Ground Capacity 95,000(150 seated) Manager Trevor Senior | Nickname(s) The Bees on a mad one Chairman Ollie Hoole Founded 1885 | |
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Ground The Hive LadsSt. Mary's Field, Bridport League Western Football League Premier Division | ||
Bridport Football Club is a football club based in Bridport, Dorset, England. They currently play in the Western League Premier Division. The club is affiliated to the Dorset County Football Association and is a FA chartered Standard club. They are currently members of the Western League Premier Division and play at St Mary's Field.
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History
Bridport FC was established on 7 October 1885 and, in their early years, played in a variety of leagues, including the Dorset League, South Dorset League, West Dorset League, and Perry Street League.
They were among the founding members of the Dorset Combination in 1957. Bridport joined the Western Football League in 1961 where they played until the 1983–84 season when they resigned and their record was expunged. Taking their reserve side's place in the Dorset Combination, the club finished third in 1984–85 and then went on to win the league three times in a row. Following the third title, Bridport was accepted back into the Western League, this time playing in Division One. A runners-up performance in 1993–94 allowed the club to return to the Premier Division, but an 11-year run in the top flight came to an end with relegation following the 2004–05 season.
Former Crystal Palace player Paul Hammond took over as manager from Kevin Donovan in the Summer of 2006 and led the club to a mid-table position. Boosted by a cash injection of nearly £250,000 in June 2007 from the Football Partnership which meant Bridport Football Club were able to plan major development of the dressing rooms and club house. However, on 22 June 2007, Hammond resigned. Former reserve team manager Royston Davies, who Hammond sacked in October 2006, was appointed as first team manager on 30 June 2007. After a poor run of results, Royston Davies resigned as manager on 20 March 2008, citing health reasons for his departure. Davies' assistant and long-time Bridport player Mark Lock took over as caretaker manager.
In May 2008, ex Weymouth player Ian Hutchinson was named as the new manager. In June 2009, Ian Hutchinson left The Bees to re-join Weymouth as Assistant Manager. Trevor Senior, the ex-Reading, Watford and Middlesbrough player was appointed Manager.
Bridport were promoted to the Premier Division in 2010–11 after finishing in third place.
They have reached the Fourth Round of the FA Vase twice and the Fifth Round once in their history. All three Vase runs came within a four-year period from the 1987–88 season to the 1990–91 season. In FA Cup, they reached the Third Qualifying Round in season 1957–58.
Ground
Bridport play their home games at St Mary's Field, Skilling Hill Road, Bridport, Dorset, DT6 5LA.