SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2020/21 EDITION NUMBER 22

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!

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SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2020/21 EDITION NUMBER 22

ARE YOU LISTENING ?

Please note new broadcast times- Sunday 14:00 to 16:00

The Sydenhams Show is the official podcast of the Sydenhams Wessex League. We’re on air live from the 103.9 Voice FM studios in from 2pm to 4pm 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. Saturday, 28 November 2020 Page 2 of 27

SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2020/21 EDITION NUMBER 22

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 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 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 Town 1 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 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

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SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2020/21 EDITION NUMBER 22

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 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 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 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 Town 9 1 2 6 16 21 -5 5 19 Totton & Eling 10 1 0 9 10 28 -18 3

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SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2020/21 EDITION NUMBER 22

BERKS AND BUCKS SENIOR TROPHY

[First contested in 1992/93] 1992-93 Eton Wick 2-1 Sandhurst Town 1993-94 ? 1994-95 Lambourn Sports 2-1 Eton Wick 1995-96 Reading Town 2-1 Lambourn Sports 1996-97 Abingdon United beat Reading Town 1997-98 Abingdon United 1-0 Finchampstead 1998-99 ? 1999-00 New Bradwell St Peter 1-1 Milton Keynes City [3-1 on penalties] - 1 April at Beaconsfield SYCOB 2000-01 Didcot Town 2-1 AFC Wallingford - 28 April at Chesham United 2001-02 AFC Wallingford 3-2 Milton Keynes City - 27 April at United 2002-03 Didcot Town 2-0 Milton Keynes City - 26 April at Didcot Town 2003-04 Beaconsfield SYCOB 3-1 Buckingham Town - 21 April at Aylesbury United 2004-05 Thatcham Town 5-1 Abingdon Town - 20 April at Thatcham Town 2005-06 Didcot Town 4-2 Sandhurst Town - 26 April at Thatcham Town

2005/06 First Round Abingdon Town 1-2 Holmer Green Not the best of final seasons as member clubs with st Flackwell Heath 1-0 AFC Newbury AFC Newbury making a 1 Round exit at the hands Second Round of Flackwell Heath. Despite securing the biggest Abingdon United 1-2 Chalfont St Peter win in the 2nd Round; with a 4-1 win over AFC Didcot Town 3-2 Wantage Town Wallingford, Thatcham made their exit in the Flackwell Heath 1-2 Aylesbury Vale Quarter Final after a goalless draw at Aylesbury Hungerford Town 1-2 Holmer Green Vale going out 5-3 in a penalty shoot-out. Milton United 1-0 Buckingham Town They were unable to retain the Trophy they won Reading Town 0-2 Newport Pagnell Town on their own turf a year earlier in a convincing 5-1 Shrivenham 1-2 Sandhurst Town win over Abingdon Town. Thatcham Town 4-1 AFC Wallingford Thatcham made up for this disappointment by Quarter Finals claiming runners up spot in our top division, and Aylesbury Vale 0-0 Thatcham Town securing a place in the Southern League, amassing Chalfont St Peter 0-3 Didcot Town 94 points from their 42 games in the process. th Holmer Green 1-0 Newport Pagnell Town At the opposite end, despite a 19 place finish, AFC Milton United 0-1 Sandhurst Town Newbury found themselves relegated and never Semi-Finals really recovered, losing their Wessex place in the Holmer Green 0-5 Didcot Town next season with their record being expunged. Sandhurst Town 3-1 Aylesbury Vale Final Didcot Town 4-2 Sandhurst Town

I have little information on this competition at the northern fringe of our area, it would seem that just two of our member clubs would qualify for this competition namely AFC Newbury from 1992/93 to 2005/06 and Thatcham Town from 1992/93 to 2005/06. Saturday, 28 November 2020 Page 5 of 27

SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2020/21 EDITION NUMBER 22

NOSTALGIA- THINGS AIN’T WHAT THEY USED TO BE

TEN YEARS AGO THIS WEEK- On Monday night in the League Cup, City beat Totton & Eling 4-2 at the Denplan City Ground. James Rowe bagged a brace whilst Nathan Lynch and Zach Glasspool were also on target for the hosts. Elsewhere Bemerton Heath Harlequins beat Warminster Town 6-1. On Tuesday night in the League Cup, Downton beat Christchurch 1-0. Hamble ASSC beat Hayling United 4-2 and Pewsey Vale beat Blackfield & Langley 3-2 whilst Poole Town won 3-1 at home to Fareham Town with Dan Cann and Steve Smith amongst the goals for the Dolphins. Finally in this midweek, in the North Hants Senior Cup, Tadley Calleva won 5-3 at Stockbridge. On Saturday, Blackfield & Langley and New Milton Town played out a 3-3 draw at The Gang Warily Stadium despite the Watersiders going 2-0 ahead. Floyd Hamodu and Neil Williams put the hosts ahead before Liam Winzar made it 2-1. Tom Winzar missed a penalty for New Milton Town only for Ross Drew to eventually make it 2-2. Rob Fox then put New Milton Town 3-2 ahead before Hamodu equalised three minutes from full time. Alton Town won 4-0 at Brockenhurst with Jon Gray netting a brace and Carl Saunders and Alex Lowly also finding the net. Bemerton Heath Harlequins won 6-2 away at Hamble ASSC. Joe Sanger hit a hat-trick for the visitors whilst Jack Slade scored a brace and Graham Mankin was also on target. Ashley Jarvis and Jamie Musselwhite were on target for Hamble. Hamworthy United won 6-1 at Hayling United. Dave Ewen hit a hat-trick, Luke Burbidge scored twice, once from the penalty spot and Ryan Murray also found the net for the Hammers. Fareham Town won 2-1 at Lymington Town and Winchester City also won by the same scoreline at Newport (IOW). Moneyfields beat Bournemouth 1-0 with Warren Hunt scoring the only goal. Poole Town won impressively 5-1 at Romsey Town. Brading Town won 4-2 at Totton & Eling with Alex Przespolewski scoring a penalty and Scott Jones, Josh Appell and Jamie O'Rourke all scoring for Brading. In Division One, AFC Portchester beat Cowes Sports 6-1, Craig Thomas scoring the solitary goal for the Yachtsmen. Pewsey Vale won 2-0 at East Cowes Vics with Danny Horwood and Matty Bissett scoring the goals. Downton won 3-0 at Ringwood Town. Robertson scored two and Hoare also hit the target. United Services Portsmouth beat Whitchurch United 3-1 in the other Division One game. POOLE TOWN – The Dolphins completed a transfer coup signing former AFC Bournemouth Marcus Browning from Blue Square Premier side, Bath City. Browning only had limited opportunities in the Bath first team opting to join the Premier Division outfit. Also joining Poole Town this week was experienced defender Phil Warner. Warner had been plying his trade in Australia but returned to and joined the Dolphins. LYMINGTON TOWN – Goalkeeper Ryan Gosney has left the club and re-joined his former club, Winchester City. The 19-year old stopper only joined Town in the summer but found it difficult to gain a place in the first- team so opted to return whence he came. Coming up in the week ahead, in the Russell Cotes Cup, Fareham Town would entertain Andover of the Southern League South & West Division One, whilst in the Senior Cup, Southern League Premier Division side Weymouth would travel to Hamworthy United. In League action, On Tuesday night in the Premier Division, Moneyfields would welcome Brading Town with a 19:30 kick-off. At 19:45, Bournemouth will host Romsey Town, Hayling United and Hamble ASSC will be involved in a “six-pointer” at Hayling College whilst league leaders Winchester City travel to Laverstock & Ford. Brockenhurst make the short trip to New Milton Town and Fawley AFC also make a short trip for a game at Totton & Eling. On the Wednesday night, Newport (IOW) were scheduled to entertain Blackfield & Langley in the Premier Division.

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SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2020/21 EDITION NUMBER 22

BUILDBASE FA VASE 2020/21

BUILDBASE FA VASE 1st ROUND Brockenhurst v Street [5 December] Clapton 1-1 Petersfield Town [0-3 on penalties] * [* Petersfield removed for playing an ineligible player] Clevedon Town 2-1 Whitchurch United Cribbs 4-3 Newport IOW Fareham Town v Roman Glass St George [5 December] Fleet Town 0-2 Littlehampton Town Hamworthy United 4-0 Ilfracombe Town Keynsham Town 0-4 Bashley Lymington Town 1-2 Tavistock New Milton Town 1-1 Clanfield 85 [4-1 on penalties] Newton Abbot Spurs 3-1 Ringwood Town United Services Portsmouth 3-1 Bournemouth BUILDBASE FA VASE 2nd ROUND Christchurch v Cribbs [5 December] Helston Athletic v Fareham Town or Roman Glass St George

Millbrook or Sherborne Town v Bashley New Milton Town v Longlevens [5 December] Clapton v Hamworthy United [5 December] United Services Portsmouth v Brockenhurst or Street

Bit fragmented given the lockdown and post lockdown situation, but details of outstanding ties are shown above, the Millbrook Sherborne Town tie is also scheduled for Saturday 5th December, so Bashley will have to wait until then to discover their opposition. Fareham Town know who their next opponents will be and it is a long old trip down to the far west should they overcome their Bristol based visitors on the 5th. The only other undecided 1st Round sees Brockenhurst face Street in the New Forest, a trip to United Services awaits the winner. The outstanding 2nd Round ties will then be played on Saturday 12th December as the FA are aiming to play the 3rd Round games on Saturday 19th December, OR 26th December if any participating team is behind schedule; so good weather and no health issues are required to be order of the day for the next month. Sadly we had to report that Petersfield were removed after it was reported that one of their players had not got International Clearance whilst playing abroad. This should have been obtained by the club the player came from but unfortunately for whatever reason this was not completed. The Rams were not subject to any further action as regards the FA Vase but will have to forego their prize fund allocation for the misdemeanour.

