 | |
| Founded | 1957 |
|---|---|
| Country | England |
| Divisions | 1 |
| Number of teams | 18 |
| Level on pyramid | Level 11 |
| Promotion to | Wessex League Division One Western League Division One South West Peninsula League Division One |
| Relegation to | Dorset Football League |
| Current champions | Holt United (2022–23) |
| 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
| Season | Champions |
|---|---|
| 1998–99 | Portland United |
| 1999–2000 | Portland United |
| 2000–01 | Hamworthy Recreation |
| 2001–02 | Hamworthy Recreation |
| 2002–03 | Hamworthy United |
| 2003–04 | Hamworthy United |
| 2004–05 | Hamworthy Recreation |
| 2005–06 | Holt United |
| 2006–07 | Westland Sports |
| 2007–08 | Portland United |
| 2008–09 | Portland United |
| 2009–10 | Hamworthy Recreation |
| 2010–11 | Hamworthy Recreation |
| 2011–12 | Westland Sports |
| 2012–13 | Portland United |
| 2013–14 | Portland United |
| 2014–15 | Hamworthy Recreation |
| 2015–16 | Shaftesbury Town |
| 2016–17 | Holt United |
| 2017–18 | Hamworthy Recreation |
| 2018–19 | Hamworthy Recreation |
| 2019–20 | No Competition as a result of COVID-19 pandemic |
| 2020–21 | No Competition as a result of COVID-19 pandemic |
| 2021–22 | Hamworthy Recreation |
| 2022–23 | Holt United |
Member clubs (2023–24)
- Balti Sports
- Blandford United
- Bournemouth Sports
- Bridport Reserves
- Dorchester Sports
- Hamworthy United Reserves
- Holt United
- Merley Cobham Sports
- Poole Borough
- Portland United Reserves
- Shaftesbury Town Reserves
- Sherborne Town Reserves
- Sturminster Marshall
- Sturminster Newton United
- Swanage Town & Herston
- Westland Sports
- Wimborne Town Reserves
Locations 2021-22
References
- ↑ History of the Dorset Premier League Official League Website