The Fitness First Stadium Photo © 2007 Ciderspace

Although their first season in the Football League required re-election to survive through to a second they then remained in Division Three South and Division Three for a record number of consecutive seasons, right through to 1969-70. After decades of going nowhere, either up or down, the beginning of the Seventies saw a flurry of excitement, relegated in 1970 but promoted again in 1971. In the F.A. Cup Round One replay The Cherries recorded an 8-1 victory over Oxford City , with Ted MacDougall scoring six, only to come up against Yeovil Town at Dean Court in Round Two. 11,583, the biggest gate of the season, saw a Cliff Myers header send The Glovers into the Third Round. In an unconnected event Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic renamed themselves AFC Bournemouth.

Bournemouth were relegated again in 1975 and were still in the basement when Alec Stock took on his last managerial role from 1979-80. His protégé Dave Webb took over and got The Cherries promoted. After a short interlude from Don Megson, Harry Rednapp took the reins for nine years during which he got them into Division Two in 1987 for the first time in their history - and out again 1990. They remained in Division Three (renamed Division Two) through to 2003 when they were relegated to the bottom division. A single season was enough to bonce back through the play-offs, defeating Lincoln City 5-2 in the Final at the Millennium Stadium.

The last decade or so has seen Bournemouth more in the news for off than on field matters. The club was already struggling financially in the early Nineties, but limped on. However in the 1996-97 season the buffers were hit, the receivers called in, and at one point the club was within a quarter of an hour of folding. A Football Trust Committee rallied supporters and kept The Cherries afloat, eventually taking over the whole club when no one else could be found, forming the first ever Community Club. At the end of the 2000-01 season Bournemouth vacated Dean Court whilst a new ground was built on the same site, returning from Dorchester to Fitness First Stadium in November. It has to said that whilst fans are justifiably proud of their part in saving the club and their ownership of it, all in the financial garden is still not rosy. The stadium remained unfinished and there were debts reputed to be around £5 million. In the summer of 2005 the club defaulted on repaying £250,000 due to the council. A fans' trust running a club sounds idyllic to the average football supporter, but in the real World it doesn't necessarily see the bills paid.

The Cherries were pushed into selling their ground to keep from going into liquidation, and leasing it back. It has kept them afloat in the short term, but the drain on their cash flow of meeting the rent meant that they were on a slipperly slope, and a succession of Chairmen and boards have failed to turn matters around.

Their last Chairman Jeff Mostyn put the club into administration during February 2008 when the taxman came knocking at their door, and at present it looks like Mostyn is going to repeat the Leeds trick of buying the club back, minus its debts, care of administrator Gerald Krasner ... the former Leeds United Chairman. However at the moment they are in a state of flux that has seen the standard ten point deduction pushed through, and escape from relegation would need the proverbial miracle. That said, add back their 10 point deduction and they don't look the mugs their actual table position would suggest, and in particular during recent weeks, perhaps with the pressure off them, they've gained a few surprise results. They'll probably go down, but they are going to undoubtedly spoil a few peoples days out in the process.

The full length of the East Stand, half of which is for away fans Photo © 2007 Ciderspace

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RECENT RESULTS

29/03/2008	Millwall	Home	CCL1	W	2-0	4962		Gradel 75, 89
05/04/2008	Swansea City	Away	CCL1	W	2-1	15613		Kuffour 90, Partington 90
12/04/2008	Bristol Rovers	Home	CCL1	W	2-1	6867		Anderton 18, Kuffour 55
19/04/2008	Walsall	Away	CCL1	W	3-1	4530		Internal Error: Scorer/Score Mismatch
03/05/2008	Carlisle United	Away	CCL1	D	1-1	12223		Pitman 68

FORTHCOMING FIXTURES

CLUB GOALSCORERS

Name	LGE	FAC	FAT	LGC	CC	Total
Sam Vokes	12	0	0	0	0	12
Jo Kuffour	12	0	0	0	0	12
Max-Alain Gradel	8	0	0	0	0	8
Brett Pitman	6	0	0	0	0	6
Danny Hollands	4	0	0	0	0	4
James Henry	4	0	0	0	0	4
Lee Bradbury	3	0	0	0	0	3
Darren Anderton	3	0	0	0	0	3
Joe Partington	1	0	0	0	0	1
Jem Karacan	1	0	0	0	0	1
Mark-Alain Gradel	1	0	0	0	0	1
Jean Christophe	1	0	0	0	0	1
Warren Cummings	1	0	0	0	0	1
Shaun Cooper	1	0	0	0	0	1
Jason Pearce	1	0	0	0	0	1
Marvyn Bartley	1	0	0	0	0	1
Own Goals	1	0	0	0	0	1

