Bournemouth Gasworks Athletic F.C. was an English amateur football club from Poole, Dorset, who were successful in both county and national competitions until they became defunct in 1972.

History Gasworks Athletic were founded in 1899 as the Bournemouth Gas & Water Co works side Association Football in Hampshire until 1914 by Norman Gannaway and joined the Hampshire League West Division in 1904, playing at East Lake in Parkstone. After World War I, they became Bournemouth Gasworks Athletic and in 1921 were placed in the County Division (later to become Division 1).A Tabulated History of the Hampshire League by Stephen Farmery This marked the start of a very successful period for 'the Lights' as they were crowned champions in 1923 and frequently won the Dorset Senior Cup.

The club gained national recognition for their exploits in the FA Amateur Cup, travelling the country and enjoying several lengthy runs in the competition.The Complete F.A. Amateur Cup Results - by Richard Samuel The most famous of these came in 1930 when they incredibly progressed through nine rounds (defeating Wycombe Wanderers, Barnet and Wimbledon) to reach the final at West Ham United's Upton Park. Here, in front of a crowd of 21,800, they held favourites Ilford 1–1 at the break before eventually losing 1-5.https://www.fchd.info/cups/amcupsummary.htm Three years later, they reached the semi-finals but were narrowly beaten 1–2 by Stockton.Hampshire Football Association Centenary History 1887-1987 by Norman Gannaway

In 1932 the Gasworks opened their new stadium at Alder Road and by this point were very much the dominant force in county football. They were Hampshire league champions a further four times during the thirties with the reserve side also winning the Division 2 title.A History of the Hampshire League 1896-1996 by Norman Gannaway

The post World War II era saw Bournemouth Gasworks remain a prominent force; three times they reached the FA Cup third qualifying round The F.A. Cup Club by Club Record Since 1945 by Tony Williams and twice won the Hampshire Senior Cup. However, in 1957 the club were surprisingly relegated after finishing bottom, and after a mid-table finish in Division 2, they left to play in local Dorset football, where they would go on to enjoy further successes. 125 Not Out - A History of the Dorset County Football Association 1887-2012 by Norman Gannaway

Through circumstances beyond their control, the loss of their home ground in 1966 inevitably saw a decline in fortunes.https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/18419484.picture-day-bournemouth-gasworks-football-club-grandstand-demolition-1966/ Now playing at Branksome Rec, they struggled on until folding in 1972.Gone But Not Forgotten (Part 5), by Dave Twydell, ISBN 1-874427-01-1

The final curtain came down in March 1973. The club staged a formal farewell dinner to commemorate the end of an illustrious history. The event was well attended with a number of legends from the 1930 FA Amateur Cup final team in attendance.https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/4690627.bournemouth-gasworks-football-players-still-united/

Honours Football Association Amateur Cup Finalists 1929–30 Hampshire Football Association Senior Cup Winners (2) 1952–53 and 1953–54 Hampshire League Division 1 Champions (5) 1922-23, 1931–32, 1934–35, 1935–36 and 1937–38, Runners-up 1936–37 Division 2 Champions (1) 1935-36, Runners-up 1934-35 (Reserves) Dorset Football Association Senior Cup Winners (10) 1908–09, 1909–10, 1910–11, 1911–12, 1913–14, 1920–21, 1921–22, 1924–25, 1930–31 and 1938–39 Amateur Cup winners (9) Senior League Champions (9)

Playing records

Hampshire League SeasonDivisionPositionSignificant events1904/05West Division5/91905/06West Division7/71906/07West Division2/7Runners-up1907/08West Division7/81908/09West Division3/71909/10West Division2/7Runners-up1910/11West Division2/7Runners-up1911/12West Division3/81912/13West Division2/8Runners-up1913/14West Division2/9Runners-up1914–19 1919/20West Division6/8 1920/21West Division4/10 Promoted1921/22County Division7/161922/23County Division1/17Champions, promoted1923/24County Division7/161924/25County Division8/16 1925/26County Division7/161926/27County Division6/16 1927/28County Division4/16Re-organisation1928/29South Division4/13Re-organisation 1929/30Division 15/16 1930/31Division 15/161931/32Division 11/16Champions1932/33Division 13/15 1933/34Division 13/161934/35Division 11/16Champions (Reserves runners-up in Division 2)1935/36Division 11/16Champions (Reserves champions of Division 2)1936/37Division 12/16Runners-up1937/38Division 11/16Champions1938/39Division 13/161939–45 1945/46Division 17/161946/47Division 15/14 (Reserves champions of Division 3)1947/48Division 16/141948/49Division 12/14Runners-up1949/50Division 16/141950/51Division 17/141951/52Division 17/141952/53Division 13/141953/54Division 13/141954/55Division 112/141955/56Division 112/141956/57Division 114/14Relegated1957/58Division 26/16Left competition

