Page 23 - Yate Town FC v Dorchester Town 010122

Founded in 1880, Dorchester Town were Dorset Senior Cup finalists in 1888
and 1890 before joining the Dorset League in 1896. Despite being founder
members of the league, the club had little success before winning the
championship in 1937/38 with a 2–0 victory at Sherborne on 25 April 1938.
The club joined the Western League in 1947, winning promotion
from Division Two in 1950, and going on to take the league championship
in 1954/55. The fifties proved to be a successful decade for the Magpies,
winning the Dorset Senior Cup for the first time, and having a number of
good runs in the FA Cup facing the likes of Norwich City, Queens Park
Rangers, Port Vale and Plymouth Argyle.
Following four more victories in the Dorset Senior Cup, the club
entered the Southern League (Division One South) in 1972. They first
tasted success in this division when they finished runners-up to Margate in
1977/78, going unbeaten in the final 16 matches of the season, with
manager David Best utilising his links with old club AFC Bournemouth to
attract former first-teamers such as John O'Rourke, Jack Howarth and Harry
Redknapp to the Avenue.
The formation of the Alliance League unfortunately meant the
Magpies ended up back in the reformed Southern Division a year later, but
the club celebrated its centenary by winning the Southern Division in
1979/80 by a one-point margin over Aylesbury. Stuart Bell succeeded David
Best as manager during the season, and the Magpies went unbeaten in the
last 14 games to clinch the title. A young Trevor Senior impressed alongside
ever-present top scorer Paul Thorne, whilst Graham Roberts joined
neighbours Weymouth early in the campaign for £6,000 before going on to
star for Tottenham Hotspur and England.
Senior stayed with Dorchester for a further two seasons, before
signing for Portsmouth during the 1981/82 season for £35,000. Before
leaving the Magpies, Senior helped the club reach the 2nd Round of the FA
Cup again before losing out to AFC Bournemouth in a replay at Dean Court.
A goal four minutes from the end of extra time was enough to end
Dorchester's dreams of a place in the third round – a feat they have still yet
to achieve.
Relegated at the end of the 1983/84 season, a remarkable
turnaround followed, and Dorchester returned to the Premier Division as
champions at the end of the 1986/87 season, taking the title following a
goalless draw at runners-up Ashford on the final day of the season.