WILTSHIRE SENIOR CUP 2020/21

The draw for the Second Round has been made and here is how it affects our clubs. Ties scheduled for playing on 16th January, with provisional future dates also allocated- Quarter Final for 20th February and Semi Final for 13th March.

Corsham Town - Bemerton Heath Harlequins Devizes Town - Laverstock & Ford Downton - Trowbridge Town

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SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2020/21 EDITION NUMBER 22

HOW THEY BEGAN —PART IV (when our clubs, past and present, started along with events of the time)

This is the fourth and final part of our ‘beginnings’ feature which brings our clubs up to the present day. This part starts in 1971.

1971

The Broderick nontuplets are born in Australia, the first recorded case of nine births. The UK introduces the decimal system of currency, the previous system having been in place for 1,200 years.

AFC PORTCHESTER have a most interesting history. In April 1971, Lloyds Sports was formed and played in the City of Portsmouth Sunday League and the club subsequently became Colourvision Rangers in 1973. The name was changed again in 1976, to Wicor Mill FC, after a public house. The club collected various local honours and took the step to join the League in 1998. The Millers played county league football at Portchester Community School initially, but they worked hard to return to their Wicor Recreation Ground base. A name change to AFC Portchester, following a merger with a junior club, occurred in 2000. Now nicknamed ‘The Royals’ the club did make that return to Wicor Rec and those that have visited the ground over several years will see they’ve transformed it into the fine stadium it is today. (Wessex League members since 2004) Originally formed as Soldiers Return FC, the RS side had a short-lived Wessex League existence. The original name came from a pub and they played Sunday football. A Saturday team was formed and they moved through the Basingstoke & District League before election as founder members of the Chiltonian League in 1984, then becoming known as SR Basingstoke. A one-season stay in the North Hants League was followed by promotion to the in 1988. A name change to DCA Basingstoke occurred in 1990 (this stood for Danesmead Community Association). A move to the Combined Counties League came in 1992 before a return to the Chiltonian in 1996. The club’s title changed again, this time to RS Basingstoke (which stood for Railway Social) a year later and they were one of a few clubs to play in both the initial and final seasons of the Chiltonian League when it was absorbed into the Hellenic League in 2000. A further move came in 2003 and back to the Hampshire League. RS became Wessex members in 2004 when it extended but failed to complete the 2004/05 season.

1972

Britain, Ireland and Denmark decide to join the European Economic Community (EEC), to be effective from 01/01/1973 whilst Norway completed negotiations to join in this year but decided not to, following a referendum. Mastermind and Emmerdale Farm make their first appearances on TV screens. The first UEFA Cup final is held and it’s an ‘internal affair’ as Tottenham Hotspur defeat Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-2 on aggregate (the competition having replaced the Inter- Cities Fairs Cup). The England Women’s football team plays its first official match, meeting Scotland at Greenock, one hundred years after the first official men’s match.

QK SOUTHAMPTON was formed by the sports and social section of the Southampton Tax Office which was located within a building known as Queens Keep, the club’s title until 2000. Starting in Southampton Junior Division 10, Queens Keep FC didn’t have the best of times early on but kept going to eventually move through the junior divisions. The club was promoted to the Senior Divisions in 1987 and nine seasons later was elected to the Hampshire League. The club was rocked by the imminent closure of their Civil Service Ground home in 1999 which forced them to source a new location and a move to Lordshill followed, where they remain. The name change came next to show the area where the club was located. Saturday, 28 November 2020 Page 8 of 27

SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2020/21 EDITION NUMBER 22

Since then QK became part of the mass exodus to the Wessex League in 2004 which ended three years later to become Hampshire founders. They continue in the HPL but now play in Division 1 (second tier). Consequently, with the Senior Division annulled last season and Division 1 decided on a points-per- game basis, to the writer’s reckoning, QK are the only club to have completed every HPL campaign!

1973

Queen Elizabeth II opens the Sydney Harbour Bridge, declaring it “one of the wonders of the world”. When Sunderland defeated Leeds United 1-0 in the FA Cup final it was the first time that a side from outside the first division (the top tier of English football at the time) had won the cup since the war.

ROAD SEA SOUTHAMPTON began as Road Sea FC, from a freight forwarding company which was based in Southampton Docks, the company and the team being formed by Peter Price. This club had a dearth of fine Hampshire League players at its disposal and won many honours in Southampton Sunday football and were certainly the ‘team to beat’ for local Sunday afternoon players. But in 1982, the Southern League expanded its numbers and Road Sea raised a few eyebrows when accepted into its constitution and straight from Southampton Sunday football too. A move to an impressive new facility at Marchwood at the same time obviously helped their cause and their initial Southern League season was as RS Southampton. After four seasons as a Southern League club, Road Sea make the Wessex League move when it was formed in 1986 and remained for just one campaign before surprisingly disbanding. The ground, then known as Road Sea Park, now forms part of Southampton FC’s Staplewood training facility. 1974- None of our clubs were established in this year but it is the first reference that the writer has found of the formation of a ‘Wessex League’. It was an idea that came from Mr Fred Tyler, the secretary of the Hampshire FA, with a view that it would be above the Hampshire League and would enable clubs to play at a high standard locally. As the Sports Echo put it at this time, Southern League teams had faced long and expensive journeys to places in Kent etc., and to compete in local derby matches instead made economic sense. The league took a further twelve years to come to fruition although the response by the Southern League clubs at that time was initially a rather ‘lukewarm’ one.

1985

The first mobile phone calls are made in the UK. BBC soap opera EastEnders begins. The Sinclair C5, a battery-operated recumbent tricycle is launched by Sir Clive Sinclair (and ceases production before the end of the year). Two football stadium disasters occur in May, the Bradford City fire and at the Heysel Stadium in Brussels. In the second instance the European Cup final is completed as Juventus defeat Liverpool but it leads to English clubs being banned from playing in European competitions by UEFA for an indefinite period.

YATELEY GREEN FC were Wessex League members for just one season (in 2004/05). Their roots apparently went back to 1979 when the Royal Oak FC became Anchor ’79 and that club played in Sunday football. The year 1985 was when the Saturday side was formed and then as Yateley Green FC. The club moved through the & District League to join the Hampshire League in 1995. Yateley Green was renowned for producing a very professional matchday programme in those county league days and even offered the service of a ‘talking programme’ via a cassette tape which was most innovative. The club wasn’t enjoying their best times in that one Wessex season and they returned to the local association. There was an older rival club, known as Yateley FC and in 2013 the teams took the decision to ‘pitch in’ together and, along with junior teams Yateley FC Youth and Beaulieu FC, formed Yateley United FC. This united club has progressed via the Surrey Elite and Intermediate Western Leagues and presently play in the Hellenic League Division 2 (East). Saturday, 28 November 2020 Page 9 of 27

SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2020/21 EDITION NUMBER 22

1987

Hurricane force winds batter the British Isles and is the worst storm to hit the country for 300 years. Everton win the Football League championship whilst Coventry City are FA Cup winners for the first time. Aldershot FC become the first team to gain promotion via the Football League play-offs.

There was a MONEYFIELDS FC team prior to the formation of the present-day club of that name. That club went back for fifty years and had various names, finishing as Portsmouth United in 1984. The present Moneyfields team are not connected and came about via the Portsmouth Civil Service club in the featured year. The team moved from the Civil Service Ground to the Moneyfields Sports Ground in Copnor in November 1994 (the ground used by the former club). They were permitted to change their name to Moneyfields shortly afterwards and therefore did so in mid-season, which is unprecedented. Another club to work extremely hard to bring their facilities up to standard, ‘Moneys’ gained admittance into the Wessex League in 1998 and remained in the top division until promotion into the Southern League in 2017. In this (2020/21) campaign they are playing in Division 1 (South). 1988

The Bank of England £1 note ceases to be legal tender. Golfer Sandy Lyle becomes the first British winner of the US Masters tournament. In cricket, Graeme Hick scores 405 not out and becomes the first player in English history to score a quadruple century in an innings since 1895. Scunthorpe United open Glanford Park, the first new stadium to be built by a Football League club since the 1950s.