ATTENDANCE STATISTICS

Highest League Attendance: 9632, vs Leeds United, 06/11/2007
Lowest League Attendance: 3489, vs Luton Town, 22/01/2008
Average League Attendance: 5504

CURRENT LEAGUE SEQUENCE STATISTICS

Games Without A Win:	1		Games Without A Home Win:	0
Games Without An Away Win:	1		Games Without Defeat:	7
Games Without A Home Defeat:	7		Games Without An Away Defeat:	3
Games Without A Draw:	0		Games Without A Score Draw:	0
Games Without A No-Score Draw:	45		Games Without Scoring:	0
Games Without Conceding:	0		Home Results Sequence:	WWWWWW
Away Results Sequence:	LLLWWD		Overall Results Sequence:	WWWWWD

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The temporary South Stand for away fans Photo © 2007 Ciderspace
The Fitness First Stadium at Dean Court Kings Park Bournemouth BH7 7AF (Click for map) Telephone Number : 01202 726300 Fax : 01202 726301 Email: admin@afcb.co.uk Chairman : Bournemouth are currently in administration and so officially there is no Chairman - in practice it is Jeff Mostyn Fixtures Secretary : Keith MacAllister Press Officer : Jon Sharkey Manager : Kevin Bond	Capacity : 10,700 Seated : All seated Covered Terrace : N/A Colours : shirt red with black panels, shorts black, socks black Record Attendance : 28,799 v Manchester United, FA Cup R6, 02/03/1957 Nickname : The Cherries Ticket Prices : You can buy in advance or on the day for this match. Away fans are housed in a section of the East Stand, and if/when that fills up the club then have the choice of whether to allocate a rather unpleasant open temporary effort behind the goal to home or away fans. Capacity for the East Stand segment is 1,300 which ought to be roughly enough. Adults £18.00 (up £3.00 on last season); concessions (over 65 and students) £10.00 (up £0.50), Under 16s £10.00 (up £2.50). Concessions are defined as Over 65s, Full Time Students (with a valid NUS Card) and Under 16s. Note that we've had reports of Bournemouth expecting some fairly incredible means of seeking proof that people are of a certain age, so if you are borderline, please take some strong ID with you - ideally a passport or driving licence for adults. Methods of payment are as follows: a) Cash payable on the day of the game from the Cherries Away End Ticket Office b) By post, enclosing a cheque made payable to AFC Bournemouth (clearly you're too late for this now) c) By phone on 01202 726303, using a credit/debit card. d) Via the internet on https://www.tickets.thecherries.co.uk Note that all telephone and internet sales are subject to a two pounds booking fee per transaction. Note also that Bournemouth's ticket website has an expired Security Certificate. You should therefore use your own judgement on whether to use the website or not to book your tickets. Given that the same charges are incurred by phone, we know which one we'd opt for, although given the game is fairly imminent, perhaps you may prefer to just pay on the day. Disabled Info: the facilities are excellent. The stadium has been created from the off with disabled people in mind and there are no designated areas. There is parking available and the road built around the stadium which is wheelchair friendly. There is a low window at the ticket office. Visiting disabled supporters can use the away section of the East Stand and sit at the front where they like, with good access to the concourse. A toilet is available at all times on the concourse and the food and drink bars are easily accessible. Entry is free to disabled persons and carers. E-mail The Cherries on tickets@afcb.co.uk or phone their Ticket Office on 01202 726303. You can have the tickets posted out, or arrange to pick them up on the day from the dedicated 'Special Needs' steward Phillip Tyrell.
The East Stand section allocated to away fans Photo © 2007 Ciderspace

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Parking

The club has its own large car park. There is also a council Pay & Display car park in Kings Park. There is a £60.00 fine for persons without a valid car park ticket, and this is enforced. Getting out of the stadium car parking makes the exit from Huish Park seem like the twinkling of an eye in comparison.

The North Stand behind the goal for home fans Photo © 2007 Ciderspace

By Rail

In the old days you could have popped up from Yeovil Junction to Templecombe, then down on the Somerset & Dorset, one of the most beautiful railway lines in the country - though not so good for those in a hurry. Unfortunately the S&D was closed down in 1966.

Given Yeovil and Bournemouth are only just over 50 miles apart travelling by train is a bit of a pain. There are various options, but the journey time is around two to over three hours depending on the choice made. Quickest in terms of time is from Pen Mill down to Dorchester West on Wessex Trains, walk across to Dorchester South, and then on to Bournemouth by Southwest Trains.
Alternatively going from Yeovil Junction you can change at Salisbury, but have to change again at Southampton Central, or go up as far as Basingstoke and change for Bournemouth there.

For those coming down from London the service to Bournemouth is out of Waterloo - and generally excellent.

