21st Century Hampshire Top Twenties: 2006/2007

If you go down to the woods today...you might meet Van Broccoli, Bashley's biggest fan.

2006/07, the season that Rio Ferdinand scored the best own-goal ever at Fratton Park; the season that Pompey missed out on a place in Europe by one disallowed goal in the final match (thanks for incorrectly overruling your lino, Graham "Three Yellow Cards" Poll). Saints lost in the play-offs to Derby County. Bashley broke all previous records for this century in winning the Southern League South & West title (100+ goals and points - only Dorchester Town had scored more in any season since 2000) - their nearest rivals were Fleet Town, and they were a country mile behind in second. Gosport Borough won the Wessex League title and promotion to the Southern League.

And I nearly forgot! AFC Totton reached the FA Vase final at Wembley, where they lost to Truro City in front of a record Vase crowd of 27,000+. I was at the home semi-final leg against Billingham Synthonia, where it looked as though they'd blown their chances with a 2-1 defeat, but they came back to win in the north-east.

On the downside, this was the season that Glen Johnson stole a toilet seat from B&Q; Lymington & New Milton gave up their co-habitation experiment due to local indifference and voluntarily dropped back into the Wessex at season's end, changing their name to New Milton Town on the way; and Farnborough Town were liquidated - they reappeared the following season as plain old Farnborough FC.

Van Broccoli memorising non-league football statistics, in case the subject ever comes up on Mastermind.

Hampshire Top Twenty rankings, 2006/2007:

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

Sad goodbyes to Hamble ASSC and Cove. And a big hearty Hampshire welcome to Horndean and the returning Brockenhurst!

Still reading in the dark. You'll ruin your eyes, Van!