STREETS AHEAD! ANDOVER DIVISION ONE CHAMPIONS

Dates for the Velocity Wessex League Divisional play-offs and cup final for 2024/25 have been released, with details as follows: PREMIER DIVISION PLAY-OFFS Tuesday, April 2 (2nd v 5th) - 7.45pm k.o Wednesday, April 23 (3rd v 4th) - 7.45pm k.o Saturday, April 26 (Final @ venue of club finishing highest in regular season) - 3pm k.o DIVISION ONE Tuesday, April 29 (2nd v 5th) - 7.45pm k.o Wednesday, April 30 (3rd v 4th) - 7.45pm k.o Saturday, May 3 (Final @ venue of club finishing highest in regular season) - 3pm k.o CUP FINAL Monday, May 5 - Velocity Wessex League Cup Final (at AFC Portchester) - 3pm k.o

The draw for the quarter-finals of the Velocity Wessex League Cup was made on Sunday during the Radio Show . Last season's winners, Hamble Club head to Hamworthy Recreation, while current Premier Division table-toppers, AFC Portchester, head over the Solent to East Cowes Victoria. An intriguing tie will take place at Cams Alders as Fareham Town host Division One leaders, New Milton Town, while Cove will be looking for another Premier Division scalp following their victory over Baffins Milton Rovers, as they head to Millbrook in the last eight. The full draw is below with dates of the ties to be confirmed. Keep an eye on our fixtures page or weekly newsletter for updates: East Cowes Victoria v AFC Portchester Fareham Town v New Milton Town Hamworthy Recreation v Hamble Club Millbrook v Cove Photo: Nathan Lipsham

As we come to the end of my first six months as the chair of the Velocity Wessex League, it is time to reflect on the season 2024-25 so far. The weather has been kind to us so far and most clubs have completed close to half of their league programme. Both the Premier Division and Division One have competitive battles at both the top and bottom of the tables and I am sure that the race for the title and play-off positions will be interesting right up to the final games. Special congratulations are offered to the three teams that remain in the FA Vase, namely AFC Stoneham, Andover New Street and Fareham Town. Whilst they all face difficult away ties on January 11, everyone in the League wishes them well and hope they can carry the Velocity Wessex League flag into the next round. Off the field, focus for clubs will have to be achieving FA ground accreditation by March 31, 2025. There is the threat of relegation for clubs that do not achieve accreditation, and the league do not want to lose any club on this basis, so please can I ask clubs to focus on getting the required work finished in good time so that promotion and relegation is only decided as it should be, on the field. If you require any assistance regarding ground accreditation, please do not hesitate to contact Ian Harley or myself. As we reach the end of 2024, I would like to thank my fellow league officers for the work they do on behalf of the league, and the time spent and knowledge they have to offer clubs does not go unnoticed. I would particularly like to thank the league secretary Steve Smith for his work and dedication to the role, and he has helped make my transition into the Chairman’s role go smoothly. As I thank the officers, I would like to pay tribute to the League President Dennis Challis who sadly passed away following a short illness recently. Dennis was a font of knowledge and support for me, and our thoughts are with his wife Val and his family at this time. I also thank and acknowledge the support of Joe, Will and the team at Velocity Sports, our main sponsor. Without their financial backing it would make running the league harder for both the league officers and clubs. I would also like to thank all club officers and volunteers for the work that they do to keep all clubs functioning to the standard required of a club within the FA’s National League System, it is appreciated. Finally, I would like to wish everyone in the Velocity Wessex League 'family' a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy 2025.  Nick Taplin Chairman Velocity Wessex League

AFC Stoneham, Andover New Street and Fareham Town will all fly the flag for the Velocity Wessex League in the Fourth Round of the Isuzu FA Vase. All three clubs make their first appearances in the competitions last 32 - eclipsing our representation from 2023/24 with Hamworthy Recreation the sole survivor on an impressive debut run. 

A new Wessex League attendance record was set on Saturday in the top-of-the-table clash between local rivals, AFC Portchester and Fareham Town. A crowd of 1,630 saw the Royals run out 3-1 victors at their OnSite Group Stadium, surpassing the previous best of 1,598 in the same fixture, set in 2022/23.