Dorset Premier Football 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.

Dorset Premier League

Founded	1957
Country	England
Divisions	1
Number of clubs	16
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	Bournemouth Sports (2024–25)
Website	Dorset Premier League

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
2023–24	Sturminster Newton United
2024–25	Bournemouth Sports

Member clubs (2024–25)

• Balti Sports
• Blandford United
• Bournemouth Electric
• Bournemouth Sports
• Bridport Reserves
• Cobham Sports
• Dorchester Sports
• Hamworthy Recreation Reserves
• Hamworthy United Reserves
• Holt United
• Poole Borough
• Portland United Reserves
• Sherborne Town Reserves
• Swanage Town & Herston
• Westland Sports
• Wimborne Town Reserves

Locations 2024–25

Balti Sports

Blandford United

Bournemouth Electric

Bournemouth Sports

Bridport Reserves

Dorchester Sports

Hamworthy Recreation Reserves

Hamworthy United Reserves

Holt United

Cobham Sports

Poole Borough

Portland United Reserves

Sherborne Town Reserves

Swanage Town & Herston

Westland Sports

Wimborne Town Reserves

Dorset Premier Football League (Dorset)