The Lymington and Wellworthy clubs have been covered earlier but they merged by a special general meeting held at the Wellworthy Social Club in June 1988. The new team was known as AFC LYMINGTON and played at the Sports Ground of the former Town club. This club lasted for ten seasons and whilst the clubs’ honours are not usually covered by this article, they proved to be the most successful club in Wessex League history, including being the only side to go through a season with immunity from defeat (in 1996/97). Following another successful campaign, the club merged with New Milton Town to form Lymington & New Milton and decamped to the New Milton ground. This led to the Lymington Town team reforming in the summer of 1998 and the historic original club was back in business once again. (For Lymington & New Milton FC – see 1998). 1989

Sky Television commences broadcasting and is the first satellite TV service in Britain. Red kites are reintroduced to England and Scotland. Nigel Martyn becomes the first goalkeeper to be transferred for £1millon when he moves from Bristol Rovers to Crystal Palace.

This year was the formation of three clubs who are current members, with football in all three areas going back well beyond this year. Bemerton Heath Harlequins joined the Wessex League in 1989, whilst the Alresford and Tadley clubs were amongst the large numbers that headed our way following the demise of the Hampshire League in 2004. All three clubs have remained in membership. Football in Alresford has been found back to the late nineteenth century, but the formation year of the present ALRESFORD TOWN FC side is shown as this featured year. Starting in the now defunct North Hants League, Town moved immediately into the Hampshire League before withdrawing in 1996. They returned, again from the North Hants League, in 2000 and then came the 2004 move; they’ve remained members of our league since and have been a top tier side since 2007. Saturday, 28 November 2020 Page 10 of 27

SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2020/21 EDITION NUMBER 22

BEMERTON HEATH HARLEQUINS FC was an amalgamation of three teams. Bemerton Athletic FC was formed in 1945, originally as a boys’ team and it dominated the Salisbury & District League in the mid-sixties and picked up further honours beyond. Next, Bemerton Boys was formed in 1985 when it was noted that there were insufficient football teams in the Salisbury area and that club soon expanded to become a large boys club. The third component was Moon FC, a former Salisbury and Andover Sunday League club. The new Harlequins club was immediately admitted into the Wessex League and after a year playing at the Salisbury & South Wilts Sports Ground, they made the short move to the Westwood Recreation Ground which in more recent years has been renamed Moon Park. So, this club has played Wessex League football right from its formation. Football in Tadley also goes way back, probably to the early 1900s. The present-day club which is now known as TADLEY CALLEVA FC began life as Tadley FC in this featured year. It initially played in the Basingstoke and North Hants Leagues and joined the Hampshire League in 1994. A change of name to Tadley Town occurred five years later and the present title was adopted a further five years on when the club merged with Calleva Youth FC which was also the summer that they joined the Wessex League. The club was aware that to remain playing Wessex football they would need to move from their humble ground at ‘The Green’ and, whilst awaiting a move to a new complex it even had a season playing on a back pitch at AFC Aldermaston. But the move to Barlows Park was completed in 2007 and the club has gradually improved their facilities to provide a ground worthy of Premier Division status.

1991

British scientist Tim Berners-Leigh introduces the World Wide Web. announces plans to put in place a new ‘Super League’ of 18 clubs to replace the first division as the highest level of English football.

The amalgamated Alton Town and Bass Alton Town sides start playing and now form part of the present ALTON FC – see entry in 2016 for details. 1992

The Royal Mint issues a new 10p coin which is lighter and smaller than the previous version. TVS (Television South) broadcasts for the final time. Most leading retailers withdraw the sale of vinyl records in favour of audio cassettes and compact discs. becomes Britain’s most expensive footballer when transferred from Southampton to Blackburn Rovers for £3.6million.

The area of Wellow, located near to Romsey, is known for being Florence Nightingale’s final resting place and also an ice cream parlour. WELLOW FC was a reformed club in 1992 and they moved through the Southampton Junior and Senior Leagues to gain promotion into the Wessex League in 2006. They hit the ground running with a third-place finish in the third tier of the league, but their players attracted attention from other clubs which forced them to withdraw. The club moved to the Hampshire League (2004) from there and then returned to the Southampton League, coming full circle by playing back in the junior divisions before disbanding.

1993

Meridian TV starts broadcasting. The Ford Mondeo and the Vauxhall Corsa cars are introduced. QVC launches the first television shopping channel in the UK. Manchester United become the first winners of the FA Premier League (see this section in 1991).

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SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2020/21 EDITION NUMBER 22

PETERSFIELD TOWN FC was an immediate formation following the demise of the Petersfield United club which had been the town’s principal side and dated back to 1889. That club had been playing football, but the new Town side immediately applied for and gained entry into the Wessex League. Town are in their third spell in the Wessex League. Their first spell ended with relegation to the Hampshire League in 1997. They came back in the 2004 expansion and remained until 2015 and this time departed for a different reason, promotion into the Southern League. The club remained at that level for two seasons before returning to the Wessex fold where they remain.

1996

Dolly the sheep becomes the first mammal to be successfully cloned from an adult cell. More than 4 per cent of the UK population have internet access. The European Championships take place in England. Alan Shearer again becomes the world’s most expensive footballer when transferred for £15million from Blackburn Rovers to Newcastle United (see also 1992 entry).

The AFC NEWBURY club was formed in this season and was a merger between three teams, the most senior of which being Ecchinswell FC (founded in 1906) along with Shaw Boys & Belles Juniors and Wickham under- 17 youth. Ecchinswell had a long association in the Basingstoke & District and the North Hants Leagues. The ‘Well’ played at an attractive ground in a delightful rural setting. Unsurprisingly, the town the size of Newbury did have a senior football club which donned the Town name and existed between 1887 and 1995. Their demise ironically produced an opportunity for Ecchinswell as the pitches at their ground were due to be changed and this prevented a full-sized surface from being available. ‘Well’ decamped to the Newbury ground in February 1996 and then teamed up with the other components to form the new club. They immediately joined the Wessex League and existed at a senior level for nine full seasons. The club lost their Faraday Road ground and took a two-step relegation in 2006/07 and played on a school pitch but they struggled to put out a team and withdrew from the league in October 2006. There is more of a happier end to this story than usual though as the club does still exist, fielding teams from under-8 to under-17. Perhaps they will put out a senior men’s team again someday?

1998

The DVD format is released into the UK market for the first time. Construction begins on the Millennium Dome in . The historical counties of Herefordshire and Worcestershire are re-established, having been merged together 24 years earlier. Manchester United TV begins broadcasting, making the club the second to have their own TV channel (Middlesbrough having been the first with ‘Boro TV’ in 1997). Reading move to the Madejski Stadium.

In 1998 the AFC Lymington and New Milton Town clubs merged to form Lymington & New Milton FC, playing at the Fawcett Fields. However, the Lymington Town club decided to reform at that time. The L&NM club continued with the AFC Lymington membership of the Wessex League and then in 2005 had two seasons higher – one in the Isthmian League and one in the Southern League. They returned to the Wessex fold in 2007 and adopted their present-day title of NEW MILTON TOWN FC. The original New Milton club went back to 1898 and existed until the 1998 merger but the current side began in this year. The club are current members. DC AFC, more commonly known as DAVID COLEMAN FC, was formed in commemoration of a footballer from the area who had passed away at a young age. They played in the Salisbury & District League initially before joining the Hampshire League in 2002 and, after two mid-table seasons, joined the Wessex League when it increased its divisions in 2004. Sadly, the club withdrew from the Wessex League very early in the 2004/05 season and disbanded. This club’s seven match Wessex League existence is the shortest in our history.

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SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2020/21 EDITION NUMBER 22

2005

The New Forest becomes Britain’s twelfth national park. The landmark Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth opens. Pubs in England and Wales are permitted to open for 24 hours for the first time. Arsenal become the first club to win the FA Cup on ‘kicks from the penalty mark’, defeating Manchester United after a 0-0 draw.

Inspired by Phil Green, the Director of Sport at Southampton’s newly formed Southampton Solent University establishment, TEAM SOLENT came into being initially to supplement its teams that played in university competitions. They started in the Southampton Junior and Senior divisions and made a successful application to become founder members of the in 2007. The club remained in the HPL until 2011 when, with an impending move from its Hardmoor base to an impressive sports complex at Test Park, it obtained promotion into the Wessex League. Known as the ‘Sparks’, the student side remained in the Wessex League prior to withdrawing last summer when a statement was issued which cited the ‘changing landscape in higher education and the realignment of the university’s changing priorities’ as the key reasons. The ground location was ‘off campus’ which meant they struggled to obtain support. It must be said that the name was changed to Solent University FC for their final (2019/20 and Covid-19 halted) season but, without doubt, they will be best recalled by friend and foe alike as Team Solent.

