Welcome AFC Bournemouth

[St Nick]

in the top division for the first time in their history

 

[Jamie_SFC]

Amazing achievement. Well done Bournemouth.

 

[Mustard]

Wow, great achievement. Always nice to see a different team come up.

6 years ago they were bottom of L2 with -17 points.

 

[Techno Natch]

Yeah fairplay to Bournemouth. Good club and manager.

 

[Ibby]

An incredible achievement it must be said - congratulations and well done.

 

[Pliny Harris]

I've historically seen them as that team who're always a few places above Bury in the league.

Class achievement, and I hope their new-found international fame won't change them for the worse.

 

[Super_horns]

Fully deserved and fantastic achievement.

2 of the smaller Championship teams coming up - no wonder the likes of Leeds and Forest get hacked off!

 

[Smally]

Well done Bournemouth, looking forward to seeing them next season. Amazing achievement

 

[SALTIRE]

Its a hell of a story, well deserved. I hope they can be competitive though.

 

[BlueBee]

Hope you'll all be just as complimentary when Chelsea win the league...after all we're both where we are thanks to Russian oil money.

 

[rudebwoyben]

Congratulations Bournemouth. Good to see a load of ex-League 2 and non-league players make it to the Premiership with such an attacking attitude!

 

[mistermagic]

Don't want to be a mood killer or anything but it's not done yet. Middlesbrough could still go up.

If they win their next game 20-0 and Bournemouth lose.

 

[Nath]

 

[WAP]

Or Bournemouth decide to field some of their youngsters for the game to find only later on one of them was not correctly registered...

 

[Abertawe]

Now this is a team we can welcome, great club. Hope they rip this league up, there's no reason why they won't do just that either.

 

[AFCB_Mark]

Ok I'm drunk and I have work in like 5 hours. But hey how often do you get promoted to the premier league.

I do worry about how all this will change the small time tinpot club I love, but we've slowly morphed into this monster over the last 3 years and I've resigned myself to the fact that success means selling some of the soul.

But the few hundred lads who were with us securing a win away at Dagenham and Redbridge in the 90th min to give us a chance of staying in the football league are dumbfounded about now. Will try and enjoy whatever comes.

Drunk rant over.

 

[Son of Cod]

Was 6 years ago to the day on Saturday, when Bournemouth and Grimsby fans celebrated Football League survival together at Dean Court. Now we could be facing the prospect of having three entire divisions and a triple digit amount of places between us, league position wise. Blue Bee certainly makes a fair point with regards to them being bankrolled and then there's the whole going into admin vs paying your debts back with regards to which is more beneficial/morally correct argument. However, Bournemouth are so likeable as a club and this is indeed a marvelous achievement. If they're anywhere near as exciting to watch as they have been over the past few seasons then they'll be making the pundits gush next season. Whenever I've seen them they seem to carve out so many chances, often without exposing themselves at the back. Their goal difference this season is insane (+95 -45 now, I think?). Looking forward to seeing more of them.

 

[Meadow]

Congratulations to Bournemouth. I vaguely remember Woking supporters waving a fond farewell to Harry Arter - look at him now.

 

[mistermagic]

Too much Bournemouth love-in.

VOTE WATFORD!

 

[Shrimpurh]

Congrats Bournemouth! Amazing what you can do with money

 

[fifaking]

Would Stockport have been in the same league, maybe even league above Bournemouth 6 years ago? Now they will be separated by 5 divisions.. Madness.

Congrats Bournemouth!

 

[GodsGift]

Was 6 years ago to the day on Saturday, when Bournemouth and Grimsby fans celebrated Football League survival together at Dean Court. Now we could be facing the prospect of having three entire divisions and a triple digit amount of places between us, league position wise. Blue Bee certainly makes a fair point with regards to them being bankrolled and then there's the whole going into admin vs paying your debts back with regards to which is more beneficial/morally correct argument. However, Bournemouth are so likeable as a club and this is indeed a marvelous achievement. If they're anywhere near as exciting to watch as they have been over the past few seasons then they'll be making the pundits gush next season. Whenever I've seen them they seem to carve out so many chances, often without exposing themselves at the back. Their goal difference this season is insane (+95 -45 now, I think?). Looking forward to seeing more of them.

