SENIOR grassroots teams in Dorset have seen their league allocations for the 2022/23 season revised.
In total, there are 14 new or sidestepped clubs across the seven divisions – many coming across to the Dorset Football League from the Bournemouth equivalent.
That boosts the total clubs in Dorset at Step 7 downwards to 92.
Echosport takes a look at the leagues in full, detailing the new teams, side-steppers, folded clubs, promotions and relegations.
READ MORE: Parley destroy Broadstone Reserves in 19-goal feast
DORSET PREMIER LEAGUE
- Balti Sports
- Blandford United
- Bournemouth Sports
- Bridport Reserves
- Dorchester Sports
- Hamworthy United Reserves
- Holt United
- Merley Cobham Sports
- Poole Borough
- Portland United Reserves
- Shaftesbury Town Reserves
- Sherborne Town Reserves
- Sturminster Marshall
- Sturminster Newton United
- Swanage Town & Herston
- Wareham Rangers
- Westland Sports
- Wimborne Town Reserves
HAMWORTHY Recreation finally won their battle to take part in Step 6 football after winning the Dorset Premier League for a third time in three completed seasons in 2021/22.
Corfe Castle finished bottom and were relegated, although the Purbeck side have now folded their first team for the second time since 2020.
The two gaps are filled by Dorset Senior League champions Sturminster Marshall and Wimborne Town Reserves – subject to ratification.
Action gets under way from Saturday, August 13 to the second week of May.
DORSET SENIOR LEAGUE
- Beaminster
- Bisterne United
- Bournemouth Electric
- Chickerell United
- Dorchester Sports Reserves
- Merley Cobham Reserves
- Portland Town
- Stalbridge
- Tisbury United
- Upwey & Broadwey
- Westland Reserves
- Wincanton Town Reserves
FOUR teams earned promotion to the Dorset Senior League for the upcoming season.
Division One winners Bournemouth Electric go up along with Bisterne United, Portland Town and Upwey & Broadwey.
Absentees include the folded Corfe Castle, development league-bound Hamworthy Rec Reserves and Broadstone Seniors, who have folded.
DORSET LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
- Alderholt
- Allendale
- Blandford Reserves
- Bournemouth Electric Reserves
- Bournemouth Sports Reserves
- Bridport Development
- Cranborne
- Milborne Port Reserves
- Parley
- Puddletown
- Sturminster Newton United Reserves
- Swanage Town & Herston Reserves
- Wareham Rangers Reserves
- Wool United
INITIALLY going in opposite directions to the four promoted teams from Division One, were relegated Bridport Thirds and Wareham Rangers Reserves. Bridport Thirds are now known as Bridport Development.
However, both teams have now been given a reprieve.
Cranborne have been relegated from the Senior League, while Division Two champions Parley plus Puddletown and Sturminster Newton Reserves also rise a division.
Bournemouth Electric Reserves take the sidestep from the Bournemouth Hayward League.
DIVISION TWO
- Allendale Reserves
- Bisterne Reserves
- Broadmayne
- Canford United
- Handley Sports
- Maiden Newton
- Piddlehinton United
- Poole Borough Reserves
- Portesham
- Portland Panthers
- Ridgeway United (formerly Redlands)
DIVISION Two only features 11 teams in 2022/23, with Poole Borough Reserves jumping two divisions in the revised list.
Broadstone Seniors Reserves have folded, while Wool United Reserves drop two leagues to Division Four. Bisterne Reserves step across from the Hayward League.
Replacing the three promoted teams are Division Three champions Handley Sports, along with Portland Panthers and Ridgeway United – formerly known as Redlands.
DIVISION THREE
- Bere Regis
- Corfe Mullen United
- Crossways Spitfires
- Mudeford
- Okeford United
- Parton
- Porton Sports
- Shillingstone
- Westover Bournemouth
- Witchampton United
- Wyke Regis
THIRTEEN teams also comprise Division Three, with a plethora of new clubs in the league.
Mudeford and Westover Bournemouth join from the Hayward League, while Witchampton have reformed after folding in pre-pandemic times.
However, Bournemouth Sports Lions have folded but are replaced by promoted duo Crossways Spitfires, the Division Four champions and Shillingstone.
DIVISION FOUR
- Blandford United A
- Corfe Castle Reserves
- DI United
- Donhead United
- Milborne Sports
- Poole Bay
- Portland Panthers Reserves
- Portland Town Reserves
- Puddletown Reserves
- Sturminster Marshall Reserves
- Wessex Phoenix
- Wool Reserves
- Wyke Regis Reserves
THERE is a big shake-up in Division Four with seven teams coming in to the league.
Wool Reserves settle after dropping two tiers, while Poole Bay were relegated from Division Three.
DI United stay in Division Four after the list was revised.
Puddletown Reserves, Wyke Regis Reserves and Sturminster Marshall Reserves all go up from Division Five.
Wessex Phoenix come in as a newly-formed club but Marnhull have folded.
DIVISION FIVE
- AFC Damerham
- Hotspire
- Chickerell United Reserves
- Crossways Spitfires Reserves
- Longfleet
- Maiden Newton Reserves
- Portland Town Thirds
- Silvercross
- Stalbridge Reserves
- Sturminster Newton United Thirds
- Tisbury Reserves
- Verwood Athletic
- Woodville Wanderers
BY FAR the biggest number of changes come Division Five, however.
There are seven newly-created teams: AFC Damerham, Hotspire, Crossways Reserves, Longfleet, Sturminster Newton United Thirds, Verwood Athletic, Woodville Wanderers.
Chickerell United Reserves also restart in Division Five after withdrawing from Dorset League action last season.
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