Trinidad History
01 Oct 2006

The Club originally started back in the Sixties, as a lot of teams did then, as mates starting up to have something to do on a Saturday afternoon.
Personally, I can remember going to Branksome Rec [ Mecca of local football ] as a 7-8 year old and watching Parkview, Dorset Knob, and of course, Trinidad.
Snowy Phillips was in charge back then, and they always seemed to have a pretty useful side. Of course, as you get older, you begin to appreciate what they actually achieved, especially through the Seventies and into the Eighties.
They won everything you could win, beating the likes of Poole Town, Dorchester Town and Wimborne Town in Senior Cup Finals, and naturally, winning the Bournemouth League, what seemed to me, every year!!
I first played for Trinidad with the likes of Garry Powell, Shane Turner, Gary Watson, Paul Harding and Lee Wildish [ to name just a few] under the superb guidance of Don Cunningham!!!
Alas, as with all clubs players drift away for one reason or another.
Some retire, others have families, and have to do GROWN UP THINGS on a Saturday!!
Out of the Game through injury for 18 months, and spending far too much time shopping, I was approached by a few of the lads that were playing for the Club in 2000, to see if I would consider taking over from Snowy`s brother Bill Phillips, who had kept the Club going, through a difficult period!!
So the following season I was picking the team, aided by Bill, who still did most of the "Donkey Work" i.e [ Collecting subs, which is a thankless task, putting up nets and paying the Groundsman!!!]
After a tricky start, we gradually began to bring in some new faces, most of whom I`d played with in the past.
The likes of Steve Day and Graeme Mansell joined Paul Scadding [ who I made Captain ], Paul Lines, the Beer brothers, Stuart and Martyn, and most importantly, Roy Trussler, our `keeper, who I remember coaxing out of premature retirement, to give us a solid base which we could build around.
All of the above were on board when we managed to win Division 2 the following season, to put us back where we really belong!!!
Personnel obviously change over the years but the Club stays strong, still holding on to its Division 1 status.
It would be great to think that in 30 years people will remember the current crop of lads, that are giving their all every week, to make sure we stay there.

Cheers Darren Gilchrist

P.S. I know I`ve missed out loads of important names, but you all know you contributed!!