AFC Bournemouth is a professional football club based in Kings Park, Boscombe, a suburb of Bournemouth, Dorset, England. The club compete in the Premier League, the top tier of English football. Formed in 1899 as Boscombe, the club adopted their current name in 1971. Nicknamed "The Cherries", and commonly referred to as Bournemouth, they have played their home games at Dean Court since 1910.
The club competed in regional football leagues before going up from the Hampshire League to the Southern League in 1920. By then known as Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic, they were elected into the Football League in 1923. They remained in the Third Division South for 35 years, winning the Third Division South Cup in 1946. Placed in the newly reorganised Third Division in 1958, they suffered relegation in 1970, but would win an immediate promotion in 1970–71. Relegated back into the Fourth Division in 1975, Bournemouth were promoted again in 1981–82 and after lifting the Associate Members' Cup in 1984 would go on to win the Third Division title in 1986–87. They spent three seasons in the second tier but entered administration in 1997 and ended up back in the fourth tier with relegation in 2002, though immediately gained promotion by winning the play-offs in 2003.
Bournemouth entered administration for a second time and were relegated back into League Two in 2008, but ended the year by appointing Eddie Howe as manager. Under Howe's stewardship, Bournemouth won three promotions in six years to win a place in the first tier of English football for the first time in their history. This was achieved with a second-place finish in League Two in 2009–10, a second-place finish in League One in 2012–13 and a Championship title in 2014–15. The club remained in the Premier League for five seasons before suffering relegation in 2020, but they returned in 2022 as Championship runners-up, this time under the management of Scott Parker.
History
Boscombe
Although the exact date of the club's foundation is not known, there is proof that it was formed in the autumn of 1899 out of the remains of the older Boscombe St. John's Institute Football Club.[10] The club was originally known as Boscombe Football Club. The first president was Mr. J. C. Nutt.[11]
In their first season, 1899–1900, Boscombe competed in the Bournemouth and District Junior League. They also played in the Hants Junior Cup. During the first two seasons, they played on a football pitch in Castlemain Avenue, Pokesdown. From their third season, the team played on a pitch in King's Park. In the 1905–06 season, Boscombe graduated to senior amateur football.[12]
In 1910, the club was granted a long lease over some wasteland next to Kings Park as the club's football ground by local businessman J.E. Cooper-Dean. With their own ground, named Dean Court after the benefactor, the club continued to thrive, and dominated the local football scene. The same year the club signed its first professional player
League history
Players
Club officials
- Source:[72]
Managers
🏴 Joe Roach (jointly, 10 September 2006 – 13 October 2006)
- Source:[75]
- 🏴 Vincent Kitcher (1914–1923)
- 🏴 Harry Kinghorn (1923–1925, 1939–1947)
- 🏴 Leslie Knighton (1925–1928)
- 🏴 Frank Richards (1928–1930)
- Billy Birrell (1930–1935)
- 🏴 Bob Crompton (1935–1936)
- 🏴 Charlie Bell (1936–1939)
- Harry Lowe (1947–1950)
Colours
The team's colours have varied slightly throughout the club's history. Starting off playing in red-and-white stripes, Bournemouth have also played in all-red shirts, red with white sleeves, and mostly, since 1990, in red-and-black stripes.[76] A predominantly red shirt was chosen for the 2004–05 and 2005–06 seasons, but – due to fan demand – a return was made to the stripes for the 2006–07 season.[77]
Since 2017 Bournemouth's kit has been manufactured by Umbro. Previously it has been made by Umbro (1974–78, 1983–86), Adidas (1978–81), Osca (1982–83), Henson (1986–87), Scoreline (1987–90), Ellgren (1990–92), Matchwinner (1993–95), Le Coq Sportif (1995–96), Patrick (1996–2000), Super League (2000–01), TFG Sportswear (2001–03), Bourne Red (2003–08), Carbrini Sportswear (2008–11, 2014–15), Fila (2011–14) and
Rivalries
According to a recent poll named 'The League of Love and Hate' in August 2019, Bournemouth supporters named their club's near neighbour Southampton as its biggest rival, with Portsmouth, Brighton and Hove Albion, Reading and Leeds United following.[81]
Records and statistics
Steve Fletcher holds the record for Bournemouth appearances, having played 726 first-team matches between 1992 and 2013.[82] Fletcher also holds the record for most league appearances, making 628.[83] Ron Eyre holds the record for the most goals 229 in a Bournemouth shirt having played 337 first-team matches between 1924 and 1933.[84] Ted MacDougall holds the record for the most goals scored in a single season, 42 in the 1970–71 season in the Fourth Division.[85]
The highest transfer fee received for a Bournemouth player to date is £65 million, from Tottenham Hotspur for Dominic Solanke in August 2024,[86] whilst the highest transfer fee paid by the club to date is £40.2 million, for Evanilson from
Honours
League
Cup
- Championship (level 2)
- Champions: 2014–15
- Runners-up: 2021–22
- Third Division South / Third Division / League One (level 3)
- Champions: 1986–87
- Runners-up: 1947–48, 2012–13
- Fourth Division / Third Division / League Two (level 4)
- Runners-up: 1970–71
See also
- List of AFC Bournemouth seasons
- List of AFC Bournemouth records and statistics
- AFC Bournemouth Women
- Dean Court
- Premier League
External links
Independent websites
- Bournemouth at Sky Sports
- AFC Bournemouth at Premier League
- AFC Bournemouth at UEFA
References
- Company details AFC Bournemouth, retrieved 23 July 2024^
- Club trademarks AFC Bournemouth, retrieved 21 June 2020^
- AFC Bournemouth Premier Skills English, British Council, 17 July 2015, retrieved 1 March 2023^