SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2020/21 EDITION NUMBER 19

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!

Saturday, 07 November 2020 Page 1 of 21

SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2020/21 EDITION NUMBER 19

ARE YOU LISTENING ?

The Sydenhams Wessex Football League Show is the official podcast of the Sydenhams Wessex League. We’re on air live from the 103.9 Voice FM studios in Southampton from 3pm to 5pm every Sunday and you can also listen live on www.voicefmradio.co.uk from anywhere in the world. You can listen again afterwards, normally just one hour after the show has finished via the same website and there is also a Voice FM App you can download to your Phone I-Pad or Computer device. Our aim is to promote all local football but specifically the 38 teams of the Sydenhams Wessex League. So far, we have had managers, chairmen, players, press officers and secretaries joining us as studio guests and phone guests; from many Sydenhams Wessex League clubs, as well as guests from local teams both higher up and lower down the pyramid. This is your show and is a platform for your club to promote its events and raise its profile. If your club produces post-match interviews please either email us a copy of the audio or give permission for us to play them on air straight from your website or social media sites, as we will aim to play them on the show. Please come and join us one Sunday, at the moment, no guests will be allowed in the Studio, but please email [email protected] or [email protected] for more information. Saturday, 07 November 2020 Page 2 of 21

SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2020/21 EDITION NUMBER 19

Saturday, 07 November 2020 Page 3 of 21

SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2020/21 EDITION NUMBER 19

STAT ATTACK

LEAGUE GOALS COUNT THIS WEEK

PREMIER DIVISION 27 DIVISION ONE 20

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 and may or may not include League goals from any qualifying games played this weekend.

PREMIER DIVISION Dan Cann Hamworthy United 9 Connor Duffin Horndean 9 - [four on] 7 - [seven on] 6

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

WATCHING BRIEF – TOP THREE LEAGUE ATTENDANCES

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

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

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

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

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

Saturday, 07 November 2020 Page 4 of 21

SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2020/21 EDITION NUMBER 19

BUILDBASE FA VASE 2nd ROUND

Christchurch v Cribbs Helston Athletic v Fareham Town or Roman Glass St George Millbrook or Sherborne Town v Bashley So, who drew who New Milton Town v Longlevens on Monday? Petersfield Town v Hamworthy United United Services Portsmouth v Brockenhurst or Street

Prize of £900 to the winners and guaranteed one possibly two teams representing the league in the next Round. The ties are scheduled for 28 November, but that will be delayed due to the lockdown- so new dates will have to be confirmed. The games involving Brockenhurst and Fareham Town should have happened yesterday, so there remains uncertainty over the opponents. Similarly Bashley will have to wait for the outcome of the Millbrook Sherborne game, which was also scheduled for yesterday.

FA YOUTH CUP 1st ROUND

Brockenhurst versus Truro City was brought forward to last Wednesday at Grigg Lane, and it went well for the Badgers. Going in at the interval two goals to the good through Jordan Evans and Liam Nixon, the youngsters had keeper Ben Puleo to thank for three great saves to keep the White Tigers at bay before and after City grabbed a goal on 70 minutes through substitute Joe Moran. The result was no more than they deserved whilst playing some decent football and has earned them a place in the 2nd Round where they will play Newport County. A long trip for the young Badgers, after County won 1-0 at Wimborne, also on Wednesday evening. That game looks highly likely to be the last one being played at Cuthbury as progress on the new ground (New Cuthbury) has continued over the summer. In a way a shame the Magpies couldn’t register a win for the occasion. The winner came early in the second half through Lewys Twamley. Wimborne came close to a reply on the hour when they hit the bar. The opening goal at Grigg Lane came on ten minutes when a Connor Ings corner was headed home by Jordan EVANS in a crowded area into the top corner of the goal and less than ten minutes later the lead was doubled when a slip by Truro defender Archie McTeare allowed Liam NIXON to race away and drive the ball home. Between these two strikes young Ben Puleo had made a fine acrobatic save to keep the lead. The second half saw a renewed impetus from the visitors and a rasping shot from Sam Wickins nearly got them back in the game just before the hour mark, and shortly after- and a little against the run of play, Evans found a space for himself and his shot was not too far off the target bouncing on the roof of the net. A Wickins free kick hit a Brockenhurst defender and Puleo was alert to the danger and managed to tip the ball away but wasn’t able to prevent the White Tigers getting a goal with less than a quarter of an hour remaining. He stopped the initial strike but sub Joe MORAN was on hand to pick up the scraps and drill it home from near the penalty spot. Badgers’ nerves were tested in the dying minutes when James Swan worked an opening but fortunately for the vast majority of the 300 crowd the ball only hit the side netting.

MIDWEEK RESULTS

Tuesday 3 November Premier Division Amesbury Town 0-1 Horndean 32 Jean-Pierre Alexander Bashley 2-0 Brockenhurst 276 Cameron Beard 70, 87 Saturday, 07 November 2020 Page 5 of 21

SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2020/21 EDITION NUMBER 19

Christchurch 3-0 Baffins Milton Rovers 106 Max Wilcock 57 Will Fletcher 70, 90 Fareham Town 3-3 Alresford Town 258 Josh Benfield Ashley Elson [2] Callum Benfield Louis Russell Tom Settle Fleet Town 5-0 Shaftesbury 125 Mal Thomas [2] Billy Oram [2] Ralph Karumazondo Hamble Club 3-3 Cowes Sports 97 Mitch Byrne 61, 73 Jimmy Wykes 6 Mike Byrne 90 John McKie 68, 89 Lymington Town 1-0 Hamworthy United 136 Sam House 50 Portland United 0-3 AFC Stoneham 138 Sam Woodward 29, 55 Nathan Clements 42 Division One Alton 3-2 Ringwood Town 133 George Bowerman 8, 55, 77 Shaun Prentice Adam Riley Andover New Street 0-2 Romsey Town 130 George Callard Jack Odam Hythe & Dibden 2-2 Bemerton Heath Harlequins 121 Sam Floyd Justin Bennett 34 Cain Prentice Kane O'Keefe 85 Newport (IOW) 5-0 Totton & Eling 116 Scott Sampson 3 Jake Wright 9 Connor Kelly 43 Joe Butcher 44 Tommy Jackson 82 Wednesday 4 November Buildbase FA Vase 1st Round United Services Portsmouth 3-1 Bournemouth 184 Dec Seiden 33 Jack Kinge-Phillips 12 Andy Todd 37 James Franklyn 59 Division One Whitchurch United 4-0 New Milton Town 90 George Bishop Lloyd Thompson Harry Edmondson Nick Yeomans

