The Island’s most prestigious cup competition – the Isle of Wight Senior (Gold) Cup – begins this Saturday when 6 Isle of Wight Division 1 teams take part in the 1st round of the competition.
The Senior Cup is reputedly the most valuable in world football as it is made of solid gold. The winning club is not permitted to keep the cup in its trophy cabinet: such is its value that it must be returned to the bank for safekeeping straight after the final. The only way the victorious team can get their hands on the cup again is to win it the following season.
The Gold Cup was first competed for in 1945. The most successful team in the competition are the current holders Newport, who have lifted the trophy on no less than 40 occasions. Their closest rivals are Cowes Sports with 12 wins, followed by East Cowes Vics with 9. The now-defunct Ryde Sports were winners 6 times, and Brading Town 5. Oakfield, Seaview, and Sandown have all won the Gold Cup once.
The Gold Cup was last competed for in the 2018/19 season. Newport beat Whitecroft & Barton 6-1 in the final at Beatrice Avenue.
6 Division 1 teams will be taking part in the 1st round of the competition: Bembridge host Northwood St Johns at Steyne Park, Oakfield face Niton at Slade Road and Vectis play West Wight at Cowes Community College. The Wessex League teams join the Gold Cup competition in the Quarter Finals.
There are 2 Wessex League fixtures on the Island this Saturday.
In the Wessex Premier, the Yachtsmen will be hoping to pick up points against 6th-placed AFC Stoneham at Westwood Park. In Wessex League 1, East Cowes Vics will be seeking a 2nd successive home victory against 17th-placed Totton & Eling. High-flying Newport will hope to maintain the momentum in their promotion push when they travel to the New Forest to face 13th-placed Ringwood Town.
For anyone wishing to travel to the mainland to support the Port, a coach will be leaving St George’s Park at 11:15. The cost of the return journey is just £15.
In Isle of Wight Division 1, leaders Shanklin face Cowes Sports Reserves at the County Ground. Champions Whitecroft & Barton, who have won all 10 of their games in the season to date without conceding a goal, face Sandown & Lake at fortress Sandy Lane.
Wessex League Fixtures for Saturday 20th November 2021
All Fixtures to Kick-Off at 15:00
Premier Division: Cowes Sports v AFC Stoneham
Division 1: East Cowes Vics v Totton & Eling; Ringwood Town v Newport IoW
Isle of Wight Fixtures for Saturday 20th November 2021
All Fixtures to Kick-Off at 14:00
The Harwoods DACIA Senior (Gold) Cup 1st Round: Bembridge v Northwood St Johns; Oakfield v Niton Community; Vectis v West Wight
The Memorial Cup Sponsored by Andy Butler Sports Ground Specialist 1st Round: East Cowes Sports v AFC Wootton; Pan Community v Ventnor; Wroxall v Newchurch; Yarmouth & Calbourne v High Park
Harwoods Renault IOW Saturday League Division 1: Binstead & COB v Brading Town; Shanklin v Cowes Sports Reserves; Whitecroft & Barton; Sports v Sandown & Lake; No Fixture: Ryde Saints
Division 2: Osborne Coburg v Carisbrooke; Newport Reserves v East Cowes Vics Reserves; No Fixture: Adgestone & Seaview
Combination Division 1: Brading Town v Bembridge; Northwood St Johns v Osborne Coburg; Ryde Saints v Shanklin; Sandown & Lake v Oakfield; West Wight v Binstead & COB; No Fixture: Whitecroft & Barton Sports
Combination Division 2: AFC Wootton v East Cowes Sports; Carisbrooke United v Niton Community; Newchurch v Yarmouth & Calbourne; Vectis v Pan Community; Ventnor v Bembridge ’A’
