East Cowes Victoria begin their first ever Wessex Premier campaign at Beatrice Avenue at 15:00 this afternoon (Saturday).
Vics’s promotion in 2024/25 (via the playoffs) was their first ever as members of the Wessex League.
East Cowes Council dignitaries – including Mayor Cllr Tracy Reardon and Deputy Mayor Karl Love – will be in attendance to demonstrate the commitment of the community to their local team.
Today’s opponents are Bemerton Heath Harlequins – from Salisbury in Wiltshire – who have taken voluntary relegation from the Southern League.
Vics have said ahead of the game:
“Bemerton Heath Harlequins are the visitors to Beatrice Avenue as we make our highly awaited first appearance in the Wessex Premier.
“The boys would really appreciate your support, it was truly tremendous last year – not one of this year’s Wessex League clubs had a higher average attendance than us last season.
“It’s sure to be a busy one, so arrive nice and early to soak up the atmosphere and hospitality..
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A Vics spokesperson has added:
“Fans can expect to see a team trying to play football as it should be played, with passion, skill, teamwork and the ability to go 90 minutes plus in the search for three points. They all have each others backs and are led by a dynamic management team who put so much time and desire into making the team, and the club the best they can be.”
Also in the Wessex Premier, Cowes Sports will be hoping to maintain their 100% record in the league at home to Bournemouth Poppies.
The Yachtsmen were knocked out of the FA Cup at the extra-preliminary round stage by Laverstock & Ford in a replay on Tuesday evening.
Co-manager Ian Potts says of Tuesday’s reverse and his side’s prospects today:
“We as a management team and club were disappointed about our midweek loss against Laverstock and Ford FC, as we thought we should have won the game on Saturday, but looking at the bigger picture, we have got more minutes into the players after a couple of big teams letting us down preseason, and the FA Cup is just an added bonus if we go further into a couple of rounds.
“The game against Bournemouth is a bigger one for us. We have started well in the league, and we hope to keep that run going. We know Bournemouth are a good, strong, solid team, and we will have to be on it all over the pitch to hopefully get a result.
“August is mostly full of cup games, so we are trying to get as many points in the league as we can. The lads as always have trained well and are looking forward to see where the season takes us.”
In Wessex Division 1, Newport will attempt to gain their first points of the season at Ash United in North Hampshire.
Port were knocked out of the Hampshire Senior Cup by Bournemouth Poppies on Tuesday.
Manager Joe Butcher says of the midweek defeat:
“They play an unusual system. We basically conceded with their first two shots. Leon made two great saves, but the rebounds just landed straight to them. We changed shape to 3-5-2 and then had the better of the game.”
Port beat Ash on the road at the start of last season. Can they take all 3 points away from home this season?
Joe says:
“We’ll need to be much better than on Saturday – all the lads know we weren’t at it! We put in a lot better performance against Bournemouth midweek, so we’ll take that into the game.
“I don’t know massive amounts about who Ash have got in over the summer, but we want to go and get a positive result.”
