AFC Bournemouth
afcb.co.uk has been speaking to some of the key figures in AFC Bournemouth's rise from League Two to the Premier League, including Anton Robinson.
The club’s situation wasn’t great when I signed, but I knew what I was getting myself into. Although I had offers from teams in comfortable positions in League Two, I believed we could get out of trouble.
We were all so emotionally invested in the Great Escape. The pressure was immense and it would keep some of us awake at night thinking about the consequences.
I think those experiences defined me as a man. I’m speaking for myself but I think the other lads will agree that coping with those situations and coming out the other side makes you a stronger person.
I remember we had a crucial game at Exeter City and when we came back the gates were locked up. There was a winding up order waiting for us and Jeff Mostyn had to pay so that we could get our cars out of the car park.
You need people who will make light of the situation. It’s easy to let the off the field problems drag you down, but people like Warren Cummings were good at helping ease the pressure.
Eddie and Jason are great at developing players and I’m proof of that. I have so much to thank them for.
I thought we were good enough to get promoted in my final season at the club. A lot of the boys were playing in the Championship the following season and we were unlucky to finish in the play-off places.
Losing in the play-offs was a horrible experience. Hitting the bar with my penalty and then leaving on that note will always stick with me.
I can’t change what happened though and I have to be thankful for the good times. Some players go through their whole careers without experiencing some of what we enjoyed in my few years at the club.
If most people were in my shoes, they would make the same choice as I did when I left. I was engaged, had a daughter and had to do what was right for my family and my career.
I almost came back. There was a deal in place and I wanted to return, only for the fee to become a stumbling block.
My only regret was not forcing the move through. There are different ways of doing it, but it’s not in my make up to do that. Perhaps if I had, I could have played a part in what the club have done in the past few years.
I have retired from football now and run a property development company. The business is about building and renovating houses to then rent them out.
It’s hard to meet up with the lads I played with but I stay in touch with them. I speak to Shaun Cooper, Jason Pearce, Rhoys Wiggins, Danny Hollands, Ryan Garry and Michael Symes. Liam Feeney stays with me during the international breaks too.
That shows how close we were. We have all gone our different ways and a lot happens in football in a short space of time, but I don’t think I will experience anything like the togetherness we had.
