This season saw AFC Bournemouth recruit its 1000th Junior Cherries member, a first in the club's history. Coinciding with the team's most successful spell in 21 years, young fans up and down the country flooded the club with applications to become part of the Cherries march into the Play‐Offs.

Bournemouth manager Lee Bradbury said: "The Junior Cherries are the fans of tomorrow, the lifeblood of this club. Unfortunately we haven't made the step up to the Championship this season, but we will build for the next, and young fans are an important part of that building process."

The Junior Cherries, who are currently searching for a new sponsorship partner to take them into next season, boast a hoard of benefits for young fans under the age of 16. A mix of events with AFCB team in attendance, match‐day mascot opportunities and huge ticket discounts saw the membership rate rocket in the 2010/11 season.

AFC Bournemouth's commercial director, Rob Mitchell said: "The rate of increase in Junior Cherries applications this year has been astounding and I can only thank the parents who have been getting their kids involved."

"We're currently looking for a new sponsor to work hand in hand with us, to take things even further, and help make Junior Cherries the most exciting club for any
child to be involved with in the Dorset area."

Although AFC Bournemouth fell at the penultimate hurdle in the Play‐Offs, losing on penalties after a scintillating 3‐3 draw away at Huddersfield Town, the local good feeling towards the club after its recent success is tangible.

Alice Ling, 15, a proud member of the Junior Cherries said: "I don't class AFC Bournemouth as a football club; I class it as a community. A community in which everyone is accepted and is made to feel welcome."