21st Century Hampshire Top Twenties: 2007/2008

Looking up from Wembley Way prior to the 2008 FA Cup Final.

Would it be wrong to call this season the best for Hampshire football so far this century? A Saints fan would probably think it was a miserable year, as their club teetered on the edge of the financial precipice, narrowly avoiding relegation to the third tier of English football. Elsewhere, we had fun. Pompey won the FA Cup. Shall I write that again?

I said, Pompey won the FA Cup! The only trophy of any consequence they are ever likely to win in my lifetime was lifted by Sol Campbell after a 1-0 Wembley victory against Cardiff City. Lower down the ladder, Aldershot Town won the Conference, and promotion to the Football League. I'm sure Shots fans would like me to repeat that too...

The newly-formed Farnborough FC won the Southern League South & West at the first attempt, just ahead of neighbours Fleet Town (who reached the 3rd Qualifying Round of the FA Cup for the first time, as well as winning three minor cup competitions). AFC Totton won the Wessex League, which meant that they would be in the Southern League the following season.

Tidying up after the FA Cup Final.

Hampshire Top Twenty rankings, 2007/2008:

1. (1) Portsmouth 1/8
2. (2) Southampton 2/20
3. (3) Aldershot Town 5/1
4. (6) Eastleigh 6/6
5. (4) Havant & Waterlooville 6/7
6. (7) Basingstoke Town 6/15
7. (8) Bashley 7/5
8. (5) Farnborough 8/1
9. (9) Fleet Town 8/2
10. (13) Gosport Borough 8/11
11. (11) Winchester City 8/17
12. (10) Andover 8/19
13. (14) AFC Totton 9/1
14. (15) VT FC 9/2
15. (NE) Cove 9/4
16. (19) Brockenhurst 9/6
17. (16) Moneyfields 9/7
18. (17) Fareham Town 9/8
19. (20) Horndean 9/11
20. (NE) Hayling United 9/12

New entrants Cove and Hayling United both finished higher up the pyramid than at any other time this century (before or since). Dropping out of the all-important twenty were neighbours Lymington Town and Lymington & New Milton - the latter dropping the pretence of having anything to do with the town of Lymington by changing their name to New Milton Town.