‘Portchester deserve the title of champions-elect’ – Horndean boss Birmingham ahead of mouthwatering midweek Wessex League clash

And the former Royals youth coach also believes his former club are capable of going the entire Wessex Premier campaign unbeaten.

Only once in the Wessex League’s 36-year history has a club been able to claim ‘invincible’ status.

That was the now defunct AFC Lymington in 1996/97, where they won 35 and drew five of their 40 games to win the title by 25 points from Wimborne Town.

Sholing only lost once en route to running away with the Wessex title in 2018/19, and Hamworthy also suffered just one defeat last season.

Further back, Poole Town won 38 and drew two of their opening 40 league games in 2008/09 - before losing their last two.

Table-topping Portchester enter Tuesday’s game boasting one of only two 100 per cent records in the top 10 tiers of English football.

In a total of 52 divisions, only the Royals and North West Counties League Division 1 outfit Pilkington (10th tier) have unblemished league runs in 2022/23.

An 11th successive triumph at Horndean, who are fourth, will see Portchester equal their Wessex League club winning run, set in their 2011/12 Wessex 1 promotion-winning campaign.

Birmingham said: ‘Portchester deserve the title of champions-elect.

‘We’ve seen some good teams win the title - Winchester, Poole - but Portchester’s squad could be the strongest squad the Wessex League has ever seen.

‘I wouldn’t be surprised if they went all season without being beaten.

‘I have a lot of respect for Dave Carter, Gav Spurway and Brett Poate - they are three good football boys.

‘Dave took Moneyfields up (from the Wessex) and he could be the man to realise (Royals chairman) Paul Kelly’s dream (of promotion to the Southern League).

Birmingham could be playing a spot of mind games ahead of Tuesday’s fixture, and he knows Horndean will obviously provide ultra-stiff competition after winning their last six Wessex fixtures.

Incredibly, they currently hold an English football record themselves.

In the top 10 tiers, no club in the 52 divisions have conceded fewer league goals than the Deans.

Keeper Cameron Scott, a former Portchester regular, has only let in three in nine games - and none in his side’s four home league games to date.

The next best defensive record in the top 10 tiers belongs to Loughborough Students, who have only conceded four in 13 United Counties League fixtures.

In terms of goals conceded per minutes played, the students have the best record - a goal conceded every 292.5 minutes compared to Horndean’s 270.

A big question for Tuesday will be this: Can the Deans keep Brett Pitman, the leading goalscorer in the Wessex League Premier, quiet?

Pitman’s double against Phoenix took his seasonal tally to 18 from 14 starts plus one as a sub. And he has netted in nine of the Royals’ 10 league victories.

Horndean reported no big injury concerns after their weekend FA Vase loss to Bexhill United, with striker Connor Duffin still sidelined with a knee injury.

Portchester saw Ashton Leigh stretchered off with a knee injury against Phoenix, but the utility player could still be available to face the Deans.

Historically, Birmingham has a good record against the Royals. Since taking over at Five Heads Park, he has won six of his 10 Wessex fixtures against Portchester.

The Royals have won three times with just one draw - and that was the last encounter, a 0-0 draw at Five Heads last season when Portchester had Steve Ramsey sent off inside the opening five minutes.