They`ve Played For Your Club…..Dorchester Town

Series on well-known players who have represented the current clubs in the Southern Football League.

We`ll start off with a player the Magpies definitely missed out on in Matty Tubbs!

The striker started out with Bournemouth and then moved north to spend two years on Bolton Wanderers` books as a scholar.

After he failed to earn a deal with the Trotters, Tubbs returned to Dorset and was re-signed by the Cherries in 2003 on non-contract terms.

However, that second spell at Dean Court was a short one and he made the short trip to join Southern League Premier Division side Dorchester.

But once again his time with the Magpies lasted only two months after they let him go.

By the time he departed from the club, Tubbs made 11 appearances and scored 2 goals.

The move that really kick-started his career though came when he joined Southern Division One East outfit Salisbury City following his departure from Dorchester.

He went on to become one of the most sought-after strikers outside the Football League, scoring 108 goals for the Whites in 250 games – and even had a loan spell back at Bournemouth in 2008 when he played 8 games scoring once.

He helped Salisbury to win the Southern Premier title in 2005/06 and to finish second in their first season in the Conference South the following season and also won two England C international caps.

It seemed only a matter of time before he would return to the full-time ranks but when he did in July 2010, rather than it be a Football League side,Tubbs signed a two-year deal with Conference Premier club Crawley Town for a then-club record fee of £55,000.

But he got his wish eventually as Crawley won their place in League Two with Tubbs contributing 40 goals in 48 games.

In January 2012, Tubbs returned to a now-League One Bournemouth for a fee in the region of £800,000 on a three-and-a-half-year contract.

Hew managed 38 games and 7 goals for the Cherries this time and also had loan spells with Rotherham United, AFC Wimbledon and back at Crawley.

After leaving Bournemouth for the last time in 2015, he went on to have spells with Portsmouth, Forest Green Rovers, Sutton United, Eastleigh, Havant & Watelooville and Gosport Borough.

He finished playing in 2009 and is now a strength and conditioning coach and personal trainer.

Paul Thorpe

Whilst with the Welsh club, he was involved in a European Cup Winners` Cup tie as a substitute in 1980/81.

He joined Yeovil Town in the Alliance Premier League and became a firm fan favourite at The Huish.

Yeovil eventually granted him a testimonial against Swindon Town in July 1993 having made 144 appearances and scored 12 goals in his six seasons with the Glovers.

He signed for Dorchester, who had to shell out a £3,000 fee for the big defender.

He later played for Trowbridge Town, Portland United in the Wessex League, was assistant manager at Frome Town and Chard Town in the Western League and after a break, in 2017 he joined the management team at Western League Premier Division outfit Bridport.

He currently works locally for a large community housing group, Thorpe also enjoys co-commentating on Yeovil games for Three Valleys Radio.

Danny Ings was only on loan with Dorchester. However, he made a massive impact with the Magpies and it`s said that his form in with the then-Conference South outfit led to his £1m move to Burnley in August 2011.

Ings` career actually began as a youngster with his local team, Netley Central Sports, who played in the Hampshire League.

Rejected by Southampton for being `too small`, Ings was offered a chance by AFC Bournemouth in 2009 and ironically, made his debut by coming off the bench to replace current Cherries` boss Jason Tindall at Northampton Town in the Johnstone`s Paint Trophy!

In September 2010, after being unable to obtain a place in the Bournemouth first team, he was sent to Dorchester on loan.

His initial month`s stay was extended as he notched 4 goals in 9 games. The Cherries agreed to a third month`s stay with Dorchester but an injury crisis saw him recalled to Dean Court in the November and he signed a new contract after rumours of big clubs watching him at Dorchester circulated.

After joining Burnley his career blossomed and the rest, as they say, is history and, after an injury-hit spell with Liverpool, the now Southampton star is also a full England international to add to 13 under-21 caps he won whilst with Burnley.

Shaun Brooks signed for Dorchester in December 1993.

By then he was already a very experienced midfielder who started his career with Crystal Palace.

The son of former England player Johnny Brooks, Shaun began his career with Crystal Palace.

He made his senior debut for the Eagles in April 1980 and was in and out of the team until leaving in 1983 after making 54 appearances and scoring 4 goals for Palace.

He moved across London to join Leyton Orient and in four seasons at Brisbane Road, he made 148 appearances scoring 26 times before moving on to Bournemouth in 1987.

He played 128 times with 13 goals for the Cherries but was released in 1992.

He arrived at Dorchester and spent two seasons with the Magpies before making a brief and surprise return to Bournemouth at the age of 33.

Brooks finished his League career with a second spell with Leyton Orient, adding a further 50 games to his tally before moving to Isthmian League side Worthing in 1996.

After hanging up his boots, Brooks has become a respected coach with his own coaching company and has managed in non-League football with the likes of Winchester City, has been back at Bournemouth as assistant manager and as academy boss, Poole Town and has also been back at Dorchester as director of football.

Trevor Townsend is a former England Schoolboy international who began his career with Bournemouth.

After being released by the Cherries he signed for neighbours Poole Town but it was at Dorchester where he really found a home.

Signing in 1982, the defender went on to become the record appearance holder with 585 until it was broken by Mark Jermyn (see below) a decade or so later.

