Palace Court Football Club History

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The first signs of organised football by members of the present day club began in 1980 with the formation of The Gang F.C. This team was a six-a-side set up and games were played on a farm field in Burton Street, Marnhull. In those early days it was left to the players to cut down the grass before play could commence in the yellow and blue shirts bought for a pound a piece in a sale. Part of the ground in Burton Street has now been developed for housing, although the actual pitch still exists. The club hold a few photographs of matches at this ground in our photographic records.

The founder members of The Gang F.C were Tim Lancaster, Pete Lancaster, and Andrew Dawe. In 1982 the club changed it's name to Palace Court Football Club, taking the name from an hotel in Bournemouth. Two years later Palace Court began playing eleven-a-side fixtures, moving grounds to Marnhull Recreation Ground, and culminating with a successful application to join the re-formed Blackmore Vale Sunday League for the 1987/88 season. Marnhull Newsagents became the clubs first sponsor and Palace Court changed their colours to green and white hooped shirts. Palace Court lost their opening Blackmore Vale League fixture 3-4 against Templecombe after trailing 0-4 at one stage. This was the clubs first ever competitive game at Marnhull Recreation Ground. Palace Court were relegated in bottom spot that season and following this the club finished second from bottom of the newly created division two for the next two years. In season 1990/91 Palace Court finished bottom of division two and were relegated to division three. An improved campaign followed, and the club finished in fifth spot, Cooper Construction were the clubs sponsors, and this resulted in Palace Court adopting their traditional colours of black and white.

On July 21st 1992 the club celebrated ten years as Palace Court Football Club with a fixture against GM Vauxhall Conference side Yeovil Town at Marnhull Recreation Ground. The night before the game had seen thunder and lightning descend on The Recreation Ground as club members prepared the pitch. The following evening could not have been in greater contrast as the clouds cleared and the sun came out to ensure that the game would go ahead in good conditions. Palace Court lost the game 0-8, and attracted their record attendance of 340 to The Recreation Ground. The following league campaign resulted in the club finishing fourth, and reach the semi-finals of The Invitation Cup, losing 2-5 to Railway Inn at Marnhull Recreation Ground. The 1994/95 season saw Palace Court finish fifth in division two under the leadership of Bernie Hall and Andrew Dawe. The club began the 1995/96 campaign with two sides, the first team finishing as runners-up to Maiden Bradley in division two, with the reserve side, sponsored by Forward Garage, finishing sixth in division four. The achievement of the first team in finishing runners-up meant that the club were promoted to division one for the following season, however as the promotion winning side broke up relegation was suffered as Palace Court found division one too difficult for our capabilities. The reserves enjoyed an eighth place finish in division three under the management of Pete Lancaster.

In 1997/98 Palace Court were in the promotion chase until March, eventually finishing fourth in division two, Dave Merefield took the reserve side to safety in division three, with club history created on December 14th 1997 as the first team met the reserve team in The Blackmore Vale League Challenge Cup first round, the first team winning the tie 6-1. The 1998/99 campaign saw both sides finish in fifth position in their respective leagues, although 1999/00 proved a difficult season for the first team with relegation to division three avoided by a single point ahead of Templecombe and South Cheriton United. The reserves finished in seventh spot in division three. Palace Court Football Club have produced a programme for almost every fixture in the clubs history, and possess detailed records of every playing statistic since formation. The club have played on eleven senior football grounds in England and Wales, performing at Crockenhill of The Kent League, Cove from The Combined Counties league, Whitehawk of The Sussex County League, and East Ham United of The Essex Senior League. To this day we remain as the most distant club to play at Crockenhills Wested Meadow, having made the journey to Kent on May 15th 1994 to face Crockenhill Dundee in a friendly. Closer to home we have played at The Avenue Stadium, Dorchester Town Football Club and at Dorset Combination League grounds at Sturminster Newton United, Sherborne Town, and Shaftesbury. We have also played at Okeford United of The Dorset County League, and at Potterne Park, home of Hampshire League club Verwood Town. On May 2nd 2004 Palace Court played their first match outside of England when they travelled to Wales to face Goytre United Veterans.

The 2000/01 season saw the club sponsored by The Blackmore Vale Inn at Marnhull, however on the field performances failed to live up to expectations and the first team finished second from bottom in division two. The reserve side had to be content with a fourth place position in division three, despite initially challenging for promotion. On April 7th 2002 Palace Court lifted the Dorset Sunday Minor Cup after defeating Royal Portland Arms 3-1 at Dorchester Town Football Club infront of 205 spectators. The reserve team reached the final of the Merthyr Guest Cup where they lost 3-1 against Templecombe Rovers on May 16th 2002 at South Cheriton United Football Club. The 2002/03 campaign commenced with a fixture against Dr Martens League Eastern Division club Dorchester Town at Marnhull Recreation Ground to celebrate Palace Court Football Clubs twentieth anniversary. A crowd of 127 spectators saw Dorchester Town win 15-2. The 1st XI finished bottom in division one with the reserve team placed third in the second division. The following campaign resulted in the reserve team lifting the second division championship after a strong challenge from M.B.F.C. The title was secured with victory at Wincanton Athletic on May 9th 2004. Andy & Dave Duke became the first management team to lead the club to a league championship. Twenty one days later the reserve team completed the 'Double' collecting The Merthyr Guest Cup for the first time in the clubs history when they defeated M.B.F.C. 4-2 at South Cheriton United on May 30th 2004. The 1st XI under the control of Bernie Hall avoided relegation on the final day of the season having appeared doomed to the drop in February before gaining maximum points from the final three league games against South Cheriton United, Sherborne West End and Bruton Town. The 1st XI were Harold Wisdom Fair Play Cup winners for the 2003/04 campaign, collecting the magnificent trophy at the league AGM on June 8th 2004.

The 2004/05 season saw Palace Court Reserves retain the Blackmore Vale League second division championship under the management of Duncan Hammond. The side also reached the Merthyr Guest Cup final where they lost 2-1 to K&S Eagles at Shaftesbury Town F.C. before 125 spectators on April 10th 2005. The first team finished in sixth place in The Blackmore Vale League first division and reached the quarter finals of The Dorset Sunday Junior Cup. On March 7th 2005 work began on the improvement of the pavillion at Marnhull Recreation Ground, a £30,000 grant received from The Liveability Fund plus input from the sports clubs in the village. At the many meetings concerning this project the club was represented by Mrs Anthea Lancaster, our secretary since the clubs formation. The 2005/06 season commenced with Palace Court making use of the facilities for the first time on September 25th when participating in the initial Dorset 'Groundhop' event hosting Kings Arms in a Blackmore Vale League Challenge Cup preliminary round tie that attracted a crowd of 53 to Marnhull Recreation Ground. The campaign ended with the reserves claiming runners-up spot in The Blackmore Vale League second division behind champions Sturminster Rovers. The 1st XI finished fifth in The Blackmore Vale League first division and also reached the final of The McCreery Cup for the first time in the clubs history, losing 5-3 against M.B.F.C. at Bishops Caundle on May 21st 2006.

The following season resulted in the first XI finishing fifth in division one under Andrew Duke and Richie Roff, with the reserves placed eighth in division two. The reserve side also reached The Merthyr Guest Cup Final losing 3-2 against Kings Arms at Milborne Port on May 13th 2007 in front of a crowd of 72, this despite trailing 3-0 with under a quarter of an hour to go. Reserve team manager Jon Cook departed in the summer, and the club embarked on achieving Charter Club status at the AGM held on 15th June 2007.