Longfleet St Mary's F.C. were a long running amateur football club based in Longfleet, a suburb of Poole — a coastal town and seaport in Dorset.

In existence for over a hundred years, the club were long standing members of the Dorset League and Dorset Combination, and prior the outbreak of the Great War enjoyed much success.

History

Longfleet St Mary's were formed in 1887 as the football team side of St Mary's Church.

They spent their early days playing friendly fixtures before becoming founder members of the Bournemouth & District League, winning the title in 1903 and performing well in the Dorset Cup competitions. This then saw them progress on the Hampshire League, which at the time was organised on a regional basis. 'The Saints' were placed in the West Division and were champions on four occasions.A History of the Hampshire League 1896–1996 by Norman Gannaway

During this time, Longfleet also began entering national competitions, and in the FA Cup they twice played future Football League clubs. In 1904 they lost 0–8 against Swindon Town and then four years later when they met Exeter City. They surprisingly held 'the Grecians' to a 1–1 home draw before losing the replay 1–10.

In 1908, the club celebrated their 21st anniversary and produced an impressive souvenir brochure to mark the occasion, listing all their achievements.125 Not Out – A History of the Dorset County Football Association 1887–2012 by Norman Gannaway

After World War I, Longfleet then had spells playing in the Bournemouth LeagueA History of Bournemouth Football Association & League 1920–95 by Norman Gannaway and Dorset League before war broke out again in 1939.

Once the conflict had finally finished, Longfleet reformed and in 1946 they won the Dorset Senior Cup after defeating Portland Dockyard with the final played on Dorchester Town's ground. They then spent a solitary season in the Hampshire League Tabulated History of the Hampshire League by Stephen Farmery before returning to the Dorset scene where they continued challenging for silverware. There was another memorable FA Cup run during the 1948–49 campaign,The FA Cup Club by Club Record Since 1945 by Tony Williams progressing through three preliminary rounds before going down 0–4 to a strong Weymouth side in front of a large crowd.

In 1957, Longfleet became founder members of the Dorset Combination (now known today as the Dorset Premier League). They were twice runners-up in the mid sixties and were beaten finalists in the 1972 League Cup - each time coming second best to the all conquering Parley Sports side.

By the early eighties, Longfleet were struggling to retain their long held status and in 1981 they were relegated after finishing bottom of the table. A return to the Dorset League saw further struggles which eventually forced them to disband.

A few years later, Longfleet reformed as a Sunday side and played in the Bournemouth League. Here they won a number of trophies and were regular entrants in the national FA Sunday Cup before eventually calling it a day in 2004.

Honours

Dorset Football Association Senior Cup Winners 1945/46 Dorset Combination Runners-up 1963–64 and 1964–65 League Cup Finalists 1971–72 Dorset League Division 1 Runners-up Division 2 Runners-up Hampshire League West Division Champions 1903–04, 1905–06, 1907–08 and 1908–09. Runners-up 1904–05 Bournemouth & District League Division 1 Champions 1902–03

Playing Records

League

SeasonDivisionPositionSignificant events1903–04Hampshire League West Division1/8Champions1904–05Hampshire League West Division2/91905–06Hampshire League West Division1/7Champions1906–07Hampshire League West Division6/71907–08Hampshire League West Division1/8Champions1908–09Hampshire League West Division1/7Champions1909–10Hampshire League West Division5/71910–11Hampshire League West Division5/81911–12Hampshire League West Division6/8 1912–13Hampshire League West Division7/81913–14Hampshire League West Division7/9Left competition1919–39 1946–47Hampshire League Division 35/12left competition1947–57 1957–58Dorset Combination ? 1958–59Dorset Combination ? 1959–60Dorset Combination ?1960–61Dorset Combination ?1961–62Dorset Combination ? 1962–63Dorset Combination ?1963–64Dorset Combination2nd 1964–65Dorset Combination2nd 1965–66Dorset Combination ?1966–67Dorset Combination ?1967–68Dorset Combination ?1968–69Dorset Combination ?1969–70Dorset Combination ? 1970–71Dorset Combination ?1971–72Dorset Combination?League Cup finalists1972–73Dorset Combination ?1973–74Dorset Combination ?1974–75Dorset Combination ?1975–76Dorset Combination ? 1976–77Dorset Combination ? 1977–78Dorset Combination ? 1978–79Dorset Combination ?1979–80Dorset Combination13/181980–81Dorset Combination18/18Relegated

FA Cup SeasonRoundOpponentsResult1903–042nd Qualifying Round H v Yeovil CasualsW 4-1 2nd Qualifying Round H v FreemantleL 1-2 1904-051st Qualifying Round H v Poole TownW 3-2 2nd Qualifying Round H v Yeovil CasualsW 2-1 3rd Qualifying RoundH v WeymouthW 1-0 4th Qualifying RoundA v Swindon TownL 0–8 1905–061st Qualifying RoundH v North Hants IronworksL 0-2 1906–071st Qualifying Round H v Poole TownL 0-1 1907–081st Qualifying Round A v WeymouthW 4-0 2nd Qualifying Round H v Portland Prison OfficersD 2-2 ReplayA v Portland Prison OfficersL 1-31908–091st Qualifying RoundH Yeovil TownW 4-2 2nd Qualifying RoundH v Exeter CityD 1–1 ReplayA v Exeter CityL 1–101909–101st Qualifying RoundA v ShaftesburyL 2-4 1910–111st Qualifying RoundA v Bournemouth GasworksL 3-4 1911–121st Qualifying RoundA v WeymouthL 0-2 1912–13Preliminary RoundA v South Farnborough AthleticD 5-5 ReplayH v South Farnborough AthleticL 1-2 1913–14Preliminary RoundH v Poole TownD 2-2 ReplayA v Poole TownW 1-0 1st Qualifying RoundA v Gosport UnitedL 0-61914–152nd Qualifying RoundH v CowesL 2-51947–48Extra-Preliminary RoundA v WeymouthL 0-41948–49Extra-Preliminary RoundA v Portland UnitedW 4-2 Preliminary RoundH v Winchester CityW 4-2 1st Qualifying RoundH v Thornycroft AthleticW 4-0 2nd Qualifying RoundH v WeymouthL 0-41950–51Extra-Preliminary RoundH v Portland UnitedL 0-11951–52Extra-Preliminary RoundH v Hamworthy D 1-1 ReplayA v HamworthyL 0-1