Saturday, 07 November 2020 Page 6 of 21

SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2020/21 EDITION NUMBER 19

MIDWEEK MATCH REPORTS

Tuesday 3 November Premier Division PORTLAND UNITED 0-3 AFC STONEHAM TWENTIETH visit to the New Grove for me and a bracing evening with just over 130 other intrepid souls to watch the youngsters of Portland United against AFC Stoneham, writes Mike Robins. Despite the final score, which perhaps could have been more convincing, it was a close fought encounter at least for the first half hour before the visitors got their noses in front. The visitors were the first to test the keeper, when a rasping shot from Scott Hills flew over the bar with just around five minutes on the clock. Sam Woodward had a chance but picked out the goalkeeper with his effort. The best effort for Portland came on 22 when a cross from debutant Ben Fowles saw the Stoneham defender just get enough on the ball to steer it away from trouble. The Purples pushed for a goal and another Hills effort was somehow cleared off the line by a back pedalling defender and Nathan Clements nearly punished the weak clearance but dragged his shot wide. However it was WOODWARD who did open the scoring just shy of the half hour, with a shimmy he rounded Steve Boore to stroke the ball home from around six yards. Stoneham doubled their advantage minutes before the interval when CLEMENTS pounced on a loose ball to fire home in a crowded area. HT 0-2 Not long after the resumption, it was Portland’s Ben Morris who nearly brought them back into the contest. His run on along the dugout flank resulted in his cross shot hitting the side netting, but ten minutes in it was essentially over when WOODWARD got his second and Stoneham’s third. Latching on to a wayward defensive square pass he drew Boore out before rounding him and sliding the ball home. Portland sub Jacob Coombs nearly got a consolation, but his fine strike was well blocked. At the Clubhouse End, Stoneham sub Duarte Martins had a gilt edged chance to Make it four but somehow spooned his effort over the bar from close range. FT 0-3

Tuesday 3 November Premier Division CHRISTCHURCH 3-0 BAFFINS MILTON ROVERS WHAT started as a very competitive match throughout the first half turned into an ill-tempered encounter in the second as players on both sides showed a lack of discipline writes Roger Allen. The home side started in the ascendancy with Luke Delaney shooting over in the first few seconds but the nearest either side came to scoring in the whole of the first half was when James Cowan struck a post with a long range effort on 5 minutes for Baffins. For the next 20 minutes Baffins, playing down the slope, had the better of possession and their best chance fell to Miles Everett whose lobbed shot was just too high after a long clearance by keeper Ellis Grant had set him free. For the last quarter hour of the first half, Christchurch reasserted themselves and both Delaney and Max Wilcock had chances, the latter being thwarted by an excellent save by Grant. Just before half time Baffins lost Callum Dart to injury and they were never the same attacking force for the rest of the game. The final chance of the half was a free kick by Brad Cherrett for Christchurch which Grant parried away. From the resulting corner Wilcock was both high & wide with an effort on goal. HT 0-0

Saturday, 07 November 2020 Page 7 of 21

SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2020/21 EDITION NUMBER 19

Early in the second half Grant made another good save from Delaney and a Wilcock header was scrambled away from the resulting corner. On 57 minutes Christchurch took the lead. A cross from the right looped up off a defender and WILCOCK was at the far post to head in. After another good save by Grant from Delaney the game turned ugly. On 63 minutes Cowan was sent off by the referee for abusive language. It was a rare but welcome event to see that the law was applied for this offence. Baffins' players were clearly rattled by this and this was exacerbated when they saw one of their coaches sent off, again for something spoken, on the intervention of the Referee's Assistant. Will FLETCHER had just come on as substitute and with his first touch he doubled the home side's lead on 70 minutes from a corner. Almost immediately Christchurch were reduced to 10 as Cherrett was sent off for a lunging tackle on Brandon Miller. Thankfully that seemed to convince the players that the referee was not going to shy away from taking appropriate action where necessary and the game settled down until with 5 minutes to go Josh Warren was sent to the sin bin for Baffins. It was an expensive night for the away side in more ways than one. Grant produced another save this time from Josh Kirkham as the watch clicked over into stoppage time but there was still time for FLETCHER to double his tally as an Ash Pope shot was deflected into his path at the far post. FT 3-0

Tuesday 3 November Division One NEWPORT IOW 5-0 TOTTON & ELING THE result of some games give no indication of the full picture but the result of others (like this) give a clear one writes Gary Day. Mike West, the Newport historian, remarked in his programme notes that this game had been a one-sided affair over the years. He then suggested that he might have put the ‘commentator’s curse’ on the evening’s events! But Mike would have relaxed a bit as his lads posted two goals in the opening ten minutes and kept up the pressure throughout this one-sided encounter. Port got about their task from the get-go. They won a corner and Wright’s kick picked out SAMPSON at the back post and he guided a neat header that drifted into his near corner. Fine Port thinking soon brought number two as they won a free kick, which was taken swiftly and, almost in no time, Craig got it on the right and pulled back for WRIGHT to bury a firm shot. There was no relenting to the Port attacking as Browne nodded on and Kelly’s low shot was denied by the legs of Millers keeper Eyres, who was sensing a busy night as he denied Browne’s 20-yard effort as well. Wright drove purposely towards the Millers’ goal but a well-timed tackle by Lomax halted his progress. Browne was again close, just failing to edge it into goal as he slid in to connect with Butcher’s cross at the back post and, when the ball was recycled, saw his header saved. Wright received a return pass from Przespolewski and shot just wide and ‘Przesser’ crossed in and Kelly’s header was saved. From the clearance, Matthews was in the clear for the visitors but he shot wide of the near post and a rare chance for them. Two further goals occurred at the very end of the first half. Browne’s cross-field pass picked out KELLY who, from the right, hit a delightful first-time finish on the bounce past the stranded keeper and into the far corner – a goal to grace any pitch. Totton & Eling sloppily lost the ball on the restart and in what seemed to be a matter of seconds, BUTCHER took Browne’s pass to fire past the exposed keeper. HT 4-0, with two ‘goals’ ruled out too. Eyres made a great save to keep out a lunging Browne effort from Kelly’s free kick right at the start of the second half. But and understandably, it was a case of damage limitation for the visitors who kept most of their side behind the ball. Port continued to play it around confidently in all areas of the pitch but the visitors had a resilience about them that wasn’t forthcoming in the first half, typified by Sanger and Botcherby defending well to clear dangerous situations whilst Eyres deflected out a Browne header from Kelly’s corner. The Millers introduced three young substitutes and one of them, Smith received a knock and had to be helped from the pitch just after his team had made their final change.