FA Cup SeasonRoundOpponentsResult1905/061st Qualifying RoundA v WeymouthL 3-51906/071st Qualifying RoundA v Yeovil CasualsW 1-0 2nd Qualifying RoundA v 2nd Royal WarwicksW 2-1 3rd Qualifying RoundH v Poole TownL 2-31907/081st Qualifying RoundH v Yeovil TownW 1-0 2nd Qualifying RoundH v WhiteheadsL 1-21908/091st Qualifying RoundA v WhiteheadsL 4-61909/101st Qualifying RoundH v BoscombeD 0-0 ReplayA v BoscombeL 1-21910/111st Qualifying RoundH v Longfleet St MarysW 4-3 2nd Qualifying RoundA v Torquay TownD 1-1 ReplayH v Torquay TownL 0-11911/121st Qualifying RoundA v StreetD 0-0 ReplayH v StreetL 0-11912/13Preliminary RoundH v WoolstonL 0-41913/14Preliminary RoundA v Gosport UnitedL 1-31919/20Preliminary RoundH v Thornycrofts (Woolston)L 0-51921/22Extra-Preliminary RoundA v Osborne AthleticW 3-1 Preliminary RoundH v Harland & WolffL 0-21922/23Extra-Preliminary RoundA v BournemouthW 3-0 Preliminary RoundH v Salisbury CorinthiansW 3-0 1st Qualifying RoundA v Portsea Island Gas CoL 2-31923/24Extra-Preliminary RoundH v East Cowes VictoriaW 6-0 Preliminary RoundH v Sholing AthleticW 3-2 1st Qualifying RoundA v Gosport AthleticL 0-21924/25Extra-Preliminary RoundA v BournemouthL 2-31925/26Extra-Preliminary RoundH v Harland & WolffW 6-1 Preliminary RoundH v Bournemouth TramwaysL 1-21946/471st Qualifying RoundA v NewportW 1-0 2nd Qualifying RoundA v RAOC HilseaD 2-2 ReplayH v RAOC HilseaW 6-2 3rd Qualifying RoundA v Poole TownL 2-31947/48Preliminary RoundH v Portland UnitedW 4-0 1st Qualifying RoundH v Gosport BoroughL 0-31948/49Preliminary RoundA v Gosport BoroughW 1-0 1st Qualifying RoundA v East Cowes VictoriaL 1-31949/50Extra-Preliminary RoundA BournemouthL 0-11950/51Extra-Preliminary RoundH v ShaftesburyL 1-21951/521st Qualifying RoundA v BridportD 2-2 ReplayH v BridportL 1-3 2nd Qualifying RoundH v Portland UnitedL 1-31952/531st Quantifying RoundH v Poole TownW 3-1 2nd Qualifying RoundH v Portland UnitedW 5-1 3rd Qualifying RoundA v Dorchester TownL 1-21953/541st Quantifying RoundH v BridportW 8-0 2nd Qualifying RoundA v Ilminster TownW 4-0 3rd Qualifying RoundA v Portland UnitedL 1-41954/552nd Quantifying RoundA v Dorchester TownL 0-41955/561st Qualifying RoundA v CowesL 1-41956/572nd Qualifying RoundA v AndoverL 2-3

