AFC Bournemouth
Out of sight but never out of mind.
Harry Arter may have spent the final two years of his AFC Bournemouth career on loan but his contribution to the club’s success will never be forgotten.
He arrived a relative unknown having been unearthed in non-league and left an international having played a pivotal role in the Cherries’ rise to the Premier League.
Arter joined the Cherries from Woking at the same time as Mitchell Nelson was signed from Tooting & Mitcham.
Former boss Eddie Howe said only time would tell whether he had discovered a pair of gems, adding they would be given every opportunity to sparkle.
Some you win, some you lose.
Arter won two promotions and made 256 appearances for the club, Nelson made none.
For a central midfielder, it was probably the best £4,000 ever spent. For one Paul Pogba, you could have had 22,250 Harry Arters.
On Charlton’s books as a youngster, Arter’s fierce determination saw him earn a second crack at the professional ranks having starred with Woking for a season in Conference South.
Keen to impress against his former club on his debut in August 2010, Arter’s eagerness and enthusiasm, traits which would serve him well, saw him hooked at half-time by Howe at The Valley.
Ahead of his return, Arter spoke about his disappointment at leaving the Addicks when he said: “I had been there since I was eight and it was hard to say goodbye.
“Also, knowing there wasn’t a club that wanted to sign me was tough. But I got my head down, worked hard and, fortunately, I am back in the league.”
Always an engaging interviewee, Arter would never shirk the difficult questions, often speaking candidly and sometimes with brutal honesty.
Just weeks after Howe had left for Burnley, Arter must have feared for his future when he was farmed out on loan to Carlisle by new boss Lee Bradbury.
But he responded by scoring his first career goal on debut for the Cumbrians before displaying he had an eye for goal by netting in three games in succession for the Cherries at the start of 2011/12.
Despite being shielded from the media after receiving the first red card of his career during a 1-1 draw with Preston in August 2012, Arter phoned me on his way home because he wanted to issue a public apology via the Daily Echo.
His comments spoke volumes of the man: “I let down the manager, the players and, most importantly, the supporters. I am ashamed and know I have to start looking at myself and grow up.”
Arter soon established himself as a terrace favourite, fans quickly warming to his combative and committed style of play, his wholehearted approach combined with skill, artistry and tenacity.
Stunning goals from distance became his trademark, Arter’s thunderous strike in a 3-1 win over Carlisle in April 2013 helping seal promotion to the Championship.
Supporters’ player of the year as Howe’s heroes clinched the Championship title, Arter netted nine crucial goals and missed just three games as the Cherries realised their Premier League dream.
In the space of five years, Arter had swapped Lewes for Liverpool, Chelmsford for Chelsea and Maidenhead United for Manchester United.
And weeks after starring and scoring as the Cherries sunk former club Charlton to cap a memorable campaign, Arter’s stock rose further when he was rewarded with his first cap for Republic of Ireland.
While injury restricted Arter’s involvement in the top flight in 2015/16 and 2017/18, he missed just three games as the Cherries registered their highest finish, ninth in 2016/17.
Playing grief-stricken just days after he had suffered the unimaginable anguish of going through the still birth of daughter Renee in December 2015 was testament to his courageous character.
Harry Arter had the best times and hardest times of his life during ten years with AFC Bournemouth.
He left a legacy and a legend.
Click here to see a gallery of Harry Arter pictures.