2011 Note the annual events are discontinued from here as they are within more recent times Two Sunday League clubs fused to form BAFFINS MILTON ROVERS FC, and it was presumed that Baffins Milton FC and Milton Rovers FC didn’t have too many problems in deciding the new title. The club played in the Portsmouth Saturday League and moved from the open spaces of the Great Salterns pitches to the nearby Sailing Centre ground once they’d gained promotion into the Hampshire Premier League in 2013. The club successfully negotiated a lease to use the northern end of the complex which would enable them to progress further up the non-league pyramid. Gradual improvements were made and promotion to the Wessex League was achieved in 2015. The ground, known as the PMC Stadium, is now a most excellent facility and testament to the hard work undertaken by the stalwart club members as Baffins are now established in the Premier Division. 2013 Back in Part I of this piece, Andover FC was featured and that club’s ground at the Portway Stadium was left unoccupied for a spell. Staff at the Sparsholt and Andover Colleges undertook an ambitious plan to provide a football programme and to take over the ground. This led to the formation of ANDOVER TOWN FC and entry straight into the Wessex League was obtained. There was a lot of work to do on the ground and the club initially played at Winklebury (the ground that has just become the home of Basingstoke Town) until the Portway was up to standard which was achieved in December of the featured year. The club became a force to be reckoned with in the Premier Division but were not able to take promotion to step 4 of the non-league pyramid in 2018 and are now consolidating back in Division 1. 2014 The present-day SALISBURY FC commenced in December 2014 and the founding consortium went about setting up a team and infrastructure to start in the 2015/16 season. This was a phoenix club as Salisbury City FC had been wound up earlier in the featured year. A club bearing the Salisbury FC name can be traced back as far as 1902 and on cessation, that was followed by a reformed Salisbury club in 1947 which existed up to its 2014 demise (ironically, both defunct sides added the suffix ‘City’ at one point). Saturday, 28 November 2020 Page 13 of 27

SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2020/21 EDITION NUMBER 22

Sadly, this led to no senior team bearing the Salisbury name in 2014/15 and the ‘new’ club was placed into the Wessex League. Unsurprisingly, Salisbury won the title at a canter in their only Wessex campaign and since then have obtained a further rise in the Southern League and are now members of the Premier South. 2016 It seems ironic that the youngest of our member clubs appears to be ALTON FC and that indeed is the case as this was another amalgamation, this time between Alton Town and Alton United Youth FC. But football in the town does, in fact, go back a fair bit further as Alton had two senior teams for a long while. Courage & Company (Alton) FC, from a local brewery, can be found dating back to 1928 and had two spells in the Hampshire League before re-joining in 1972. This club became known as Bass (Alton) in 1980. Meanwhile, Alton Town FC’s Hampshire League days can date back to 1947 before joining the Athenian League in 1973. They returned to the Hampshire fold in 1984. The Town and Bass clubs agreed to merge in 1990, which took effect on the field from 1991 calling themselves Alton Town Bass FC which was changed to Bass Alton Town a year later. The merged club played at the Bass ground, the team name eventually becoming Alton Town FC (from 1998) and they joined the Wessex League in 2002. The club’s existence was threatened in 2012 when the brewery, who owned the ground, gave the club notice to quit. Following a two-season spell in the Combined Counties League, Alton Town returned to the Wessex in 2015. The club did remain at the Bass ground and following negotiations with the Alton United club (who’d taken occupancy of the old Town club’s Anstey Park ground, located nearby) a merger took place. Anstey Park was then back on the Wessex football map and a fine ground it has become too as the future of senior football in Alton now looks secure. ‘Unknown’ There is one outstanding team we cannot trace a founding year for, and it must, of course, be included. MICHELDEVER FC (often adding ‘Village’ to their title) are that ‘mystery’ club. There are traces of a Micheldever team playing as far back as 1924 but the writer suspects that this is a much later formation. They were members of the North Hants League until joining the Hampshire League in 1999 and had five seasons at county level before joining the Wessex in 2004. They completed the 2004/05 season but withdrew in March of the next campaign and appeared to disband from there. Their ground at the Lord Rank Playing Fields was a delightful setting and the folk out there were most friendly. If the writer was pushed to estimate the formation of the last Micheldever FC then it was most likely to be 1996 (and more than happy to be corrected on that!). That concludes this lockdown feature and we now know that football at our level will be resuming very soon. It is interesting the different ways clubs were formed, which is often synonymous of the times. The early days saw a number of public meetings and a decision made regarding whether to play soccer or rugby codes. Then there were clubs forming following wartime, as well as religious groups, inspirational individuals, company/works teams and, in more recent times, educational institutions. One interesting aspect was where there were mergers along the way, some of the teams (such as Cowes Sports and AFC Totton) retain the original club’s formation year whilst others (for example, Hamworthy United and Alton) recognise the year when their amalgamation actually took place. There is, of course, no right or wrong answer and it’s down to the clubs to decide themselves but it is often the forgotten junior partner that has helped the ‘established’ one through a ‘sticky patch’ at that time. Most of the beginnings are humble ones and many clubs have lasted the course of time, some expecting to perhaps have no more than a ‘glorified kick about’ by playing friendlies. Those teams would also have played many opponents that didn’t make it along the way. Compiled by Gary Day

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SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2020/21 EDITION NUMBER 22

Status TEAM DOB #19 #20 #21 #22 Former member Brading Town 1871 YES - - - Current member BOURNEMOUTH 1875 YES - - - Current member LYMINGTON TOWN 1876 YES - - - Former member Warminster Town 1878 YES - - - Former member Wimborne Town 1878 YES - - - Current member RINGWOOD TOWN 1879 YES - - - Former member Sholing Sports 1880 YES - - - Current member COWES SPORTS 1881 YES - - - Former member Andover 1883 YES - - - Former member Hayling United 1884 YES - - - Former member Winchester City 1884 YES - - - Current member CHRISTCHURCH 1885 YES - - - Current member EAST COWES VICTORIA 1885 YES - - - Former member AFC Totton 1886 YES - - - Current member ROMSEY TOWN 1886 YES - - - Current member HORNDEAN 1887 YES - - - Current member NEWPORT (IOW) 1888 YES - - - Former member Ryde Sports 1888 YES - - - Current member SHAFTESBURY 1888 YES - - - Current member FLEET TOWN 1890 YES - - - Former member Poole Town 1890 YES - - - Former member Weymouth (Reserves) 1890 YES - - -

Former member Steyning Town 1892 - YES - - Former member 1894 - YES - - Former member Stockbridge 1894 - YES - - Former member Thatcham Town 1894 - YES - - Current member BROCKENHURST 1898 - YES - - Former member Swanage Town & Herston 1898 - YES - - Former member Ludgershall Sports 1900 - YES - - Former member Netley Central Sports 1900 - YES - - Current member AMESBURY TOWN 1901 - YES - - Former member Bishops Waltham Town 1901 - YES - - Current member HYTHE & DIBDEN 1902 - YES - - Former member Town 1903 - YES - - Current member WHITCHURCH UNITED 1903 - YES - - Current member DOWNTON 1905 - YES - - Current member VERWOOD TOWN 1905 - YES - - Former member Overton United 1913 - YES - - Current member AFC STONEHAM 1919 - YES - - Current member PORTLAND UNITED 1921 - YES - - Current member FAWLEY AFC 1923 - YES - - Current member TOTTON & ELING 1925 - YES - - Former member Portals Athletic 1927 - YES - - Former member Wellworthy Athletic 1930 - YES - - Current member BLACKFIELD & LANGLEY 1935 - YES - - Current member FOLLAND SPORTS 1938 - YES - -

Former member Borough 1944 - - YES - Former member 1946 - - YES - Current member BASHLEY 1947 - - YES - Current member FAREHAM TOWN 1947 - - YES - Saturday, 28 November 2020 Page 15 of 27

SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2020/21 EDITION NUMBER 22

Former member Fleetlands 1947 - - YES - Former member Pewsey Vale 1948 - - YES - Former member Fleet Spurs 1951 - - YES - Former member AFC Aldermaston 1952 - - YES - Former member Colden Common 1956 - - YES - Current member LAVERSTOCK & FORD 1956 - - YES - Former member Sholing 1960 - - YES - Current member ANDOVER NEW STREET 1961 - - YES - Former member Liss Athletic 1962 - - YES - Former member Otterbourne 1962 - - YES - Current member US PORTSMOUTH 1962 - - YES - Former member Clanfield 1963 - - YES - Former member Paulsgrove 1963 - - YES - Former member Farnborough North End 1967 - - YES - Current member HAMBLE CLUB 1969 - - YES - Current member HAMWORTHY UNITED 1970 - - YES -

Current member AFC PORTCHESTER 1971 - - - YES Former member RS Basingstoke 1971 - - - YES Former member QK Southampton 1972 - - - YES Former member Road Sea Southampton 1973 - - - YES Former member Yateley Green 1985 - - - YES Former member Moneyfields 1987 - - - YES Current member ALRESFORD TOWN 1989 - - - YES Current member BEMERTON HEATH H'QUINS 1989 - - - YES Current member TADLEY CALLEVA 1989 - - - YES Former member Alton Town 1991 - - - YES Former member Wellow 1992 - - - YES Current member PETERSFIELD TOWN 1993 - - - YES Former member AFC Newbury 1996 - - - YES Former member AFC Lymington 1998 - - - YES Former member David Coleman FC 1998 - - - YES Current member NEW MILTON TOWN 1998 - - - YES Former member Team Solent 2005 - - - YES Current member BAFFINS MILTON ROVERS 2011 - - - YES Current member ANDOVER TOWN 2013 - - - YES Current member ALTON 2016 - - - YES Former member Salisbury 2016 - - - YES Former member Micheldever ? - - - YES

Last four columns above indicate in which Newsletter the clubs’ story of origin appears. THE HUNT FOR SUPER FANS

There’s a new Non-league website www.nonprofootball.com which, as its main aim is to "give value to all football league in the England (professional, semi-professional, amateur, youth, women's, indoor) and creating a unique web platform for English football players, staff and supporters". We hear that what the guys from the website would really like, is "Club Ambassadors", super fans if you like, who can promote their club and feed information and news stories all about their chosen club. Readers are welcome to get in touch with the website directly, it is not mandatory and it should also be noted that the League do not endorse the proposal.

