The Hampshire League 2004 was an English football league comprising teams located in Hampshire. It was formed in 2004, ran for nine seasons and served as a feeder league to Step 7 of the National League System. It was an unofficial continuation of the original Hampshire League which had controversially been disbanded earlier the same year.
History
The competition was originally formed in June 2004https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/5567954.all-systems-go-as-new-hampshire-league-earns-a-reprieve/ following the expansion of the Wessex League, as not all the clubs from the recently disbanded Hampshire League were able to meet the stricter ground criteria and so re-formed a new successor competition. Other clubs from local leagues, plus the reserve teams of some of the newly elected Wessex League clubs, brought the founding complement up to 16 teams, although one failed to see through the inaugural season. Sporting BTC and Upham were the first league and cup winners, whilst externally Lyndhurst brought some extra credibility when they won the Southampton Senior Cup.A Century of Southampton Local Soccer 1908-2008 by John Moody
The following three seasons were dominated by Mottisfont, who won three successive titles (the first two unbeaten!) as well as winning the 2005–06 League Cup. That season they were also beaten finalists in the Southampton Senior Cup. Southampton Senior Cup – The Finals 1909-2022 by Gary Day
The 2007–08 season saw the formation of the Hampshire Premier League,https://www.hpfl.co.uk/history which accommodated the clubs from the recently disbanded Wessex League Division 2. The Hampshire Football Association then placed the new competition at a higher level in its precedence list, thus making Hampshire League 2004 a feeder League. In May 2008 it was announced that the two county leagues were in talks about merging into a new two tier competition, which it was hoped would officially gain Step 7 status in the National League System. This merger ultimately did not occur, although the HPL was nonetheless awarded Step 7 feeder status.
Netley Central Sports won consecutive doubles in 2008–09 and 2009–10, but after this the league became a more even playing field with three different sides clinching the title. A decline in numbers saw the League operating with just ten teams in the 2012–13 season, of which only three founder members (Broughton, Durley and Michelmersh & Timsbury) remained. In June 2013 the competition was dissolved with its remaining member clubs being invited to join the newly created Division One of the Hampshire Premier League.
Roll of Honour SeasonChampionsCup WinnersParticipants2004–05Sporting BTCUpham162005–06MottisfontMottisfont172006–07MottisfontSporting BTC162007–08MottisfontDenmead & Purbrook152008–09Netley Central SportsNetley Central Sports152009–10Netley Central SportsNetley Central Sports 142010–11Hedge End RangersUS Portsmouth Reserves172011–12DurleyUpham132012–13LyndhurstUpham10
A to Z of clubs LetterClubAAcademicals (Southampton University)Andover Lions (formerly Andover Reserves)BBotley Village Broughton BTC Southampton CCrusaders DDurley EEast LodgeFFair Oak Forest Town Four MarksH Hamble Club ReservesHedge End RangersHorndean United (formerly Denmead & Purbrook) Hythe & Dibden ReservesIInfinityL Ludgershall SportsLudwig Leisure BasingstokeLyndhurstMMichelmersh & Timsbury (formerly M&T Awbridge)MottisfontNNetley Central SportsQQK Southampton ReservesSSporting BTC Stockbridge ReservesTTwyford UUS Portsmouth Reserves UphamVVernham DeanWWarsash Wasps Wellow Winchester Castle (formerly Winchester City 'A') AFC Wolversdene Irons (formerly Andover New Street 'A')
References
External links Hampshire League 2004 at the FCHD Final Tables Hampshire Premier League