Harwoods Isle of Wight Division 1 League teams Bembridge and Vectis have merged their adult sections to form Bembridge & Vectis FC.
The new, merged side will field 3 adult sides in the local league in the 2025/26 season – in Division 1, Combination 1 and Combination 2.
The first team will be run by current Bembridge manager Justin Malin – his 9th season as manager and 13th at the club. He will be supported by Vectis FC First Team manager Reece Biedler.
The reserve side will be managed by James Brewer who was Vectis FC Reserves manager last year, supported by Keiron and Bobby Wye. Tyler Randle will be the A side player manager, supported by Josh Attrill and Aaron RH.
All home fixtures will be played at Steyne Park in Bembridge.
In a club statement, Vectis FC have said:
“Vectis FC are delighted to announce that our current adult section is merging with long standing, established Island side Bembridge FC.
“Both clubs have built strong youth set ups on the Island, with many former youth players representing Vectis and Bembridge at the adult level in recent years. Merging the adult sides will secure this invaluable pathway, ensuring opportunities for young players to transition into senior football for years to come.
Article continues below this advertisement “Like many clubs on the Island, both Vectis and Bembridge have faced challenges with player availability and volunteer resourcing in recent seasons. By combining forces, the future of both clubs is now strengthened and secured.
“Most importantly, we want to thank our incredible supporters – those who have stood by us rain or shine, week after week. Your dedication and passion have been the heartbeat of our club, and we look forward to welcoming you as we embark on this exciting new venture.”
Bembridge FC have said:
“We are delighted to announce a new exciting project at Bembridge FC as Vectis FC merge with us.
“We bring together two outstanding Youth Sections in Bembridge Youth and Vectis Youth, which can then both feed into one adult section in Bembridge & Vectis FC.
“This evolution of our club is a great step in securing long term stability and success. This move not only makes us stronger on the pitch but off the pitch as well – it’s simply not sustainable to be consistently run by 1 or 2 individuals alone.
“Both clubs have a similar ethos, in promoting and developing young players and trying to play football the right way.
“We’re very excited to get our new project underway.”
