Sturminster Newton United F.C.

Sturminster Newton United

Full name	Sturminster Newton United Football Club
Nickname(s)	The Cherries
Founded	1871 (as Panthers)
Ground	Barnetts Field, Sturminster Newton
Capacity	600
Manager	Nick Squires
League	Western League Division One
2023–24	Dorset Premier League, 1st of 16 (promoted)
Home colours Away colours

Sturminster Newton United Football Club is a football club based in Sturminster Newton, Dorset, England, currently playing in the Western League Division One. The club is affiliated to the Dorset County Football Association and is a FA Charter Standard Community Club. ^[1] Currently have 9 youth teams ranging from under 8s to under 16s,playing in the Dorset mini soccer league and Dorset youth league.

History

In 1874 the club, which was then known as Panthers FC, and based in Blandford Forum, playing in brown and yellow hoops, ^[2] became the first ever club from the West Country to participate in the FA Cup, ^[3] reaching the second round on three occasions. ^[4] In 1877–78, they played the legendary Wanderers in the first round, but lost 9–1. ^[5] In the 1890s, their name was changed to Sturminster St Marys, with the current name adopted in 1945. ^[6]

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. ^[7] 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. ^{[7] [8]} They moved from a public recreation ground to their own stadium at Honeymead Lane in 1996.

In 2011–12 under manager ,^{[ clarification needed ]} 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. ^{[9] [10]}

They are currently being managed by Nick Squires.

They also managed promotion to the sixth step for the first time in their history with a win on 4 May 2024 with one game left

Ground

Sturminster Newton United play their games at the Marco Nott Arena, Honeymead Lane. 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 club moved to this ground in 1996.

Club honours

• Dorset League Division One: ^[6]
  • Winners: 1971–72
• Dorset Senior Trophy: ^[9]
  • Winners: 2011–12
• Dorset Combination League Cup: ^[8]
  • Winners: 1980–81, 1995–96
• Dorset Senior Amateur Cup: ^[6]
  • Runners-up: 1961–62
• Dorset Junior Cup: ^[6]
  • Runners-up: 1910–11
• Mark Frowd Memorial Cup winners 2016
• 23/24 Dorset Premier League Winners: ^[6]

Club records

• Best league performance: 1st in Dorset Combination, 2023/24
• Best FA Cup performance: Second Round, 1875–76, 1876–77, 1878–79 (as Panthers) – no modern participation
• Best FA Vase performance: First round, 2024–25
• Highest attendance: ^[6] 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.

• Ken Wookey
• David Paixao

References

1. "Dorset CS Clubs". DorsetFA. Archived from the original on 5 October 2013. Retrieved 17 December 2012.
2. Charles Alcock's Football Annual 1877
3. History page of the Dorset FA website
4. Panthers at the Football Club History Database
5. Football Club History Database record of the 1877/78 FA Cup
6. Club History Archived 17 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine Sturminster Newton United F.C.
7. Sturminster Newton at the Football Club History Database
8. Sturminster Newton United Archived 23 December 2012 at archive.today Magna Dorset Premier Football League
9. Sturminster Newton United FC looking for new players This is Dorset
10. Dorset Senior Trophy Winners! ^{[ permanent dead link ]} Sturminster Newton United F.C.

External links

50°56′09″N2°18′05″W / 50.93583°N 2.30139°W / 50.93583; -2.30139