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SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2020/21 EDITION NUMBER 22

NON LEAGUE PAPER PROGRAMME COLUMN

AH it’s good to be back! Well, sort of back. If we are back. Covid-19 has brought many challenges and keeping up with the latest government guidance is certainly one of them in this fast-moving feast. At the time of writing, news has just been announced fans can return to grounds, in limited numbers and depending on what Tier you are in. We are still waiting on full clarification for ‘non-elite’ games and all the variables around crossover of Tiers and so on. BUT it felt like a promising announcement from the Prime Minister as we hopefully inch closer to a much brighter future. For Step 1 and 2 clubs, this period has been draining. Yes, games have been going ahead and there has been government support through the National Lottery, but the absence of fans has been felt acutely. Likewise, it has been tough for Steps 3 and below. Fans have been back in grounds but there has been the additional responsibility on clubs to make sure their grounds are Covid secure, while adhering to all manner of guidelines and protocols. Again, it’s been hard to keep up with. When Lockdown 2.0 was introduced, that saw the season halted in its tracks and more uncertainty. It’s been a tough few weeks once again. BUT hopefully you will be reading this piece in a programme, at a game, in the fresh air, with fans socially distanced alongside you and looking forward to watching some live football. Or you’re reading this having been at a game, in the fresh air, with fans socially distanced alongside you and you enjoyed watching some live football. If 2020 has taught us anything, it is to not take Non-League football for granted. Global pandemic wasn’t in the thoughts of many, if any, people this time last year, who’d have predicted within a couple of months of Christmas that a whole campaign would get blown out of the water by a virus. Since the season kick-off again at the beginning of September, I’ve enjoyed every minute of being in a ground with fans, albeit in limited capacities. It’s been so tough for those fans of Steps 1 and 2 clubs who still haven’t had a chance to watch their team properly since back in March. Hopefully they will be soon. So, let’s enjoy it and make the most of it. You can bet football, rightly or wrongly, will be held up as an example among the wider public. Let’s do all we can to help our Non-League clubs. There is still a pandemic and together we can all make it easier for clubs. They don’t make the rules but they are certainly under pressure to adhere to them. So let’s all work as a team. Do as we are told, wear our masks where asked to, test and trace and keep our distance to help keep this show on the road. It’s good to be back. We all want it to stay that way.

Several clubs already include the “weekly” column written by the Paper in their programme. If you want to then contact them directly please.

FIXTURES

A full revised fixture list is attached which supersedes all previous lists, subject of course to late amendment. This second lockdown (together with other fixtures where dates were unallocated) means that the League have had to find new dates for approximately 170 fixtures. In both divisions we have had to abandon the usual efforts to balance home and away fixtures but there has to be some compromises made for a season that is two months shorter than normal. With regards to the Premier Division, there are a few long distance midweek fixtures but there is still a bit of room in the list to allow for cup progress, bad weather and further disruptions.

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On the other hand Division One is more difficult with two clubs not having floodlights currently plus the element of ground-sharing. Any further disruption to the fixtures in this division will cause problems in rescheduling which does not bode well if we have a wet or cold winter. On behalf of the League I want to thank Roger Allen for his work in issuing this list so promptly.

Saturday December 5th 2020 Premier Division Buildbase F.A. Vase 1st Round AFC Portchester v Hamworthy United Brockenhurst v Street AFC Stoneham v Tadley Calleva Fareham Town v Roman Glass St George Amesbury Town v Lymington Town Buildbase F.A. Vase 2nd Round Baffins Milton Rovers v Alresford Town Christchurch v Cribbs *Bashley v Bournemouth Clapton v Hamworthy United Christchurch v Blackfield & Langley New Milton Town v Longlevens Hamble Club v Horndean Premier Division Portland United v Fleet Town Bournemouth v Portland United Shaftesbury v Cowes Sports (14.30) Division One Spare: Brockenhurst, Fareham Town East Cowes Vics v Ringwood Town * Subject to F.A. Vase fixture Tuesday December 8th 2020 Division One Sydenhams League Cup 3rd Round Andover Town v Newport IoW Amesbury Town v Folland Sports East Cowes Vics v Alton (new) Verwood Town v Hamworthy United Fawley AFC v Bemerton Heath H’quins Sydenhams League Cup Quarter Final Folland Sports v Verwood Town (14.00) Andover Town v U.S. Portsmouth Laverstock & Ford v Romsey Town Romsey Town v Bemerton Heath H’quins New Milton Town v Andover New Street Premier Division Petersfield Town v Hythe & Dibden Alresford Town v AFC Stoneham Totton & Eling v Downton Bashley v Christchurch (19.30) Whitchurch United v Ringwood Town Bournemouth v AFC Portchester Tuesday December 15th 2020 Brockenhurst v Blackfield & Langley Premier Division Cowes Sports v Lymington Town AFC Portchester v Baffins Milton Rovers Fareham Town v Fleet Town Blackfield & Langley v Amesbury Town Hamble Club v Portland United Brockenhurst v Hamble Club Tadley Calleva v Shaftesbury Christchurch v AFC Stoneham Division One Fareham Town v Cowes Sports (19.15) Alton v Totton & Eling Fleet Town v Tadley Calleva Downton v New Milton Town Hamworthy United v Bournemouth Laverstock & Ford v Andover New Street Horndean v Alresford Town Newport IoW v Hythe & Dibden Lymington Town v Bashley Petersfield Town v Ringwood Town Shaftesbury v Portland United Wednesday December 9th 2020 Division One Division One Alton v Whitchurch United Fawley AFC v East Cowes Vics Andover Town v Bemerton Heath H’quins Spare: Whitchurch United East Cowes Vics v Folland Sports Portsmouth Senior Cup Semi Final (2019/2020) Hythe & Dibden v Andover New Street Baffins Milton Rovers v Horndean Laverstock & Ford v Downton Saturday December 12th 2020 New Milton Town v U.S. Portsmouth Buildbase F.A. Vase 2nd Round Petersfield Town v Totton & Eling Helston Ath. v Fareham/Roman Glass St George Romsey Town v Fawley AFC Millbrook/Sherborne Town v Bashley Verwood Town v Ringwood Town U.S. Portsmouth v Brockenhurst/Street Spare: Newport IoW

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Friday December 18th 2020 Cowes Sports v Horndean (19.45) Division One Portland United v Christchurch (19.30) Totton & Eling v Fawley AFC Wednesday December 30th 2020 Saturday December 19th 2020 Premier Division Buildbase F.A. Vase 3rd Round Hamble Club v Baffins Milton Rovers (19.45) Premier Division Saturday January 2nd 2021 Alresford Town v Brockenhurst Premier Division Bournemouth v Baffins Milton Rovers AFC Portchester v Horndean Christchurch v Shaftesbury Baffins Milton Rovers v AFC Stoneham Cowes Sports v Bashley Bashley v Fleet Town Fareham Town v Horndean Bournemouth v Brockenhurst Fleet Town v AFC Stoneham Christchurch v Amesbury Town Hamble Club v Amesbury Town Cowes Sports v Hamworthy United Hamworthy United v Blackfield & Langley Fareham Town v Hamble Club Lymington Town v Portland United Portland United v Blackfield & Langley Tadley Calleva v AFC Portchester Shaftesbury v Lymington Town Division One Tadley Calleva v Alresford Town Alton v New Milton Town Division One Andover New Street v Downton Andover New Street v Bemerton Heath H’quins Bemerton Heath H’quins v Folland Sports Fawley AFC v Alton East Cowes Vics v Verwood Town Folland Sports v Whitchurch United (14.00) Hythe & Dibden v Whitchurch United Hythe & Dibden v East Cowes Vics Petersfield Town v Andover Town Newport IoW v Laverstock & Ford Ringwood Town v Laverstock & Ford Ringwood Town v Andover Town (14.00) Romsey Town v Newport IoW Romsey Town v Downton Spare U.S. Portsmouth U.S. Portsmouth v Petersfield Town Saturday December 26th 2020 Verwood Town v Totton & Eling Premier Division Spare: New Milton Town Blackfield & Langley v AFC Stoneham Tuesday January 5th 2021 Brockenhurst v Lymington Town Sydenhams League Cup Quarter Final Fleet Town v Alresford Town Amesbury Town/Folland Sports v Bashley Division One (at Bashley if Follands) Folland Sports v Totton & Eling (14.00) Verwood T./Hamworthy Utd. v Whitchurch Utd. Newport IoW v East Cowes Vics Portsmouth Senior Cup Semi Final (2019/2020) Monday December 28th 2020 Moneyfields v Fareham Town Premier Division Saturday January 9th 2021 AFC Portchester v Fareham Town (15.00) Buildbase F.A. Vase 4th Round Division One Premier Division Andover New Street v Andover Town (15.00) Amesbury Town v Alresford Town Bemerton Heath H’quins v Downton (15.00) Baffins Milton Rovers v Shaftesbury Fawley AFC v Hythe & Dibden (19.30) Bashley v Portland United Laverstock & Ford v Petersfield Town (15.00) Bournemouth v Horndean Ringwood Town v New Milton Town (14.00) Christchurch v Hamworthy United Romsey Town v Whitchurch United (15.00) Cowes Sports v Brockenhurst Verwood Town v U.S. Portsmouth (15.00) Fareham Town v Blackfield & Langley Tuesday December 29th 2020 Fleet Town v AFC Portchester Premier Division Hamble Club v Tadley Calleva Amesbury Town v Tadley Calleva Lymington Town v AFC Stoneham Bournemouth v Shaftesbury (19.45) Division One Hamworthy United v Bashley (19.30) Alton v Verwood Town

