A Dorset man has a dream of creating his own Dean Court - 6,193 miles from the Vitality Stadium to help orphans in one of the world’s poorest nations.

Bournemouth Kakira FC, known as the Ugandan Cherries, is a community based orphanage and football academy formed by Kizza Joshua and Steve Butler.

Butler, 69, has set up a GoFundMe page looking to raise £3,700 to provide football kit, footballs, boots, goals, nets and training equipment. 

The aim is to encourage the Ibun School Orphans, led by coach, Joshua and Headmaster Mawanda Albert, in Bugembe near Jinja, Uganda.

Bulter told Buzz News: “The kids keep saying to me, I've changed their lives. This isn't just me. It's the whole money that comes from the AFC Bournemouth family.”

Off-the pitch, Ugandan Cherries have provided mosquito nets, new toilets and connected up their drinking water facilities. More work is planned in the future to repurpose a building, named the ‘Dean Court Domitory’.

Butler, a former property surveyor and company director from Fernadown, said he is hoping through the donations, a player from Uganda Cherries could join AFC Bournemouth one day.

“If you get one player to play for Bournemouth, that would be the aim I think or even just one or two players have a trial and see how they go.

“Imagine if one of those children made it into the Championship or the Premier League, they would change that village’s life because obviously the connection would still be there. 

“And I'm sure that that player would be so grateful to have the opportunity to share that with the rest of the community in Jinja, Uganda.”

Bournemouth Kakira FC are looking to achieve back to back promotions from league five to three of the Jinja District Football Association. The on-field success has meant improved training, fitness regimes and travel arrangements and the need to keep progressing.

The team has received support from AFC Bournemouth midfielder Emiliano Marcondes, who recently joined FC Nordsjælland on loan. Former Cherries captain, Steve Cook has also been a long-standing supporter.

Butler said: “I think it just gives the lads in Uganda a big boost, a big lift. The fact that somebody cares and is interested in what they're doing, and they're really ardent Bournemouth fans, through and through.

“It's giving them more focus and confidence in what they're doing and their abilities. And they know that somebody's looking over their shoulder if you like, supporting them.”

The AFC Bournemouth motto rings true with Ugandan Cherries. Together anything is possible.