‘Exciting times’ as football club to ‘make comeback’ 25 years after being lost to merger

There are ‘exciting times’ as a football club is to make comeback 25 years to Waterlooville after being lost to a merger.

Waterlooville AFC is set to return in the 2026/27 season, back by the original Waterlooville FC, the new community club will launch a youth development programme with local schools and aims to climb the pyramid to its former level.

Fans are urged to support via sponsorship, volunteering, and following #uptheville.

And this comes as the merger club Havant & Waterlooville have issued a statement by their chairman with an update amid recent poor results and injury setbacks.

In it, the board pledges full commitment to turn things around, with squad strengthening underway.

For the 2023/24 National League South season, Havant & Waterlooville finished 23rd and were relegated to the 7th tier for the first time since the 2016–17 season.

In 2024/25, they finished 6th in the Southern League – Premier South, just a point from the playoff places, but for the 2025/26 season, they are down in 20th, with 11 points from 12 games played, some games in hand over sides around them, and will be hoping to avoid relegation to the 8th tier for the first time in the merger club’s history.

IT’S ALMOST HERE!👀

Are you ready for the next chapter?…#uptheville pic.twitter.com/HZgkx8jeKg

— Waterlooville AFC (@Waterloovi28741) October 31, 2025

A message from ‘The Ville’ committee pic.twitter.com/sfAHGzSRWq

— Waterlooville AFC (@Waterloovi28741) November 3, 2025

WATERLOOVILLE AFC STATEMENT:

“Welcome to WATERLOOVILLE AFC

“We would like to welcome everyone to their new local community football club where we look to bring back in the 2026/27 season what the town lost almost 25 years ago. With heavy support behind the scenes from our previous and much loved Waterlooville FC we look to bring back over time what was once a huge part of Waterlooville.

“Also within the club we will introduce a youth development section working alongside all schools within the local area from primary to senior schools.

“Please join us in these exciting times as we push forward as a community and bring back the good times! We will push over the coming seasons to get to a level within the pyramid where the great club once belonged so please help to support and get in contact for sponsorship, volunteering and other opportunities.

“Please join us and follow as we build for everyone’s soon to be football fix and enjoyment. #uptheville”

In response to one fan: “I can assure you this has been in the making for a few years now, time to get behind the Ville again!!

“Unsure what league we will enter but we will apply for the level we believe we will be competitive in.

“This will be a Saturday side and we only have interest in progressing 🤍💙”

Waterlooville’s Jubilee Park, seen here in 1976 and 1995, was sold for housing in 1998 following the merger with Havant Town. (Pics Bob Lilliman). It’s one of the 350 lost grounds and stands featured in our book, The Cemetery End. https://t.co/urhrZ2a16b pic.twitter.com/d18RTTmyr2

— Vince Taylor (@Groundtastic) August 23, 2020

𝐂𝐥𝐮𝐛 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧 📜

Havant and Waterlooville Football Club wishes to issue a Club Statement on behalf of the Chairman, Derek Pope.

Read the Statement in full here 👇
🔗: https://t.co/fxSAI9uYru#HWFC #COYH pic.twitter.com/ObubtyaAGq

— Havant & Waterlooville FC (@HWFCOfficial) November 3, 2025

STATEMENT FROM CHAIRMAN OF HAVANT & WATERLOOVILLE:

“We know the last few weeks have been tough, and like all of you, we share the frustration of recent results. As a board, we want to reassure everyone that we are fully committed and we’re working tirelessly to get things back on track and move the club forward together.

“We’re fully committed to immediately strengthening the squad with the right depth and experience required whilst giving the management team every bit of support we can, and we have already made several 7-day approaches for key players and will hopefully have additions to the squad in time for the weekend ahead.

“Injuries to key players have hit us hard, and the lack of depth in certain areas has been clear for everyone to see. We have targets and we’ve already started reviewing how we train and operate to make the club more attractive and accessible for new signings and to give our new and existing players the best possible environment to succeed.

“We must also be sensible with finances as times are challenging for all football clubs at this level but if changes are needed to help us progress, we’re ready and won’t hesitate to make them for the good of the club. That includes a number of improvements both on and off the field as we look to strengthen the club for the long term.

“Your support means everything to us. The noise, the passion, the commitment home and away, it drives the players and reminds us all why this club is so special. We’ll keep working hard behind the scenes, and together we’ll come through this stronger.

“I’d like to also take this opportunity to thank all our vital sponsors who continue to help drive this great club forward. My passion is as strong as ever and we will succeed together.

“Up the Hawks!”

Here’s how fans reacted amid ‘exciting times’ as football club Waterlooville AFC are to ‘make a comeback’ 25 years after being lost to the Havant & Waterlooville merger…

@waloobwgaf: This is awesome 👍 Still got such fond memories from the late 80’s early 90’s of watching Waterlooville at Jubilee Park and going to all the away games with my dad, now I’ll be able to take my kids 😃

@colinh75: I can beat that – childhood memories of Kenny Todd banging in 50 in a season! And falling out with Dover keeper Maurice Munden who was unhappy I’d thrown a meat pie in his goal which hit his water bottle. Happy days….. Good luck with this

@GSDPFC13: Absolutely love this. I used to go in the 90’s with my dad. Can’t wait to hear more about it. Good luck, you have my support. UP THE VILLE

@andyplaysvinyl: This actually makes me quite nostalgic, though being a Paulsgrove boy I went to Jubilee park a few times over 50 years or so ago. Always thought that Ville were the bigger of the two teams that merged.

@PompeyNewsNow: Best of luck! 🙌

@parklifealbion: I really hope this takes off & is a massive success. From one (hopeful) new club to another. All the best lads

@Darryl30804467: Big fan of this.

@SLG_footy: Will you have girls kids teams coming into the mix too? I’m eager to coach a team of girls – maybe a disabled team. I also want to play and coach for a team that understands disability. I have been working towards UEFA C.

@pompeyjones92: Good luck! I remember the waterlooville fc of old. 👍

@morgantp98: Love it ❤️. Waterlooville is getting stronger every day 💪.

@UKFDFC: Absolutely love to see this! What an achievement by all involved, wishing @Waterloovi28741 the best of luck and look forward to welcoming them to the database 📈

@RichBessey85: Love this! Unsure who is behind it but a huge history! Well done all!

@pearce006: I remember having a half term soccer school at jubilee park just before the ground closed. First time I’d stepped foot in a real ground! Really hope this gets off the ground and goes places!

@LostTransport: Last time I watched a game at Jubilee Park, Billy Gilbert and Vince Hilaire were joint managers. Good luck 👍

@terras4ever: All the best. Waterlooville had a lot of history. Sadly lost with the merger. All the best at the start of your journey. ⚽️

@DesmondDarrin: Visited Jubilee Park back in the 90s watching @theterras, great to see the ville on the way back… good luck

@UltiFootNet: @Waterloovi28741 we are 100% behind this! Please get in touch to see how we can help you and this brand new club!.. Waterlooville deserves its club back.