Sturminster Newton United F.C.
| Full name | Sturminster Newton United Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Cherries | ||
| Founded | 1871 (as Panthers) | ||
| Ground | Honeymead Lane Sturminster Newton Dorset | ||
| Capacity | 650 | ||
| Chairman | M. Paixao | ||
| Manager | Stuart Frear | ||
| League | Dorset Football League Senior Division | ||
| 2013–14 | Dorset Football League Senior Division, 10th | ||
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Sturminster Newton United Football Club is a football club based in Sturminster Newton, Dorset, England, currently playing in the Dorset Football League Senior Division. The club is affiliated to the Dorset County Football Association and is a FA Charter Standard Community Club.[1]
History
In 1874 the club, which was then known as Panthers FC, became the first ever club from the West Country to participate in the FA Cup,[2] reaching the second round on three occasions.[3] In 1877–78, they played the legendary Wanderers in the first round, but lost 9–1.[4] In the 1890s, their name was changed to Sturminster St Marys, with the current name adopted in 1945.[5]
They were among the founding members of the Dorset Combination in 1957, having played previously in the Dorset League. After leaving the league due to financial difficulties in 1960, they played in the lower Dorset Senior League until they rejoined the Combination in 1972.[6] They remained in that competition (since 2002 renamed the Dorset Premier League) until 2011 when they were relegated to the Dorset Senior League, during which time they won the Combination cup twice, in 1981 and 1995.[6][7] They moved from a public recreation ground to their own stadium at Honeymead Lane in 1996.
In 2011–12 under manager Gary Head, in his first full season in charge, the club won the Dorset Senior Trophy with a 1–0 win over Parley Sports at Wimborne Town.[8][9]
Ground
Sturminster Newton United play their games at Barnetts Field, Honeymead Lane, Sturminster Newton DT10 1EW. The ground has a clubhouse and bar for Home fans and receives an attendance of around 50 people each week in the 600 capacity stadium. It has a sheltered and open terrace with floodlit pitch. "The cherries" also do training sessions here. Away fans are often sit on the South end of the terrace.
The club moved to this ground in 1996 under Ex-Chairman Ray Clarke.[5]
Club honours
- Dorset League Division One:[5]
- Winners: 1971–72
- Dorset Senior Trophy:[8]
- Winners: 2011–12
- Dorset Combination League Cup:[7]
- Winners: 1980–81, 1995–96
- Dorset Senior Amateur Cup:[5]
- Runners-up: 1961–62
- Dorset Junior Cup:[5]
- Runners-up: 1910–11
Club records
- Best league performance: 4th in Dorset Combination, 1983–84 (NB records prior to 1979 are not available)
- Best FA Cup performance: Second Round, 1875–76, 1876–77, 1878–79 (as Panthers) – no modern participation
- Highest Attendance:[5] 600 vs Weymouth in 1986
Former players
1. Players that have played/managed in the football league or any foreign equivalent to this level (i.e. fully professional league).
2. Players with full international caps.
References
- ^ "Dorset CS Clubs". DorsetFA. Retrieved 2012-12-17.
- ^ History page of the Dorset FA website
- ^ PANTHERS at the Football Club History Database
- ^ Football Club History Database record of the 1877/78 FA Cup
- ^ a b c d e f Club History Sturminster Newton United F.C.
- ^ a b STURMINSTER NEWTON at the Football Club History Database
- ^ a b Sturminster Newton United MAGNA DORSET PREMIER FOOTBALL LEAGUE
- ^ a b Sturminster Newton United FC looking for new players This is Dorset
- ^ Dorset Senior Trophy Winners! Sturminster Newton United F.C.