AFC Bournemouth
Former Cherries player and manager Mel Machin was last week invited to Vitality Stadium to help mark the 50th anniversary of the club's first Football League promotion.
Now aged 76, Machin was joined by wife Jo at Vitality Stadium, where he was welcomed by club historian Neil Vacher as well as Jimmy Glass and Ian Cox, two players led by Machin during his time managing the club.
Vacher's newly-published book 'Goal Along with the Cherries' celebrates the club's historic promotion and is now available to buy online or in person at the club Superstore.
Machin enjoyed a tour of the stadium and the dressing room before being presented with a commemorative copy of the book his actions on the pitch helped to inspire, while also being shown contemporary newspapers and photographs from 50 years ago.
As a player, Machin signed for the Cherries in December 1970 and became an important part of the team that, buoyed by Ted MacDougall's 49 goals, claimed the runners-up spot in Division Four and ascension to the higher tier.
Following 110 appearances for the Cherries, Machin's time as a player came to an end when he moved to Norwich City in 1974.
However, he would return to Dean Court two decades later, this time as manager, as he helped the club to achieve the Great Escape in the 1994/95 season.
He would spend six years as AFC Bournemouth manager, leading the side out at Wembley in 1998, before moving into a director of football role at the club for two further years starting in 2000.
