English Premiership football starts this Saturday with a full programme of fixtures. On the Isle of Wight, it is the first full Saturday of football in the 2 divisions of the Harwoods Renault Saturday League.
13 teams will compete in Division 1 including newcomers Oakfield and Niton, both promoted from last season’s Division 2. Dropping out from Division 1 are Ventnor (who failed to complete their fixtures last season), East Cowes Sports and Carisbrooke United.
Last season saw a closely fought title race between perennial champions Whitecroft and Barton Sports and runners up, Shanklin. Shanklin were leading the league until COVID struck, beating W&B 1-2 at fortress Sandy Lane in October. However, W&B then beat Shanklin 2-4 at the County Ground after the COVID break in April, eventually securing the title in the final week of the season.
Whitecroft & Barton will be without their long-serving manager, Steve Rayner, this season. His position has been taken by goalkeeper Gareth True. Former Newport goalkeeper Andy Payne will be taking up Gareth’s position between the sticks.
W&B play their 1st game away to Vectis at Cowes Enterprise College and Shanklin face a tough game at Camp Road, Freshwater against West Wight. A further Division 1 title contender, Hampshire Trophy winners Brading Town, play a strong Cowes Sports Reserves side at Westwood Park.
14 teams will compete in Division 2 including newcomers East Cowes Vics Reserves and High Park.
Pan Sports, who finished in 3rd place in 2020/21, should probably be considered favourites for the Division 2 title, together with a much-improved Yarmouth & Calbourne side, who finished in 4th place. Wroxall will be hoping for a far better season than their previous campaign, in which they lost all 20 games played.
In the Wessex Premiership, Cowes Sports play away to Brockenhurst. The Yachtsmen began their season by briefly topping the table after beating Wiltshire side, Amesbury Town, 2-0 in their first game. However, they were soon brought back to earth by losing their next gamer 0-4 to Moneyfields in Portsmouth.
In Wessex League 1, Newport will hope to continue their good form away to Petersfield.
The Port, who beat Romsey Town 4-1 in their opening game, currently lie 2nd in the table. East Cowes Vics, who lost their 1st fixture 0-2 to Infinity, face Andover Town at Beatrice Avenue.
Fixtures for Saturday 14th August:
Wessex Premier: Brockenhurst v Cowes Sports
Wessex League 1: Petersfield Town v Newport IW; East Cowes Vics v Andover Town
Harwoods Renault Saturday League Division 1: Cowes Sports Reserves v Brading Town; Ryde Saints v Binstead & COB; Sandown & Lake v Bembridge; Vectis v W&B; West Wight v Shanklin
Harwoods Renault Saturday League Division 2: Wootton v Adgestone; ECS v Yarmouth & Calbourne; High Park v East Cowes Vics Reserves; Newchurch v Carisbrooke United; Osborne Coburg v Seaview; Pan v Ventnor; Wroxall v Newport Reserves
Island Echo will provide full coverage of Isle of Wight and Wessex League football throughout the 2021/22 season.
Fixtures courtesy of Isle of Wight DFA
