The Emirates FA Cup trophy made a special visit to Sturminster Newton United this week, as the Dorset club prepares for one of the most significant fixtures in its history.
Fans, players, club staff and members of the local community gathered at the club's stadium this week to see the iconic silverware ahead of Stur’s extra preliminary round tie against Portland United on Saturday.
The visit comes at a landmark moment for the club, which is preparing to take part in the competition for the first time in 148 years, marking the longest gap between FA Cup appearances in history.
Founded in 1871, the same year as the FA Cup itself, Sturminster Newton United traces its roots back to founder club Sturminster Newton Panthers, one of the competitions early participants.
Records show that the club’s last appearance in the competition came in December 1878, when it’s believed that the squad made a two-day journey by horse and carriage to London to face Old Harrovians at The Oval just four days before Christmas. This time, the challenge is much closer to home, with a 35-mile trip to fellow Dorset side Portland United standing between them and a place in the Preliminary Round against Moneyfields.
The trophy's arrival in town provided a fitting opportunity to celebrate that remarkable history and mark the start of a new FA Cup journey for the club and its supporters.
The club also created a number of commemorative items to mark the occasion, including special pennants and bespoke warm-up shirts featuring both the current Sturminster Newton United crest and the crest of founder club Sturminster Newton Panthers. The shirts, which feature the number "148" on the back, will be worn by players in the warm-up ahead of Saturday’s tie.
Club Chairman, Lee Bright, commented on the opportunity to have the silverware at the club: “The whole town’s been buzzing all week to see the trophy. We have teams from youth ages right through to the seniors, and to see them all have their moment with the Cup has been great. For this to happen, and to make history in the way that we are, is phenomenal, and we’re really looking forward to Saturday.”
As attention now turns to this weekend’s match, the club will hope that a celebration of the past can inspire a memorable return to the competition almost 150 years on.
This story was produced in collaboration with FA Cup Factfile, whose research helped spotlight Sturminster Newton United’s place in FA Cup history.