Townsend was rewarded with a joint testimonial match with Keith Miller in April 1989 against AFC Bournemouth before hanging up his boots in 1993.

Mark Jermyn now holds the record number of appearances for Dorchester.

In fact, when he returned for a second spell with the Magpies in 2015, he increased his number of games for the club to over 700.

He began his career as a trainee at Torquay United, making one substitute appearance for the Gulls before becoming a full time professional in July 1999.

But was released and moved to Bideford in March 2000 before joining Dorchester for the first time in July 2000.

A versatile player has played in a number of positions during his time at the club but was happiest anchoring the team from the centre of the field.

In August 2012 his loyalty to the club was honoured with a testimonial match against Portsmouth.

He passed Trevor Townsend`s appearance record and totalled 695 with 28 goals before leaving, somewhat reluctantly, after the club offered him a much-reduced deal in 2014.

Earlier, following the departure of Ashley Vickers as manager in October 2011, Jermyn served as joint caretaker boss with Phil Simkin until the appointment of Alan Knight in November 2011, when he became player-coach - a role which he has continued to undertake under the legendary former Portsmouth goalkeeper.

He left to join neighbouring Poole Town in 2014 but was back at the Avenue Stadium as player-manager in January 2015.

However, in December 2016 Jermyn decided to quit after he was asked to cut his wage budget.

Peter Conning signed for the Magpies in December 1992 from Bashley.

He started out with his home-town club Liverpool, joining as a 16-year-old in 1980.

He played through the junior sides but was released in 1983, despite winning three England Schoolboy international caps during his final year at Anfield.

He then briefly joined the youth set up at Wigan Athletic and had a brief spell at South Liverpool before starting university in Liverpool.

Whilst studying he joined Alliance Premier League side Altrincham at the very end of the 1983/84 season.

During the following 1984/85 season, he became more of a regular in the Robins` side and played in the FA Cup games against Blackpool and Doncaster Rovers and in the FA Trophy side that made the semi-finals, against Boston United.

He had a successful 84/85 season and played in Altrincham’s FA Cup run beating Chorley, Blackpool and, famously, First Division Birmingham City, before Alty lost to York City in the Fourth Round.

It was a season that culminated in an appearance in the 1-0 Wembley win over Runcorn in the FA Trophy Final.

Having graduated from university, Conning was offered the chance to play professionally in the Football League at Fourth Division Rochdale.

It wasn’t a successful spell and, although he played 40 League games during the season, scoring once, he was released at the end of the campaign.

Moving south, he joined Alliance Premier League, rivals, Weymouth and proved to be an instant success.

During the 1987/88 season he scored a total of 18 goals, and although he was not as prolific the following season, his performances were enough to attract interest from Alliance newcomers, Yeovil Town, who paid £13,000 for him.

The following 1989/90 season he played a full part in Yeovil’s success, scoring 8 goals in 48 appearances as the Somerset side made it to the final of the Bob Lord Trophy against, Kidderminster Harriers.

In 1990/91 Yeovil’s new ground, Huish Park, was opened and Conning scored the second goal in the opening day victory over the just relegated, Colchester United and went on to score 8 goals in 43 appearances during the season.

His final season - 91/92 - saw Conning score 4 times in 57 appearances before leaving and joining Bashley for the 1992/93 season - a stay which was not a success as he played only 20 games.

He then joined Dorchester Town for the 1993/94 season before he returned to Yeovil, where he played another 31 games, scoring once before signing for Trowbridge Town in December 1995.

He next had brief spells at Salisbury City and then went back to Dorchester before joining Bridport in 1996/97, where he scored 5 goals in 18 games.

Next, he moved to then-Western League side Tiverton Town for the 1997/98 season, making 52 appearances and scoring 4 goals during a very successful season, as the Yellows retained the league title, in addition to retaining the League Cup.

Tiverton also capped the season by getting to Wembley in the FA Vase and Conning won a winners` medal as Tiverton beat Tow Law Town 1-0.

In 1998/99, Tiverton finished second in the League, gaining promotion to the Southern League Division One West. In addition, Conning added another FA Vase winners` medal to go with his FA Trophy winners` medal, earned with Altrincham, as once again Tiverton returned to Wembley and repeated their Vase success, this time by beating Bedlington Terriers, 1-0.

In 1999/00 he played 44 games, scoring 4 goals but, now in his mid-thirties, he spent more time on the bench for the 2000/01 season, which was to be his last full season, in which he played 40 games, (25 as substitute), and scored 3 goals.

He briefly re-joined Weymouth during 2001/01, where he played mainly for the reserves but made one further appearance for the first team from the bench, bringing his career total at Weymouth to 101 games, in which he had scored 25 goals.

He returned to Tiverton for season 2001/02 but started only 2 games, in addition to 4 appearances as a substitute. His playing career appeared to be winding down, (he was to make one further appearance in 2002/03 and again one further substitute appearance in 2003/04).

In June 2002 he then took on the role of player-manager at Western League side Bridport, only to leave in October 2003 to take on the role of manager at Sydenham’s Wessex League side, Portland United the very same month, only once again leaving and re-joining Tiverton as assistant manager in January 2004.

He finally hung up his boots in his 40th year and continued as assistant manager until March 2006 when he was released due to cost cutting measures.

In 2002, he became a licensed players' agent, a business he still conducts today.

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