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Andover Town v Laverstock & Ford Premier Division Downton v Folland Sports AFC Stoneham v Fareham Town East Cowes Vics v Fawley AFC Alresford Town v Hamble Club Hythe & Dibden v Newport IoW Amesbury Town v Bashley New Milton Town v Whitchurch United Lymington Town v Blackfield & Langley Petersfield Town v Bemerton Heath H’quins Tadley Calleva v Brockenhurst Romsey Town v Ringwood Town Division One Totton & Eling v U.S. Portsmouth Bemerton Heath H’quins v Verwood Town Spare: Andover New Street New Milton Town v Hythe & Dibden Tuesday January 12th 2021 Petersfield Town v Laverstock & Ford Premier Division Romsey Town v East Cowes Vics AFC Stoneham v Hamble Club Wednesday January 20th 2021 Blackfield & Langley v Bournemouth Division One Brockenhurst v Christchurch Fawley AFC v Folland Sports Hamworthy United v Fareham Town Whitchurch United v Andover New Street Horndean v Cowes Sports Saturday January 23rd 2021 Division One Premier Division Andover New Street v U.S. Portsmouth AFC Portchester v Alresford Town Bemerton Heath H’quins v Ringwood Town AFC Stoneham v Shaftesbury Verwood Town v Romsey Town Amesbury Town v Portland United Wednesday January 13th 2021 Baffins Milton Rovers v Brockenhurst Division One Bashley v Blackfield & Langley Whitchurch United v Laverstock & Ford Bournemouth v Lymington Town Saturday January 16th 2021 Christchurch v Fleet Town (new) Wilshire Senior Cup 2nd Round Cowes Sports v Hamble Club Corsham Town v Bemerton Heath H’quins Fareham Town v Hamworthy United Devizes Town v Laverstock & Ford Horndean v Tadley Calleva Downton v Trowbridge Town Division One Premier Division Alton v Laverstock & Ford AFC Stoneham v AFC Portchester Andover New Street v Newport IoW Alresford Town v Christchurch Downton v Totton & Eling Baffins Milton Rovers v Bashley East Cowes Vics v Whitchurch United Blackfield & Langley v Cowes Sports New Milton Town v Bemerton Heath H’quins Brockenhurst v Amesbury Town Ringwood Town v Folland Sports (14.00) Hamble Club v Bournemouth Romsey Town v Hythe & Dibden Horndean v Hamworthy United U.S. Portsmouth v Andover Town Lymington Town v Tadley Calleva Verwood Town v Petersfield Town Portland United v Fareham Town Spare: Fawley AFC Shaftesbury v Fleet Town Tuesday January 26th 2021 Division One Premier Division Alton v Fawley AFC AFC Portchester v Christchurch Andover Town v New Milton Town Amesbury Town v Shaftesbury Folland Sports v Andover New Street (14.00) Hamworthy United v Hamble Club (14/11/20) Lymington Town v Horndean Hythe & Dibden v Totton & Eling Division One Newport IoW v Romsey Town Bemerton Heath H’quins v Hythe & Dibden Petersfield Town v Verwood Town Petersfield Town v Romsey Town Ringwood Town v Whitchurch United Totton & Eling v Newport IoW U.S. Portsmouth v East Cowes Vics U.S. Portsmouth v Alton Tuesday January 19th 2021 Wednesday January 27th 2021

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Premier Division Blackfield & Langley v Brockenhurst Baffins Milton Rovers v Cowes Sports Bournemouth v Tadley Calleva Division One Christchurch v Fareham Town Fawley AFC v Andover Town Fleet Town v Lymington Town Saturday January 30th 2021 Hamworthy United v Cowes Sports Premier Division Horndean v Amesbury Town Alresford Town v Bournemouth Shaftesbury v AFC Portchester Bashley v Fareham Town Division One Blackfield & Langley v Horndean Andover New Street v Verwood Town Brockenhurst v Fleet Town Bemerton Heath H’quins v East Cowes Vics Christchurch v AFC Portchester Folland Sports v Laverstock & Ford Hamble Club v Shaftesbury Hythe & Dibden v Andover Town Hamworthy United v AFC Stoneham Newport IoW v Downton Lymington Town v Amesbury Town Petersfield Town v Whitchurch United Portland United v Baffins Milton Rovers Ringwood Town v Totton & Eling Tadley Calleva v Cowes Sports Romsey Town v Alton Division One U.S. Portsmouth v Fawley AFC Alton v Bemerton Heath H’quins Spare: New Milton Town Andover New Street v East Cowes Vics Tuesday February 9th 2021 Downton v U.S. Portsmouth Premier Division Fawley AFC v Romsey Town AFC Portchester v Lymington Town Folland Sports v Andover Town (14.00) AFC Stoneham v Alresford Town Hythe & Dibden v Ringwood Town Bashley v Amesbury Town Newport IoW v New Milton Town Brockenhurst v Shaftesbury Totton & Eling v Laverstock & Ford Division One Whitchurch United v Verwood Town Alton v Newport IoW Spare: Petersfield Town Downton v Romsey Town Tuesday February 2nd 2021 Laverstock & Ford v Verwood Town Premier Division New Milton Town v Fawley AFC AFC Stoneham v Brockenhurst Petersfield Town v U.S. Portsmouth Blackfield & Langley v Hamble Club Totton & Eling v Andover Town Hamworthy United v Tadley Calleva Wednesday February 10th 2021 Horndean v AFC Portchester Division One *Lymington Town v Fareham Town Whitchurch United v Bemerton Heath H’quins *Subject to Board decision Saturday February 13th 2021 Division One Premier Division Bemerton Heath H’quins v Whitchurch United Amesbury Town v Blackfield & Langley Laverstock & Ford v Hythe & Dibden Baffins Milton Rovers v Christchurch Petersfield Town v East Cowes Vics Bournemouth v Alresford Town Romsey Town v Andover Town Brockenhurst v AFC Portchester Totton & Eling v New Milton Town Cowes Sports v Shaftesbury Verwood Town v Alton Fareham Town v Bashley Wednesday February 3rd 2021 Hamble Club v AFC Stoneham Division One Lymington Town v Fleet Town Fawley AFC v U.S. Portsmouth Portland United v Horndean Saturday February 6th 2021 Tadley Calleva v Hamworthy United Premier Division Division One AFC Stoneham v Baffins Milton Rovers Andover Town v Alton Alresford Town v Portland United Bemerton Heath H’quins v Totton & Eling Bashley v Hamble Club Fawley AFC v Whitchurch United