The nearest train station to the stadium is Pokesdown, which is roughly a mile from the ground and around 15 minutes walk away. However not a lot stops there. Bournemouth Central is the more likely terminus, and it's around a half hour walk to the ground.
From Pokedown exit the station (you can't go wrong, there is only one exit) and turn right down the main Christchurch Road (A35). Proceed about 400 yards and then turn right onto Gloucester Road. Keep walking and you'll eventually reach Fitness First Stadium.
From Bournemouth Central leave the station by the South exit, opposite an Asda Supermarket. Turn left and walk down to the main Holdenhurst Road. Turn left (away from the town centre) and then keep straight on along Holdenhurst Road for around 25 minutes, passing (or stopping at!) the Queens Park (see below) pub. Past the pub carry on until you reach a roundabout. There turn right into Kings Park Drive. The ground is down the bottom of this road on the left.

By Bus

The relevant bus route out from the centre is a circular one: No.33 anti-clockwise; No.34 clockwise. Buses in Bournemouth are Yellow. The other main bus company is the Wilts & Dorset, which tends to concentrate on rural routes and is not yellow.

Taxis

A selection of Bournemouth taxi companies can be found here.

The Main (West) Stand at the ground Photo © 2007 Ciderspace

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No breweries in Bournemouth or Poole, but Ringwood is just up the road and has, as it moves into its second quarter-century, an expanding reputation as well as an expanding output. Definitely a regional brewer rather than a micro-brewer these days at over 30,000 barrels a year. Ringwood Brewery. Best, Fortyniner and Old Thumper are the staples, with additional seasonal beers added to the range at the appropriate times.
Hall & Woodhouse of Blandford St Mary are unlikely to need any introduction to West Country folk. Brewing since 1777, 'Badger' beers including the famed Tanglefoot are something of an institution. In 2000 they bought up the Horsham brewery of King & Barnes and have maintained beers under that badge, though aficionados feel the individuality of the Sussex ales has been lost in the process. Badger Ales.

Club Bar :

The ground has a pub/bar called The Cherry Tree built in to it, but home fans only. Entry controlled by the showing of tickets for the home areas.

Local Pubs :

Portman Hotel: Second closest pub, across the park and just over the railway line. We presume it's still there though the name 'Portman' seems to have disappeared from Yellow Pages. Doesn't look much from the outside, but belies its appearance and is a friendly venue for home and away fans alike. Has a range of mainstream ales and does food. Has Sky, and is reputed to offer live music on occasion. Portman Hotel, 97, Ashley Road, Boscombe, Bournemouth, BH1 4LT. Tel: 01202 304972. Map: Click Here.

Queens Park Hotel: Closest pub to the stadium, up on the dual carriageway, and welcomes away fans as well as home. Has a lounge and a public bar. Serves Ringwood Best as well as Flowers and the expected lagers and keg. Food on matchdays is more restricted than at other times - rolls and snacks. Has Sky Sports, and a beer garden for fine weather. There is pool, but the table gets covered on matchdays. Queens Park Hotel, 482, Holdenhurst Road, Bournemouth, BH8 9AR. Tel: 01202 720096. Map: Click Here.

Sir Percy Florence Shelley: Typical Wetherspoon in Boscombe's main street. About fifteen minutes walk from the stadium. Opening times under the new laws are : Sunday – Thursday 9.00 a.m. – midnight; Friday - Saturday 9.00 a.m. – 1.00 a.m. has a child certificate and outside area. There is another Wetherspoon - The Moon in the Square - in town, much further from the ground. Sir Percy Florence Shelley, 673-675, Christchurch Street, Boscombe, Bournemouth, BH7 6AA. Tel: 01202 300197. Map: Click Here.

The Dolphin: Large redbrick outlet on the way from the railway station to the stadium. Has had a number of refurbishments and change of management in recent years. Standard drinks range and food. Has Sky and pool. About ten minutes walk from the ground. The Dolphin, 316, Holdenhurst Road, Bournemouth, BH8 8AY. Tel: 01202 396673. Map: Click Here.

Likelihood the Natives Will Understand You :

Still Hampshire as far as I'm concerned, but officialdom reclassified Bournemouth into Dorsetshire in 1974. Thus grudgingly one had to accept they were part of God's Own West Country. However in 1995 Bournemouth and Poole acquired unitary authority status and ceased to form part of the County of Dorset. So basically they can p*ss off - bl**din' Eastenders.

Top-Tip :

Visit the stadium this year - we suspect that if the Glovers are playing Bournemouth next season, either it will be a cup competition, or the bottom will have well and truly fallen out of our season.

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[No responsibilty is taken for any inaccuracies. This page is entirely the product of bias and prejudice.]

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