| Full name | Bournemouth Gasworks Athletic Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Gasmen, The Lights | ||
| Founded | 1899 | ||
| Dissolved | 1972 | ||
| Ground | Alder Road, Branksome, Poole | ||
Bournemouth Gasworks Athletic F.C. was an English amateur football club from Poole, Dorset, who were successful in both county and national competitions until they became defunct in 1972.
Founded in 1899 as the Bournemouth Gas & Water Co works side [1] and joined the Hampshire League West Division in 1904. In 1921 Bournemouth Gasworks were placed in the County Division (later to become Division 1) and this marked the start of a very successful period for 'the Lights' as they were crowned champions in 1922–23. The club added the Athletic suffix to their name at this time. [2]
The early thirties saw the side record some fine runs in the FA Amateur Cup, [3] most notably in 1929–30 when they reached the final, which was played at West Ham United's Upton Park stadium where a crowd of 21,800 saw them hold Ilford 1–1 at the break before they eventually lost by a 1–5 scoreline. [4] In 1932–33 they reached the Semi-Finals but were narrowly beaten 1–2 by Stockton. [5]
The Gasworks moved to a new ground at Alder Road and remained a strong force in county football. They were county league champions a further four times during the thirties with the reserve side also winning the Division 2 title. [6]
The post war era saw Bournemouth Gasworks remain a prominent force in the Hampshire League and cup competitions. Three times they reached the FA Cup third qualifying round [7] and twice they won the Hampshire Senior Cup. In 1956–57 the Gasworks were relegated after finishing bottom and after a mid-table finish in Division 2, the club left to play in local Dorset football. They would go on to win the Dorset League nine times, as well as winning the Dorset Senior Cup ten times and the Dorset Amateur Cup nine times.
Through circumstances beyond their control, the loss of their magnificent Alder Road home ground in 1966 saw a decline in fortunes. [8] . Now playing at Branksome Rec, they struggled on until folding in 1972. [9]
The final curtain came down in March 1973 the Club staged a formal Farewell Dinner to commemorate the end of an illustrious history. The event was well attended with a number of legends from the 1930 FA Amateur Cup final team in attendance. [10]
| Season | Division | Position | Significant events |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1904/05 | West Division | 5/9 | |
| 1905/06 | West Division | 7/7 | |
| 1906/07 | West Division | 2/7 | Runners-up |
| 1907/08 | West Division | 7/8 | |
| 1908/09 | West Division | 3/7 | |
| 1909/10 | West Division | 2/7 | Runners-up |
| 1910/11 | West Division | 2/7 | Runners-up |
| 1911/12 | West Division | 3/8 | |
| 1912/13 | West Division | 2/8 | Runners-up |
| 1913/14 | West Division | 2/9 | Runners-up |
| 1914–19 | |||
| 1919/20 | West Division | 6/8 | |
| 1920/21 | West Division | 4/10 | Promoted |
| 1921/22 | County Division | 7/16 | |
| 1922/23 | County Division | 1/17 | Champions, promoted |
| 1923/24 | County Division | 7/16 | |
| 1924/25 | County Division | 8/16 | |
| 1925/26 | County Division | 7/16 | |
| 1926/27 | County Division | 6/16 | |
| 1927/28 | County Division | 4/16 | Re-organisation |
| 1928/29 | South Division | 4/13 | Re-organisation |
| 1929/30 | Division 1 | 5/16 | |
| 1930/31 | Division 1 | 5/16 | |
| 1931/32 | Division 1 | 1/16 | Champions |
| 1932/33 | Division 1 | 3/15 | |
| 1933/34 | Division 1 | 3/16 | |
| 1934/35 | Division 1 | 1/16 | Champions (Reserves runners-up in Division 2) |
| 1935/36 | Division 1 | 1/16 | Champions (Reserves champions of Division 2) |
| 1936/37 | Division 1 | 2/16 | Runners-up |
| 1937/38 | Division 1 | 1/16 | Champions |
