Page 23 - Yate Town FC v Poole Town 161121

Beginnings - Poole FC were formed on 20th September 1890 by the merger between two local sides,
Poole Rovers and Poole Hornets, who can trace their origins back to 1880 thus the club celebrated their
centenary in 1980 with some high profile games against the likes of Manchester Utd, WBA and
Manchester City.
Poole did not enter the Dorset League until 1896, where they stay until 1902/03. In 1903/04 Poole join
the Hampshire League for the first time, but only for one season. They competed in the West Div
finishing in 4th place with 17 points from 14 games, just above Bournemouth FC.
After a year out of league competition, Poole return to the Hampshire League West Division for a longer
stay, finishing 5th out of 7 teams in 1905/06. They finished 4th out of 7 in 1906/07, 4th of 8 in 1907/08.
Poole could always rely on success in cup competition, and won the Dorset Senior Cup for the 5th time
in 1907, winning the original trophy outright. Poole's best season was 1908/09 when they finished
runners up, just 1 point behind Longfleet St Mary's. Much interest was expressed by football supporters
in the outcome of this competition and a crowd of 400 was in attendance at the Sterte ground to see
Poole beat Boscombe 3-1, and over 1000 were to see the late season decider between Longfleet St
Mary's and Poole. Unfortunately Poole finished 6th out of 7 the following season and drop back into the
Dorset County League, their place being taken by Lymington.
1911 – 1925 - Returning in 1911 for a third spell in the West Division of the Hampshire League,
but continue to struggle, finishing 6th out of 7, 4th from 8 and 6th from 10, before being halted by the
First World War. Resuming in 1919/20 season, the club were briefly known as Poole & St. Mary's,
finished 7th out of 8, with Boscombe as runaway leaders. Reverting back to Poole FC in 1920/21, they
were 6th out of 10, above Christchurch on goal difference.
Following League reorganisation, Poole found themselves elevated to the County Division, finishing 12th
out of 15, above Thornycroft Athletic and Basingstoke. However, the first team were bottom out of 17
in 1922/23, just behind Winchester City, while the reserves were bottom out of 10 in the West Division.
Although still an amateur club, Poole joined the Western League in 1923 for three years, and were able
to restore some success to the club, winning the Dorset Senior Cup again in 1926.
1926 – 1932 - Poole turned professional in 1926 and joined the Southern League, Eastern Division.
They were admitted with Sheppey United and Sittingbourne to replace Coventry City Reserves, Fulham
Reserves and Nuneaton Borough (then known as Nuneaton Town), while champions Torquay United
were replaced by their Reserves.
Although only placed 14th out of 17 sides in 1926/27, the season was distinguished by an excellent FA
Cup run, beat Third Division (South) side Newport County 1-0 at Sterte and met Everton in the 3rd
Round proper, where they were beaten 3-1 by a Dixie Dean hat-trick at Goodison Park in front of a
65,000 crowd. Poole's left half Dickie is later signed by First Division Everton, who were knocked out in
the 4th round by a 2nd replay giant-killing act by Second Division Hull. Everton won the League
Championship the following year. Poole won the Dorset Senior Cup for the second year running in 1927,
and reached the FA Cup 1st Round Proper three years running from 1926-29, but were only able to
make mid-table finishes in the Southern League. During the Depression in 1929/30, Poole found it
impossible to complete the last 4 games of the season, their record is expunged. At the time they had
played 30, Won 7, Drawn 6, Lost 17, Goals for 44, Goals against 81 and 20 points. Poole were not the
only side affected, out of the 33 Southern League sides, only 21 formed up for the 1930/31 season.
Poole drop into the Western League, where they remained until 1957, except for one season in 1934/35.
1933 – 1960 - In 1933, they move to Poole Stadium which they built up themselves.
In 1934/35, Poole Town, as they are now known, have their 4th spell in the Hampshire
League, finishing 13th out of 16 in Division 1, in between Ryde Sports and Bournemouth
Poppies.
Poole Town had a quiet time of it until just after the war, when they resume in the Western
League. In 1946/47 season they had an excellent run in the FA Cup, through to a first round
match against Queens Park Rangers, drawing 2-2 at Loftus Road, but losing 6-0 in the replay
in front of a then, record breaking Poole Stadium crowd of 10,224.
Poole were Western League Runners-up on four occasions, 1946/47, 1949/50, 1953/54 and
1955/56, as well as getting to the final of the League Cup, before winning the Western
League championship in 1956/57, and achieved elevation back into the Southern League.
Poole finished 10th in their first season. The following year the Southern League was
expanded from 22 to 35 clubs and split into two zones, Poole Town were 8th in the South
Eastern Zone and qualified as founder members of the Southern Premier, when the League was