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We take a closer look at our opposition for the upcoming Premier League season

2023-06-21T09:00:00.000Z

IN FOCUS: AFC BOURNEMOUTH

We take a closer look at our opposition for the upcoming Premier League season

2023-06-21T09:00:00.000Z

We take a closer look at our opposition for the upcoming Premier League season

AFC Bournemouth

Playing across various parks in the local area to begin with, the Cherries were founded in 1899 as ‘Boscombe FC’ and eventually adopted Dean Court as their home in 1910.

Going on to dominate the local football scene before entering into the Football League 10 years late, they would be known as ‘Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic’.

Under that guise, the South Coast outfit picked up a first-ever trophy, the Third Division (South) Cup with victory over Walsall in the competition’s final in 1946.

Ultimately becoming ‘AFC Bournemouth’ in 1971, the Cherries earned a famous FA Cup win against holders Manchester United in 1984.

That came under the management of Harry Redknapp who took them into the second tier of English football for the first time in their history three years later.

Floating between the second and third tiers for a long period of time, Bournemouth entered administration in February 2008, relegated to the fourth tier of English football just a few months afterwards.

As Burnley were promoted in 2009, the Cherries – under Eddie Howe – salvaged their status as a Football League club courtesy of a victory against Grimsby Town.

And the years that followed would be trophy-laden. Howe - with a brief stint here at Turf Moor in the middle - led Bournemouth from League Two all the way to the Premier League, promoted to the top flight in 2015.

Following five years amongst the elite, relegation came in 2020, followed by a defeat in the Championship play-offs to Brentford.

However, In the 2021/22 campaign under Scott Parker they were promoted back to the top-flight. Gary O'Neil then took over midway through last season after Parker departed and the Cherries achieved a 15th-place finish.

Stadium: Vitality Stadium (11,307) - Kings Park, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH7 7AF

Nickname(s): The Cherries

Manager: Gary O’Neil

2022/23 finishing position: 15th

2022/23 top scorer (all competitions): Philip Billing, Dominic Solanke (7)

Played for both:

Junior Stanislas - The winger spent three seasons at Burnley after joining from West Ham United in 2011. Stanislas featured 101 times over his time in Lancashire before joining Bournemouth in 2014. The forward went on to make 179 appearances on the south coast over nine seasons before leaving the Vitality this summer.

Jack Cork - Played nine games at Bournemouth in 2006/07 on loan from Chelsea. Cork then joined the Clarets in 2010 and made 57 Burnley appearances in his first spell. The midfielder is now heading into 7th season in second spell with 204 games, 261 in total.

Danny Ings - Started his career at Bournemouth and was promoted from League Two with the Cherries in 2009/10 and went on to make 30 senior appearances before joining Clarets in 2011. At Turf Moor Ings scored 43 goals in 143 appearances and helped the side secure promotion to the Premier League 2013/14 season.

Full record against (competitive): P - 34, W - 16, D - 11, L - 7

Last time we met: 7th January 2023 - Bournemouth 2 [Christie, Solanke] - 4 [Benson x2, Zaroury x2] (FA Cup)

Last win against: Above

2023/24 Fixtures: Away - 28th October 2023 / Home - 2nd March 2024