| 1938/39 | Division 1 | 3/16 | |
| 1939–45 | |||
| 1945/46 | Division 1 | 7/16 | |
| 1946/47 | Division 1 | 5/14 | (Reserves champions of Division 3) |
| 1947/48 | Division 1 | 6/14 | |
| 1948/49 | Division 1 | 2/14 | Runners-up |
| 1949/50 | Division 1 | 6/14 | |
| 1950/51 | Division 1 | 7/14 | |
| 1951/52 | Division 1 | 7/14 | |
| 1952/53 | Division 1 | 3/14 | |
| 1953/54 | Division 1 | 3/14 | |
| 1954/55 | Division 1 | 12/14 | |
| 1955/56 | Division 1 | 12/14 | |
| 1956/57 | Division 1 | 14/14 | Relegated |
| 1957/58 | Division 2 | 6/16 | Left competition |
| Season | Round | Opponents | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1909/10 | Preliminary Round | H v Boscombe | D 0-0 |
| Replay | A v Boscombe | L 1-2 | |
| 1946/47 | 1st Qualifying Round | A v Newport | W 1-0 |
| 2nd Qualifying Round | A v R.A.O.C. Hilsea | D 2-2 | |
| Replay | H v R.A.O.C. Hilsea | W 6-2 | |
| 3rd Qualifying Round | A v Poole Town | L 2-3 | |
| 1947/48 | Preliminary Round | H v Portland United | W 4-0 |
| 1st Qualifying Round | H v Gosport Borough | L 0-3 | |
| 1948/49 | Preliminary Round | A v Gosport Borough | W 1-0 |
| 1st Qualifying Round | A v East Cowes Victoria | L 1-3 | |
| 1949/50 | Extra-Preliminary Round | A Bournemouth | L 0-1 |
| 1950/51 | Extra-Preliminary Round | H v Shaftesbury | L 1-2 |
| 1951/52 | 1st Qualifying Round | A v Bridport | D 2-2 |
| Replay | H v Bridport | L 1-3 | |
| 2nd Qualifying Round | H v Portland United | L 1-3 | |
| 1952/53 | 1st Quantifying Round | H v Poole Town | W 3-1 |
| 2nd Qualifying Round | H v Portland United | W 5-1 | |
| 3rd Qualifying Round | A v Dorchester Town | L 1-2 | |
| 1953/54 | 1st Quantifying Round | H v Bridport | W 8-0 |
| 2nd Qualifying Round | A v Ilminster Town | W 4-0 | |
| 3rd Qualifying Round | A v Portland United | L 1-4 | |
| 1954/55 | 2nd Quantifying Round | A v Dorchester Town | L 0-4 |
| 1955/56 | 1st Qualifying Round | A v Cowes | L 1-4 |
| 1956/57 | 2nd Qualifying Round | A v Andover | L 2-3 |
| Season | Round | Opponents | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1911/12 | Round 3 | H v Dulwich Hamlet | L 0-1 |
| 1919/20 | Round 3 | H v Oxford City | L 0-1 |
| 1928/29 | unknown | ||
| 1929/30 | Round 3 | H v Barnet | W 3-1 |
| Round 4 | H v Percy Main Amatuers | W 2-0 | |
| Semi-Final | N v Wimbledon | W 2-0 | |
| Final | N v Ilford | L 1-5 | |
| 1930/31 | unknown | ||
| 1931/32 | Round 3 | A v Leyton | L 0-3 |
| 1932/33 | Round 3 | A v Guiseley | W 2-1 |
| Round 4 | A v Erith & Belvedere | W 2-0 | |
| Semi-Final | N v Stockton | L 1-2 | |
| 1933/34 | Round 3 | H v Casuals | L 1-5 |
| 1934/35 | unknown | ||
| 1935/36 | unknown | ||
| 1936/37 | Round 3 | A v Bromley | L 0-4 |
Bournemouth Gasworks played at Alder Road - directly opposite Branksome Recreation Ground in Poole. Opened in 1932, the venue was enclosed, with a large stand and is now covered by housing. [11] The record attendance was in October 1946 when over 1,000 watched the narrow 2-3 defeat by neighbours Poole Town in the FA Cup 3rd qualifying round. [12]
The club had many fine players during their existence, including Dennis Bushby, [13] , Peter Gledstone [14] and Derek Reeves [15] who all started at the Gasworks before enjoying successful professional careers with Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic and Southampton.
There are many clubs within the Bournemouth and Poole area that Gasworks enjoyed a healthy rivalry with during their long existence.
Initially, in the Hampshire League these included Boscombe, [16] Bournemouth "Poppies", Poole Town, Christchurch and, until their demise, Pokesdown Old Boys and Bournemouth Transport. [17]
After moving to Dorset football, the main local rivals were then regarded as Hamworthy United, Hamworthy Engineering, Parley Sports and Longfleet St Marys. [18]
