Lyme Regis up against the oldest Westcountry FA cup team

Fort Davey team seeking place in semi finals of cup in quest for a first Senior County final

Big blast from the past

Our Premier team Lyme Regis have been drawn to face Sturminster Newton United in the quarter finals of the Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance Senior cup in December and their opponents are a club with an amazing past.

Formed in 1871 as Panthers FC they were the first ever West Country team at any level (Argyle, Grecians & gulls included) to take part in the FA cup.
Panthers reached the second round several times see below and in 1877 were beaten by the famous and eventual winners The Wanderers FC team which all FA cup fanatics know won the trophy five times in its first seven years.

FA cup results found for the Sturminster team in those years:
Nov 1874 Round 1 Clapham Rovers 3-0 Panthers
Nov 1875 Round 1 Panthers 1-0 Woodford Wells
Dec 1875 Round 2 Royal Engineers v Panthers (Home walkover)
Nov 1876 Round 1 Panthers 3-0 Wood Grange
Dec 1876 Round 2 Panthers 0-1 Pilgrims
Nov 1877 Round 1 Panthers 1-9 Wanderers (who beat Royal Engineers 3-1 in final)
Dec 1878 Round 1 Old Harrovians 3-0 Panthers
Nov 1879 Round 1 Birmingham v Panthers (Home walkover)

Panthers actually changed their name to Sturminster St Marys in 1878 and then to its current name in 1945. Quite a legacy.

So to bag a semi final place our Fort Davey side who have a truly enviable record at Intermediate (Junior) level since the 2nd world war, nine times winners and twice runners up, have history to beat as well. Lyme have never reached a Senior County final,  need to prosper on hallowed ground but have a massive incentive if they can get past their illustrious hosts when the pair clash on 3rd December, at Sturminster.

 

 

 

Tuesday 8th November 2022