Hampshire League
Encyclopedia
Hampshire League is a name used for two distinct football
competitions based in Hampshire
, England
. There are two leagues; Hampshire Premier Football League
named 'Puma Engineering Hampshire Premier Football League' for sponsor purposes and the division below which is the Hampshire League 2004
or 'Magnata Care Hampshire 2004 League' for sponsor purposes.
.
With transport limited, the early years of the competition were split into regional divisions. The Twenties saw the formation of a main County Division which soon became known as Division 1 with a second and third tier soon following.
For many years the competition had four divisions with teams from the top flight able to join the Southern League
. It is from here that established clubs such as Andover
, Waterlooville, Basingstoke Town
, Fareham Town
and Gosport Borough
all won promotion. During its heyday large crowds were common place and before the days of football academies, the competition also consisted of the Youth sides from Southampton
, Portsmouth
, AFC Bournemouth
, Aldershot
and Reading
along with the reserve sides of top non-league clubs such as Poole Town
, Salisbury City
and Guildford City
. In more recent times the likes of Newport IOW
, Eastleigh
, Havant Town, Bashley
, Winchester City
, Alton Town
, Fleet Town
, New Milton and AFC Totton
were all long serving members. Also during this time many well known professionals played in the competition before moving on to greater things.
In 1986 the more ambitious clubs with the required facilities (mostly from Division 1) departed for the newly formed Wessex League
. This saw the Hampshire League reduced to two main divisions with a new look Division 1 feeding into the Wessex League, whilst all the Reserve teams were consequently placed in a newly formed Combination Division. The third division was re-introduced in 1991 along with a League Cup. In 1999 Division 1 was renamed as the Premier Division, only for clubs with floodlights.
After much debate, the league was absorbed into the expanded Wessex League in 2004, forming its second and third divisions.
:
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
competitions based in Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. There are two leagues; Hampshire Premier Football League
Hampshire Premier Football League
The Hampshire Premier Football League is a football competition based in Hampshire, England. The league was formed in 2007 and currently consists of a 'Senior Division' of 18 teams, most of which were previously members of the disbanded Division 2 of the Wessex League and a 'Combination Division'...
named 'Puma Engineering Hampshire Premier Football League' for sponsor purposes and the division below which is the Hampshire League 2004
Hampshire League 2004
Not all the clubs that disbanded from the original Hampshire League were able to meet Wessex League ground criteria, and, being without a league, formed a new competition, called the Hampshire League 2004...
or 'Magnata Care Hampshire 2004 League' for sponsor purposes.
Original Hampshire League
The original Hampshire League was formed in 1896, and ran until 2004 when it was incorporated into an expanded Wessex LeagueWessex League
The Wessex League is an English association football league formed in 1986, with its premier division currently at the fifth step of the National League System, or the ninth tier of the overall English football league system...
.
With transport limited, the early years of the competition were split into regional divisions. The Twenties saw the formation of a main County Division which soon became known as Division 1 with a second and third tier soon following.
For many years the competition had four divisions with teams from the top flight able to join the Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
. It is from here that established clubs such as Andover
Andover F.C.
Andover F.C. was a football club based in Andover, Hampshire, established in 1883. Since the 2007–08 season, Andover had been a member of the Southern League Division One South and West at Step 4 of the National League System...
, Waterlooville, Basingstoke Town
Basingstoke Town F.C.
Basingstoke Town Football Club is an English football club based in Basingstoke, Hampshire. The club are currently members of the Conference South and play at the Camrose, named after their late benefactor, Lord Camrose. Their motto, 'Vestigia Nulla Retrorsum', means 'No stepping...
, Fareham Town
Fareham Town F.C.
Fareham Town F.C. is a football club based in Fareham, Hampshire, England. They were formed in 1946 and have reached the 1st round proper of the FA Cup on four occasions in their history. Fareham's most successful exploit in the FA Trophy came in the 1986–87 season when they reached the semi finals...
and Gosport Borough
Gosport Borough F.C.
Gosport Borough Football Club are a semi-professional football club based in Gosport, England currently playing in the Southern League Division One South and West...
all won promotion. During its heyday large crowds were common place and before the days of football academies, the competition also consisted of the Youth sides from Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
, Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
, AFC Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899....
, Aldershot
Aldershot F.C.
Aldershot Football Club was an English Football League club, which was wound up in the High Court in March 1992. They became the first Football League club since Accrington Stanley to resign from the League during the course of a season. The club was nicknamed the Shots for both the last syllable...
and Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
along with the reserve sides of top non-league clubs such as Poole Town
Poole Town F.C.
Poole Town F.C. is a football club based in Poole, England. They were established in 1890 and joined the Western League Division Two in 1930. They won the Western League title in 1957 and reached the First Round Proper of the FA Cup four times in their history. They are currently members of the...
, Salisbury City
Salisbury City F.C.
Salisbury City Football Club is an English football club based in Salisbury, Wiltshire currently playing in the Conference South. They were formed in 1947 and play at The Raymond McEnhill Stadium...
and Guildford City
Guildford City F.C.
