Interlude: New Wessex League Ground for Team Solent

The new sports complex for Solent University on the edge of Southampton.

Of all the posts I've written since I started this blog, the most-viewed has been the one entitled "Interlude: Two New Grounds in Totton" (indeed, anything with "Totton" in the title has proven remarkably popular). However, the two Totton stadia are no longer the newest in Hampshire, as the students of Solent University now have a brand new sports complex near the M271 in Southampton. Newly-promoted Team Solent will be playing there in the near-future. Their first scheduled home Wessex League fixture is next Saturday, October 8th, versus Andover New Street. There is no confirmation yet that the match will be played at the new ground, although looking at it from beyond the boundary last week, it looked as good as complete.

The photo above shows the egg-chasers' pitch of Millbrook Rugby Club in the foreground, with the new complex (which was out of bounds last week due to ongoing building work) just beyond. There's no sign from the outside of any seats or covered standing, although there ought to be if it's to meet Wessex League ground-grading criteria. The changing rooms look big enough, and floodlights can be seen behind them, where the football pitch must be. There are various other sports pitches within the complex, which presumably will get plenty of use from the University's clubs.

*Edit* The first game at the new ground should be on November 19th against US Portsmouth. The match versus Andover New Street will be at Eastleigh.