Bridport F.C.
Bridport Football Club is a football club based in Bridport, Dorset, England. Affiliated to the Dorset County Football Association, they are currently members of the Western League Premier Division and play at St Mary's Field.
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Full name | Bridport Football Club | ||
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Nickname(s) | The Bees | ||
Founded | 1885 | ||
Ground | St Mary's Field, Bridport | ||
Capacity | 2,000 (180 seated)[1] | ||
Chairman | Adrian Scadding | ||
Manager | Jamie Manley | ||
League | Western League Premier Division | ||
2019–20 | Western League Premier Division (season abandoned) | ||
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History
The club was established on 7 October 1885.[2] In 1896 they became founder members of the Dorset League.[3] However, after finishing bottom of the league in 1897–98 the club left the league.[3] They subsequently returned in 1906–07, but left after finishing bottom again.[3] The club went on to play in the South Dorset and West Dorset leagues, before joining the Perry Street & District League.[2] They were league champions in 1912–13, 1922–23 and 1931–32.
In 1957 Bridport were founder members of the Dorset Combination.[4] They won the League Cup in the league's inaugural season, beating 15th RASC in the final, and retained the trophy the following season, defeating the same opponents.[5] The club were league runners-up in 1959–60, and after finishing as runners-up the following season (also losing in the League Cup final to Dorchester Town reserves),[5] they moved up to the Western League.[4] The club won the league's Challenge Cup in 1970–71 and again in 1972–73.[6] When the Western League gained a second division in 1976, Bridport were placed in the Premier Division.[4] They won the Challenge Cup for a third time in 1977–78.[6]
Midway through the 1983–84 season Bridport resigned from the Western League, with the reserves (playing in the Dorset Combination) becoming the first team.[4] They were Dorset Combination champions in 1985–86, and after retaining the league title and winning the League Cup for the next two seasons,[5] as well as winning the Dorset Senior Cup in 1987–88,[7] the club were promoted to Division One of the Western League. In 1993–94 they were Division One runners-up, earning promotion to the Premier Division.[4] The club were relegated back to Division One at the end of the 2004–05 season, although they did win the Dorset Senior Cup again.[7] They were promoted to the Premier Division in 2010–11 after finishing third in Division One.[4]
Ground
After playing at several different grounds, in 1930 the club moved to Crown Field on West Bay Road.[1] They remained at Crown Field until 1953, when the club relocated to St Mary's Field, bringing with them a 200-seat wooden stand which was placed on one side of the pitch. A covered stand was erected on the other side of the pitch during the 1960s. The wooden stand was later replaced with a new 180-seat stand, with the covered stand also replaced with a more modern structure.[1] A clubhouse known as 'the Beehive' is situated behind one goal.[1]
Floodlights were installed in 1990 and inaugurated with a match against Yeovil Town on 8 August, with Bridport winning 4–3.[1]
Honours
- Western League
- League Cup winners 1970-71, 1972–73, 1977–78
- Dorset Combination
- Champions 1985–86, 1986–87, 1987–88
- League Cup winners 1957–58, 1958–59, 1986–87, 1987–88
- Perry Street & District League
- Champions 1912–13, 1922–23, 1931–32
- Dorset Senior Cup
- Winners 1987–88, 2004–05
Records
- Best FA Cup performance: Third qualifying round, 1957–58, 2017–18[4]
- Best FA Trophy performance: Third qualifying round, 1971–72[4]
- Best FA Vase performance: Fifth round, 1988–89[4]
- Record attendance: 1,150 vs Exeter City, 1981[8]
See also
- Bridport F.C. players
- Bridport F.C. managers
References
- Bridport Pyramid Passion
- History Bridport F.C.
- Dorset Senior League 1896–1931 Non-League Matters
- Bridport at the Football Club History Database
- League & League Cup History Dorset Premier League
- Award Winners Western League
- Dorset Senior Cup Football Club History Database
- Mike Williams & Tony Williams (2016) Non-League Club Directory 2017, Tony Williams Publications, p568 ISBN 978-1869833695