Bournemouth Sports F.C.

The original club were formed in 1974 as Barclays House, the works side of the office building in Poole and played in the Bournemouth League.

During the early 1980s, Barclays Bank bought the land at Chapel Gate and began developing the venue into the large sports complex that exists today.^[2]

In 1987, the Kinson based team became known as Bournemouth Sports after the parent club purchased the site and invited them to become their football section. The move paid dividends as they then enjoyed a meteoric rise up the Dorset League, winning a number of titles along the way.^[3]

When Chapel Gate was finally completed in 1989, Sports took up permanent residence and immediately won the Division 2 title. Their fine new facilities and decent playing record resulted in a 'double promotion' to the Dorset Combination (now known as the Dorset Premier League).^[4]

Despite the big step-up, Sports consistently finished in the top half of the table and were twice runners-up. They won the League Cup in 1997 after defeating Hamworthy Recreation 3–2 in the final.^[5] However, by the new millennium their fortunes had declined and they folded in 2007 after finishing bottom.^[6]

Two years later, the present day Bournemouth Sports was reformed after successful local Sunday side Mercury accepted an invitation to become their new men's team, also resurrecting the Saturday side. In 2010 the club was awarded FA Charter status after merging with Canon Colts, who then became their Youth section.^[7]

After a couple of decent seasons in the Bournemouth League, they joined the Hampshire Premier League in 2011 and twice finished in a creditable midtable position, but left in 2014 after a difficult season.^[8]

'The Lions' returned to the Bournemouth League for a spell of rebuilding, but when that competition ended, they then transferred to the Dorset League along with the other remaining clubs.^[9] In 2019 they returned to the Dorset Premier League (taking over neighbours Parley Sports place), and after some encouraging seasons were champions in 2025.^[10]

The ladies section was established in 2013 and the first team have successfully have since progressed to the Women's National League South ^[11] and regular entrants in the national FA Women's Cup.

• Dorset Premier League
  • Champions 2024–25, Runners-up 1994-95 and 1996–97
  • League Cup Winners 1996–97
• Dorset League
  • Division 2 Champions 1989–90
  • Division 3 East Champions 1987–88, Runners-up 1986–87
  • Division 4 East Champions 1985–86
• Bournemouth League
  • Division 2 Champions 1990-91 (Reserves)
• Dorset Football Association
  • Minor Cup Winners 1985–86

Bournemouth Sports Football Club play at the Chapel Gate Sports Campus, East Parley, Dorset, BH23 6BL (next door to Bournemouth Airport).^[12] They and can be located in the far right corner, behind the caged artificial pitches. Here they have their own separate changing rooms and pitch, which is enclosed with a permanent barrier and stand.

The 65-acre site is now owned by Bournemouth University ^[13] and used primarily for their teams. It has a large car park and a multipurpose building that includes changing facilites, several function rooms and a licensed bar. The complex is also home to Bournemouth Rugby ^[14] and Bournemouth Cricket Club,^[15] both of which are affiliated to the parent Sports Club, which also includes hockey and archery.

Prior to the opening of their new facility at Canford Magna, AFC Bournemouth regularly used the site for training and youth team matches.