RUFC – What do we know about Bournemouth?

Rotherham United entertain Bournemouth tomorrow on their first trip to Don Valley. So, what do we know about them…

AFC Bournemouth were founded in 1899 and was originally known as Boscombe FC becoming Bournemouth and Boscombe Athletic twenty-four years later. In the early 70’s the club changed it’s name again to AFC Bournemouth.

The club have two real claims to fame – they were the first team to score five goals at the Millenium Stadium in the 2002/3 Division Three Play-Off Final – and, to this day, remain the only team to score five goals in a Football League play-off final. Their other claim to fame came in January 1984 when they beat the holders, Manchester United, in the FA Cup under, perhaps their most famous son, Harry Rednapp.

A black day for the club was on 5 May 1990 (May Day Bank Holiday), when Leeds United visited the town. The West Yorkshire side had the chance to win the old Second Division title on goal average and tension was high. Leeds won one-nil and they were promoted while Bournemouth went down. Violence followed the game and riot police had to be called out to control the crowd. Financially, this affected the club for more than a decade as Bournemouth were prevented from staging home games on Bank Holidays, big footballing days, until 2003.

Coming up to date, The Cherries, like the Millers, were not even sure they would start this season, when three days before the start, the Football League threatened to block them taking part in League Two due to problems with their continuing administration and changes of ownership. Sense prevailed (well of sorts) and they were allowed to continue but had to start on minus seventeen. The team are currenly in twenty-third position with Eddie Howe taking over as Manager on New Years Eve, when Jimmy Quinn departed.

Cherries Fan pogo_power kindly answered us some questions this week:

How long have you been following the Cherries
Twenty-five years

After the minus points, how do you think your season is panning out
Dreadful, no leadership, no money and no team

Who are your key players
We haven’t got any, would have been Darren Anderton

Is there anyone at the club you would glady get a taxi for
Alistaire Saviermutto

Who is the best player you have ever seen in a Bournemouth shirt
Jermaine Defoe

What is the best game you have ever seen involving your club
Beating Manchester United 2:0 in the FA Cup and the play off final

Who is the best opposition you have seen so far this season
Shrewsbury

Best ground you have ever visited
Anfield

Who do you think are your biggest threats in League Two this season
Anyone that plays us

Is there anything you would change about your club
The Owners


Thanks for taking time out to answer those, pogo! Pogo also wished the Millers well for the rest of the season and told me that it’s going to be a long four months for the Cherries.

I think both teams have done well to get over the minus points – and Luton too, who have just got onto 0, after being deducted thirty points. After tomorrow (!), good luck with the rest of the season and let’s show the Football League what we are made of!