HUNDREDS of football fans both young and old poured into Sturminster Newton to take a glimpse at one of football's most iconic trophies.
There was a packed turnout at the Sturminster Newton United's We Heat South Stadium as fans queued around the clubhouse corner in Honeymead Lane on Tuesday evening.
The trophy was making its first appearance this season after Manchester City lifted the cup in May following a 1-0 win over Chelsea at Wembley.
The Cherries were picked for the first outing as they prepare to take part in the competition for the first time in 148 years on Saturday when they travel to Portland United in the extra-preliminary round.
Club chairman Lee Bright admitted he “couldn’t actually believe it” when he first heard the FA Cup would be paying a visit to the club ahead of their long‑awaited return to the competition.
“Yeah, incredible,” he said, as fans waited for the trophy to arrive inside the clubhouse. “I couldn’t actually believe it when it was set up and the FA approved everything.
"It was just a dream come true. I honestly thought it was a wind‑up at the start. But it’s here now, so obviously moving forward is phenomenal. The whole town is buzzing.”
Club secretary Taylor Mowlem was proudly sporting Sturminster Newton’s special commemorative shirt for their FA Cup return - a design that nods to the club’s history when they were known as the Panthers back in 1878.
“It’s quite a memorable shirt,” she explained. “The boys in our Portland match will be warming up in this top. It’s got the Panthers logo on one side, our crest on the other side, and then 148 on the back just to show how long it’s been since we were last in the FA Cup.”
For Mowlem, who has been around the club since childhood, seeing the FA Cup up close was a personal milestone as much as a club one.
“Yeah, it’s cool,” she said. “I’ve been a member of the club since I was little. My dad used to play for the club. So to be able to see the cup here, it’s a real achievement and we should all be proud of that actually.”
First in the queue were Crystal Palace fans Robbie Proctor, Raymond Proctor and Freddie Fowles, who were delighted to get up close to the trophy their club won in 2025.
Robbie said: "We're Palace fans but we play for the club too. I just can't believe it's here.
"Knowing the people who have held it is great and nice to get a photo with it."
Reserve team manager Callum Frampton also posed with the club's under 9 squad which his son Oscar is part of.
"It's probably one of the best things I have experienced off the pitch here at Sturminster," he said. "I have been here since I was. We are a small town, we don't even have a proper supermarket so having the cup here is great."
Oscar added: "It's awesome."
But it was not only the young fans who were enjoying the evening. Brian 85, was getting his first glimpse of the trophy up close.
"My first memory of the cup was the 1953 final when Blackpool were beaten by Bolton," recalls Brian. "It was the first ever one at Wembley, Blackpool lost 4-3 and it was known as the Stanley Matthews final."
He added: "Seeing the trophy is quite spectacular, it's got so much history."
Sturminster Newton take on Portland United at the Camp & Satherley on Saturday August 8 when the magic of the cup gets underway for the 2026/27 campaign.
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