AFC Bournemouth
File:Bournemouth.gif | |||
Full name | Athletic Football Club Bournemouth | ||
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Nickname(s) | The Cherries | ||
Founded | 1899 | ||
Ground | Fitness First Stadium Boscombe Bournemouth | ||
Capacity | 10,700 | ||
Chairman | Currenly Vacant | ||
Manager | Kevin Bond | ||
League | League One | ||
2005-06 | League One, 17th | ||
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Introduction
AFC Bournemouth are an English football team currently playing in Football League One.
The side plays at the Fitness First Stadium (Dean Court) in Kings Park, Bournemouth, Dorset. The club has existed since 1899. Its nickname is The Cherries. The team traditionally plays in red and black stripes but reverted to predominantly red for the 2004/2005 and 2005/2006 seasons before announcing a return to the stripes for the 2006/2007 season due to fan demand.
Unfortunately due to significant debts the club are forced to sell key players to raise cash for the club, for example Matt Holland, Carl Fletcher, Brian Stock and James O'Connor.
The Cherries rarely hit the headlines but long-serving player James Hayter allowed this to happen when he scored the fastest league hat-trick in English League Football history during the 2003-2004 season. The Cherries were leading 3-0, thanks to goals from Steven Purches, Warren Cummings and Warren Feeney, when Hayter was brought onto the field as a substitute. With 86 minutes gone, Hayter managed to net three goals in the space of 2 minutes 20 seconds, making the final score 6-0 to AFC Bournemouth.
The south coast club are also the only football team to have scored 5 goals at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, beating Lincoln City 5-2 in the 2002/03 Division 3 Play-off final. They are also famous for defeating holders Manchester United in the FA Cup in January 1984, while they were managed by Harry Redknapp.
Harry Redknapp is the most successful manager ever to take charge of Bournemouth. Apart from the 1984 F.A Cup shock win over Manchester United, he took them into the second tier of the English league for the first time in their history as Third Division champions in 1987. They stayed there for three years, and he remained at the helm for two years after their relegation in 1990, before leaving for West Ham United.
Bournemouth's last manager was Sean O'Driscoll, who was promoted from the coaching staff in place of Mel Machin at the start of the 2000-01 season. In his first season as manager, Bournemouth narrowly missed out on the Division Two playoffs, but were relegated a year later in the new stadium. The board kept faith in O'Driscoll and they were rewarded with promotion via the Division Three playoffs in 2002-03. Bournemouth have remained in the league's third tier ever since, closely missing out on the playoffs for the 03/04 and 04/05 seasons, and narrowly beating relegation in the 05/06 season.
Whilst the fans are usually good mannered and rarely get into scraps, a group of supporters, it is said, confronted referee Barry Knight in the car park after their 4-0 defeat to Crewe Alexandra in 1995.
Their red and black kit introduced in 1971 was based on the old AC Milan strip.
Bournemouth go into the 2006/2007 season with new hope that they can achieve promotion success. They have recently agreed a new shirt sponsorship deal with Focal Point Fires PLC, ending their long association with Seward Cars.
The club also recently sold their stadium, and surrounding land to property developers out of town to ease debts. This deal was done on a Sale and Lease back agreement between the club and developers.
Peter Philips stepped down as club chairman on 1st September 2006 due to constant fan pressure after 4 years at the helm. Local entrepreneur Abdul Jaffer has been promoted from vice-chairman to temporary chairman until a new permanent one is appointed by the board of directors.
Manager Sean O'Driscoll and Assistant Richard O'Kelly left on 9th September 2006 to join Doncaster Rovers. However, this bad news was sweetened with the confirmation of the signing of England 1998 World Cup star Darren Anderton on a pay-as-you-play basis. On his debut versus Scunthorpe United he scored the Bournemouth equaliser with a spectacular 40-yard free kick in a 1-1 draw.
After a 5 week search, former Cherries favourite Kevin Bond was named as O'Driscoll's successor, beating off stiff competition from Phil Brown and Andy Hessenthaler. Bond's father, John, was at the helm when Cherries achieved promotion in 1973.
Famous People Played for Bournemouth
- George Best (1983)
- Ian Bishop
- Luther Blissett
- Colin Clarke
- Efan Ekoku
- Matt Holland
- Richard Hughes
- Ted MacDougall
- Gavin Peacock
- Jamie Redknapp
- Nigel Spackman
- Carl Fletcher
- Jimmy Case
- Russell Beardsmore
Played On Loan
Former Managers
- Vincent Kitcher
- Harry Knighorn
- Leslie Knighton
- Frank Richards
- Billy Birrell
- Bob Crompton
- Charlie Bell
- Harry Kinghorn
- Harry Lowe
- Jack Bruton
- Fred Cox
- John Bond
- Trevor Hartley
- Tony Nelson
- John Benson
- Alec Stock
- David Webb
- Don Megson
- Harry Redknapp
- Tony Pulis
- Mel Machin
- Sean O'Driscoll
Current Squads
Management/ Coaching Staff
- Manager- Kevin Bond
- Assistant Manager- Rob Newman
- Head of Youth- Joe Roach
- Player/ Coach- Eddie Howe
- Goalkeeing Coach- Alan Knight
- Fitness & Conditioning Coach- Mark Burley
- Physio- Steve Hard
- Kit Man- Bernie Morton
First Team Squad
Template:A.F.C. Bournemouth Squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Out On Loan
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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On Trial
Retired numbers
- 27- North Stand- Given by ex-manager Sean O'Driscoll
- 32- 12th Man- Given for Sponsorship by Sean O'Driscoll
Youth Team Squad
Template:A.F.C Bournemouth Youth Squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Work Experience Players
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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