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Folland Sports v Downton Hamble Club v AFC Portchester Hythe & Dibden v Petersfield Town Hamworthy United v Portland United New Milton Town v East Cowes Vics Horndean v Fareham Town Newport IoW v Ringwood Town Shaftesbury v Christchurch Romsey Town v Andover New Street Tadley Calleva v Fleet Town U.S. Portsmouth v Laverstock & Ford Division One Spare: Verwood Town New Milton Town v Newport IoW Tuesday February 16th 2021 U.S. Portsmouth v Whitchurch United Premier Division Verwood Town v Andover Town Cowes Sports v AFC Stoneham Saturday February 27th 2021 Fleet Town v Brockenhurst Premier Division Tadley Calleva v Bashley AFC Portchester v Bournemouth Division One AFC Stoneham v Portland United Bemerton Heath H’quins v Alton Alresford Town v Lymington Town Hythe & Dibden v Downton Bashley v Baffins Milton Rovers Romsey Town v Totton & Eling Christchurch v Cowes Sports U. S. Portsmouth v Andover New Street Fareham Town v Amesbury Town Verwood Town v New Milton Town Hamble Club v Fleet Town Friday February 19th 2021 Hamworthy United v Horndean Division One Shaftesbury v Brockenhurst Totton & Eling v Whitchurch United Tadley Calleva v Blackfield & Langley Saturday February 20th 2021 Division One Premier Division Alton v Andover New Street AFC Portchester v Amesbury Town Andover Town v Verwood Town Alresford Town v Hamworthy United East Cowes Vics v U.S. Portsmouth Baffins Milton Rovers v Fleet Town Fawley AFC v Newport IoW Bournemouth v Bashley Folland Sports v Petersfield Town (14.00) Christchurch v Hamble Club Hythe & Dibden v New Milton Town Fareham Town v Tadley Calleva Romsey Town v Bemerton Heath H’quins Horndean v AFC Stoneham Totton & Eling v Ringwood Town Lymington Town v Cowes Sports Whitchurch United v Downton Portland United v Brockenhurst Spare: Laverstock & Ford Shaftesbury v Blackfield & Langley Tuesday March 2nd 2021 Division One Premier Division Andover New Street v Fawley AFC Amesbury Town v Fleet Town Bemerton Heath H’quins v Laverstock & Ford Brockenhurst v Tadley Calleva Downton v East Cowes Vics Division One Hythe & Dibden v Alton Alton v Folland Sports New Milton Town v Petersfield Town Andover New Street v Ringwood Town Newport IoW v Folland Sports Downton v Laverstock & Ford Ringwood Town v Verwood Town (14.00) New Milton Town v Totton & Eling U.S. Portsmouth v Romsey Town Newport IoW v Petersfield Town Spare: Andover Town U.S. Portsmouth v Hythe & Dibden Tuesday February 23rd 2021 Wednesday March 3rd 2021 Premier Division Division One Alresford Town v Bashley Whitchurch United v Andover Town Amesbury Town v AFC Stoneham Friday March 5th 2021 Blackfield & Langley v Lymington Town Division One Brockenhurst v Bournemouth Totton & Eling v Hythe & Dibden Cowes Sports v Baffins Milton Rovers Saturday March 6th 2021

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SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2020/21 EDITION NUMBER 22

Premier Division Andover Town v Romsey Town Amesbury Town v Hamworthy United East Cowes Vics v Andover New Street Bashley v Tadley Calleva Folland Sports v Hythe & Dibden Blackfield & Langley v AFC Portchester Laverstock & Ford v New Milton Town Brockenhurst v Baffins Milton Rovers Petersfield Town v Fawley AFC Cowes Sports v Alresford Town Ringwood Town v Downton Fareham Town v Bournemouth Totton & Eling v Verwood Town Fleet Town v Christchurch U.S. Portsmouth v Bemerton Heath H’quins Lymington Town v Shaftesbury Whitchurch United v Newport IoW Portland United v Hamble Club Spare: Alton Spare: AFC Stoneham, Horndean Tuesday March 16th 2021 Division One Premier Division Andover Town v Folland Sports Lymington Town v Baffins Milton Rovers Bemerton Heath H’quins v Newport IoW Shaftesbury v Tadley Calleva Downton v Fawley AFC Division One East Cowes Vics v Laverstock & Ford Bemerton Heath H’quins v Romsey Town Petersfield Town v Andover New Street Friday March 19th 2021 Ringwood Town v Alton Division One U.S. Portsmouth v New Milton Town Totton & Eling v Alton Verwood Town v Whitchurch United Saturday March 20th 2021 Spare: Romsey Town Premier Division Tuesday March 9th 2021 AFC Portchester v Bashley Premier Division Amesbury Town v Cowes Sports AFC Portchester v Cowes Sports Baffins Milton Rovers v Blackfield & Langley AFC Stoneham v Blackfield & Langley Bournemouth v AFC Stoneham Alresford Town v Tadley Calleva Fareham Town v Shaftesbury Bournemouth v Hamworthy United Hamble Club v Lymington Town Christchurch v Bashley Hamworthy United v Fleet Town Fareham Town v Lymington Town Horndean v Brockenhurst Fleet Town v Amesbury Town Portland United v Alresford Town Hamble Club v Brockenhurst Tadley Calleva v Christchurch Portland United v Shaftesbury Division One Division One Andover New Street v Folland Sports Romsey Town v Folland Sports Bemerton Heath H’quins v Andover Town Wednesday March 10th 2021 Downton v Newport IoW Premier Division East Cowes Vics v New Milton Town Baffins Milton Rovers v Horndean Fawley AFC v Petersfield Town Saturday March 13th 2021 Hythe & Dibden v Verwood Town Premier Division Ringwood Town v Romsey Town Amesbury Town v Hamble Club Whitchurch United v U.S. Portsmouth Bashley v AFC Stoneham Spare: Laverstock & Ford Blackfield & Langley v Christchurch Tuesday March 23rd 2021 Brockenhurst v Alresford Town Premier Division Cowes Sports v Bournemouth AFC Stoneham v Fleet Town Fleet Town v Fareham Town Alresford Town v AFC Portchester Hamworthy United v AFC Portchester Blackfield & Langley v Baffins Milton Rovers Horndean v Portland United Brockenhurst v Bashley Shaftesbury v Baffins Milton Rovers Cowes Sports v Fareham Town Spare: Lymington Town, Tadley Calleva Horndean v Hamble Club Division One Lymington Town v Christchurch

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SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2020/21 EDITION NUMBER 22

Portland United v Bournemouth Brockenhurst v Horndean Shaftesbury v Hamworthy United Cowes Sports v Fleet Town Tadley Calleva v Amesbury Town Lymington Town v Hamble Club Wednesday March 24th 2020 Portland United v Tadley Calleva Division One Shaftesbury v Bashley Folland Sports v Newport IoW Division One Saturday March 27th 2021 Andover Town v Ringwood Town Premier Division Bemerton Heath H’quins v Andover New Street AFC Portchester v Shaftesbury East Cowes Vics v Hythe & Dibden Amesbury Town v Baffins Milton Rovers Folland Sports v Alton Bashley v Cowes Sports Laverstock & Ford v Newport IoW Bournemouth v Blackfield & Langley Petersfield Town v New Milton Town Christchurch v Brockenhurst Totton & Eling v Romsey Town Fareham Town v AFC Stoneham U.S. Portsmouth v Verwood Town Fleet Town v Portland United Whitchurch United v Fawley AFC Hamble Club v Alresford Town Spare: Downton Hamworthy United v Lymington Town Monday April 5th 2021 Tadley Calleva v Horndean Premier Division Division One Alresford Town v Cowes Sports Alton v East Cowes Vics Amesbury Town v AFC Portchester Andover Town v U.S. Portsmouth Fleet Town v Blackfield & Langley Downton v Hythe & Dibden Horndean v Christchurch Folland Sports v New Milton Town Portland United v Lymington Town Newport IoW v Bemerton Heath H’quins Shaftesbury v Fareham Town Ringwood Town v Petersfield Town Tadley Calleva v Baffins Milton Rovers Romsey Town v Laverstock & Ford Division One Totton & Eling v Andover New Street Newport IoW v Whitchurch United Verwood Town v Fawley AFC Ringwood Town v Andover New Street Spare: Whitchurch United Tuesday April 6th 2021 Tuesday March 30th 2021 Division One Division One Alton v Downton Andover New Street v Laverstock & Ford East Cowes Vics v Petersfield Town Downton v Andover Town Saturday April 10th 2021 East Cowes Vics v Totton & Eling Premier Division Hythe & Dibden v U.S. Portsmouth AFC Stoneham v Bournemouth New Milton Town v Romsey Town Baffins Milton Rovers v Amesbury Town Petersfield Town v Alton Bashley v AFC Portchester Verwood Town v Bemerton Heath H’quins *Blackfield & Langley v Tadley Calleva Spare: Newport IoW Fareham Town v Christchurch Wednesday March 31st 2021 Fleet Town v Horndean Division One Hamworthy United v Brockenhurst Fawley AFC v Ringwood Town Lymington Town v Alresford Town Whitchurch United v Folland Sports Portland United v Cowes Sports Saturday April 3rd 2021 Shaftesbury v Hamble Club Premier Division *Subject to Board decision AFC Stoneham v Christchurch Division One Alresford Town v Fareham Town Andover New Street v New Milton Town Amesbury Town v Bournemouth Bemerton Heath H’quins v Fawley AFC Baffins Milton Rovers v AFC Portchester Downton v Petersfield Town Blackfield & Langley v Hamworthy United Hythe & Dibden v Romsey Town

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SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2020/21 EDITION NUMBER 22

