The 2026/27 Wessex League season begins this afternoon, with Cowes, Vics and Newport all starting their new seasons.
Cowes Sports and East Cowes Vics will once again represent the Isle of Wight in the Premier Division, where both will be vying to finish as the Island’s highest-ranked club. Meanwhile, Newport (IOW) begin their Division One campaign hoping to become the third Isle of Wight side to earn promotion to the Wessex Premier Division.
Cowes Sports
Cowes Sports kick off their Wessex Premier Division campaign on Saturday with a tough home clash against Brockenhurst at the Diverse Marine Stadium (Westwood Park).
Manager Mark Woodhouse has retained the backbone of last season’s squad while strengthening key areas with the arrivals of young goalkeeper Alfie Cartmell, 16-year-old Ashton Cox, former Wimborne Town midfielder Adam Biss and midfielder Aedan Coode, who has rejoined the club from East Cowes Vics.
Adam joins from Wimborne Town having previously come through the academies at Portsmouth and Bristol Rovers before spells with Brockenhurst and Bemerton Heath Harlequins. He has also represented the Isle of Wight at the Island Games.
Successful former Shanklin manager Paul Haward has also joined the coaching staff ahead of the new campaign. Jimmy Knight has been promoted to head coach and assistant to Mark Woodhouse.
Gaffer Mark Woodhouse said:
“I am pleased that pre-season is done and dusted. We are pleased with the business we did, but also pleased that we retained a core of excellent lads who had a good season last year.
“Brockenhurst at home is a tough game to start and a team I know will be coming here to play on the front foot.
“The preparation is done. We are all really excited to get going in another year of Wessex Premier League football.”
Pre-season results
- Clanfield 0-5 Cowes Sports
- Cowes Sports 3-2 Newport
- Romsey 3-2 Cowes Sports
- Cowes Sports 0-0 Wick
Opening fixtures
- Sat 1 Aug: Brockenhurst (H) | Wessex Premier Division
- Tue 4 Aug: New Milton Town (H) | Hampshire Senior Cup
- Sat 8 Aug: Hamble Club (H) | FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round
- Sat 15 Aug: Hamble (A) | FA Vase
East Cowes Vics
East Cowes Vics begin another Wessex Premier Division campaign looking to build on a solid first season back at Step 5.
Vics welcome Andover New Street to Beatrice Avenue today before travelling to Fareham Town on Tuesday evening. They are then back on home soil the following weekend to face AFC Stoneham in the FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round.
Vics have reshaped their squad with a blend of experience and youth.
The East Cowes side’s headline signing is former Southampton Academy and Aldershot Town player Gabriel Wall, who is expected to add quality to the squad. The club has also recruited youngsters George Hirons, Connor Mooney, Dylan Wightwick and Kaymen Hazelman.
There is also a familiar face back at Beatrice Avenue, with Ollie West returning from Cowes Sports. Vics have also confirmed key midfielder Jake Wright will remain at the club for the new season.
Much-travelled centre forward Harry Taylor has also rejoined Vics for a third stint at the club after previous spells with Newport (IOW) and Cowes Sports.
Moving in the opposite direction are Aedan Coode, who has joined Cowes Sports, and Jacob Reynolds, who has signed for Newport (IOW).
There has also been a change in the dugout, with Elliot Wheeler joining Alex Smith as joint first team manager ahead of the new season.
Pre-season results
- Stockbridge 0-3 East Cowes Victoria
- Dorchester Town 3-1 East Cowes Victoria
- East Cowes Victoria 1-0 Newport
- East Cowes Victoria 1-1 Infinity
Opening fixtures
- Sat 1 Aug: Andover New Street (H) | Wessex Premier Division
- Sat 8 Aug: AFC Stoneham (H) | FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round
- Tue 11 Aug: Petersfield Town (H) | Wessex Premier Division
- Sat 15 Aug: Bournemouth Poppies (H) | Wessex Premier Division
Newport (IOW)
The Port begin another Wessex Division One campaign on Saturday as they bid to make WightFibre Park a Wessex Premier ground in 2027/28.
Manager Joe Butcher’s side travel to Hamworthy United for their league opener before heading to Ringwood Town in the Hampshire Senior Cup on Tuesday. Port then play their first competitive fixture at WightFibre Park against Colden Common in the FA Vase First Qualifying Round the following Saturday.
Newport have strengthened their side with the signings of W&B winger Kade Woodford, along with returning winger Connor Kelly and combative midfielder Jacob Reynolds from Vics.
There is further encouragement with the return of Harri Catania from injury ahead of the new season. However, captain Maca Watterson will miss the start of the campaign, while defender Neo Lamb faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering an injury during the pre-season friendly against East Cowes Vics.
Asked what would constitute a successful season for Newport, manager Joe Butcher said:
“I’d say the play-offs. There are a few new teams, so you never know if they’re going to be good quality or have big budgets.
“We’ve improved every year I’ve been in charge, so the next step would be the play-offs.”
Pre-season results
- Bishop’s Waltham Dynamos 3-1 Newport
- Cowes Sports 3-2 Newport
- United Services Portsmouth 1-5 Newport
- East Cowes Victoria 1-0 Newport
- Hythe & Dibden 3-1 Newport
- Newport 2-1 W&B (neutral venue)
Opening fixtures
- Sat 1 Aug: Hamworthy United (A) | Wessex Division One
- Tue 4 Aug: Ringwood Town (A) | Hampshire Senior Cup
- Sat 15 Aug: Colden Common (H) | FA Vase First Qualifying Round
