Wimborne Town F.C.

Football club infobox
clubname = Wimborne Town


fullname = Wimborne Town Football Club
nickname = The Magpies
founded = 1878
ground = Cuthbury, Wimborne
capacity = 1000
chairman = Nicholas O'Hara
mgrtitle = Manager
manager = Christer Warren
league = Wessex League Premier Division
season = 2007-08
position = Wessex League Premier Division, 3rd
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Wimborne Town F.C. is a football club based in Wimborne Minster in Dorset, England. They were established in 1878 and won the FA Vase in 1992. They reached the First Round Proper of the FA Cup in the 1982-83 season for the first time. They are currently members of the Wessex League.

Club History

Wimborne Town Football Club was formed in 1878 and originally catered for football and rugby. In 1884 the South Hampshire and Dorset Football Association was formed with Wimborne Town as one of the founder members. Three years later the Club became a founder member of the Dorset County Football Association.

The Club’s first success came in 1913 when they won the Dorset Minor Cup for the only time in their history. A year later they were runners-up in the Dorset Junior Challenge Cup.

The Thirties was a triumphant period in Wimborne Town’s history as they carried off the Dorset League Division Two championship three times and finished runners-up on a further occasion. The Magpies were also runners-up in Dorset League Division One in 1939. This period also proved successful for the Club in cup competitions. The Dorset Junior Challenge Cup was won twice in three final appearances and the Magpies also enjoyed four Dorset Junior Amateur Cup victories in five seasons between 1935 and 1939.

Wimborne Town’s first senior honour came in 1937 with the Dorset Senior Amateur Cup but this turned out to be the last honour for some while and it was not until 1964 that this success was repeated. In 1957 Wimborne became founder members of the Dorset Combination (now the Dorset Premier League) but returned to the Dorset League after just a season where they remained until 1973 when they returned for another spell, this time lasting three seasons.

Wimborne's fortunes dramatically took off when they won the Dorset League Division One title in 1980/81 without losing a match. The Reserve team retained the Championship the following year.

In 1981, following the installation of floodlights and the construction of a perimeter wall and new changing rooms at their Cuthbury ground, Wimborne Town were directly admitted to the First Division of the Western League. Despite missing out the Dorset Combination, they immediately established themselves among the leading clubs, just losing out on third spot to local rivals Swanage Town & Herston on goal difference. 1984/85 saw Wimborne Town’s most successful season in the Western League when they finished in third place, this time ahead of Swanage on goal difference.

In 1987, Wimborne Town joined the Wessex League. They have competed in this competition since then, and during that time they have never finished outside the top eight. The Club have won the Wessex Championship on three occasions - in 1991/92, 1993/94 and 1999/00 - and finished runners-up in 1992/93 and 1996/97. The Wessex League Cup was won in 1993/94 with a 7-0 final victory over Thatcham Town, giving the Magpies the distinction of being the first club to achieve the League and Cup double. That feat was repeated in 1999/00 when Wimborne Town finished ahead of Lymington & New Milton on goal difference in the League and beat them 1-0 in the League Cup Final. The Club also unsuccessfully contested League Cup Finals in 1990/91 and 1995/96.

In recent years, Wimborne Town have appeared in eleven County Cup Finals. The Dorset Senior Challenge Cup Final has been contested seven times with victories in 1991/92 and 1996/97. Wimborne Town have also reached the Dorset league Cup Final on four occasions.

Wimborne Town entered FA competitions for the first time in many years in 1982/83. That season brought them their best run to date in the FA Cup when defeats of Bridport, Falmouth Town, St Blazey, Bath City and Merthyr Tydfil earned them a visit to Aldershot, then a Football League side in the First Round Proper where they made a gallant 0-4 exit.

Before 1992, Wimborne Town’s best performances in the FA Vase had brought them Third Round Proper appearances on three occasions. However, all that was eclipsed in 1991/92, when the Club enjoyed an epic run to the Wembley final under manager Alex Pike where they defeated favourites Guiseley 5-3 to lift the trophy. In so doing, Wimborne Town became the first ever Dorset club at any level to contest a Wembley final. During that same historic season, Wimborne Town also won the Dorset Senior Challenge Cup and Wessex League Championship to complete a unique treble of trophies.

External links

* [http://www.wimbornefc.co.uk Wimborne Town FC Official Website]
* [http://www.seekerphotography.com/wtfc.html Wimborne Town photo pages]
*fchd|name=Wimborne Town|id=WIMBORNT