Saturday, 07 November 2020 Page 8 of 21

SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2020/21 EDITION NUMBER 19

Kelly was Port’s tormentor in chief on the night and he was involved with newly introduced sub Jackson and also Hughes to create a chance for Wright who shot over. JACKSON was soon on the scoresheet though, driving forward and it came to (inevitably) Kelly who knocked it across for the sub to shoot home and 5-0. We were now deep into the last ten minutes and the ten men went down to nine when T&E’s Gain had clearly said too much following a free kick decision and was sent to the ‘sin bin’. There was time for Matthews and Macaulay to create a chance for Wallis but the T&E sub found the side netting and about the nearest his side came to the Port goal on a tough night for them. FT 5-0 This will be the only game to take place on the IOW in November 2020 due to an unintended mid-season lockdown break. But when will the ‘hostilities’ recommence exactly? A good question, all will be revealed in time. Stay safe.

Wednesday 4 November Buildbase FA Vase 1st Round UNITED SERVICES PORTSMOUTH 3-1 BOURNEMOUTH THIS FA Vase game, which was postponed due to heavy rain on Friday, was switched to Portchester to accommodate crowd numbers and access. It was a chilly evening at the Crest Finance Stadium writes Gary Day. The hosts started at a rapid pace; you would wonder whether there might be some sort of lockdown afoot! They made a lot of runs into the Poppies box in the early minutes with Franklyn’s pull back being hit by Seiden which deflected wide and there were successive home shots blocked by visiting players, the second by Cain being cleared off the line. Sargeant, Glen and Todd had further efforts whilst Kyle nipped past two defenders and his low ball into the box just ran past Todd in the middle. All that occurred in the opening ten minutes. But football has an insatiable habit of slapping you firmly in the face as Bournemouth’s first attack produced a cross from wide on the left by KINGE-PHILLIPS which deceived the home keeper and nestled into the far corner of the net. The US side continued to take the game to their Premier visitors with Seiden and Franklyn (twice) being off target whilst a neat move by Poppies saw Seymour pass to House whose cross went straight across the USP goalmouth. When home keeper Price challenged House, it came loose and Trimble put it goalwards but the ball was cleared. USP got a deserved equaliser when SEIDEN tried a low 25-yard effort that the diving Jones got a touch to but not firm enough to keep it from entering the net. It was soon 2-1 to USP when Franklyn played the ball to TODD whose shot on the turn from the left went into the far corner. The half ended with Franklyn shooting wide following good work by Seiden. HT 2-1. The second half began with a rather open feel as Wilson made a good run for Poppies but shot wide and Warren put a later chance over. USP also created with Franklyn having a shot blocked and a firm effort by Chandler was deflected out by Jones. Both sides hit the crossbar, Harnett-Balkwill doing so with a shot for USP whilst a looping Warren header from a Kinge-Phillips cross suffered a similar fate. Seiden shot wide but USP netted their third goal with a counter attacking move which resulted in FRANKLYN rolling it home. With a third of the game still left, there weren’t so many chances on goal from there although efforts by Glen and Seiden were off the mark for the ‘home’ side. FT 3-1, entertaining fayre too and thoughts to the next game - a case of ‘don’t know where, don’t know when’. It was a fair outcome overall as United Services demonstrated that perhaps last season’s early curtailment to proceedings might have prevented them from joining Bournemouth in the Premier Division this term, but that’s gone and we will never know for sure. They now meet the winners of the Brockenhurst v Street tie. Finally, it isn’t known how many people actually read the ‘Day drivel’ but if you read nothing else then can you please read this. To all players, officials and supporters of our league please do stay safe, stay well, stay fit and fingers crossed for a resumption to proceedings as soon as we are permitted to do so (hopefully in a month’s time). A case of ‘au revoir’ but not goodbye (there is a subtle difference).

Saturday, 07 November 2020 Page 9 of 21

SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2020/21 EDITION NUMBER 19

LEAGUE TABLES

RANK PREMIER DIVISION PL W D L F A GD PTS 1 Hamworthy United 11 9 1 1 35 8 27 28 2 Horndean 11 9 0 2 26 15 11 27 3 Fareham Town 10 8 1 1 32 11 21 25 4 Lymington Town 8 8 0 0 19 1 18 24 5 Christchurch 10 6 2 2 22 8 14 20 6 Blackfield & Langley 9 5 1 3 17 10 7 16 7 AFC Stoneham 9 5 0 4 28 13 15 15 8 Fleet Town 10 4 3 3 23 16 7 15 9 AFC Portchester 9 5 0 4 15 9 6 15 10 Bashley 10 5 0 5 16 21 -5 15 11 Bournemouth 11 3 3 5 13 28 -15 12 12 Tadley Calleva 8 3 2 3 14 14 0 11 13 Baffins Milton Rovers 11 3 2 6 17 21 -4 11 14 Brockenhurst 8 2 2 4 9 17 -8 8 15 Hamble Club 9 1 4 4 13 18 -5 7 16 Cowes Sports 9 2 1 6 15 22 -7 7 17 Alresford Town 10 1 3 6 12 28 -16 6 18 Shaftesbury 9 2 0 7 12 30 -18 6 19 Portland United 11 1 2 8 10 40 -30 5 20 Amesbury Town 9 0 1 8 3 21 -18 1

RANK DIVISION ONE PL W D L F A GD PTS 1 Laverstock & Ford 11 9 2 0 38 13 25 29 2 Folland Sports 10 7 1 2 31 14 17 22 3 Alton 9 7 1 1 23 13 10 22 4 Andover Town 10 5 4 1 24 18 6 19 5 United Services Portsmouth 9 6 0 3 26 13 13 18 6 Newport (IOW) 9 5 1 3 24 14 10 16 7 Petersfield Town 8 4 1 3 13 15 -2 13 8 Bemerton Heath Harlequins 8 3 3 2 17 17 0 12 9 Verwood Town 9 3 3 3 16 16 0 12 10 Andover New Street 10 3 3 4 13 16 -3 12 11 Hythe & Dibden 9 3 3 3 13 17 -4 12 12 Romsey Town 7 3 0 4 9 9 0 9 13 Whitchurch United 9 3 0 6 16 25 -9 9 14 East Cowes Victoria 9 2 3 4 10 19 -9 9 15 Ringwood Town 8 3 0 5 16 26 -10 9 16 Downton 11 2 2 7 14 24 -10 8 17 Fawley AFC 9 2 1 6 9 20 -11 7 18 New Milton Town 9 1 2 6 16 21 -5 5 19 Totton & Eling 10 1 0 9 10 28 -18 3

