CITY rivals Bemerton Heath Harlequins and Salisbury FC could line up on Boxing Day and the Easter weekend in two mouth-watering derbies which will headline the Wessex Premier Division season.

The two dates are the stand-out fixtures in the new league campaign which will kick-off on Friday, August 7 with Bemerton travelling to Folland Sports.

Speaking to JournalSport moments before the fixtures were announced, Harlequins manager Graham Kemp described them as games which his players will find “easy to get up for”.

He also described his frustration that the Whites had been allowed back in at the Wessex Premier level, saying they had “gone past go and collected £200”.

“Salisbury are not going to have an easy ride this season because everybody is going to love going there and playing football in front of 500 or 600 fans,” Kemp said.

“Then they have to go to Horndean and places like that on a Tuesday night in January with a force ten gale blowing down your neck. I don’t think it is something Steve Claridge has experienced before.

“It will be very, very interesting to see if Salisbury come third in the league. I don’t think they will find it easy.”

Kemp is currently in the process of revamping his squad after the departures of striker Scott Joyce to free-spending Blackfield and Langley and long-time player Jack Eaves.

The new-look forward line will see Jack Lovell, who played under Kemp at Christchurch, alongside Russell Cook who signed from Hamworthy United.

Joining them at Western Way is former Fawley AFC goalkeeper Joe Prodomo and another player who has worked with Kemp – exWinchester City man Karl Yelland.

“I am pleased with the signings and I think we will have a good squad,” Kemp continued. “And it is also encouraging to see some local players [in the squad].

“There was always that chance [of losing Joyce], I signed Russell before he left because I had that feeling that someone might come calling so that is the way it goes.

“My conversation lasted 15 minutes with Joyce once he knew that Blackfield were interested. In football you move on as soon as you put the phone down.

“But with Jack Lovell and Russell Cook I am confident, we have got more than enough goals to cover the loss of Scott.”

The Whites begin their Wessex campaign on Saturday, August 8 away to Brockenhurst whilst the first league game back at the Ray Mac will be on Tuesday, August 11 against Whitchurch United. 

  • The final dates for the Salisbury and Bemerton fixtures are to be confirmed as both clubs have to come to an agreement to move the fixture forward from Tuesday, December 29 to Boxing Day.