AFC Stoneham is preparing for its inaugural campaign at Step 4 of the English football pyramid after a historic 2025-26 season that saw the club secure an unprecedented quadruple of trophies. The Eastleigh-based side captured the FA Vase, the Wessex League Premier Division title, the Russell Cotes Cup, and the Southampton Senior Cup, marking a milestone in the club’s history.
Long-serving chairman Mark Stupple expressed both pride in the team’s achievements and a pragmatic outlook for the challenges ahead. “Last season was one that will never be repeated,” Stupple said. “The stars aligned and we had an unbelievable season. I can’t express how fantastic Wembley was and it will bond that group forever, but we have to close the door on that now and begin a new chapter which will bring fresh challenges.”
AFC Stoneham will compete in the Isthmian League South Central Division in the coming season. Stupple, 64, emphasized a cautious approach, focusing on steady progress rather than lofty predictions. “Our model is based on small steps at a time. We have set sensible goals which we will probably review at Christmas,” he said. “I would rather not put a number on that but, like most teams, we want to get a foothold in the division, get a feel for it. Up to seventh being in the play-offs is an interesting figure.”
The club’s season opens with FA Cup and FA Trophy fixtures, facing East Cowes Victoria away on August 8 and Barnstaple Town at home on August 15, before embarking on their league campaign with a trip to local rivals Winchester City on August 18.
Stupple reflected on the club’s remarkable ascent over the past decade. When he took over as chairman twelve years ago, AFC Stoneham was competing in the Hampshire Premier League at Step 7. “To be going in at Step 4 now against clubs like Winchester, Bognor Regis, Dorchester and Weymouth is unbelievable,” Stupple noted. “If you’d have said that when we were in the Hampshire League, people would have laughed.”
Under Stupple’s leadership, the club has expanded rapidly, growing from nine teams to 160 and developing the Stoneham Football Complex to support this growth. He manages the entire club as a volunteer, overseeing all teams. “The first team are the flagship, but my responsibility is every team,” he said. “I run the whole lot as a volunteer. At 55, I was fortunate enough to be able to stop work—though since then I have never worked so hard!”
On the field, manager James Phillips has played a key role in AFC Stoneham’s recent success. Stupple credited Phillips for assembling a strong squad, noting that nearly all players from the title-winning season have been retained, with five new signings added. “It was quite an easy sell,” he said, highlighting the club’s ambition and positive momentum heading into a new era.