Saturday, 07 November 2020 Page 10 of 21

SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2020/21 EDITION NUMBER 19

FORM GUIDE

RANK PREMIER DIVISION PL W D L F A LAST SIX 1 Lymington Town 6 6 0 0 15 0 WWWWWW 2 Horndean 6 6 0 0 15 5 WWWWWW 3 Fareham Town 6 5 1 0 25 6 WWWWWD 4 Hamworthy United 6 5 0 1 19 5 WWWWWL 5 Christchurch 6 5 0 1 16 4 WWLWWW 6 AFC Stoneham 6 4 0 2 21 8 LWWWLW 7 Fleet Town 6 3 2 1 13 8 WWDDLW 8 Blackfield & Langley 6 3 0 3 14 9 WLWLWL 9 AFC Portchester 6 3 0 3 9 6 WWLLLW 10 Tadley Calleva 6 2 2 2 11 7 LWLDDW 11 Cowes Sports 6 2 1 3 14 14 LLWWLD 12 Bournemouth 6 2 1 3 5 17 LWDWLL 13 Bashley 6 2 0 4 7 17 LLWLLW 14 Hamble Club 6 1 2 3 10 14 WLLDLD 15 Brockenhurst 6 1 1 4 7 16 LDLLWL 16 Baffins Milton Rovers 6 1 1 4 4 13 LLDLWL 17 Portland United 6 1 1 4 5 18 LWLLDL 18 Shaftesbury 6 1 0 5 6 23 LLLLWL 19 Alresford Town 6 0 1 5 6 22 LLLLLD 20 Amesbury Town 6 0 0 6 0 14 LLLLLL

RANK DIVISION ONE PL W D L F A LAST SIX 1 Alton 6 5 1 0 13 6 WDWWWW 2 Laverstock & Ford 6 4 2 0 21 6 WDWWDW 3 Newport (IOW) 6 4 0 2 17 7 WWWLLW 4 United Services Portsmouth 6 4 0 2 16 8 LWWLWW 5 Andover Town 6 3 3 0 15 8 WDWDDW 6 Verwood Town 6 3 2 1 10 7 WWDWDL 7 Folland Sports 6 3 1 2 16 11 LDLWWW 8 Petersfield Town 6 3 1 2 10 10 WLLDWW 9 Bemerton Heath Harlequins 6 2 2 2 13 16 WLWLDD 10 Fawley AFC 6 2 1 3 6 11 LWLLDW 11 Romsey Town 6 2 0 4 7 8 WLLLLW 12 Hythe & Dibden 6 1 3 2 8 10 DWLDLD 13 Andover New Street 6 1 3 2 6 9 DDLDWL 14 Whitchurch United 6 2 0 4 12 18 LLLWLW 15 East Cowes Victoria 6 1 3 2 6 12 LDWDLD 16 Ringwood Town 6 2 0 4 12 20 WLLWLL 17 New Milton Town 6 1 1 4 11 13 WDLLLL 18 Downton 6 1 1 4 9 12 LDLLWL 19 Totton & Eling 6 1 0 5 8 17 LLLWLL

Saturday, 07 November 2020 Page 11 of 21

SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2020/21 EDITION NUMBER 19

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

Welcome to another NLE (that stands for Newsletter Lockdown Extravaganza)!! Well, come on now, admit it, you will miss the game in the next few weeks for sure, but never fear as, in its usual stoical manner, the Newsletter will still be around. But we at Newsletter HQ had to get our thinking caps on again. We have come up with our members formation years and, where possible, have provided some detail of their early days but have done it chronologically. By doing it this way we can also give some general historical content to provide a flavour of the times as well. Sadly, early records are not always forthcoming, but we’ve done our best to find what we can on our clubs’ formation. Perhaps, after essential shopping, exercise etc, you the reader might be able to fill in a few gaps too? We look forward to hearing from you so please get involved if you have something to add. It is, of course, your Newsletter. Part I will obviously start as far back in time as we need to go. The period covered here is 1871 to 1890.

1871

This is the year that the Royal Albert Hall was opened by Queen Victoria in London. In sport, the first professional baseball league is established in the USA and England had yet to form an international soccer team.

BRADING TOWN FC (as Brading adding Town later) were formed with games being played on the Vicarage Field and Beech Grove against other Isle of Wight teams. The formation of the Isle of Wight Football League was still 27 years away. This club is thought to be the oldest to have played in the Wessex League (members between 2004 and 2012), although like many of the ‘early formers’ appeared to have undergone a ‘revival period’. For example, Brading were reported by local press to have ‘come to life again’ in 1903. They presently play in the Island League.

1875

Composer Georges Bizet died from a heart attack aged 36 and three months after the premiere of his opera Carmen. Matthew Webb becomes the first person to swim the English Channel, apparently taking 21 hours and 45 minutes.

Bournemouth Rovers are formed on 11 September 1875 and subsequently became known as Bournemouth Dean Park and then the present title of BOURNEMOUTH FC in 1889. The club were long-time Hampshire League members prior to their move to the newly formed Wessex League in 1986. The Poppies are one of only two clubs to have played in every season of the Wessex League and the only side to have competed in the top tier throughout.

1876

Henry John Heinz produces ketchup in Pittsburgh, USA, bringing the popular condiment into millions of homes. Samuel Longthorne Clemens, under the pen name of Mark Twain, writes ‘The Adventures of Tom Sawyer’.

LYMINGTON FC are formed and play their first competitive game against Fordingbridge Turks (who, incidentally, are attributed to be the oldest club in Hampshire—formed in 1868). The game was often a mixture of soccer and rugby codes back in those times. Moving ahead, the club added ‘Town’ to their name in 1985 and became a founder Wessex member a year later. There was a spell when they merged with Wellworthy Athletic and known as AFC Lymington before re-establishing themselves as Lymington Town once more in 1998.

Saturday, 07 November 2020 Page 12 of 21

SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2020/21 EDITION NUMBER 19

1878

Cleopatra’s Needle (a granite obelisk commemorating the defeat of Napoleon), is placed on the Thames Embankment. Robert Louis Stevenson travels solo through southern France, introducing hiking and camping as recreational activities and is credited with the first use of the sleeping bag.

