League Cup Winners 1980/81, 1995/96.

Dorset Senior Trophy Winners 2011/12

CLUB HISTORY

It is believed that football was first played in Sturminster Newton in 1871/72, with the team playing under the name of the 'Panthers'. In 1873 the club entered the FA Cup and recorded their best victory in the competition, beating Wood Grange 3-0. The club entered the FA Cup again in 1875 and on this occasion losing 9-1 in the 2nd Round to the Wanderers, who eventually went on to win the Cup.

In the 1890's the influence of the Church took over and the club name was changed to Sturminster St Mary's and they were losing finalists in the Dorset Junior Cup to Dorchester in 1911. The club played in the lower divisions of the Dorset League and also ran a Wednesday team called the Hornets between the World Wars, comprised mainly of shop-workers and playing in a League organised by the DCFA.

The name remained until 1945, when at a meeting held in the Swan Assembly Rooms it was decided to change to Sturminster Newton United Football Club.

In 1957 the 'Cherries' became one of the founder members of the Dorset Football Combination League. However, due to financial problems it had to withdraw from the League in 1960.

Over the next decade the club played in the Dorset League and one of the main highlights during that period was getting to the final of the Dorset Senior Amateur Cup in the 1961/1962 season, losing to Swanage after a replay (played at Wareham).

In the 1970 & 1980's the club really took off. A new venture in those days was to enter tournaments on the Continent. Playing a total of 14 matches against teams from Holland, Belgium, France and Germany, the 'Cherries' remained unbeaten in these matches.

1972 saw a return to the Dorset Combination League, after winning the Dorset League Division One Championship the previous season. The club were to wait nearly a decade for further success, beating Wareham Rangers 2-1 in the final of the Combination Cup in 1981.

The biggest crowd at their old Recreation Ground was for a Dorset Senior Cup semi-final against Weymouth FC of the Gola League (now Conference) in 1986 when nearly 600 people saw the Cherries lose 2-0.

In 1995 Sturminster Newton lifted the Combination Cup for the second time, defeating Sherborne Town 2-1 at Weymouth Football Club.

1996 proved to be another memorable year, when following the hard work by the club Committee under Chairman Ray Clarke, the 'Cherries' made the historic move from the Recreation Ground to their own ground Barnetts Field at Honeymead Lane on the outskirts of the town.

The club have developed their new ground into a facility to be proud with an enclosed pitch, covered accommodation and clubhouse. Further developments are planned for the future, including the installation of floodlights.

The Cherries best finish in the Combination during recent years was in 1997/8 when they finished 5th, a position they equaled in 2006/07.

The club were relegated from the Dorset Premier League at the end of the 2010/11 season. However, the following season, Gary Head led his side to the Dorset Senior Trophy with a 1-0 win over Parley Sports at Wimborne Town.

CLUB RECORDS

• Best league performance: 4th in Dorset Combination, 1983/84 (NB records prior to 1979 are not available)
• Best FA Cup performance: 2nd round, 1875/76, 1876/77, 1878/79 (as Panthers) - no modern participation.