FA Amateur Cup SeasonRoundOpponentsResult1903–041st Qualifying RoundH v Bournemouth WanderersW 5-0 2nd Qualifying RoundA v WeymouthW 3-0 3rd Qualifying RoundA v Paulton RoversD 2-2 ReplayH v Paulton RoversL 2-3 1905–06Preliminary RoundA v Poole TownW 5-0 1st Qualifying RoundA v Bournemouth GasworksW 4-0 2nd Qualifying RoundA v WhiteheadsW 3-1 3rd Qualifying RoundH v Gosport UnitedL 1-8 1906–07Extra-Preliminary RoundH v BoscombeW 3-1 Preliminary RoundH v Bournemouth GasworksD 1-1 ReplayA v Bournemouth GasworksD 1-1 2nd ReplayH v Bournemouth GasworksW 2-1 1st Qualifying Round H v BournemouthL 1-2 1907–081st Qualifying RoundA v Bournemouth WanderersL 0-3 1908–091st Qualifying RoundH v BoscombeW 3-1 2nd Qualifying RoundH v BournemouthL 0-3 1909–101st Qualifying RoundA v WeymouthW 1-0 2nd Qualifying RoundA v BoscombeD 2-2 ReplayH v BoscombeW 4-2 3rd Qualifying RoundA v Portland UnitedL 1-3 1910–112nd Qualifying RoundH v BoscombeL 1-6 1911–122nd Qualifying RoundA v RGA WeymouthL 0-21912–131st Qualifying RoundH v Poole TownL 1-6 1913–142nd Qualifying RoundA v Poole TownL 2-71947–48Preliminary RoundA v HamworthyW 4-0 1st Qualifying RoundA v Dorchester TownL 1-3 1948–49Preliminary RoundH v BournemouthW 3-1 1st Qualifying RoundA v Wimborne TownL 0-1 1949–50Extra-Preliminary RoundA v Swanage TownW 6-1 Preliminary RoundH v ChristchurchW 6-1 1st Qualifying RoundH v Wimborne TownL 4-5 1950-51Extra-Preliminary RoundA v HamworthyW 4-2 Preliminary RoundA v Alton TownL 1-5 1951-52Extra-Preliminary RoundH v Swanage TownD 0-0 ReplayA v Swanage TownW 4-0 Preliminary RoundA v Bournemouth GasworksL 1-3 1952-53Preliminary RoundH v Winchester CityW 2-1 1st Qualifying RoundA v Alton TownL 0-6 1953-54Preliminary RoundA v HamworthyW 2-1 1st Qualifying RoundA v Lymington TownL 1-6 1954-55Preliminary RoundA v HamworthyL 2-3 1955-56Preliminary RoundA v Wimborne TownL 1-7 1964-651st Qualifying RoundH v WaterloovilleL 0-3 1965-661st Qualifying RoundH v Pirelli GeneralL 2-8 1966-67Preliminary RoundA v HamworthyL 0-3 1967-681st Qualifying RoundA v WaterloovilleL 0-8 1968-691st Qualifying RoundA v Swaythling AthleticL 0-4 1969-701st Qualifying RoundA v BrockenhurstL 0-3

Ground

Longfleet St Mary's played at Whitecliff Recreation Ground, Poole, BH14 8DU. The venue is owned by BCP Council and is still in use today.

It is believed that their high profile home FA Cup matches were staged at better equipped grounds of neighbours Poole Town and Hamworthy United.

Notable players

Longfleet St Mary's had many fine players over the years. Most notably left-half Alf Weeks who provided "yeoman service" to the team and George Brown, who was born in the area and played for the club before and after signing for Southampton.

Memorabilia

A collection of the club's artefacts and publications still exist and are on display at Poole Museum.

Local rivalries

Longfleet St Mary's had a number of local rivals, most notably Poole Town, Hamworthy United and Bournemouth Gasworks Athletic.

Successor club

Longfleet FC was formed in 1988 and over the years has steadily grown into a well-established club running many teams from boys through to adults.

They are an accredited club and are affiliated to the Dorset County Football Association. The men's Saturday side are members of the Dorset League, whilst the Sunday side were long standing members of the Bournemouth League until 2025 when the competition was taken over by the Dorset League. The club also run a successful ladies team, known as the Longfleet Lionesses who are members of the Dorset Women's League and enter national competitions.

With numerous teams, Longfleet use various pitches in the area for their home games. In 2025 they teamed up with Poole High School to transform the local pitches for the benefit of the community after receiving a generous grant from the Football Foundation.

References

External links

Longfleet FC website Longfleet St Marys at the Football Club History Database Hampshire League final tables Dorset League final tables Hampshire Soccer Archive