Dorset Premier Football League Explained

Dorset Premier League
Pixels:150
Founded:1957
Country:England
Promotion:Wessex League Division One
Western League Division One
South West Peninsula League Division One
Relegation:Dorset Football League
Divisions:1
Teams:18
Levels:Level 11
Season:2023–24
Champions:Sturminster Newton United
Website:Dorset Premier League

The Dorset Premier Football League is a football league based in Dorset, England, which sits at Step 7 of the National League System, or level 11 of the overall English football league system.

History

The league was formed in 1957 under the name Dorset Football Combination League when a number of senior clubs within the county became disillusioned at being dictated to by junior and minor clubs.

The objective of the league on its formation was to increase the standard of football and competition throughout Dorset and neighbouring counties, an ideal that still holds today.

In 1991 the Dorset Football Combination League accepted an invitation to become a feeder to the Wessex League, thus giving its member clubs the opportunity to progress through the National League System. The league has now been placed at the Regional Feeder League level of the National League System, standing parallel to the Hampshire Premier League. Clubs promoting from the DPL usually join the 2nd level of the Wessex League. However, the conclusion of the 2005–06 season saw Sherborne Town move to the Western League Division One. Bridport, who maintain a reserve team in the DPL, also play in the Western League. The bottom club may be relegated to the Dorset Senior League, which is a level 12 league of the English football pyramid.

The 2002–03 season saw the League change its name to the Dorset Premier Football League. It was felt that this more reflected the League's status. In 2010 the League was awarded the FA Charter Standard status, only the third league in the FA’s jurisdiction to be so awarded.[1]

Recent champions

SeasonChampions
1998–99Portland United
1999–2000Portland United
2000–01Hamworthy Recreation
2001–02Hamworthy Recreation
2002–03Hamworthy United
2003–04Hamworthy United
2004–05Hamworthy Recreation
2005–06Holt United
2006–07Westland Sports
2007–08Portland United
2008–09Portland United
2009–10Hamworthy Recreation
2010–11Hamworthy Recreation
2011–12
2012–13
2013–14Portland United
2014–15Hamworthy Recreation
2015–16
2016–17Holt United
2017–18Hamworthy Recreation
2018–19Hamworthy Recreation
2019–20No Competition as a result of COVID-19 pandemic
2020–21No Competition as a result of COVID-19 pandemic
2021–22Hamworthy Recreation
2022–23Holt United
2023–24Sturminster Newton United

Member clubs (2024–25)

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.thedpl.co.uk/thedpl/about.html History of the Dorset Premier League