Purbeck Panthers FC are now about to enter their 5th season. We are a football club based in the Purbeck area (Dorset). Our aim is to cater for all local youths, in and around Wareham, Wool and outlying villages. Purbeck Panthers will endeavour to cater for individuals who may be deemed less gifted than members offered places within existing clubs. The club originally registered with the Football Association and the Dorset County League in May 2003, fielding a team of under 10-year-olds many of whom lived within a cross section of the Purbeck area.

Purbeck Panthers FC soon recognised the need of other age groups and quickly registered U8 and U9 teams in the Dorset League for both boys and girls ranging from school years 1 to 5 within the Purbeck and surrounding areas before the first season had started. The club within its first year achieved Charter Standard Club Status and has now established numerous other teams and endeavours to set up and establish further teams covering all the school years 1 to 11 (U7 –U16). Our aim is to soon establish other sides in a range of ages and abilities to play in league fixtures and tournaments, as well as providing other activities for members.

Our coaches are all FA qualified, Shaun Eastwood and Ali Ekber Demir (Frank) are FA Level 2 Football Coaches. Our other coaches Robert Loveless, Bob Ewan, Simon Peterson, David Monks, Dennis Paynter, Garth Randall, Eric Haskins, Emma Hammond, Gary Parslow, Graham Loveless, Gary Dunsmore, Kevin Dixon and Phil Crook are all FA Level 1 Football Coaches and the club will promote other interested volunteers to attend FA Level 1 Football Courses should they wish to assist in the coaching of children. Many of the officers involved in the club are school staff members and are by definition, police checked to work with children. All coaches and volunteers are also police checked and the Club follows FA Child practice guidelines including all other FA practices and guidelines. All of us have previous expertise in connection with running football teams. Our desire is to offer personal development opportunities for the youth, both boys and girls, in our region through healthy, team-based activity. We are currently holding training sessions in Wool and Wareham.

Three Girls teams and two Adult teams were important additions to the natural progression and growth of Purbeck Panthers for the second season. A link with Purbeck Ladies was established providing the girls playing for Purbeck panthers to have an ‘exit’ route to continue their football as adults. Shaun Eastwood, our Club Manager, became an FA Level 2 Football Coach and also in the second season the Club reached the pinnacle of the FA Charter Standard Club scheme and was awarded the top award and became an FA Charter Standard Community Club.

The Charter Standard Scheme is a best practice guide from the FA that sets standards of coaching, administration and child protection for clubs working with young people. This award is a benchmark for quality, and is given to clubs, which will improve the playing experience for everyone.

At Purbeck Panthers FC end of season Presentation Day, held on Saturday 25th June 2005, officials from the Dorset FA presented this prestigious FA award to the Club. Purbeck Panthers are only the fifth club throughout Dorset and the only club in the area to have reached and attained this high standard. The award was presented to Shaun Eastwood, Club Manager & FA Level 2 Football Coach by Doug Smurthwaite, Chairman of the Dorset County Football Association and Andrew Battison, Development Officer for the D.C.F.A. Both Doug Smurthwaite and Andrew Battison praised the Club for their tremendous achievement.

“ This award from the Football Association recognises the hard work that the Club has undertaken over the past 2 years. It takes a lot of hard work behind the scenes to provide football opportunities for children, young people and adults to play football throughout the Year”

“Purbeck Panthers has strived to provide standards of excellence in all areas of football development, and this Charter Standard Community Award is recognition of the Clubs continued work in raising and maintaining standards in football.”

Purbeck Panthers FC have for their third season continued to grow and have developed an exciting new section and team. The Ability Counts section and team provides football opportunities for people who have a disability and are over the age of 16, both men and women.