Can any Portsmouth area club enjoy a long run on the road to Wembley in this season’s FA Vase?

But AFC Portchester have two such names in their ranks as they prepare to start this season’s campaign against Bemerton Heath Harlequins.

Striker Lee Wort and defender Pete Castle were part of the Sholing side that won the Vase in 2013/14 - the third and last Wessex League team to do so.

Among their team-mates were Mike Carter and Lewis Fennemore, still playing at Gosport Borough and Moneyfields respectively.

Wort scored six goals on the Boatmen’s road to the final, including winners against Larkhall and Wisbech in the fifth and sixth rounds.

In the final Sholing defeated West Auckland 1-0 with a goal from Marvin McLean.

Wort was also part of the Sholing side that reached the quarter-finals of the Vase in 2017/18.

His memories are less fond of that campaign's finale - he was sent off in the first half of Sholing’s 3-1 quarter-final loss at Northwich.

Wimborne Town and Winchester City are the only other Wessex League clubs to have won the Vase since the league was formed in 1986.

Wimborne, managed by Alex Pike with ex-Pompey winger Nick Jennings as his assistant, defeated Guiseley 5-3 at Wembley in 1991/92 while Winchester beat AFC Sudbury 2-0 at Birmingham’s St Andrews stadium in 2003/04.

Andy Forbes, who later played for Gosport Borough, struck his 76th league and cup goal of the season for City against Sudbury.

AFC Totton – including current AFC Portchester midfielder Mike Gosney – reached the 2006/07 final only to lose 3-1 to lower division Truro City.

Bashley, who visit Baffins this weekend, were the first Wessex side to reach the semi-final stage in 1987/88, losing to Emley.

Poole Town were beaten semi-finalists in 2010/11, but no Portsmouth area club has ever progressed beyond the quarter-finals.

During the club’s Wessex League days, Gosport Borough reached the last eight in 2003/04 - losing 3-0 at Devonians Bideford. Earlier, in 1976/77, they defeated Havant Town en route to losing in a quarter final replay to Barton Rovers.

Havant Town also reached the last eight, in 1985/86, before crashing 5-1 at home to Wisbech.

The 2003/04 season saw three Wessex clubs in the last eight - with Andover thrashed 5-1 at Winchester.

Leading the Andover attack that season was Justin Bennett, who will be part of the Bemerton side aiming for a first qualifying round Vase upset at The Crest Finance Stadium this weekend.

None of our area’s current five Wessex League clubs have ever progressed beyond the fourth round.

That was the stage Baffins reached in only their second Vase campaign in 2018/19.

Fareham have entered the Vase every season since 1998/99, but have never progressed beyond the third round. They have twice reached that stage, in 2003/04 and 2004/05.

Horndean reached the third round in 2012/13 and 2017/18, losing to fellow Wessex League clubs Bemerton (0-5) and Hamble Club (1-2) respectively.

The best Portchester have managed in ten seasons is two third round appearances - in 2014/15 and 2015/16. They were rewarded with home draws in both seasons but lost to Blackfield & Langley and Tunbridge respectively.

US Portsmouth, meanwhile, have only reached the first round three times in 16 seasons, and only once - in 2014/15 - have they reached the second. On that occasion they were beaten 3-1 at home by Portchester.

There could well be a repeat of that tie next month as US Portsmouth host the winners of the AFC Portchester v Bemerton tie on October 20.

Fareham will host either Wessex rivals Shaftesbury or Badshot Lea in the second qualifying round, while Horndean welcome either East Cowes Victoria or Westbury.

Baffins, if they beat Bashley, will visit Aldershot-based Ash United.