FA Amateur Cup SeasonRoundOpponentsResult1905/061st Qualifying RoundH v Longfleet St MarysL 0-41906/071st Qualifying RoundA v Longfleet St MarysD 1-1 ReplayH v Longfleet St MarysD 1-1 2nd ReplayN v Longfleet St MarysL 1-21907/081st Qualifying RoundA v BoscombeD 2-2 ReplayH v BoscombeL 0-21908/091st Qualifying RoundA v Poole TownL 1-61909/101st Qualifying RoundH v RGS WeymouthL 1-21910/112nd Qualifying RoundH v BournemouthW 2-0 3rd Qualifying RoundH v BoscombeW 2-1 4th Qualifying RoundH v Bournemouth WanderersW 9-2 Round 1A v Old KingstoniansD 1-1 ReplayH v Old KingstoniansW 3-2 Round 2H v Loughborough CorinthiansW 3-0 Round 3H v IlfordL 0-2 1911/124th Qualifying RoundH v 2nd Wiltshire RegimentW 4-3 Round 1A v Cardiff CorinthiansD 1-1 Round 2H v RedhillW 1-0 Round 3H v Dulwich HamletL 0-11912/13Round 1A v 1st Kings Royal RiflesL 0-31913/14Round 1A v Royal Engineers (Aldershot)D 1-1 ReplayH v Royal Engineers (Aldershot)W 2-1 Round 2H v Oxford CityL 0-11919/20Round 1H v WorthingW 2-1 Round 2H v ClandownW 5-0 Round 3H v Oxford CityL 0-11920/21Round 1A v RAMC AldershotL 0-21921/22Round 1H v Royal Corps of SignalsW 2-1 Round 2A v MetrogasL 0-21922/23Round 1H v Hastings & St LeonardsW 1-0 Round 2H v ClaptonL 0-11923/24Round 1A v Bristol St Georges SportsL 0-11924/252nd Qualifying RoundA v Castle HillW 3-2 3rd Qualifying RoundA v Blandford UnitedD 1-1 ReplayA v Blandford UnitedW 2-1 4th Qualifying RoundH v Bournemouth TramwaysW 3-0 Round 1H v Hastings & St LeonardsD 1-1 ReplayA v Hastings & St LeonardsL 0-41925/262nd Qualifying RoundA v Bournemouth TramwaysL 0-21926/272nd Qualifying RoundA v Blandford UnitedL 1-21927/282nd Qualifying RoundA v Blandford UnitedW 7-0 3rd Qualifying RoundA v Bournemouth TramwaysD 1-1 ReplayA v Bournemouth TramwaysW 3-2 4th Qualifying RoundA v 5th Royal Tank CorpsL 1-21928/292nd Qualifying RoundH v Salisbury CorinthiansW 9-2 3rd Qualifying RoundA v 5th Royal Tank Corps W 6-3 4th Qualifying RoundH v BournemouthW 2-1 Round 1H v Tuffnell ParkW 3-0 Round 2A v Wycombe WanderersL 2-51929/301st Qualifying RoundH v Blandford UnitedW 6-0 2nd Qualifying RoundH v Royal Engineers (Southampton) W 2-0 3rd Qualifying RoundH v Royal Marines PortsmouthW 3-2 4th Qualifying RoundH v FarehamW 2-0 Round 1H v Wycombe WanderersW 2-1 Round 2H v Welton RoversW 4-0 Round 3H v Barnet W 3-1 Round 4H v Percy Main AmateursW 2-0 Semi-FinalN v WimbledonW 2-0 FinalN v IlfordL 1-51930/31Round 1A v BarnetL 3-91931/321st Qualifying RoundH v RAOC HilseaW 2-1 2nd Qualifying RoundH v Royal Marines PortsmouthW 4-0 3rd Qualifying RoundH v FarehamW 6-1 4th Qualifying RoundH v Ryde SportsW 3-1 Round 1A v Chesham UnitedW 4-1 Round 2H v HayesW 2-1 Round 3A v LeytonL 0-31932/33Round 1A v Stowmarket TownW 4-2 Round 2A v Weston-Super-MareD 1-1 ReplayH v Weston-Super-MareW 1-0 Round 3A v GuiseleyW 2-1 Round 4A v Erith & BelvedereW 2-0 Semi-FinalN v StocktonL 1-21933/34Round 1A v Weston-Super-MareD 0-0 ReplayH v Weston-Super-MareW 4-0 Round 2A v Portland UnitedW 5-0 Round 3H v CasualsL 1-51934/35Round 1H v Banbury SpencerW 2-1 Round 2A v KingstonianL 1-41935/36Round 1A v GosportL 1-21936/37Round 1A v Hastings & St LeonardsW 4-0 Round 2A v Metropolitan PoliceW 2-1 Round 3A v BromleyL 0-41937/38Round 1H v LeytonstoneL 0-11938/39Round 1A v WimbledonD 3-3 ReplayH v WimbledonL 0-11945/46Round 1H v TottonL 2-51946/47Round 1A v Peasedown Miners WelfareL 1-21947/484th Qualifying RoundA v TottonL 2-31948/49Preliminary RoundA v Dorchester TownL 2-31949/50Round 1A v RedhillW 1-0 Round 2H v Cambridge TownL 0-21950/514th Qualifying RoundH v SalisburyL 0-31951/523rd Qualifying RoundH v Fareham TownD 0-0 ReplayA v Fareham TownW 2-1 4th Qualifying RoundH v SalisburyL 1-61952/53Extra-Preliminary RoundA v BournemouthL 2-31953/544th Qualifying RoundA v East Cowes VictoriaW 6-1 Round 1A v Briggs SportsL 1-31954/554th Qualifying RoundH v Alton TownD 2-2 ReplayA v Alton TownL 2-51955/56Preliminary RoundA v Swanage TownW 4-1 1st Qualifying RoundH v HamworthyL 2-41956/57Preliminary RoundA v Blandford UnitedL 1-21957/58Preliminary RoundA v BournemouthW 3-0 1st Qualifying RoundH v Thornycroft AthleticW 2-1 2nd Qualifying RoundH v Pirelli GeneralD 3-3 ReplayA v Pirelli GeneralL 3-61958/59Preliminary RoundH v HamworthyL 2-5

Ground

Bournemouth Gasworks played at Alder Road - directly opposite Branksome Recreation Ground in Poole. Opened in 1932, the venue was enclosed, with a large stand and is now covered by housing.https://thelonelygoalpost.co.uk/branksome-rec-the-gasworks-and-cowpats/ The record attendance was in October 1946 when over 1,000 watched the narrow 2-3 defeat by neighbours Poole Town in the FA Cup 3rd qualifying round.A History of Bournemouth Football Association & League 1920-95 by Norman Gannaway