WARMINSTER TOWN FC were formed in this year and, as football around this time was still not very prominent, the club claims to have fully established themselves by 1885. Town now play in the Western League. (Wessex League members 2006 to 2012). WIMBORNE TOWN FC initially catered for football and rugby codes. The club were founder members of the South Hampshire and Dorset Football Association in 1884. When the two county associations split in 1887, the club became founder members of the Dorset Football Association. Wimborne now play in the Southern League – Premier Division South. (Wessex League members 1987 to 2010).

1879

Thomas Edison is the first to demonstrate an incandescent lighting system at Menio Park, New Jersey, whilst Joseph Swann makes a similar breakthrough.

RINGWOOD TOWN were formed as Ringwood Hornets and, like the Wimborne entry above, they too became founder members of the South-Hants and Dorset Football Association in 1884 and also the Hampshire FA following the split. The club has taken on other titles, such as Ringwood Comrades (following World War I) and Ringwood & Wellworthy (briefly after World War II) but reverted to their (mainly between the wars) title of Ringwood Town soon after which has remained. (League members 2004 to the present day).

1880

Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) is adopted throughout Great Britain by legal statute. The first successful shipment of frozen mutton arrives in London from Australia. The first cricket test match is played in England.

SHOLING SPORTS FC is formed, although it did have a spell of dormancy. It was known as Sholing Athletic and solely as Sholing FC over the years and became one of the Wessex League’s founder members in 1986 but had a rather sad demise in August 1993.

1881

Postal orders are issued for the first time in Britain. Godalming in Surrey becomes the first town in Britain to have its streets illuminated by electric light (hydroelectrically generated). When Old Carthusians beat Old Etonians 3-0 at The Oval, it will be the last time that the FA Cup final is contested between two amateur clubs.

COWES FC is formed. The original club continued until December 1899, playing its final game at home to a team the reader has probably never heard of –Tottenham Hotspur (!!) – before withdrawing from the Southern League. The name is revived in 1903 when a team known as Cowes White Star adopts the old club’s title. Many years later, in 1980, the Cowes club merges with an Island side known as White’s Sports and adds Sports as a suffix, and a decision that was not universally accepted by members at the time but has remained. The club, having joined in 1994, are current members of our league.

Saturday, 07 November 2020 Page 13 of 21

SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2020/21 EDITION NUMBER 19

1883

A volcano erupts on the island of Krakatoa, destroying two-thirds of the land and killing 36,000 people. The first uniformed youth organisation – the Boys’ Brigade – is formed in Glasgow. The inaugural Home Nations Rugby Union championship takes place.

ANDOVER FC is formed on 25th September via a meeting in the Council Chamber at the Town Hall (and rumour has it, the local vicar was heavily involved). As was often the case back then, it was debated whether soccer or rugby code should be adopted. The majority plumped for a round ball game as, apparently due to only 11 players being required and it might have been more difficult to find 15 players in a small town like Andover! Such fine margins shaped subsequent events. The Andover club existed for 128 years before folding and were members of the Wessex League in two spells.

1884

The first British Home International Championship takes place. Britain’s most destructive earthquake occurs in Colchester and surrounding Essex villages. John Wisden, creator of Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack, who was born in 1826, died.

The WINCHESTER CITY club’s formation year. However, that side folded in 1893 and it is more likely that the present- day City side was formed a bit later as Winchester Swallows in 1891. The club had three separate spells in the Wessex League spanning the years 2003 and 2015 and are presently members of the Southern League Division 1 (South). Also formed in 1884 are HAYLING UNITED as Hayling Island FC. It is not certain whether there is continuity, but a game has been found against the Portsmouth Association Club in that year when their opponents included AC Smith, who became Arthur Conan Doyle, the author of Sherlock Holmes. Note that the Portsmouth Association Club is not the Portsmouth FC professional side we know today as that club always remained amateur. Hayling had ten Wessex seasons and are now members of the Hampshire Premier League.

1885

An estimated two million people line the streets of Paris for the funeral of the nation’s most famous poet and novelist Victor Hugo. Following many unsuccessful attempts, professionalism is legalised in English football.

CHRISTCHURCH is formed and played in the ‘Hants and Dorset FA’ Junior Cup competition and a record of 14 matches having been played in the season overall. There was a brief name change to become Priory FC in the 1920s, but the original name was readopted. The club are current members of the Wessex League, having joined in 1987. The present-day EAST COWES VICS is formed by Mr Lissaman, a school master, who brought football to the area, creating a team known as St James FC which soon became East Cowes FC. It added Victoria to its name to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee (she was a resident at nearby Osborne House) towards the end of the century. Moving on a few years, a summer 1969 merger with Island side East Cowes Athletic produced East Cowes Victoria Athletic FC which has since been the full title of the team. The club are current league members and in their second spell having re-joined in 2004.

Saturday, 07 November 2020 Page 14 of 21

SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2020/21 EDITION NUMBER 19

1886

Karl Benz patents the Tri-car, the world’s first automobile, fuelled by a gas combustion engine in Mannheim, Germany. Coca-Cola is formed and is sold as a ‘brain tonic’ and temperance drink for 5 cents a glass in Atlanta, Georgia. An international football board is formed with a nine-point constitution (the forerunner to FIFA).

The AFC TOTTON club is formed as Totton FC. A meeting was held at the Red Lion Hotel and a debate about which code to adopt took place with a narrow vote in favour of the round ball game. This club have a long history but another Totton side – Athletic – also came to prominence in the 1970s, competing and often bettering the older Totton side. A merger between the two clubs occurred in 1976 to form AFC Totton. The club was founder members of the league and remained until 2008. They are presently in the Southern League – Division 1 (South). Another club formed in this year and have successfully lasted the course are ROMSEY TOWN FC. This club commenced in October of the featured year following a meeting at the Town Hall. The club were founder members of the Wessex League and have had three spells in membership. They re-joined in 2004 and have remained league members since.

1887

Heinrich Hertz begins his experiments to produce Maxwellian electromagnetic waves, the first radio waves in Karlsruhe, Germany (completed in 1888). Preston North End defeat Hyde by 26-0 to achieve a record FA Cup score.

HORNDEAN FC’s first recorded match was on 19th October of that year against Red Star of Havant. The club continued to play friendly matches up to World War I before joining local leagues and eventually progressing to the Hampshire League. Another founder, the club are current Wessex League members, having returned in 2004.