Guildford City Football Club is a football club based in Guildford, Surrey, England. The club was originally established in 1921, folded in 1974 and were reformed in 1996...
. In more recent times the likes of Newport IOW
Newport (IW) F.C.
Newport F.C. are a football club based in Newport on the Isle of Wight, England, They were founding members of the Wessex League in 1986.-History:...
, Eastleigh
Eastleigh F.C.
Eastleigh Football Club is an English semi-professional football club based in Eastleigh, Hampshire. The club are currently members of the Conference South and play at the Silverlake Stadium.-History:...
, Havant Town, Bashley
Bashley F.C.
Bashley F.C. is a football club based in Bashley, near New Milton, Hampshire, England. It was established in 1947 and is currently a member of the Southern League Premier Division....
, Winchester City
Winchester City F.C.
Winchester City Football Club are an English football team based in Winchester, Hampshire and playing in the Wessex League Premier Division. The team is currently managed by Guy Butters and their motto is "Many in Men, One in Spirit",-History:...
, Alton Town
Alton Town F.C.
Alton Town F.C. are an English association football club based in Alton, Hampshire, England. In the 1972–73 season, they reached the 1st round proper of the FA Cup. For the 2011–12 season, they are members of the Wessex League Premier Division. Alton Town F.C...
, Fleet Town
Fleet Town F.C.
Fleet Town Football Club are a semi-professional football club based in Fleet, Hampshire, England. They were established in 1890 and joined the Athenian League in 1979. In 2004, they joined the Isthmian League First Division, were moved into the Southern League Division One South & West in 2007,...
, New Milton and AFC Totton
A.F.C. Totton
A.F.C. Totton is a football club based in Totton, Hampshire, England. Totton Football Club was founded in 1886 and changed its name to A.F.C. Totton in 1975. The newly established club was among the founding members of the Wessex League in 1986. They are currently members of the Southern League...
were all long serving members. Also during this time many well known professionals played in the competition before moving on to greater things.
In 1986 the more ambitious clubs with the required facilities (mostly from Division 1) departed for the newly formed Wessex League
Wessex League
The Wessex League is an English association football league formed in 1986, with its premier division currently at the fifth step of the National League System, or the ninth tier of the overall English football league system...
. This saw the Hampshire League reduced to two main divisions with a new look Division 1 feeding into the Wessex League, whilst all the Reserve teams were consequently placed in a newly formed Combination Division. The third division was re-introduced in 1991 along with a League Cup. In 1999 Division 1 was renamed as the Premier Division, only for clubs with floodlights.
After much debate, the league was absorbed into the expanded Wessex League in 2004, forming its second and third divisions.
Historical position within English football league system
The following table shows the position of the various Hampshire leagues within the English football league systemEnglish football league system
The English football league system, also known as the football pyramid, is a series of interconnected leagues for association football clubs in England, with six teams from Wales also competing...
:
| Season | Level 5 | Level 6 | Level 7 | Level 8 | Level 9 | Level 10 | Level 11 | Level 12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979-86 | Alliance Premier League Football Conference The Football Conference is a football league in England which consists of three divisions called Conference National, Conference North, and Conference South. Some Football Conference clubs are fully professional, such as Luton Town, but most of them are semi-professional... |
Southern League Premier | Southern League South | Hampshire 1 | Hampshire 2 | Hampshire 3 | ||
| 1986-91 | Football Conference Football Conference The Football Conference is a football league in England which consists of three divisions called Conference National, Conference North, and Conference South. Some Football Conference clubs are fully professional, such as Luton Town, but most of them are semi-professional... |
Southern League Premier | Southern League South | Wessex Wessex League The Wessex League is an English association football league formed in 1986, with its premier division currently at the fifth step of the National League System, or the ninth tier of the overall English football league system... |
Hampshire 1 | Hampshire 2 | ||
| 1991-99 | Football Conference | Southern League Premier | Southern League South | Wessex | Hampshire 1 | Hampshire 2 | Hampshire 3 | |
| 1999-00 | Football Conference | Southern League Premier | Southern League South | Wessex | Hampshire Premier | Hampshire 1 | Hampshire 2 | |
| 2000-04 | Football Conference | Southern League Premier | Southern League 1 W | Wessex | Hampshire Premier | Hampshire 1 | Hampshire 2 | |
| 2004-06 | Football Conference | Conference South Conference South Conference South is one of the second divisions of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National... |
Southern League Premier | Southern League 1 W | Wessex 1 | Wessex 2 | Wessex 3 | |
| 2006-07 | Football Conference | Conference South | Southern League Premier | Southern League 1 S/W | Wessex Premier | Wessex 1 | Wessex 2 | |
| 2007- | Football Conference | Conference South | Southern League Premier | Southern League 1 S/W | Wessex Premier | Wessex 1 | Hampshire Prem | Hampshire 2004 |