Bristol Premier Combination April 17th 2026 edition
By Simon Parkinson
OLD Sodbury have been flooded with well-wishes as they look forward to competing in the Bristol Premier Combination top flight next season for the first time in their 100 year-plus history.
The club have bounced back from the brink of extinction late last year due to financial pressures by winning Division One of a Combination league they were only promoted into from Bristol and District League in spring 2023, following a meteoric rise via a succession of quickfire promotions.
Despite those serious difficulties, the cash-strapped club’s progress has continued unabated. An Archie Williams double, and efforts by Adam Blue and Ben Jones, propelled them to a 4-0 weekend home win over Pucklechurch Sports to cement their status as 2025-26 champions with two fixtures to play.
Remarkably, unstoppable Old Sodbury were crowned kings of the Combination second section by not only winning all eight of their games since suffering a rare 2-1 loss at home to AEK-Boco Reserves in mid-February, but scoring 36 times and conceding only one goal, in a 5-1 away mauling of Lion later that month, in the act.
It’s a run Old Sodbury’s slickers hope to extend with no pressure against visiting Oldland Abbotonians Reserves on Saturday (2pm), before wrapping up their successful campaign, at home once more, to AFC Mangotsfield a week on.
Pitching in with congratulatory social media comments, Paul Henderson stated: “Well done lads; fantastic season, while Lee Rendall wrote: “Well done; class season.”
Liam Jones joked: “Class lads; very impressive. Even ‘gaff’ is happy for once!”
Louise Burnell offered: “Well done to you all,” as Terry Leslie remarked: “A massive well done to all at Old Sodbury FC, including the backroom staff. Now time to really enjoy with some liquid refreshment.”
Whilst the fight for second spot and promotion positions continues this Saturday with AEK-Boco Reserves travelling to take on AFC Mangotsfield (12.45pm), and Bedminster Down visiting Lion at Little Stoke Park (2pm), others too will be hoping to finish their seasons with a flourish over the next week or so.
Bedminster Down did their hopes of securing that runner-up status a boost with Saturday’s 5-2 Teyfant Road victory over a bottom-placed Hanham Athletic Reserves side they were due to face again at Vicarage Road on Wednesday evening this week.
Hambrook & Brimsham United’s chances of a decent fifth-place finish were enhanced by Tiago Mateus, Joshua Cook and Jordan Lawrence goals in a 3-0 Moorend Road victory over Oldland Abbotonians Reserves.
Hambrook & Brimsham now seek more of the same at home against Pucklechurch Sports on Saturday (2pm).
AFC Mangotsfield, 2-0 weekend Cossham Street winners over Lion, ARE in fifth position as it stands and hope to nail that berth at the very least with games in hand, starting on Thursday evening this week at Oldland Abbotonians Reserves before focusing on Saturday’s home bout with Boco..
Fourth-placed Chipping Sodbury Town Reserves have four games left to try and swipe third spot from AEK-Boco Reserves, starting with Tuesday’s trip to Boco themselves.
Meantime, Iron Acton gave themselves another major shot in the arm when it came to their title and promotion prospects in the Premier Division.
The league leaders, who were due to twice play second-spot Hallen Reserves this week for crunch fixtures at Moorhouse Lane on Wednesday evening and again this Saturday at Rangeworthy Rec (2pm), had Joe Hillard and Brandon Oputeri strikes to thank in a 2-0 home success over Nicholas Wanderers.
Disappointed DRG Frenchay effectively now find themselves in a race with Hallen for second place after going down to James Mainstone and Liam Sheppard goals in a 2-1 home defeat to Winterbourne United, Sam Haggett DRG’s marksman.
DRG were due to entertain Nicholas Wanderers on Tuesday evening this week before focusing on Saturday’s test at Patchway Town (2pm).
Hallen’s hopes of yet being crowned champions were dealt a severe setback as they were held to a goalless away draw by fourth-placed Olveston United.
Relegation-threatened Patchway were at the centre of an exciting contest on Saturday, as they, with Thomas Butt (2) and Tasman Rook on target, fought out a 3-3 draw with Shaftesbury Crusade.
Elsewhere in the top flight at the weekend, Longwell Green Sports Reserves were indebted to Rowan Smith and Troy Randall goals in a 2-1 away victory over Shirehampton Reserves, whose Sohibou Cassama registered.
Charlie Moss and Sam Garrod netted for Thornbury Town Reserves and Greyfriars Athletic respectively at Mundy Fields in a hard-fought 1-1 draw.