1888

The Lawn Tennis Association is founded. The first issue of the Financial Times goes on sale. The Football League was founded and credited to W McGregor of Aston Villa, the idea being based on an American model of a baseball league.

NEWPORT (IW) FC is formed in January 1888. Like many others around in these times it is inaugurated from a public meeting, this one being held at the Warburton Hotel. Once more, a vote was taken whether to play rugby or soccer. The earliest recorded game was on 7th March when the team was defeated 2-1 by Lugley House School. The first ground was ‘Wells Field’ which became known as Church Litten, their home for 100 years. In 1911 the club merged with another side to become Newport United, but that title lasted for just the 1911/12 season, when the club were beaten finalists in the Hampshire Junior Cup. Port were one of the Wessex League’s founders and are current members having re-joined in 2008. SHAFTESBURY FC was also formed in 1888. The club played Dorset Junior League football in the 1890s and had played in the Shaftesbury & District League as well as the Salisbury League in their early days. This club, known as ‘The Rockies’, are current members and another returnee, having been back since 2016. In a busy year for teams that had played Wessex League football there was a third side created in 1888 and back to the Isle of Wight for RYDE SPORTS. This club evolved from rugby playing initially but there was a lack of serious opposition for the oval game on the Island. The association game was becoming fashionable and, although soccer had been played in the town earlier, the Ryde Sports team was formed in the featured year. The club started playing at the IoW College in Appley but moved to Partlands in 1892, a ground that had been used by Ryde Cricket Club. The club remained at that ground until moving to Smallbrook in 1989. Ryde Sports had only two secretaries spanning a 92-year period (Tommy Mellanby and Fred Wheeler). Ryde were league members between 1990 and 1997 when they disbanded and the end of a long history.

Saturday, 07 November 2020 Page 15 of 21

SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2020/21 EDITION NUMBER 19

1890

The Forth Bridge in Scotland is opened. The first official County Championship cricket match takes place in Bristol (Yorkshire beat Gloucestershire by eight wickets).

One from the north Hampshire region now, as FLEET TOWN FC was formed (as Fleet FC, the ‘Town’ suffix being added much later). This club played in the Aldershot League in their early years, that league having started in 1896. With the game below the Football League still taking shape it is assumed that friendly matches were played in the intervening period. The club are presently league members. Over to Dorset and the formation of POOLE TOWN FC. Records show that Poole FC was formed on 20th September 1890 by a merger between Poole Rovers and Poole Hornets who can trace their roots back to 1880. The club appeared in the Dorset Senior Cup final three times in their first decade, winning the competition in 1895. They first entered the Dorset League in 1896. (League members 2004 to 2011). Staying in the same county WEYMOUTH FC is another club with a long history to be associated with the Wessex League but in a reserve team capacity. This club made a big impact on the Dorset Junior Cup in their early years prior to gaining senior status. Their ‘seconds’ were members of our Combination Division between 1998 and 2004 and returned, but this time to Division 1 in 2016 (thus becoming the only reserve side to play in the senior divisions). They started the 2017/18 season but withdrew early on.

That concludes Part I of our feature but considering the years covered, it is not surprising to find that there was a heavy reliance on references. The following sources were used: ● Electronic: Wikipedia, Isle of Wight County Press Archives and various club websites ● Books: ‘Historica’ – Dr Geoffrey Wawro; History of Andover Football Club – Spanning the Years 1883 to 2000 (Alan Mussell); Romsey Town Football Club – the first hundred years 1886 – 1986 (John Moody); AFC Totton – A 100 Years History of Totton Football Club (Peter Chilcott); Newport (IOW) Football Club The First Hundred Years (Peter Ranger); Christchurch Football Club – The First 100 Years 1885 – 1985 (Tom Kelly); East Cowes Vic’s Football Magazine No.1 (1955, anon); Ryde for Pride – 100 Years of Ryde Sports Club (Mike Bull); Hampshire League Programme Editors’ Handbook 1998 (Tony Spencer) ● Individuals: Peter Jeffery, Daz Dyer, Mike West, Stephen Farmery, John Gorman, Mike Robins I hope you enjoy this new mini-series. It is quite startling the number of teams that have existed for over 130 years and are still going strong today and long may they continue. The next part will cover the end of the nineteenth century and rapid progress is made through the early twentieth. Don’t forget if you have anything to add then you know what to do. Compiled by Gary Day

Saturday, 07 November 2020 Page 16 of 21

SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2020/21 EDITION NUMBER 19

ATTENDANCE STATS

TEAM 1920 AVGE 2021 AVGE +/- +/- AS A % PREMIER DIVISION AFC PORTCHESTER 108.8667 252.6000 143.7333 132.03% AFC STONEHAM 86.1176 110.8000 24.6824 28.66% ALRESFORD TOWN 57.1765 91.2000 34.0235 59.51% AMESBURY TOWN 50.7857 61.2500 10.4643 20.60% BAFFINS MILTON ROVERS 60.8750 135.6000 74.7250 122.75% BASHLEY 166.4375 233.8333 67.3958 40.49% BLACKFIELD & LANGLEY 0.0000 83.7500 83.7500 0.00% BOURNEMOUTH 58.5000 84.7500 26.2500 44.87% BROCKENHURST 110.3636 134.3333 23.9697 21.72% CHRISTCHURCH 85.4545 134.5000 49.0455 57.39% COWES SPORTS 114.6000 146.8000 32.2000 28.10% FAREHAM TOWN 81.0667 209.4000 128.3333 158.31% FLEET TOWN 116.8667 125.6667 8.8000 7.53% HAMBLE CLUB 73.2308 94.5000 21.2692 29.04% HAMWORTHY UNITED 90.3571 127.4000 37.0429 41.00% HORNDEAN 56.6923 113.3333 56.6410 99.91% LYMINGTON TOWN 77.9375 135.3333 57.3958 73.64% PORTLAND UNITED 115.8667 137.0000 21.1333 18.24% SHAFTESBURY 49.0625 74.2500 25.1875 51.34% TADLEY CALLEVA 80.2308 82.5000 2.2692 2.83% DIVISION ONE ALTON 126.2000 155.8333 29.6333 23.48% ANDOVER NEW STREET 111.4615 132.3333 20.8718 18.73% ANDOVER TOWN 116.1429 163.6667 47.5238 40.92% BEMERTON HEATH HARLEQUINS 59.3571 72.3333 12.9762 21.86% DOWNTON 76.4000 135.2000 58.8000 76.96% EAST COWES VICTORIA 65.7692 115.0000 49.2308 74.85% FAWLEY AFC 62.4000 83.8000 21.4000 34.29% FOLLAND SPORTS 31.4615 71.2500 39.7885 126.47% HYTHE & DIBDEN 79.5000 120.2500 40.7500 51.26% LAVERSTOCK & FORD 109.9091 126.1429 16.2338 14.77% NEW MILTON TOWN 53.2500 87.2000 33.9500 63.76% NEWPORT (IOW) 113.8462 124.2000 10.3538 9.09% PETERSFIELD TOWN 95.7500 129.3333 33.5833 35.07% RINGWOOD TOWN 38.1333 41.3333 3.2000 8.39% ROMSEY TOWN 86.1667 147.5000 61.3333 71.18% TOTTON & ELING 96.1250 104.3333 8.2083 8.54% US PORTSMOUTH 55.2308 46.5000 -8.7308 -15.81% VERWOOD TOWN 45.1429 78.6000 33.4571 74.11% WHITCHURCH UNITED 58.7333 73.0000 14.2667 24.29%

