Dorset Premier Football League

Dorset Premier League

Founded	1957
Country	England
Divisions	1
Number of clubs	18
Level on pyramid	Level 11
Promotion to	Wessex League Division One Western League Division One
Relegation to	Dorset Football League
Current champions	Hamworthy Recreation (2018–19)
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.

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.

At present the league is operating with 17 clubs, covering the entire county of Dorset, ranging from Bridport in the west and Swanage in the south plus South Cheriton and Westland Sports from Somerset, and Mere Town from Wiltshire.

Parley Sports have also reached the final of the Combination Cup 21 times, lifting the trophy on 11 occasions, and have also won the league title on 12 occasions as well as finishing in the runners-up place 9 times. On one occasion they won the Combination League 5 times in a row from 1962 to 1966.

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 Step 7 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.

Recent champions

Season	Champions
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
2005–06	Holt 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
2016–17	Holt United
2017–18	Hamworthy Recreation
2018–19	Hamworthy Recreation

Member clubs (2021–22)

• Balti Sports
• Blandford United
• Bournemouth Sports
• Bridport Reserves
• Corfe Castle
• Dorchester Sports
• Hamworthy Recreation
• Hamworthy United Reserves
• Holt United
• Merley Cobham Sports
• Poole Borough
• Portland United Reserves
• Shaftesbury Town Reserves
• Sherborne Town Reserves
• Sturminster Newton United
• Swanage Town & Herston
• Wareham Rangers
• Westland Sports

Locations 2021-22

Balti Sports

Blandford United

Bournemouth Sports

Bridport Reserves

Corfe Castle

Dorchester Sports

Hamworthy Recreation

Hamworthy United Reserves

Holt United

Merley Cobham Sports

Poole Borough

Portland United Reserves

Shaftesbury Town Reserves

Sherborne Town Reserves

Sturminster Newton United

Swanage Town & Herston

Wareham Rangers

Westland Sports

Dorset Premier Football League (Dorset)

External links

• Official Website