, Portsmouth Royal Navy, Road Sea Southampton, Romsey Town, Sholing Sports, Steyning Town, Thatcham Town and Wellworthy Athletic.
The most surprising move was made by Road Sea Southampton who took the decision to drop down from the Southern League, a decision taken because the travelling costs in the Southern League had become too much for them to undertake. It was an understandable choice when one considers that playing in the higher standard often involved trips to places like Dover, Sheppey, Hastings or Folkestone on a cold Wednesday night.
Bashley were first champions of the new League, with Brockenhurst finishing last. Season 1987/88 saw the number of teams increase from 17 to 19 as two of the founder members left, both in unfortunate circumstances. Road Sea Southampton folded after their main backer financially Peter Price decided to withdraw his support and in similar fashion, Portals Athletic were unable continue as the Company which owned their ground sold it, leaving them with no home and no alternative but to pull out.
Four new teams were found however, Christchurch from the Hampshire League, Wimborne Town from the Western League, East Cowes Victoria from the Hampshire League and Folland Sports from the Hampshire League. The champions once again were Bashley, with Lymington finishing bottom of the pile.
In its third year of existence, the league was gaining in prestige and this was reflected by the fact that 17 of the 19 clubs remained in the League. The two exceptions were Steyning Town who withdrew because the distances grew too difficult for them and the two clubs based in the town of Lymington decided to merge into one stronger one so Wellworthy Athletic and Lymington Town became AFC Lymington. Bashley achieved an amazing third consecutive title triumph with Portsmouth Royal Navy the unlucky last place finishers.
1990/91 saw the league reach previously untouched heights. 20 clubs participated as Newport were surprisingly accepted to join the Southern League despite only finishing second the year before, but two new teams, Swanage Town & Herston came from the Western League and Ryde Sports from the Hampshire League.
After an exciting season Havant Town were acclaimed as champions and immediately announced that they were joining the Southern League, the third year in a row that the Wessex League has provided the Southern League with a club.
In 2004, the league absorbed most of the clubs from its feeder league, the Hampshire League, which formed a new Division Two and Division Three. In 2006 the divisions were renamed as the Premier Division and Divisions One and Two. At the end of the 2006–07 season, Division Two was disbanded, and most of the clubs formed a new Hampshire Premier League.
Champions of the Wessex League who meet the relevant ground and financial requirements are eligible for promotion to the Southern League Division One South & West.
Champions in 2021/22 were Hamworthy United, who also embarked on an excellent run in the FA Vase reaching the semi-final stage - and they were joined in promotion to the Southern League by runners-up, Bashley.
A four-way tussle made the 2022/23 Premier Division title race one of the most absorbing in Wessex League history, with Horndean prevailing on the final night, to pip long-time leaders, AFC Portchester. Bemerton Heath Harlequins were also promoted by virtue of their superior PPG. In Division One, two former Premier Division sides made a return to the top-tier - Andover New Street the champions, and Petersfield Town - coming through two penalty-shoot out victories in the play-offs.