Saturday, 07 November 2020 Page 17 of 21

SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2020/21 EDITION NUMBER 19

NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH

The new regulations about the game also applies for all football, so as of Thursday 5 November there is no action around the patch either, so here are the tables as at that date.

RANK DORSET PREMIER LEAGUE PL W D L F A GD PTS 1 Merley Cobham Sports 7 7 0 0 30 8 22 21 2 Westland Sports 6 6 0 0 13 2 11 18 3 Gillingham Town 7 5 0 2 20 9 11 15 4 Sherborne Town Reserves 7 4 0 3 9 10 -1 12 5 Balti Sports 8 4 0 4 18 21 -3 12 6 Bournemouth Sports 8 3 2 3 13 17 -4 11 7 Blandford United 5 3 1 1 21 9 12 10 8 Hamworthy Recreation 6 3 1 2 19 9 10 10 9 Dorchester Sports 7 3 1 3 9 11 -2 10 10 Swanage Town & Herston 5 3 0 2 12 10 2 9 11 Holt United 5 2 0 3 12 14 -2 6 12 Shaftesbury Reserves 7 2 0 5 12 17 -5 6 13 Portland United Reserves 6 1 3 2 9 14 -5 6 14 Sturminster Newton United 6 1 2 3 10 17 -7 5 15 Bridport Reserves 6 0 0 6 6 20 -14 0 16 Wareham Rangers 8 0 0 8 4 29 -25 0

There was some midweek action though in Hampshire, with one game on Tuesday and two on Wednesday. Bush Hill strengthened their title claims with a 5-2 win over midtable Hayling United under the lights at Test Park. Noel McCarthy-Gardiner hit a hat trick and Mark Barker a pair for the victors. Perhaps a surprise on Wednesday where Fleetlands grabbed the points in a 1-0 win at second placed Locks Heath, whilst Stockbridge came from a goal behind by Adam Smalley at home against Clanfield to win by the odd goal in three. Jack Pitt and Marcus Savage goals winning the points for the Robins.

RANK HAMPSHIRE PREMIER LEAGUE PL W D L F A GD PTS 1 Bush Hill 12 10 1 1 60 11 49 31 2 Locks Heath 14 8 3 3 34 16 18 27 3 Infinity 12 7 5 0 39 16 23 26 4 Paulsgrove 8 7 1 0 41 12 29 22 5 Overton United 14 7 1 6 31 35 -4 22 6 Fleetlands 10 6 3 1 28 12 16 21 7 Stockbridge 12 6 2 4 19 23 -4 20 8 Hayling United 12 5 2 5 41 27 14 17 9 Liphook United 8 4 0 4 21 24 -3 12 10 Colden Common 10 3 2 5 30 24 6 11 11 Clanfield 11 3 1 7 24 26 -2 10 12 Liss Athletic 10 3 0 7 25 40 -15 9 13 Winchester Castle 8 2 2 4 11 16 -5 8 14 Chamberlayne Athletic 9 0 4 5 11 37 -26 4 15 Sway 10 1 1 8 14 58 -44 4 16 Lyndhurst 12 0 0 12 10 62 -52 0 Saturday, 07 November 2020 Page 18 of 21

SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2020/21 EDITION NUMBER 19

The Wiltshire Senior Cup would appear to have got under way, or perhaps not, because on Wednesday Warminster Town registered a walkover win against struggling Ludgershall Sports. No details as regards the Second Round, potentially including Bemerton Heath Harlequins, Downton and Laverstock & Ford. I’m not aware of any news regarding the Wiltshire Premier Shield- which would see Amesbury Town involved.

RANK WILTSHIRE SENIOR LEAGUE PL W D L F A GD PTS 1 Pewsey Vale 10 8 1 1 28 9 19 25 2 Royal Wootton Bassett Town Dev. 9 8 1 0 26 11 15 25 3 Melksham Town Reserves 12 8 0 4 35 11 24 24 4 Wroughton 8 6 0 2 31 13 18 18 5 Frome Collegians 11 6 0 5 29 18 11 18 6 Shrewton United 10 5 2 3 31 20 11 17 7 Cricklade Town 8 5 0 3 15 11 4 15 8 Malmesbury Victoria Development 12 4 2 6 24 27 -3 14 9 Purton 7 4 1 2 19 16 3 13 10 Odd Down Reserves 11 4 1 6 22 30 -8 13 11 Trowbridge Town 9 4 0 5 16 17 -1 12 12 Corsham Town Reserves 9 3 1 5 16 24 -8 10 13 Stratton Juniors 7 2 1 4 11 20 -9 7 14 Marlborough Town 7 1 0 6 8 21 -13 3 15 Devizes Town Reserves 9 1 0 8 7 25 -18 3 16 Ludgershall Sports 9 0 0 9 7 52 -45 0

RANK HAMPSHIRE COMBINATION PREMIER PL W D L F A GD PTS 1 Laverstock & Ford 7 4 1 2 15 12 3 13 2 Salisbury 7 4 1 2 15 15 0 13 3 Bemerton Heath Harlequins 5 3 2 0 17 5 12 11 4 United Services Portsmouth 4 3 1 0 13 8 5 10 5 Wimborne Town 5 3 0 2 19 12 7 9 6 Romsey Town 5 3 0 2 10 9 1 9 7 Hamworthy United 8 2 2 4 19 24 -5 8 8 AFC Stoneham 7 2 1 4 23 21 2 7 9 Fareham Town 5 2 0 3 10 10 0 6 10 Totton & Eling 4 1 0 3 4 12 -8 3 11 Petersfield Town 7 1 0 6 9 26 -17 3

