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2023–24 Wessex Football League

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Wessex Football League
Season2023–24
ChampionsMoneyfields
PromotedMoneyfields
Shaftesbury
RelegatedLymington Town

The 2023–24 Wessex Football League season was the 38th in the history of the Wessex Football League since its establishment in 1986. The league consists of two divisions: the Premier Division and Division One.

The constitution was announced on 15 May 2023.[1] Starting this season, the Premier Division (step 5) promotes two clubs; one as champions and one via a four-team play-off. This replaced the previous inter-step play-off system. For this season only, there was only one club relegated from the Premier Division.[2]

Premier Division

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The Premier Division remained at 20 clubs, after Bemerton Heath Harlequins were promoted to the Southern League South Division; Horndean were promoted to the Isthmian League South East Division; Pagham were transferred to the Southern Combination League, and Alresford Town were relegated to Division One.

Four new teams joined the division:

League table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Moneyfields (C, P) 38 33 3 2 141 39 +102 99[a] Promoted to the Southern League
2 A.F.C. Stoneham 38 31 2 5 131 26 +105 95 Qualification for the play-offs
3 Shaftesbury (O, P) 38 29 3 6 117 50 +67 90 Promoted to the Southern League
4 A.F.C. Portchester 38 25 6 7 90 44 +46 81 Qualification for the play-offs
5 Baffins Milton Rovers 38 21 4 13 88 52 +36 67[b]
6 Brockenhurst 38 19 10 9 77 47 +30 67
7 Portland United 38 19 8 11 66 42 +24 65
8 Laverstock & Ford 38 20 4 14 88 73 +15 64
9 Sherborne Town 38 18 5 15 75 67 +8 59
10 Fareham Town 38 16 5 17 68 80 −12 53
11 Cowes Sports 38 15 6 17 83 75 +8 51
12 Hamble Club 38 14 8 16 82 75 +7 50
13 Petersfield Town 38 12 5 21 71 81 −10 41 Transferred to the Southern Combination
14 Andover New Street 38 11 6 21 62 92 −30 39
15 Hythe & Dibden 38 10 5 23 60 87 −27 35
16 Bournemouth 38 8 9 21 56 107 −51 33
17 Blackfield & Langley 38 10 2 26 40 116 −76 32
18 Christchurch 38 7 6 25 51 123 −72 27
19 United Services Portsmouth 38 7 4 27 53 117 −64 25
20 Lymington Town (R) 38 3 3 32 36 142 −106 12 Relegated to Division One
Source: Wessex League
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ Moneyfields had three points deducted for failing to fulfil a fixture.
  2. ^ Christchurch 0–8 Baffins Milton Rovers (16 December 2023) and Lymington Town 1–3 Baffins Milton Rovers (6 January 2024) were voided after Baffins Milton Rovers fielded an ineligible player. Both matches were to be replayed.[3] Replayed matches: Lymington Town 0–3 Baffins Milton Rovers (30 January 2024), Christchurch 1–3 Baffins Milton Rovers (20 April 2024).

Promotion playoffs

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Semi-finals Final
      
2 A.F.C. Stoneham 2
5 Baffins Milton Rovers 1
2 A.F.C. Stoneham 0
3 Shaftesbury 1
3 Shaftesbury 1
4 A.F.C. Portchester 0

Semifinals

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23 April A.F.C. Stoneham 2–1Baffins Milton RoversEastleigh
19:45 Jenkins 74', Sampson 89' Report Robinson 51' Stadium: Stoneham Football Complex
Attendance: 270
24 April Shaftesbury 1–0A.F.C. PortchesterShaftesbury
19:45 Pitman Report Stadium: Cockrams
Attendance: 356

Final

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27 April A.F.C. Stoneham0–1 Shaftesbury Eastleigh
15:00 Report Stadium: Stoneham Football Complex
Attendance: 534

Division One

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Division One was increased to 21 clubs from 20 after Andover New Street and Petersfield Town were promoted to the Premier Division, and Fleet Spurs and Amesbury Town were relegated.

Five new teams joined the division:

  • Downton were promoted on a PPG (points per game) basis despite losing the play-off final.[4]

League table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Hamworthy Recreation (C, P) 40 32 4 4 143 41 +102 100 Promoted to the Premier Division
2 Millbrook (O, P) 40 31 1 8 152 53 +99 94
3 Downton (P) 40 29 7 4 121 44 +77 94 Promoted (PPG) to the Premier Division
4 Alresford Town 40 24 9 7 108 56 +52 81 Qualification for the play-offs
5 Fleetlands 40 22 9 9 91 52 +39 75
6 East Cowes Victoria Athletic 40 23 6 11 90 52 +38 75
7 Cove 40 20 6 14 91 89 +2 66
8 Folland Sports 40 19 7 14 78 75 +3 64
9 Clanfield 40 16 9 15 93 67 +26 57
10 Romsey Town 40 15 9 16 95 74 +21 54
11 Fawley 40 16 6 18 54 69 −15 54
12 Newport (IOW) 40 15 7 18 66 74 −8 52
13 Whitchurch United 40 15 7 18 80 113 −33 52
14 Verwood Town 40 14 6 20 69 85 −16 48
15 Totton & Eling 40 14 5 21 54 99 −45 47
16 Ringwood Town 40 11 10 19 74 90 −16 43
17 Ash United 40 9 9 22 74 93 −19 36
18 Frimley Green 40 10 3 27 58 118 −60 33
19 New Milton Town 40 9 6 25 49 114 −65 33 Reprieved from relegation
20 A.F.C. Aldermaston 40 6 1 33 50 124 −74 19
21 Andover Town (R) 40 6 1 33 45 153 −108 19[a] Relegated to a county feeder league
Source: Wessex Leagues
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ 14 October 2023 – Romsey Town 2–3 Andover Town was voided after Andover were found to have fielded an ineligible player. The match was replayed on 19 March 2024, with Romsey winning 4–1.

Promotion playoffs

[edit]
Semi-finals Final
      
2 Millbrook 5
5 Fleetlands 1
2 Millbrook 3
3 Downton 1
3 Downton 2
4 Alresford Town 0

Semifinals

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30 April Millbrook 5–1FleetlandsSouthampton
19:45 Barker 3', White 14' 19' 84',
O'Connell 60'
Report Wrapson 66' Stadium: Test Park
Attendance: 229
1 May Downton 2–0Alresford TownDownton
19:45 Smith , Osman Stadium: Brian Whitehead Sports Ground
Attendance: 312

Final

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4 May Millbrook 3–1DowntonSouthampton
15:00 White 33' (p), 43',
Krysztofowicz 82'
Report Davies 3' Stadium: Test Park
Attendance: 532

References

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  1. ^ "REVEALED: Club allocations 2023-24 announced by The FA". The Non-League Football Paper. 15 May 2023.
  2. ^ "STEP 5 TO 4 PROMOTION/RELEGATION UPDATE". The FA. 16 March 2023. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  3. ^ "Club Statement: Christchurch and Lymington Town Fixtures". Baffins Milton Rovers F.C. 20 January 2024. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
  4. ^ "THE FA RELEASES NATIONAL LEAGUE SYSTEM CLUB ALLOCATIONS FOR STEPS 1-6 IN 2024-25 TERM". The FA. 17 May 2024.
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