MAIDEN NEWTON + CATTISTOCK FOOTBALL CLUB

A BRIEF HISTORY

Formed in 1892, Maiden Newton Football Club is one of the longest serving village clubs in the Dorset League. The earliest match on record being a pre-season friendly against Weymouth Town in 1896. The game ended 4-4 with Mark Frowde scoring twice for Weymouth.

The Maiden Newton squad of 1948-49 was arguably their best, the club’s honours included winning League Division 3, the Junior Cup and the Edwards Charity Cup. The team then went on to play Tottenham Hotspurs in an exhibition match at their home ground situated in Wynford Lane on July 29th 1950 to commemorate a grand fete and sports day.

Meanwhile, Cattistock themselves had a very good team, playing their football in Dorset's top division against the likes of Bridport and Wimborne. However their application to join the new Dorset Combination League was rejected in 1957.

In the early sixties, the two neighbouring village teams merged to form Maiden Newton + Cattistock Football Club, moving to their current pitch at Kennel Lane in Cattistock,. It was around this time that the club had enough playing interest to form a reserve team, which lasted until the early seventies.

The 1973 Minor Cup was the last time the club experienced glory, beating Stoborough 7-1 in the final, although they did reach the final in the same competition 2 years later, but unfortunately finished runners-up. The club also finished runners-up in their last cup final, in the 1988 League Cup Final, losing 2-1 to Chideock on that occasion.

Currently, Maiden Newton + Cattistock are on the up with new manager “Tad” Clothier being appointed at the start of the 2003/04 season. Following the League restructure this year the Club has been promoted to Division 3.

Through the generations, the factor that makes Maiden Newton + Cattistock Football Club unique is the fact that the core of the club has always been formed from players from the two villages and is still in place today.