RANK HAMPSHIRE COMBINATION EAST PL W D L F A GD PTS 1 Alton 5 4 1 0 9 2 7 13 2 Fleetlands 5 4 0 1 10 6 4 12 3 Paulsgrove 6 3 2 1 11 6 5 11 4 Hayling United 7 3 1 3 15 12 3 10 5 Infinity 5 2 2 1 11 8 3 8 6 Liphook United 6 2 2 2 9 10 -1 8 7 Tadley Calleva 4 1 2 1 8 8 0 5 8 Midhurst & Easebourne 4 1 1 2 6 8 -2 4 9 Liss Athletic 6 1 1 4 7 15 -8 4 10 Clanfield 6 0 0 6 2 13 -11 0 Saturday, 07 November 2020 Page 19 of 21

SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2020/21 EDITION NUMBER 19

RANK HAMPSHIRE COMBINATION WEST P W D L F A GD PTS 1 Lymington Town 6 4 1 1 19 14 5 13 2 Blackfield & Langley 6 4 1 1 10 11 -1 13 3 Lyndhurst 5 4 0 1 17 5 12 12 4 New Milton Town 6 3 1 2 23 16 7 10 5 QK Southampton 5 3 0 2 18 10 8 9 6 Colden Common 6 3 0 3 13 12 1 9 7 SFD Bashley 6 1 2 3 11 18 -7 5 8 Folland Sports 5 1 2 2 10 18 -8 5 9 Fawley AFC 5 1 1 3 11 9 2 4 10 Newport (IOW) 6 0 3 3 8 19 -11 3 11 Bush Hill 4 0 1 3 3 11 -8 1

WEEK 10 ROUND UP

IN a friendly at the Ray McEnhill Stadium Laverstock & Ford went down 3-2 on Tuesday evening. Jake Rawkins and Chae Sykes with the goals, whilst Harry Baker hit a double for the hosts, with Warren Bentley also on target. In the Portsmouth Senior Cup, carried over from last season; the Semi Final between Fareham Town and Moneyfields had been scheduled for Tuesday 10 November, but alas under the new regulations all football at our level- both competitive and training is suspended until Wednesday 2 December, at the earliest. Tuesday saw eight Premier Division and four Division One games played and there were some high scoring games in the bunch, again with some staggered kick off times across the patch. We’ll start our round up at the Glen Mex Stadium where the biggest crowd of the evening (276) saw a New Forest Derby between Bashley and Brocken hurst end in a 2-0 win for the hosts. Cameron Beard with both the goals, after midway through the second half. Along the A337, two of the early pace makers met at Southampton Road and it was the hosts again who prevailed. A single Sam House goal was enough to give Lymington Town the points against Hamworthy United. Lymington remain with a 100% league record as we go into the second lockdown and have conceded just one league goal from eight starts, the result was also Hamworthy’s first defeat of the term. At Cams Alders, just under 260 were in to see Fareham and Alresford sharing six goals; with the Magpies goals coming from Ashley Elson with a double and Louis Russell. Josh Benfield, Callum Benfield and Tom Settle were on target for the Creeksiders, coming back from behind on three occasions- the draw meaning their first points dropped at home this season. Two others sharing six goals were Hamble and Cowes Sports. The Yachtsmen took advantage early on through Jimmy Wykes with John McKie adding two to the tally. The Monks drew level through Mitch Byrne before the same player nudged them ahead. A later goal from Mike Byrne earning the hosts a point. Up the M3, Fleet Town hit five without reply against Shaftesbury, Mal Thomas and Billy Oram both bagging braces at Calthorpe Park, with Ralph Karumazondo also finding the net. In the other far flung outpost of our league, Amesbury Town went down to a single goal from Jean-Pierre Alexander that saw Horndean return home with the points to leapfrog Fareham into second spot. Another gate of over 100 was at Hurn Bridge to see Christchurch run in three second half goals to defeat Baffins Milton Rovers 3-0 thanks to Max Wilcock, and Will Fletcher- who notched a pair. Finally in the Premier we go to the far west and here AFC Stoneham also hit three without reply at Portland United. Sam Woodward bagged a brace for the Purples with a Nathan Clements goal between. On the Isle of Wight the lowest crowd of the day- but still over the hundred mark, saw Newport overcome Totton & Eling 5-0. Five different names on the scoresheet for Port who were two up before ten minutes was up on the clock. Scott Sampson, Jake Wright, Connor Kelly, Joe Butcher and debutant Tommy Jackson with the goals, enough to take them to sixth spot in the table.

Saturday, 07 November 2020 Page 20 of 21

SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2020/21 EDITION NUMBER 19

At Claypits Lane, the points and four goals were shared between Hythe & Dibden and Bemerton Heath Harlequins. Justin Bennett gave the Harlequins the lead and Kane O’Keefe got a late leveller. Sam Floyd and Cain Prentice on target for the hosts. Goals from George Callard and Jack Odam saw Romsey Town earn the points in a 2-0 win at Andover New Street and move out of the bottom four at the same time. Finally in this section for Tuesday, and the top attendance- some 133- saw a George Bowerman hat trick, win the points for Alton over Ringwood Town. Shaun Prentice and Adam Riley for the visitors in their 3-2 defeat. The win enough to see the Brewers close the gap at the top between themselves and the leaders. Just the two games on Wednesday before we take a break due to circumstances we could all clearly do without. In the Buildbase FA Vase the tie between United Services Portsmouth and Bournemouth was moved to the Crest Finance Stadium home of AFC Portchester- principally we understand due to crowd entry issues at HMS Temeraire, and it was the Division One side who prevailed. Poppies took an early lead through James Kinge-Phillips before Dec Seiden levelled the tie. Further goals from Andy Todd and James Franklyn rounding off the result and earn a home 2nd Round tie with the winners of the now delayed Brockenhurst Street game. Finally, and in Division One, Whitchurch United notched a four goal win over New Milton Town, with four different players on the scoresheet. George Bishop giving the Jamboys the lead with Lloyd Thompson, Harry Edmondson and Nick Yeomans adding to the tally.

FROM THE CHAIR

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

Saturday, 07 November 2020 Page 21 of 21