Agree entirely with this SoC. I'm one of the most cynical posters on here, especially when it comes to clubs buying their way to success, but I just can't find it in me to get annoyed by this. Bournemouth are just too damn likeable. And as I said in last night's match day thread, I'll always have a soft spot for them after how gracious their fans were after tonking us in the 2003 play off final. Eddie Howe is fantastic and you're right to lavish praise on their style of play as well.

They may have some cash now but the spine of their team is littered with League 1 and 2 regulars. Simon Francis (Bradford, Tranmere, Southend), Marc Pugh (Shrewsbury, Bury, Hereford), Matt Ritchie (Dagenham, Swindon), Charlie Daniels (Leyton Orient), Brett Pitman (was with Bournemouth in L2) and let's not forget Harry Arter, who they bought from Woking for £4,000.

 

[AFCB_Mark]

And I desperately hope those players who have come up through the leagues with us are given every chance at top flight level next season. I would utterly despair if we went out and replaced them with a load of expensive Premiership journeymen. That wouldn't really fit with Howe's thinking normally so I'm hopeful. There are a couple that may need improving, but on the whole I'm hopeful they could at least give a decent account of themselves.

And of the players who've come through, In particular Harry Arter (all 4k from Woking) I reckon will go down a storm.

Yes we've been fortunate enough to be afforded a playing budget (and various infrastructure improvements) that we could never have done without the backing from the board of Russians. We had Arter, Francis, Daniels, Pugh, and Cook before we had the money, and the most important benefit hasn't been going out and splashing money on flashy signings from all over the shop, it's been the ability to actually keep players and fend off interest. Something that all small clubs struggle with. I hope that continues through the summer as I'm sure there will be enquiries from established top flight clubs.

 

[johnnytodd]

Nightmare for us northern fans who actually attend games............won't effect Pagnell and the other non dom Liverpool armchairs though.

edit forgot to say well done though

 

[AnkleBiter]

So, any stadium expansions planned? The demand must be at least double the capacity now.

 

[Gilly?]

Going up to 18,000 now from what I've read.

At work last night I had a guy in the bar claiming he was Bournemouth chairman for about 6 months, no idea if he was trolling or not.

 

[NiallQuinnDiscoPants]

Congratulations Bournemouth!

 

[AFCB_Mark]

Going up to 18,000 now from what I've read.

At work last night I had a guy in the bar claiming he was Bournemouth chairman for about 6 months, no idea if he was trolling or not.

Didn't catch the name by any chance? We've had periods of going through chairmen at a rate of knots so it sounds possible.

Regarding the ground, nothing confirmed.. Club have been considering various options, but we have various planning regulation constraints being on parkland and hemmed in by housing on two sides which imposes height restrictions . I'd hope to at least add a couple thousand to the capacity in the short term, but doubt it'll be anything significant any time soon. 18k is the theoretical capacity we reckon we could achieve at the site if we have the council on side and the time/money etc. The media exposure could help persuade the council.

 

[Gilly?]

Didn't catch the name by any chance? We've had periods of going through chairmen at a rate of knots so it sounds possible.

Regarding the ground, nothing confirmed.. Club have been considering various options, but we have various planning regulation constraints being on parkland and hemmed in by housing on two sides which imposes height restrictions . I'd hope to at least add a couple thousand to the capacity in the short term, but doubt it'll be anything significant any time soon. 18k is the theoretical capacity we reckon we could achieve at the site if we have the council on side and the time/money etc. The media exposure could help persuade the council.

I didn't catch a name. I'll see if I can find a picture of him.

 

[SALTIRE]

Too much Bournemouth love-in.

VOTE WATFORD!

Two good footballing sides going into the 'elite' division, there's room for us to enjoy both.

I wonder who'll pick up the playoffs place?