AFC Bournemouth
Winter Olympic gold medallist Amy Williams and four-time Premier League winner Gary Pallister were the star guests at last week’s AFC Bournemouth sporting dinner held at Vitality Stadium.
More than 220 diners were treated to a sumptuous three-course meal and coffee in the Balfour Suite, the event generously sponsored by Frettens Solicitors.
It was staged in support of the club’s four chosen charities – Hope For Food, Lewis-Manning Hospice Care, MyTime Young Carers and the Isabel Baker Foundation.
Former skeleton racer Williams became the first British individual gold medallist at a Winter Olympics for 30 years when she topped the podium in Canada in 2010.
The daughter of lifelong Cherries supporter Ian Williams, a professor of chemistry at the University of Bath, she was the only British medallist in the 2010 Olympics which were held in Vancouver.
Her achievement saw her appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2010 Birthday Honours and installed as an Honorary Freeman of the City of Bath.
Central defender Pallister made more than 550 appearances, including 22 caps for England, during an illustrious playing career between 1984 and 2001.
During a nine-year spell with Manchester United between 1989 and 1998, he won four Premier League titles, three FA Cups, the League Cup, the European Cup Winners’ Cup, the European Super Cup and five Charity Shields.
His transfer fee of £2.3m from Middlesbrough to Old Trafford broke the national record for a fee paid for a defender as well as being the highest between British clubs.
Pallister said: “This is the first time I’ve been back to this stadium since I played for Middlesbrough against Bournemouth in 1987.
“I came here with a very young Boro side and we were vying for promotion. I think you got lucky and beat us 3-1!
“Fortunately, it didn’t hurt us too much. Bournemouth went up as champions and we got second place.
“The Bournemouth story is incredible and they have been punching their weight in the Premier League.
“Hopefully, Boro can get there again this season and I’m sure everybody is backing Bournemouth to stay up because it is a great story.”
Williams said: “I’ve never been here before. My dad is a lifelong fan so he’s super-jealous that I’m here. I’ve been looking out at that beautiful grass and feeling quite honoured I’m here.
“My dad grew up in Bournemouth. Although we live in Bath now and he still lives in Bath, he’s a massive fan!”
Discussing her gold medal, she added: “I went in ranked fifth in the world but knew I could medal and had the confidence. The track suited me, the training went well and I came out with a gold medal.”
AFC Bournemouth commercial director Rob Mitchell was delighted with the success of the event and extended his thanks to sponsors Frettens Solicitors.
He added: “It’s great to host these events at Vitality Stadium and to welcome supporters and local businesses to the club, all in support of our official charity partners.
“We also have our business club, AFC Business, and we have directors’ dinners and breakfast events.
“Our hospitality and events team sell the venue during the week for parties, business events and private functions to make use of this fantastic venue.”
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