Eastleigh’s Mayor cheers on AFC Stoneham in this weekend’s Wembley final
AFC Stoneham in the final of the FA Vase for the first time in their history
The Mayor of Eastleigh is cheering on a Borough non-league football club who have made it to the final of the FA Vase for the first time in their history.
Councillor Janice Asman is sending a good luck message to AFC Stoneham – ‘The Purps’ - who travel to Wembley this Sunday (17 May) to face Cockfosters in the Isuzu FA Vase Final.
The club is based at the £9 million Stoneham Lane Football Complex, one of the largest of its kind in the country. It was created with £4 million investment from Eastleigh Borough Council, together with grant funding from the Premier League, the FA and the Government’s Football Foundation. It is operated by the Hampshire Football Association. The site consists of three full-size floodlit 3G all-weather pitches including one stadia pitch, an eight-team changing pavilion, clubroom, café and car parking for 350 cars.
AFC Stoneham is the second largest grassroots community football club in the UK, with 157 teams, 1,700 players and 500 managers and coaches. A report commissioned in 2025 showed the club contributed over £6.5m in social value to the local community. Recent achievements have included winning both the Southampton Senior Cup and the Hampshire Senior Cup.
The Mayor of Eastleigh, Councillor Janice Asman, said: “As a council, we’re committed to supporting grass-roots sport and it is very encouraging to see our facilities nurturing such a high level of excellence that is being achieved by clubs like AFC Stoneham.”
“It’s a real feather in the Borough’s cap to have one of our teams reach a Wembley final, and I’m sure everyone will join me in wishing 'The Purps’ every success this weekend.”