Sturminster Marshall Youth Football Club was formed in its current status in 1989 as a 1 team club that evolved from a team playing in the local Wimborne & District Cub Scout League. The clubs present Welfare officer and coach of the under 8’s was a founder member of the youth football club and is currently chairman on the men’s club thus ensuring strong ties between the youth and men’s section. 

Since formation the club has grown to a point where it currently provides 7 teams in the Dorset Divisional and Mini Soccer Leagues in age groups ranging from under 8’s to under 15’s. As well as these league teams the club also provides an Academy providing coaching and organised fixtures for under 6’s and under 7’s. The club therefore provides football for over 120 young people of which 98% are from within Sturminster Marshall and it’s ajoining parishes of Corfe Mullen and Wimborne. 

In addition to the players the club offers opportunities for volunteers to coach, manage and referee teams at all age levels and currently has some 30 adults actively involved within the club. This includes 8 coaches qualified to 1^st 4 sport Level 1, 1 at level 2 and 5 qualified referee’s all of which have attended the FA’s Child Protection and Emergency Aid Workshops. 

The club has close links with a number of schools in the area particularly at First School level. These links include coaching for pupils and the use of school facilities for coaching. 

The club also has a direct link with Sturminster Marshall Football Club which ensures that all players have a chance of still participating for the club on leaving the youth section at under 16’s. 

Sturminster Marshall Football Club was formed as we know it today in 1960 although a team from the village first registered with the Dorset FA in 1920. The club provides football for over 60 men within its 2 Saturday and 1 Sunday sides.

The club would like to see the introduction of a third Saturday side to accommodate the influx of youth breaking through but current pitch restraints make this impossible so hence the urgent need to locate a further pitch. 

Both sections of the Sturminster Marshall FC hold the FA Charter Standard Award and form a strong link to provide football from 5 to 50 year olds and are looking to strive to achieve the FA Charter Standard Development and Community Awards but are unable to progress any further at this stage for one reason only “lack of pitch’s”. 

Since formation the aim of Sturminster Marshall Youth Football Club has been to develop as a football club within the local community with a view to providing structured and organised football coaching and facilities for all members with the progression into adult section. 

The fruits of this have just been harvested with the men’s senior side clinching the Dorset Senior League and their 16 man squad contains no less than 13 members that have progressed through the youth section. 

The main aims for the Club (Sturminster Marshall Youth FC and Sturminster Marshall FC) on a whole is to develop as follows: 

·             Strengthen links with the local first schools, offer free after school coaching to all pupils.

·             Further development of the Soccer Academy for 5,6 & 7 years olds and increase the number of qualified coaches. 

·             Introduction of Girl’s football with a progression to Ladies. 

·             Provide a dedicated playing and coaching base with changing, welfare and Club House recreational facilities. 

·             Provision of a pitch with perimeter fencing and covered stand area to permit Men’s Senior side to progress into the Dorset Premier League. 

·             Provision of additional full size and mini soccer pitches to allow the further development and expansion of the youth and adult clubs. 

·             Provision of floodlights to allow for mid week evening coaching during the winter months. With future expansion of an all weather surface. 

·             Development of links with local publications and web site to promote the club. 

The club both at youth and adult level have active management committees with a number of members having been associated with the Club for at least a decade and are all committed to ensure that STURMINSTER MARSHALL FOOTBALL CLUB provides the best facilities for training, coaching, playing and welfare that can be offered and that all members gain maximum pleasure and enjoyment from football.