AFC Bournemouth
AFC Bournemouth was thrust into the media spotlight when James Hayter plundered the fastest hat-trick in Football League history 15 years ago this week.
His remarkable goalscoring feat came just minutes from the end of the Cherries’ 6-0 win over Division Two rivals Wrexham on a cold Tuesday night at Dean Court.
The hosts had been leading 3-0 thanks to goals from Stephen Purches, Warren Cummings and Warren Feeney when boss Sean O’Driscoll decided to bring on Hayter for Steve Fletcher with six minutes remaining.
And after scoring with his first touch, the Isle of Wight-born hitman took just 140 seconds to write his name in the footballing record books.
To mark the occasion, afcb.co.uk has picked out seven other memorable hat-tricks from seasons gone by.
1. Callum Wilson v West Ham (August 2015)
Wilson registered the Cherries’ first hat-trick in the Premier League to seal the club’s maiden victory in the top flight.
He gave the visitors a 2-0 lead at the Boleyn Park before they were pegged back by Mark Noble’s penalty and a Cheikhou Kouyate goal.
And after Marc Pugh had restored their advantage, Wilson netted from the spot following the dismissal of Carl Jenkinson for a foul on Max Gradel. Although Modibo Maiga reduced the arrears to set up a tense finale, the Cherries held on to claim a 4-3 victory.
2. Steve Fletcher v Brentford (January 2005)
Fletcher ended a long wait for a first career hat-trick when his exploits settled in the Cherries’ favour an absorbing New Year’s Day showdown with the Bees at Dean Court.
His first-half double paved the way for the victory before he completed his treble either side of two goals from Isaiah Rankin as the Cherries ran out 3-2 victors.
3. Darren Anderton v Leyton Orient (February 2007)
Former England international Anderton registered what proved to be the only hat-trick of his illustrious career in a 5-0 win over the Londoners at Dean Court.
After Marc Wilson had given the hosts an early lead, Anderton struck either side of half-time to make it 3-0. James Hayter added a fourth before Anderton completed his treble seven minutes from time.
4. Ron Eyre v Aberdare Athletic (December 1925)
Club record goalscorer Eyre registered the Cherries’ first hat-trick in the Football League in a 3-3 draw with Division Three (South) opponents Aberdare Athletic.
Eyre’s impressive tally of 229 goals in 337 appearances for the club included no fewer than 13 hat-tricks. He was also the club’s leading goalscorer for eight successive seasons.
5. Ted MacDougall v Margate (November 1971)
MacDougall, who remains the club’s post-war highest marksman with 144 goals from 223 games, famously hit a hat-trick of hat-tricks in an 11-0 rout of the non-leaguers in the first round of the FA Cup.
His haul, which included one penalty, is still an individual goalscoring record in the competition proper. MacDougall hit a double hat-trick in the previous season’s FA Cup win over Oxford City.
6. Brian Clark v Rotherham (October 1972)
Clark joined the Cherries along with Ian Gibson from Bristol City and immediately made his mark by scoring four times in a 7-2 victory at Millmoor.
It was his second appearance for the club and the first time a Cherries player had netted four goals in an away league game. Alan Groves (2) and Micky Cave were also on target.
7. Baven Penton v Weymouth (October 1910)
Penton was the Cherries’ first professional player and bagged the club’s first hat-trick in an FA Cup tie against Western League Weymouth.
His exploits helped them to a 4-3 win against the Terras in the first qualifying round and set up a meeting with Poole Town in the second qualifying round.
Other notable hat-tricks in the club’s history...
- Brett Pitman hit his first career hat-trick to fire the Cherries to a crucial 4-0 win over Rochdale towards the end of the Greatest Escape season of 2008/09.
- Pitman plundered a 16-minute hat-trick in a 5-1 victory against Peterborough in the first home game of 2010/11.
- It was a day of firsts as Yann Kermorgant netted his first hat-trick on his first start for the Cherries in a 5-0 win against Doncaster in March 2014, the club’s first treble since their return to the second tier.
- Striker Steve Jones scored all three goals to see off Peterborough United in the first home game of the 1995/96 season.
- Paul Moulden hit a treble in the Cherries’ eventual 5-4 victory over Hull City at Dean Court in August 1989.
- Colin Clarke notched a three-timer on his home debut in a 5-0 triumph over Bristol City in August 1985.
- Luther Blissett marked his home debut with four goals in the 5-1 win over Hull City in November 1988.
- Defender Tommy Heffernan’s hat-trick included a penalty and came in a 3-0 win against Millwall at Dean Court in January 1983.
- Peter Thompson netted three times in a 3-3 draw with Peterborough United on the opening day of the 1962/63 campaign.
- James Hayter equalled the club record for the number of goals scored in an away league game when he hit four in a 5-2 triumph at Bury in October 2000.
