‘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.

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

But for 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 game in hands 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 🤍💙”

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!”