Bournemouth

Louis Kellaway will have more time to recover after a hamstring injury and the postponement once again of the away fixture at Laverstock & Ford.

The former Wimborne Town player will obviously not be expected to be hurried back and this a game where we have a good opportunity to continue our recent form though we will not underestimate Bournemouth at all.

A fans favourite at Cockrams for his committed performances in the red, white and black perhaps will make him available for selection for Saturdays trip to Victoria Park, Namu Road in the Velocity Wessex League Premier Division.

We got bitten at Sherborne Town and Fareham Town which ultimately derailed title hopes somewhat yet has led to Jim Milligan reorganizing the troops and the performances against AFC Stoneham and AFC Portchester showed we can mix it with the best.

I can confidentiality say I would fancy our chances in the play offs and if it’s not to be then next season we can start with a clean slate. Moneyfields and either AFC Portchester or AFC Stoneham would be gone unless the 5th place team upsets the form book. It can happen.

The wider picture is what we are building here. Not just on the pitch, off it as well. Some clubs make the Southern League South West Division quickly yet Bemerton Heath Harlequins, Mousehole, Exmouth Town etc would all advise stability. As we saw with Hamworthy United they had to make a decision to save their club. It wasn’t an easy one to do either after the success they had.

Milligan is not just a football manager he is a business man as is chairman Steve Coffen. Coffen has played for the club and is a local person who for whom Shaftesbury FC 1888 is very important to him as it is to all us locals that care about it. When people visit we often get a lot of positive comments and about the 3G pitch. We know there are those that come wanting mud and go away saying they can see why we’ve got it.

🎯 Marksmen – Brett Pitman 50, Cam Beard 13, Callum Sweeney 9, Asa Philips 6, Greg Peel 6

* That are still with club

A club steeped in history since the 1875 merger and with a potential USP of being in a student area with a fine retro ground that has could well appeal to a potential audience they have rather sadly had to live in the shadows of the Premier League club AFC Bournemouth.

Traditionally though the ‘Poppies’ and famous amateur side Bournemouth Gasworks before were popular clubs and there was interest in them. Bournemouth FC have stayed in the Wessex League top flight from 1986-2024, though only one division originally it’s still an amazing feat.

Each season they have maintained Step 5 status and for that deserve credit. There are so many people being priced out of the top flight clubs that are finding the joy of non league football, affordable admission, a good standard and being made to feel welcome most of all.

📝 Recent Form – Manager Phil Brown once more steers the ship away from the relegation zone and into 15th spot with a 4-2 win over United Services Portsmouth to move them onto 28 points.

They shared a 4-4 draw at Hamble Club and a 3-3 draw with Fareham Town earning them five points following a disappointing 3-0 home defeat to Brockenhurst. Previously to that and following a home defeat by the same score to Baffins Milton Rovers they had earned a 2-2 draw at Laverstock & Ford and perhaps their best result a 2-0 win over Cowes Sports at Namu Road.

This had been a welcome result coming off the back of 2-1 defeats at Blackfield & Langley and United Services Portsmouth, games Brown would have been optimistic of getting a return from.

They looked a decent side here in August in our 3-1 win. Our USP? Play like we did at USP and dig in! Winning those second balls may well be on Milligan’s mind rather than champagne football. I think we have learnt how to mix it up a bit.

💎 Browns Gem – On virtually no budget Brown puts together a side that stays in the league and his striker Joe Freak has hit 25 goals this season. This is an amazing return that Freak is up there amongst the top scorers.

🎯 Marksmen – Joe Freak 25, Kyle Graham 8, Jaden Medcraff 4, Jake Adams 3, Cameron McMonagle 2

2022/23

31/01/23

Shaftesbury 3 (Pope, Bayston, Farrugia)

Bournemouth 0

Attendance – 84

Last season – 07/09/22

Bournemouth 1 (Finch) Shaftesbury 3 (Philips 2, Burbidge)

Attendance -110

2023/24

08/08/24

Shaftesbury 3 (Philips 2 Pitman) Bournemouth 1 (Freak)

Attendance – 135

Review/Photos – Avril Lancaster 🐌

The entrance at Victoria Park.

The programme from our meeting last season.

The fine old stand. A gem in a modern era to the history of football in the BCO area.