Connell calmed Feeney's nerves

Those were the words of Liam Feeney as he reflected on a success-laden spell with the Cherries which included promotion in 2009/10.

Feeney was given his big break in the professional ranks by Eddie Howe and played a leading role in the club’s Greatest Escape of 2008/09.

Plucked from non-league Salisbury, the winger netted the Cherries’ equaliser in the win against Grimsby which secured the club’s place in the Football League.

He made 121 appearances in all competitions and starred in the League Two promotion campaign and as the Cherries reached the League One play-offs in 2010/11.

Feeney joined Millwall in August 2011 and is currently plying his trade at Blackpool following spells with Bolton and Blackburn.

In the latest in our series of interviews for The Journey, Feeney looks back on the events of 2009/10 when the Cherries finished as runners-up in League Two.

He told afcb.co.uk: “The season started with a 3-0 win at Bury and we carried on the momentum from the previous season.

“We had been under such tremendous pressure during the second half of 2008/09 because we simply had to win games and get points.

“In a way, the pressure was off the following season and we could express ourselves.

“The gaffer had been able to have a whole pre-season with us and everything just rolled into the next season.

“The winning feeling became a habit and we were always confident we were going to win. The stresses of the previous season had disappeared.

“Work was work under Eddie and you were never going to rest or take your foot off the gas. But we had a really tight group and had a lot of laughs.

“There was a really positive vibe throughout the squad and we enjoyed the whole season. It just felt like we won all the time.”

Feeney opened his account for the season by bagging the only goal in a 1-0 win against Crewe at the end of August before scoring in back-to-back victories against Cheltenham and Torquay over the festive period.

“I don’t remember too much about individual games, I just remember us being a really good team,” added Feeney.

“We had a lot of everything in the team. If other teams allowed us to play, we could. If people wanted to fight and scrap, we had players who could do that as well.

“We had some really good players going forward. We created a lot of chances and scored a lot of goals.

“For me personally, it was a consistent season and I only missed a couple of league games.

“Before I signed for Bournemouth, I had played a lot of men’s football and taken my fair share of knocks in non-league.

“It was a massive step up to the Football League but I already had the toughness from being kicked up and down the country and knew my body could handle the rigours of League Two.

“It wasn’t just a case of playing every game, you had to put in performances. That season stood me in good stead for the rest of my career.

“I’ve always been pretty hardy and have been fortunate to be fit for most of my career. That season gave me a good grounding to understand what was required.

“I remember scoring the winner at Cheltenham on Boxing Day and running the length of the pitch to celebrate with our fans.

“I also remember the goal against Torquay because Adam Smith was playing for Torquay and I still give him stick about it!

“Anton Robinson set me up and I got the better of Smithy to score. I played with him at Millwall and always like to remind him about that goal!

“He was a nightmare to play against for me because he always wanted to go forward. He was so good, he would almost force you to play full-back.

“How full-backs are seen now, he was playing that way then and was ahead of his time. It wasn’t conventional in those days. Full-backs would normally support from behind and defend.

“He was a dribbler. When I played with him, he would frustrate me sometimes because I would want the ball to dribble but he would go on a mazy run. It was really good to play with him and when we played together it was like a double threat.”

Promotion was secured thanks to a 2-0 victory at Burton Albion with Feeney admitting he had been a bag of nerves ahead of kick-off at the Pirelli Stadium.

He said: “We arrived at the ground and were having a walk on the pitch. We were all chatting and trying to relax before we got changed.

“I remember being pretty pent up about the game. I was really up for it and it was like a nervous energy.

“The excitement and nervousness were spewing out of me and Alan Connell spoke to me and told me to relax and calm down. He said to treat it like any other game.

“Al and Bretty scored and we got the job done. Bretty and Fletch were a great partnership and Bretty just screamed goals everywhere he went.

“Our supporters invaded the pitch and it was a completely different feeling to the previous season even though we had achieved something amazing again.

“It felt weird because all the boys were celebrating on their balcony and our fans were celebrating on their pitch.

“For me, it was the culmination of an amazing 18 months – the Greatest Escape and then promotion.

“As a group, we were all so close. There were no cliques and nobody disliked anyone. Anyone could chat to anyone.

“We were a really good team and you could see the Bournemouth ethos was there. Eddie was formulating how he wanted to play and you can see similarities in the way they play now on another level in the Premier League.

“It was an incredible time to be associated with the club and I have nothing but fond memories of my time at AFC Bournemouth.”