Chickerell United boss Chris Wilson has admitted that it is an honour to be at the forefront of the Magna Dorset Premier League outfit in its centenary year.

The Chickens were first affiliated to the Dorset County Football Association in 1910 and since then the club has enjoyed a proud history, progressing from the Junior Leagues to the Senior Leagues before finally reaching the county’s top-flight two years ago when they won the Dorset Senior League title.

Despite being their first venture into the DPL, the Chickens settled in straight away, finishing fourth in 2009 and runners-up last season where they were narrowly pipped to the title by just two points.

In the summer, many of their top stars moved on to give it a go at a higher standard with Weymouth being the main beneficiaries, but Wilson, who has taken over the reins from Brendon King, is determined to continue the club’s proud traditions.

He said: “I have always wanted to manage at DPL level and to be given charge of a side and a club like Chickerell United in its centenary year is a complete honour.

“However, that also presents its own challenges as well. We are in a bit of a transitional period in terms of bringing in a lot of new players but at the same time we want to make the club very proud in such a special year.

“That is something we have been drilling into the players, that this is a proud club with a rich history and it is an honour to wear that red and white shirt, and I think they are beginning to understand that now.”

Wilson went on to add: “The club now has two sides playing in the top leagues in the county with the first-team in the DPL and the reserves in the Senior League, and that is something it has always wanted to achieve.

“Now it is up to me to maintain those great standards and build on it.

“There is plenty of work to do and there is no pressure to bring trophies home but we definitely want to be competitive. We also want to continue the great traditions of playing good football and bringing young players through the ranks.”

And it is not just the top two senior sides that have enjoyed success in recent years. The club also has a third team and an under-18s side.

Chickerell’s steep progression has also seen the first team move from their village home of the Stalls to Weymouth College’s Cranford Avenue ground due to grading criteria – a relocation process that took place in 2007.