Cowes Sports and Newport Isle of Wight are set to play their first games of 2026 today (Saturday), weather permitting.
Both clubs had last Saturday’s fixtures postponed due to icy pitches, following which their midweek games were also abandoned for the same reason.
East Cowes Victoria – who drew last Saturday – are also in action today, and there is a full programme of Isle of Wight league and cup games.
In the Wessex Premier, the Yachtsmen head to Bournemouth Poppies – a side they beat 3-1 in the corresponding fixture at the Zilch Waste Stadium back in August.
The 2 sides should be evenly matched with Cowes 15th in the table and Bournemouth 1 place and 1 point above. However, the Yachtsmen have 6 games in hand over their opponents.
Manager Mark Woodhouse says of his sides prospects:
“We’re looking forward to the trip down there. We are just hoping for a game of football after the recent cancellations. We have had a good week’s training and are prepared for what we know will be a tough game. Bournemouth are off the back of a good performance away at high flying Baffins (0-1 win), so we know this will be a tough challenge which the lads are looking forward to.”
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Also in the Wessex Premier, 13th-placed East Cowes Victoria head to Salisbury in Wiltshire to face 18th-placed Bemerton Heath Harlequins.
Vics have had a mixed bag of results of late, with a win, draw and defeat over their last 3 games. Bemerton are 4 games without a win, their last victory coming back in November when they beat Hamworthy Rec 2-1.
In the only Wessex League game to be played on the Isle of Wight today, 11th-placed Newport take on 17th-placed Kintbury Rangers at the Zilch Waste Stadium.
Port have only played 1 league game since 8th November (losing 2-4 to Folland Sports). The 16 games they have completed to date is the lowest of any Wessex League club.
Manager Joe Butcher says of his side’s fixture backlog:
“Any more games off, and it’ll probably be 4 times a week on some weeks. I’m still waiting for 2 to get rearranged plus the Gold Cup.”
On his side’s prospects against Kintbury, Joe added:
“We’ll need to be at it. At their place we weren’t, and they outworked us and beat us 2-0 – something we want to put right today.”
The draws have been made for the semi finals of the Isle of Wight Gold Cup and Challenge Cup.
In the Gold Cup, Cowes Sports play Whitecroft & Barton and East Cowes Victoria face Newport.
In the Challenge Cup, W&B or High Park have been drawn against Brading Town, and Shanklin take on West Wight.
Isle of Wight football fixtures for Saturday, 10th January
Hampshire Vase
Hythe Aztecs v Sandown & Lake
Memorial Cup
ECS v Osborne Coburg
Junior A
Oakfield Reserves v Sandown & Lake Reserves
Harwoods Division 1
Northwood St Johns v Brading Town
Ventnor v Oakfield
West Wight v Cowes Sports
Division 2
Binstead & COB v Pan Community
Niton v Newchurch
Ryde Saints v Seaview
Combination 1
Bembridge & Vectis Reserves v Osborne Coburg Reserves
Shanklin Reserves v West Wight Reserves
Combination 2
Newchurch Reserves v Bembridge & Vectis A
Oakfield A v High Park A
Sandown & Lake A v Binstead & COB Reserves
