I was living in Bournemouth 16 years ago – it was a town more known for stag and hen dos than football. I used to go to Dean Court and watch a bunch of people trying hard.
The fans were polite in the main and the atmosphere was less than intimidating. In fact I remember they used to sing “We hate Pompey, oh we hate Pompey” as though they were serious rivals. I don’t think they hated anyone.
During the 2008-09 season, they had just been relegated to League Two. I think they started the season with a 17-point deduction, which left them rooted to the bottom of the league and with little hope of staying in it – until Eddie Howe happened.
Again, I am working a bit from memory here and some gut feelings – but it seemed crazy at the time and looking back it still seems miraculous to me. Howe got the managerial job of Bournemouth in January 2009 with the club still anchored the pit of the league. They had a transfer embargo so couldn’t sign anyone and had to sell players to keep afloat.
And yet Howe dragged them out of the relegation zone that season. This was a team that was devoid of passion, history, culture and, quite frankly, players. And yet the unimaginable happened.
I had heard Howe interviewed on local radio when he got the job and he mentioned he was an Everton fan growing up. Suddenly I started getting interested in what Bournemouth – and more precisely, what Eddie Howe – was doing.
So I continued to watch their progress and I am not sure it is given the credit it deserves.
2009-10 season, still unable to make any transfers, Bournemouth finished second in League Two and were promoted. Think about that! 18 months ago, you were certain to be relegated into obscurity… and yet, within a year and a half, you find yourself in League One with no extra resources at your disposal.
Bournemouth then spent two seasons comfortable in League One (actually getting to the playoffs in their first season) before finishing 2nd in their third season. Something that affected them was that Howe left Bournemouth for Burnley midway through the first season, before returning the following season, stabilising them and getting promotion in the third season.
So it took them just five seasons from League Two obscurity to the Championship.
It is worth pointing out at this point that Bournemouth had never been in the second tier of the football league in their >100-year history. But the way Eddie Howe operates, he was undaunted. He needed just two seasons in the Championship, finishing as champions in the second season.
This to me was mindblowing – a club that had never been in the Championship, nearly went out of existence, then nearly went out of the Football League. Within seven seasons, they found themselves in the Premier League.
That’s me playing Football Manager in cheat mode.
Nothing is ever boobs or ice-cream and we all know what has happened to Bournemouth and Howe since – but having never been in the top flight in their history, they have spent seven of the last nine seasons in the Premier League. There may be a better Roy of the Rovers type story, but I can think of one – and certainly haven’t felt a part of one before.
So here’s the rub: at the same time as Bournemouth were fighting for their very existence, Everton finished 5th in the Premier League. That’s a roundabout 85 or 90 places better off.
We now find ourselves as underdogs when we play them this season. Underdogs in the result, underdogs in how we are and have been run, underdogs in style of play.
I went back to watch Bournemouth a few weeks ago with some old friends. They are entertaining, and the club is buzzing. They are so well run, they don’t worry about being relegated – they are in it for the fun and they enjoyed winning and competing in the Championship.
And I’ve said it before, that’s what football should be about. I’d rather we gave it a go and, if we get relegated, enjoy the chance to compete again because football is about entertainment and I can tell you that Bournemouth fans have very much enjoyed the ride.