Newport IW Football Club will play their first home game at Smallbrook Stadium in 2022 against Ringwood Town this Saturday.
Due to flooding at Smallbrook, inadequate floodlighting and a dispute with co-tenants Ryde Saints, the currently homeless club have played their last 3 ‘home’ games at Beatrice Avenue in East Cowes and Potterne Park in Dorset.
Despite their return to Smallbrook this weekend, the dispute between Newport and Ryde Saints has still not been fully resolved. Ryde Saints Chairman Jamie Humm has said:
“Ryde Saints recognise that Newport FC’s players and football management team are not responsible for this situation, and that we have a responsibility not to interrupt their promotion efforts this season if it can be avoided. Ryde Saints have always believed it is very possible to light the pitch safely. We have sought expert advice and presented workable lighting solutions to Newport FC and offered financial assistance if they are pursued.
“Newport FC and their legal team are considering these proposed solutions, and we await a reply from them in this respect. This matter has been dragging on since last May and while it can’t go on forever, Ryde Saints hope for a speedy resolution. In the meantime, we wish Newport FC’s players and football management well in their important upcoming games.”
“Newport and their legal team are considering these proposed solutions, and we await a reply from them in this respect. We also fully appreciate that landlords Island Speedway will be entitled to review the proposals as well.”
Newport have a deadline of 31st March to inform the Wessex League of where they will stage home games in the 2022/23 season if they wish to compete.
As for the game itself, co-manager Stewart Shepherd said:
“We go into Saturday’s game hopefully with the return of Connor Kelly, Josh Younie and Aaron Burford but without the suspended Martin McDonough. We are hoping to keep our good start to 2022 going. We have 12 games remaining which are all like a cup final if we are wanting to push for promotion.”
Kick-off is at the earlier time of 13:45. A minibus (cost £5) will transport supporters from the former St George’s Park ground to Smallbrook, leaving at 12:45.
In the other game to be played in Wessex League 1, 17th-placed East Cowes Vics face a strong 7th-placed Romsey Town side at Beatrice Avenue.
Vics have yet to taste victory in 2022.
Manager Richie Woodburn said:
“It’s a tough game, and Romsey are in good form. We have 5 or 6 players struggling with injury: Jimmy Burton, Harri Catania, Liam Newbold, Brandon Hayward, Harrison Yates and ‘Chalky’ White. I don’t want to risk players when we have a more winnable game against Ash United next week.”
In the Wessex Premier, 16th-placed Cowes Sports face a long journey to play Portland United in Dorset: the side immediately below them in the league table.
The Yachtsmen achieved their 1st win of 2022 on Tuesday night when they comfortably beat Baffins Milton Rovers at Westwood Park.
Manager Max Draper said:
“As always dealing with no budget, I have no doubt that the squad we will take on Saturday will be different to the one that played the other night. Players working, injured and absent will mean we will have to adapt again but fingers crossed we will be able to show the same fighting spirit we had on Tuesday.
“Portland themselves are in a good patch. Although they lost on Tuesday, the coaching team are doing a good job up there with a young, hungry team and it is never an easy place to go. We will once again have to be at our best collectively to come away with anything. We just hope, after a morale boosting win, but more importantly a dogged team performance we can go there and get something.”
Saturday also sees 4 Isle of Wight sides – Brading Town, Shanklin, Pan Community and Wroxall – featuring in the Quarter Finals of the Hampshire Cups.
Further details about the Hampshire Trophy and Vase games can be found here.
We wish our teams all the best in their endeavours to reach the semi-finals.
Wessex League fixtures for 5th February 2022
Premier Division: Portland United v Cowes Sports (14:30)
Division 1: East Cowes Vics v Romsey Town (15.00); Newport IoW v Ringwood Town (13.45)
Isle of Wight fixtures for Saturday 5th February 2022
All Fixtures to Kick-off at 14:00 unless otherwise shown
Hampshire FA Saturday Trophy Quarter- Final
Brading Town v Fleetlands
Shanklin v Stockbridge
Hampshire FA Saturday Vase Quarter- Final
Bisterne United Dorset v Pan Community
Hampshire FA Saturday Plate Quarter- Final
Wroxall v AFC Stubbington
The Ken Morris Junior ‘A’ sponsored by Harwoods Renault Saturday League Cup 2nd Round
Adgestone v Brading Town Reserves
The UNISON Isle of Wight Junior ‘B’ Cup 1st Round
AFC Wootton Reserves v Yarmouth & Calbourne Reserves
Harwoods Renault IOW Saturday League Division 1
Cowes Sports Reserves v Vectis
Niton Community v Bembridge
Northwood St Johns v Sandown & Lake
Oakfield v Whitecroft & Barton Sports
West Wight v Binstead & COB
No Fixture: Ryde Saints
Harwoods Renault IOW Saturday League Division 2
Carisbrooke United v Osborne Coburg
High Park v Seaview
Newport Reserves v East Cowes Sports
Ventnor v Newchurch
Yarmouth & Calbourne v East Cowes Vics Reserves
No Fixture: AFC Wootton
Harwoods Renault IOW Saturday League Combination Division 1
Bembridge v West Wight
Binstead & COB v Oakfield (Match conceded by Binstead & COB)
Osborne Coburg v Northwood St Johns
Sandown & Lake v Shanklin
Whitecroft & Barton Sports v Ryde Saints
Harwoods Renault IOW Saturday League Combination Division 2
East Cowes Sports v Carisbrooke United
Pan Community v Newchurch
Vectis v Bembridge ‘A’
No Fixture: Ventnor
Fixtures courtesy of Isle of Wight DFA
