Bridport Football Club will celebrate its 125th anniversary with a friendly against Dorchester Town at St Mary’s Field on Saturday, July 9 (4pm).

The Bees were formed in October 1885 but did not start playing competitively until the following year when they lost against the Magpies 5-1.

Current club chairman Adrian Scadding told the Bridport News: “The fact Dorchester have agreed to come down on July 9 is fantastic. We have always had a good relationship with them and hopefully they will bring a strong side and the game will attract a good crowd.

“To reach 125 years is an incredible milestone for the club and one of our first competitive matches was actually against Dorchester on February 6, 1886 when we lost 5-1 away so it is the perfect way to mark the occasion.

“We are currently in the process of inviting as many ex-players and officials as we can to come down for the game and enjoy some cheese and wine, and hopefully those we haven’t been able to get hold of will read about it in the Press and come along too.

“The more the merrier as it should be a fantastic afternoon. Not only will our sponsorship draw be held after the game but a couple of officials are also coming down to present us with a trophy for being one of the longest-serving clubs in the Western League.

“There will also be a silent picture show going right back to the club’s early years through to the present day, which I am sure will be of huge interest.

“The match itself will kick-off at 4pm and everything else will just run on from there with the price of entry being just £2, which also includes a programme. We wanted to keep the admission cost down as much as possible because we want to say a huge thank you to the supporters as well.”

Bridport’s promotion to the Premier Division was scheduled to be rubberstamped at last night’s Western League AGM and Scadding is excited about the whole prospect.

He added: “The fact we are returning to the top-flight in the club’s 125th year is just fantastic and I know everyone cannot wait for the season to get underway.

“So many people have worked so hard to get the club back where it belongs and I am sure we will rise to the challenge.”