Through the years, the Wessex League has been a breeding ground for young footballers aiming for careers in pro football. Many older professional players also come to Wessex League to make their final bows in the game before retiring.
Many past Wessex League players have made their mark for professional clubs in England. It’s conceivable that many more will also do so in the future. These include some footballers you’ll have seen live or on television screens. Others you may still recognise when browsing sportsbooks for UK football in years to come.
We’re going to look at three players, each at different stages of their footballing lives. They’ve all featured in the professional ranks of English football at some stage of each of their careers. What’s more, they have also all appeared, or now appear, for clubs now playing Wessex League football.
Let’s start with Jo Tessem, a familiar name in the English game. Tessem played as a midfielder in the Premier League for Southampton with his Saints career spanning 130 games. One of these was a substitute appearance in the 2003 FA Cup Final against Arsenal. Tessem also represented his native Norway 9 times.
Tessem had spells with AFC Bournemouth and Eastleigh before moving to Totton & Eling, who now play in the Wessex League’s Division One. He played 118 matches over eight seasons for The Millers before moving to Hythe & Dibden. The Hythe-based club currently competes in the Wessex League Premier Division. In 2023, after six seasons at Clayfields, the Norwegian hung up his boots at the age of 50.
In an extensive football career, Jo Tessem featured in over 600 matches and scored over 100 goals.
Christie Ward, a 19-year-old Poole-born midfielder, started his football journey at Brockenhurst FC. The now-Wessex League Premier Division club was Ward’s home for two seasons. He made 50 appearances for The Badgers, showcasing his talent with an impressive goal average of over one in every three games.
In the 2021/22 season, Ward received his big break when EFL League One team Wycombe Wanderers signed him. He made his first-team debut as a substitute in a 2022/23 EFL Trophy match against Peterborough United. A loan spell at non-league Hungerford Town followed for the latter half of last season.
Christie Ward has now returned to Wycombe, poised to continue his formative career in the EFL. While he may not see much action initially, Wycombe is only listed at odds of 80/1 to win League One according to the latest betting sites in the UK. As such, Ward will likely have more time to make an impact in the division.
George Barker began his professional journey at Brighton & Hove Albion in 2010. He earned his first pro contract after two years in The Seagulls’ academy and made four appearances for the EFL Championship club from 2012 to 2014. After various loan spells, Barker moved to the EFL League One with Swindon Town but faced challenges, leading to his release in 2014/15.
Since then, Barker has had six semi-professional stints. The most recent included a brief spell with present Wessex League Premier Division leaders Moneyfields FC. It is at the Portsmouth-based club’s current title rivals AFC Portchester that Barker now plies his trade. Since 2021, the gritty forward has featured in 50 games and netted 18 times for The Royals.
At 32, George Barker seems to have found his footballing home. With his help, second-placed AFC Portchester may yet reach the pinnacle of the Wessex League this season.
