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Local Football Roundup – 5th October 2024

Elliot Macvie

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Winchester City are through to the next round of the FA Trophy after beating league rivals Swindon Supermarine.

A hat-trick from Tommy Wright and two goals from Ik Hill ensured a convincing 5-2 win for the Citizens, who will travel to Devon to face Tavistock AFC in the first round proper.

Joining them in the next round will be Havant & Waterlooville, Gosport Borough and AFC Totton, who all won their respective ties.

Higher up the leagues, Southampton continued their winless start to the season with a 3-1 defeat away at Arsenal.

The visitors took a shock lead through Cameron Archer, but Arsenal’s quality eventually shone through with goals from Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka.

The loss leaves Saints with just one point from their opening seven games.

Recent results have not been much better down the coast at Portsmouth.

They were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Oxford United on Saturday, meaning they are now the only team in the Championship yet to pick up a win.

There was a goal-fest in the National League involving Aldershot Town; Tommy Widdrington’s side made it seven games without a win after losing 5-2 away at AFC Fylde.

Not the result that the Shots would have wanted ahead their upcoming FA Cup tie against Bath City.

Elsewhere, Eastleigh fell to a 3-1 loss at home to high-flying Forest Green Rovers.

Ex-Scotland international Chris Maguire gave the Spitfires the lead, but three second half goals ensured Forest Green took all the points back to Gloucestershire.

There were better results for our National League South sides over the weekend; play-off chasing Farnborough earned a convincing 2-0 win against Aveley, while Salisbury edged out a 4-3 thriller at bottom side St Albans City.

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Billie Jean King – Battle of the Sexes – 1973

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This is a portrait of Billie Jean King, courtesy of Jonathan Exley - Billie Jean King Enterprises, Inc.

The year was 1973. The lights of the Houston Astrodome glared down on a tennis court that had become more than just a playing field — it was a stage for a cultural revolution.

Cameras flashed, tension buzzed in the air, and two players stepped onto the court — one a confident showman, the other a determined trailblaser carrying the hopes of millions.

As the first serve sliced through the air on that September evening, millions around the world weren’t just watching a tennis match — they were witnessing a fight for equality, respect, and change.

Billie Jean King is a legendary American tennis champion and advocate for gender equality whose career and impact extends far beyond the court.

With 39 Grand Slams titles and a historic victory in 1973, “Battle of the Sexes” match, she not only proved her athletic ability but also challenged stereotypes about women within the world of sport.

As a founder of the Women’s Tennis Association and a leader behind equal prize money, King became a powerful force for fairness and inclusion, later emerging as a voice for LGBTQ+ rights.

Her legacy as both a world class athlete and a fearless activist changed the game for generations to come.

The “Battle of the Sexes” was a famous match, between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs, a former men’s champion who was adamant that men were superior athletes.

The match was played in front of more than 30,000 fans at the Houston Astrodome and watched by roughly 90 million people worldwide, the event was a both a sporting spectacle and a major milestone in the fight for gender equality.

Billie Jean King defeated Riggs in straight sets (6-4, 6-3, 6-3), this proved that women could compete in the highest level which inspired greater respect and opportunities for female athletes around the world.


The event’s impact was immediate. Women’s tennis surged in popularity, drawing new audiences, sponsorships, and media coverage. King used the momentum to push for lasting change.

This helped the US Open to become the first major tournament to offer equal pay. Her win also empowered a new generation of female athletes to come out and code and what was rightfully theirs.

More than five decades later, the Battle of the Sexes remains a cultural milestone.

It symbolised more than just a tennis match, it was a statement about equality, perseverance, and the power of sport to challenge societal norms.


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Ivan Juric leaves Southampton after earliest ever relegation

Lennie Teague

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Ivan Juric has left his role as Southampton first team manager following the club’s relegation on Sunday.

The Croatian joined the Saints on an 18-month deal in December following Russell Martin’s dismissal but lasted just 107 days in charge.

Juric oversaw just two victories in his 16 matches in charge with Sunday’s 3-1 defeat to Tottenham confirming Southampton’s relegation to the Championship.

With seven matches still to play, Saints’ relegation is the earliest in Premier League history, breaking the joint-record set by Derby County and Huddersfield Town in 2007-08 and 2018-19 respectively, who both went down after 32 games.

The club confirmed the process of searching for a new manager is now under way and said: “With relegation to the Championship now confirmed, we believe it is important to give fans, players and staff some clarity on the future as we head into a very important summer.”

First team coach Simon Rusk is set to take charge of the team for the remainder of the season with player Adam Lallana to act as his assistant.

Southampton currently sit on 10 points at the bottom of the league and require a further two points to avoid breaking the record-low set by Derby County, who finished the 2007-08 season with 11 points.

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Autism

Slopes that don’t discriminate at Solent Ski Club

Guy Nicklinson

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Solent ski club has been providing adaptive skiing sessions for people with various disabilities for over 20 years.

Sessions take place on the second Sunday of every month at the Alpine Sports Centre in Southampton.

The club has been a charity since 2017. It is funded by member subscriptions, ski session fees and donations. 

Club Chairman, Peter Ramm said: “The aim of the club is to put a smile on their faces. Ultimately, we take a view that everyone has a disability when they come skiing because they put a plank of wood on their feet.”

Solent Ski Club hope their guidance can provide disabled skiers with more confidence and therefore greater independence and enjoyment when on the slopes.

Peter Ramm said: “The primary driver is safety, it’s about having enough people around them to ensure they can ski safely.”

The club also aims to develop the skiing knowledge and skills of all members.

Qualified ski instructors, trained ski guides and many volunteers are present at all sessions.

Florence Davies, a skier at the club said: “My favourite thing is probably getting to speak to and enjoy laughs with other people that share similar difficulties to me. Getting to know other people and finding my independence.”

Ellie Wheatley, another participant, who is partially deaf due to a condition called CMV which was passed onto her at birth by her mother, said: “It’s good for my confidence, it gives me opportunities to get out and interact with the wider world. There’s no sport where you’re at a height, you’ve fallen over half the time, but you’re still smiling at the end of it.”

Solent Ski Club look forward to January 18th, where they will take a group of their disability skiers on their annual trip to Folgaria in Italy, to enjoy the experience on real snow, in the mountains.

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