Laverstock & Ford v Folland Sports New Milton Town v Alton Newport IoW v Andover Town U.S. Portsmouth v Newport IoW Ringwood Town v U.S. Portsmouth Whitchurch United v Hythe & Dibden Verwood Town v East Cowes Vics Spare: Andover New Street Whitchurch United v Alton Saturday April 24th 2021 Spare: Totton & Eling Premier Division Tuesday April 13th 2020 AFC Portchester v Portland United Division One AFC Stoneham v Amesbury Town Ringwood Town v Fawley AFC Baffins Milton Rovers v Lymington Town Saturday April 17th 2021 Blackfield & Langley v Fleet Town Premier Division Bournemouth v Cowes Sports AFC Portchester v Tadley Calleva Brockenhurst v Hamworthy United Alresford Town v Shaftesbury Christchurch v Tadley Calleva Baffins Milton Rovers v Fareham Town Hamble Club v Fareham Town Blackfield & Langley v Portland United Horndean v Bashley Bournemouth v Christchurch Shaftesbury v Alresford Town Brockenhurst v AFC Stoneham Division One Cowes Sports v Amesbury Town Andover Town v East Cowes Vics Fleet Town v Bashley Folland Sports v U.S. Portsmouth Hamble Club v Hamworthy United Laverstock & Ford v Fawley AFC Horndean v Lymington Town New Milton Town v Downton Division One Newport IoW v Alton Andover Town v Petersfield Town Ringwood Town v Bemerton Heath H’quins Downton v Verwood Town Romsey Town v Petersfield Town East Cowes Vics v Romsey Town Verwood Town v Andover New Street Fawley AFC v Totton & Eling Spare: Hythe & Dibden, Totton & Eling, Folland Sports v Bemerton Heath H’quins Whitchurch United Laverstock & Ford v Ringwood Town

CLUB NEWS

New faces to report at Shaftesbury where we see the arrivals of defenders Ben Wright, Matt Dodds and Billy Maybury, with Jack Lovell up front another new face. The latter two were most recently with Wimborne Town, where Rockies’ manager Danny Holmes was involved in the same capacity he holds at Cockrams. Elsewhere across the patch, midfielder Dan Bailey has joined Tadley Calleva on dual registration with Hungerford Town, They’ve also acquired goalkeeper Aaron Bufton from Alresford Town. , no not that one, has returned to Amesbury Town who also see a new arrival in the form of defender Alfie Moulding from Andover New Street. Finally in this section, we see that Lewis Clarke has returned to Portland United after a spell away.

LET’S GO

From the FA- We welcome the UK Government’s announcement and we are very pleased that organised sports, which include Steps 3-6 of the and competitive grassroots football, can look forward to resuming from 2nd December. Supporters will be welcomed back into stadia and sports venues in limited numbers from 2 December, in a major boost for fans, professional sports clubs and elite sport events. Organised grassroots sport is also allowed to resume from 2 December and gyms and leisure centres will be able to reopen across all tiers, benefitting the health and wellbeing of people across the country. Saturday, 28 November 2020 Page 25 of 27

SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2020/21 EDITION NUMBER 22

However there are clauses- Elite sport clubs and events hosted outdoors in tier one locations will be able to welcome up to a maximum of 4,000 fans or 50 per cent of stadium capacity - whatever is lower. In tier two (high alert) locations the cap is set at 2,000 supporters or 50 percent of stadium capacity. Indoor sporting events and fixtures in tiers one and two locations will be able to host a maximum of 1,000 fans or 50 per cent of stadium capacity - whatever is lower. However in tier three locations, fans will not be permitted to attend elite sporting fixtures in line with hospitality venues and other large event venues being closed. Elite sport in tier three locations will still continue behind closed doors. Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said: This is a big step forward for sport. Bringing grassroots sport back was my number one priority so I’m pleased we are reopening sports and gyms in every tier, in recognition of the significant health benefits. I’m also delighted we are able to get the turnstiles turning sooner than expected, taking a cautious approach and starting with the lowest risk areas first. I’m confident that sports will take every step to ensure their fans are safe, and fans will play their part and look out for each other until we can safely get everyone back in. Organised grassroots sport is allowed to resume from 2 December across all levels, providing social distancing remains in place, although there will be some restrictions on highest-risk activity in tier three areas. Spectators at non-elite sports will be able to attend events in line with Covid-secure guidance for each tier. Indoor sport and physical activity will also resume, although there will be restrictions on some activities due to the higher transmission risk of coronavirus in an indoor setting. Restrictions will depend on the alert level that applies to your local area. In tier one areas indoor sports can take place within the rule of six. This will mean people from different households could play 3 on 3 volleyball, or four people from different households could play doubles tennis or badminton. Group activities such as training sessions and exercise classes can take place in larger numbers, provided that people are in separate groups (up to 6 people) which do not mix. In tier two areas, indoor sport can take place within households, and people can take part in group activity like exercise classes as long as there is no mixing between households. People can play certain sports which do not involve close proximity or physical contact against one person from another household, such as a singles tennis match or badminton match. In tier three areas, indoor sport will be restricted to within your household only, and there should be no group activity such as exercise classes. We understand that further guidance will be published in due course, but for us things look on course to resume at the beginning of next month. Clubs are therefore reminded how important it is, especially now, to make sure that their risk assessments and covid-19 operations are right up to date and meet all the needs.

WEEK 13 ROUND UP

Updates and guidelines as regards Covid-19 will be issued from time to time directly to clubs. At time of writing the Editor has no further updates to reproduce here.

THE SYDENHAMS WESSEX LEAGUE FOOTBALL SHOW

The SWLF Show has been rescheduled as from this week the station has a new timetable so we have to Air between 14:00-16:00. Cliff Pledge is on match reporting duty with Marine playing Havant & in the Emirates FA Cup, so joining Greg Dickson in the Studio will be Mark Stupple, AFC Stoneham Chairman. On the phone at 14:40 will be Chris Garvey from Downton talking about a new concept the club wants to put together around Wessex League programmes. Also at 15:20 Adam Colmer the Brockenhurst U18 manager will be talking about the club’s success in the FA Youth cup and the development of their Youth players Plus discussing the current situation we now find ourselves following latest guidelines.

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SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2020/21 EDITION NUMBER 22

THE LAST WORD

Please find below a brief report from the recent FA meeting with Step 5/6 leagues from around the country, believe me when I say we are actually in a better position that our colleagues with large numbers of clubs in Tier 3! Details here aimed at Tier 2 clubs, for now that is all of our teams, but at a future review (the next being 16th December according to current Government indications) that could be more or less clubs and affect either division. Meeting main points: FA not ruling out counting the season on a mathematical formula, PPG, but this is still to be confirmed, as would any conditions either PER league or across ALL NLS leagues and the percentage of games needed to be played etc Players and Bona fide officials (including Match Officials) can travel in, and out, of all three tiers, but SPECTATORS cannot travel into, or out of Tier 3. This currently does not have an impact on our League but is included for completeness. The FA are exploring possibility of allowing additional spectators to games in Tiers 1 & 2 – but this is subject to DCMS and NO date for this, so therefore just assume it remains as 300 until informed otherwise, especially when planning Festive local derbies. The same applies regarding the possibility of having 5, rather than 3, substitutes. The FA are looking at it, but as it would require national changes to Standardised rules there is no timescale, clubs are again advised to assume it remains 3 subs unless informed otherwise. NO spectators are allowed at grounds in Tier 3 – this represents a huge issue for many clubs, does not directly concern us today, but may change on 16 December. As regards the £14 million discussed with the DCMS it is expected that the vast majority of that sum, will be loans rather than grants and it is unlikely we’ll hear any further on this until the New Year. Take-Away – maybe for food and hot drinks, but certainly for alcohol take-away means take OFF the premises, so you can’t sell cans in the tea hut to be consumed in the ground. Further guidance from the FA has been received, whereby they recommend clubs refer to that guidance on the Government website. The FA made it clear that each league has to make its own decisions about whether to play on, postpone, delay or any conditions thereof. GOING FORWARD – The problem is that clubs in Tier 2 CAN play, CAN travel etc – BUT if they rely on clubhouse income then there are issues about if that’s sustainable – and remember although we are talking about our League here today- in a fortnight given three well populated urban conurbations, something may change, but hopefully for the better, so the conditions have to suit all. This applies for the period covering games up to and including Tuesday 15th December. If a HOST club feels they are unable to afford to stage matches they can apply to postpone their home game by given written notice to the league secretary NO later than 48 hours before the scheduled fixture, but any earlier notification that a club does not wish to host games- in fairness to Referees, opponents and potential spectators, the more notice the better. On Wednesday 16th December the Government will review the Tiers, if any of our local authorities are moved into Tier 1 then this scheme stops, but if we continue in Tier 2 the rule will be extended. At this stage using this as an indicator Christmas games in either division would have to be postponed by Wednesday 23rd December, by 15:00 at the latest. The next date for review issued by the Government looks to be 30th December, so we shall have to undertake a full review in January allowing for the board to ballot or consult with clubs about how to conclude the season, terminations, extensions and fixture schedules as appropriate. All this continues to show that the situation is far from over, we are all doing our best and the board do appreciate the tremendous difficulties clubs and their officers and volunteers have been in and still are.

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