AFC Bournemouth
The Cherries are celebrating a major milestone in club history after competing in the Football League for 100 years.
Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic played their first game away to Swindon Town on Saturday 25th August 1923.
Jim Lister scored the Cherries’ first goal in the Football League, his late consolation coming in a 3-1 defeat in their Division Three (South) curtain-raiser.
The scheduled first league fixture at Dean Court was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch before the Cherries hosted Swindon in a 0-0 draw on Saturday 1st September 1923.
Since then, the club has experienced many highs and lows, one of the greatest achievements being promoted to the Premier League in 2015 and 2022.
In a feature prepared for tomorrow's issue of MATCHDAY, we look back over the club’s ten decades in the Football League, picking out some memorable events.
1923/24-1932/33 – THE RON EYRE YEARS
Prolific striker Ron Eyre (pictured below) played a significant role in the club’s early years in the Football League after signing from Sheffield Wednesday in January 1925.
Eyre, whose real first name was Roland, remains the club’s all-time leading marksman having plundered a staggering 229 goals in 337 games in all competitions.
He netted the Cherries’ first hat-trick in the Football League during a 3-3 draw with Aberdare Athletic in 1925/26, finishing the season with 27 goals in 41 league games plus a further five in the FA Cup.
Eyre was the club’s leading marksman in eight successive seasons, netting 202 goals in 302 league games. He also registered no fewer than 13 hat-tricks for the club.
1933/34-1942/43 – DEAN COURT DEVELOPEMENT
The 1936/37 season marked a significant development at Dean Court when the covered stand at the south end of the ground was opened.
At 240 feet long and 30 feet high, it provided cover for 17,500 spectators and was carried out following a scheme put forward by the supporters’ club.
The Cherries also registered their highest league finishing position in 1936/37 with sixth place secured thanks largely to an excellent home record.
This was in stark contrast to 1933/34 which went down as the worst in the club’s history as the Cherries finished second from bottom.
During this period, a change in managers, with Bob Crompton replacing Billy Birrell, coincided with a change in kits, the cherry and white striped shirts discarded in favour of red shirts with white collars and sleeves.
1943/44-1952/53 – UP FOR THE CUP
The first piece of silverware displayed in the Dean Court trophy cabinet was the Division Three (South) Cup in 1945/46.
A finely-taken goal by Jack McDonald proved decisive as the Cherries triumphed 1-0 against Walsall in the final at Stamford Bridge.
In a semi-final replay against QPR at Loftus Road, the Cherries were involved in one of the most remarkable games in the club’s history.
Deadlocked at 0-0 after 90 minutes, three periods of extra-time failed to separate the teams before Jack Kirkham’s goal saw the Cherries prevail.
During this period, the Cherries registered a club record 10-0 win against Northampton which came days before the 1939/40 season was curtailed due to the outbreak of the Second World War.
1953/54-1962/63 – FA CUP GIANTKILLERS
The Cherries faced three of England’s footballing powerhouses as they penned a new chapter in club history by reaching the quarter-finals of the FA Cup in 1956/57.
Freddie Cox’s ‘Pippins’ beat Burton, Swindon and Accrington Stanley to set up a fourth-round trip to First Division high-fliers Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Reg Cutler shock off the effects of crashing into one of the uprights to grab the only goal, earning the Cherries a home tie against Tottenham, which they won 3-1.
Although Brian Bedford (pictured below) opened the scoring the scoring in their last-eight encounter with Manchester United, Johnny Berry’s double saw the Busby Babes edge a 2-1 win.
1963/64-1972/73 – THE JOHN BOND ERA
The arrival of John Bond as manager ahead of the start of the 1970/71 season marked a period of significant change and unprecedented success at the club.
A name change saw Bournemouth & Boscombe become AFC Bournemouth, a public relations officer was appointed, while Bond implemented modern coaching techniques.
Bond presided over the club’s first promotion in his first season, Ted MacDougall netting 42 goals in 46 games as the Cherries finished second in Division Four.
He came close to guiding the club into the second tier in his next two seasons before leaving to manage Norwich City in December 1973.
1973/74-1982/83 – DAVID WEBB’S WONDERS
David Webb’s arrival, initially as player-coach in May 1980, coincided with an upturn in fortunes at Dean Court following some lean years in the bottom flight.
Appointed manager after Alec Stock had become a director, Webb (pictured below) assembled a squad with an excellent blend of youth and experience, including the likes of Nigel Spackman, Trevor Morgan, Paul Compton, Chris Sulley, Keith Williams, Paul Edmunds, Phil Brignull, Tony Funnell and Andy Crawford.
In 1981/82 – the first season three points for a win had been introduced – the Cherries lost just four league games and were promoted after finishing fourth in Division Four.
George Best, the greatest footballer of his era, made five league appearances for the Cherries at the end of the 1982/83 season.
1983/84-1992/93 – THE HARRY REDKNAPP GLORY DAYS
Having lifted the inaugural Football League Trophy in 1983/84, the Cherries went on to win their first league title in 1986-87 – with Harry Redknapp indelibly carving his name in club folklore.
Redknapp was at the helm when the Cherries famously knocked holders Manchester United out of the FA Cup in January 1984.
With the likes of Gerry Peyton, Carl Richards, Tony Pulis and Trevor Aylott signed ahead of the start of 1986/87, the Cherries never looked back after losing just one of their opening 12 games.
Redknapp’s team clinched promotion to the second tier for the first time in the club’s history following a 3-1 win at Fulham before lifting the Third Division title after defeating Rotherham at a packed Dean Court.
1993/94-2002/03 – DOWN WEMBLEY WAY
The highlight of manager Mel Machin’s reign was an historic first outing at Wembley Stadium in the final of the Auto Windscreens Shield in April 1998.
Machin, appointed in September 1994, presided over the original Great Escape in his first season and was at the helm when the club went into receivership in January 1997.
But following wins over Leyton Orient, Bristol City, Luton Town and Walsall, the Machin Braves secured the club’s first cup final at the original Wembley.
Although John Bailey drew first blood for the Cherries, an own goal by Jimmy Glass and Wayne Burnett’s golden goal won the day for Grimsby Town. The late Jamie Vincent is pictured below playing at Wembley.
2003/04-2012/13 – CHAMPIONSHIP HERE WE COME
The club’s meteoric rise under boss Eddie Howe continued as the Cherries secured a second promotion in four years when they won a place in the Championship in 2012/13.
Appointed on New Year’s Eve 2008, Howe masterminded the Greatest Escape from relegation in his first season before presiding over promotion to League One in 2009/10.
He steered the Cherries back into the second tier for only the second time in their history after returning to the club from Burnley in October 2012.
At the time of his arrival, the Cherries were marooned in the League One relegation zone having taken just eight points from their first 11 games. They finished as runners-up to Doncaster Rovers.
2013/14-2022/23 – THE PREMIER LEAGUE DREAM
A truly momentous period in the club’s history saw the Cherries promoted to the Premier League for the first time in 2014/15 and again in 2021/22.
Eddie Howe’s team were crowned Championship winners following a dramatic final day of the 2014/15 season and remained in the top flight for five years.
A 14-match unbeaten run included a record-breaking 8-0 victory against Birmingham City at St Andrew’s, the club’s biggest away win in the second flight.
Having been relegated on the final day of the 2019/20 season, the Cherries regained their place in the Premier League after finishing as runners-up to Fulham in 2021/22.
