Magpies

Cowgrove Road, Cuthbury, Wimborne, Dorset

A brief history of the club:
Wimborne Town Football Club was formed in 1878 and originally catered for soccer and rugby. In 1884 the South Hampshire and Dorset Football Association was formed with Wimborne 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 were a triumphant period in Wimborne'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 runners-up in Dorset League Division One in 1939. This period also proved successful for Wimborne 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'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.

After another lean spell, this time 17 years, Wimborne won the Dorset League Division One Championship without losing a match. The reserve team retained the championship the following season.

In 1981, following the installation of floodlights and the construction of a permiter wall and new changing rooms at their Cuthbury ground, Wimborne were admitted to the First Division of the Western League.

They immediately established themselves among the leading clubs, just losing out on third spot to local rivals Swanage on goal difference.

The 1984/85 season saw Wimborne's most successful in the Western League when they finished in third place, this time ahead of Swanage on goal difference.

In 1987, Wimborne joined the Wessex League. They have competed in this competition now for 15 seasons, during which time they have never finished outside the top eight.

Wimborne have won the championship on three occasions, in 1991/92, 1993/94 and 1999/2000 and twice finished runners up, in 1992/93 and 1996/97. Wimborne have also reached the Dorset League Cup Final on four occasions.

The Magpies entered FA Cup competitions for the first time in 1982/83. Their first tilt at the FA Cup brought them their best run to date, when defeats of Bridport, Falmouth Town, St Blazey, Bath City and Merthyr Tydfil earned Wimborne a visit to Aldershot, then a football league side.

It was the First Round Proper, but sadly for the brave Dorset side, the professionals ran out 4-0 victors.

Prior to 1992, Wimborne Town's best performances in the FA Vase brought them Third Round appearances on three occasions. However, that was all eclipsed in 1992, when the club enjoyed an epic run to the Wembley final where they defeated favourites Guisley 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 the same historic season, Wimborne also won the Dorset Senior Challenge Cup and the Wessex League Championship to complete a unique treble of trophies.

Bringing you right up to date, Paul Arnold has slowly being building a very strong outfit at Cuthbury once again, and the 2003/04 season will surely see the Magpies as serious contenders for the Wessex League title once more.

Jamie Sturgess completed his 600th appearance for the Magpies on the final day of the 2003/04 season in the game against Andover - sadly for him and Wimborne, Andover spoilt the party with a 2-1 win