Dorset Premier Football League

Last updated

Dorset Premier League
Dpfl.jpg
Founded1957
CountryEngland
Divisions1
Number of clubs16
Level on pyramid Level 11
Promotion to Wessex League Division One
Western League Division One
South West Peninsula League Division One
Relegation to Dorset Football League
Current championsBournemouth Sports
(2024–25)
Website Dorset Premier League

The Dorset Premier Football League is a football league based in Dorset, England, which sits at Step 7 of the National League System, or level 11 of the overall English football league system.

Contents

History

The league was formed in 1957 under the name Dorset Football Combination League when a number of senior clubs within the county became disillusioned at being dictated to by junior and minor clubs.

The objective of the league on its formation was to increase the standard of football and competition throughout Dorset and neighbouring counties, an ideal that still holds today.

In 1991 the Dorset Football Combination League accepted an invitation to become a feeder to the Wessex League, thus giving its member clubs the opportunity to progress through the National League System. The league has now been placed at the Regional Feeder League level of the National League System, standing parallel to the Hampshire Premier League. Clubs promoting from the DPL usually join the 2nd level of the Wessex League. However, the conclusion of the 2005–06 season saw Sherborne Town move to the Western League Division One. Bridport, who maintain a reserve team in the DPL, also play in the Western League. The bottom club may be relegated to the Dorset Senior League, which is a level 12 league of the English football pyramid.

The 2002–03 season saw the League change its name to the Dorset Premier Football League. It was felt that this more reflected the League's status. In 2010 the League was awarded the FA Charter Standard status, only the third league in the FA’s jurisdiction to be so awarded. [1]

Recent champions

SeasonChampions
1998–99 Portland United
1999–2000 Portland United
2000–01 Hamworthy Recreation
2001–02 Hamworthy Recreation
2002–03 Hamworthy United
2003–04 Hamworthy United
2004–05 Hamworthy Recreation
2005–06Holt United
2006–07 Westland Sports
2007–08 Portland United
2008–09 Portland United
2009–10 Hamworthy Recreation
2010–11 Hamworthy Recreation
2011–12 Westland Sports
2012–13 Portland United
2013–14 Portland United
2014–15 Hamworthy Recreation
2015–16 Shaftesbury Town
2016–17Holt United
2017–18 Hamworthy Recreation
2018–19 Hamworthy Recreation
2019–20No Competition as a result of COVID-19 pandemic
2020–21No Competition as a result of COVID-19 pandemic
2021–22 Hamworthy Recreation
2022–23Holt United
2023–24 Sturminster Newton United
2024–25Bournemouth Sports

Member clubs (2024–25)

Locations 2024–25

Dorset UK location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Balti Sports
Red pog.svg
Blandford United
Red pog.svg
Bournemouth Electric
Red pog.svg
Bournemouth Sports
Red pog.svg
Bridport Reserves
Red pog.svg
Dorchester Sports
Red pog.svg
Hamworthy Recreation Reserves
Red pog.svg
Hamworthy United Reserves
Red pog.svg
Holt United
Red pog.svg
Cobham Sports
Red pog.svg
Poole Borough
Red pog.svg
Portland United Reserves
Red pog.svg
Sherborne Town Reserves
Red pog.svg
Swanage Town & Herston
Red pog.svg
Westland Sports
Red pog.svg
Wimborne Town Reserves
Dorset Premier Football League (Dorset)

References

  1. History of the Dorset Premier League Archived 12 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine Official League Website