With AFC Bournemouth’s continued Premier League success and plans for a new ground not yet submitted, it’s becoming harder for fans to be able to get tickets. With this in mind, where else in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole area can football fans go to get their football fix? Let’s take a look…
Wimborne Town FC
Let’s start with the club with the highest average attendance last season, with 761, Southern Premier side Wimborne Town.
The Magpies won the Southern League Division One South at the end of last season and play at the purpose-built Wyatt Homes Stadium. Wimborne are also the only club in the area to win the FA Vase, doing so in 1992.
Wimborne have a large youth set up, a reserve team that plays in the Dorset Premier League (Step Seven) and in 2023 appointed goalscoring goalkeeper Jimmy Glass as the clubs general manager.
| Nickname | The Magpies |
| Founded | 1878 |
| Stadium | The Wyatt Homes Stadium, Wimborne, BH21 2FU |
| League | Southern Premier South (Step 3) |
| Manager | Tim Sills |
| Distance from AFCB | 11 miles |
Poole Town FC
Wimborne’s Southern Premier rivals, Poole Town, have been established at step three for a long time, and made the National South play-offs in 2017. However, they weren’t allowed to compete due to ground grading.
The Dolphins parted ways with manager of 20 years Tom Killick in 2023 and have had three permanent appointments since. The club has ambition to return to the National South but have struggled so far this season.
| Nickname | The Dolphins |
| Stadium | The BlackGold Stadium, Poole, BH15 3JR |
| Founded | 1890 |
| League | Southern Premier South (Step 3) |
| Manager | Joe Lea & Pat Suraci |
| Distance from AFCB | 8 miles |
Bournemouth FC
AFC Bournemouth’s namesake have long competed in the Wessex Premier, a division from which they have never been promoted, or indeed relegated from.
The Poppies have stagnated in recent years, regularly battling relegation, but have found form this season and currently sit in a comfortable mid-table position.
| Nickname | The Poppies |
| Founded | 1875 |
| Stadium | Victoria Park, Bournemouth, BH9 2RA |
| League | Wessex Premier League (Step 5) |
| Manager | Phillip Brown |
| Distance from AFCB | 3 miles |
Christchurch FC
Christchurch play at the Hurn Bridge Sports Ground, close to Bournemouth Airport, in the Wessex Premier League.
The Church have struggled in recent seasons but had a notable FA Cup run in 2020. The run culminated in a televised third qualifying round tie with National South side Dulwich Hamlet, which ended in 3-1 defeat on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
| Nickname | The Church |
| Founded | 1885 |
| Stadium | Hurn Bridge Sports Club, Christchurch, BH23 6DY |
| League | Wessex Premier League (Step 5) |
| Manager | Christer Warren & Wayne Crutcher |
| Distance from AFCB | 4.5 miles |
Hamworthy Recreation FC
Ham Rec are a club that have had a lot of recent success. The club have had back-to-back promotions winning the Dorset Premier League, and then the Wessex League Division One, to now find themselves competing at the upper end of the Wessex Premier League.
The Rec are the current holders of the Dorset Senior Cup and are in this season’s final too.
| Nickname | The Rec |
| Founded | 1948 |
| Stadium | The BJM Stadium, Canford Magna, BH21 3AL |
| League | Wessex Premier League (Step 5) |
| Manager | Kirk Grice |
| Distance from AFCB | 7.5 miles |
Hamworthy United FC
Hamworthy United are a club who experienced rapid growth before a rapid fall. Under current Wimborne boss, Tim Sills, they gained promotion to the Southern League Division One South and reached the semi-finals of both the FA Vase and Dorset Senior Cup. Current manager, Dan Cann, continued their growth after Sills left, guiding them to the play-off final before losing to Sholing.
In October 2023, the Hammers were forced to withdraw out of the Southern League due to a stand being condemned at the Dorset County Ground and not meeting the required regulations. They now compete in the Wessex League Division One.
| Nickname | The Hammers |
| Founded | 1970 |
| Stadium | The County Ground, Poole, BH15 4BF |
| League | Wessex Division One (Step 6) |
| Manager | Dan Cann |
| Distance from AFCB | 9 miles |
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