Bournemouth

'I spent hours waiting for autographs' - fan storiespublished at 16:28 BST 6 August
This week, we are asking you to share your stories and photos for why you fell in love with Bournemouth.
Here is a selection of your submissions:
Richard: My first experience of watching AFC Bournemouth (Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic FC) was with my father when I was about 11 years old (1963) and it was their first match under floodlights, a friendly against a German side.
I spent many hours outside the players' entrance hoping to get the autograph of my heroes. If the first team were playing away, I used to go and watch the A Team playing on a Saturday. At half-time, the Bournemouth orchestra used to march around the pitch while playing and entertaining the crown.
I have remained a supporter throughout my life, and Eddie Howe will always be held fondly. Now we have one of the best managers in the league in Ardoni Iraola and an owner who fully supports the development of the club.
Thank you AFC Bournemouth for so many great years.
Image caption,
Norman: I was born and bred in Boscombe and watched my first game at Dean Court in 1951. I was a programme seller for a couple of years in the late 1950s. One of my clear memories is of queuing by 08:00 to see Cox's Pippins play Manchester United in the FA Cup sixth round. I believe that there was a record gate and it was the first time that Boscombe (as most locals called them) had got that far.
Derek: I was born in Bournemouth, Hampshire in 1949. I have always cheered the Cherries on and watched/listened whenever possible. Living in Portsmouth, I went to see them play at Fratton Park but got in the home end by mistake and cheered when Bournemouth scored. Fortunately (unfortunately!), the goal was disallowed. I was lucky to get out in one piece.
Send us your pictures and stories here
Who does Opta's Supercomputer predict to challenge for Europe?published at 11:57 BST 6 August
Opta's Supercomputer has once again predicted the upcoming 2025-26 Premier League season by using a model to simulate every match 10,000 times.
Image source, Opta
It is not yet clear if the team that finishes fifth in this season's Premier League will secure a Champions League spot again as that outcome depends on how representatives performance in Europe this season.
Therefore, based on needing a top-four finish to reach the Champions League and fifth getting the Europa League, Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea are favourites again, but there is still plenty of hope for others.
Aston Villa agonisingly missed out on Champions League qualification on the final day, but in almost a third of simulations they do force their way into a top-four spot this time around.
Newcastle's focus may be on trying to keep star striker Alexander Isak, but currently the Supercomputer predicts the Magpies to finish sixth most often, and a top-four finish in 29.9% of simulations.
Meanwhile, after Crystal Palace's strong end to last season brought a first major trophy, the Eagles are given more than a one-in-five chance of a top-four finish. They manage that achievement in 21.6% of sims, ahead of rivals Brighton (16.8%).
In their second season under Fabian Hurzeler, Brighton are predicted an eight-placed finish in the majority of sims.
The Supercomputer ranks Bournemouth (10.1%) and Nottingham Forest (8.9%) as outside shouts for European football this season.
Perhaps surprisingly, Brentford are predicted to have a strong season despite losing Thomas Frank and key players Bryan Mbuemo and Christian Norgaard - with Yoanne Wissa also looking likely to exit.
If as many as seven or eight Premier League clubs can qualify for Europe next season, the door could be open for a surprise team to sneak in.
Read Opta's full Supercomputer breakdown here, external
'If you've been on the rollercoaster, you'll understand the pride' - fan storiespublished at 15:58 BST 5 August
We know the relationship between a football fan and their club is a special one so, as we gear up for the new season, we asked you to share why you fell in love with Bournemouth and some of your favourite moments supporting them.
Here are some of your submissions:
Image caption,
Clive: From rags to riches. Over 50 years ago, I started to support my local team Bournemouth. Our history is chequered and a number of us have put our hands in our pocket, yet now the side is the best we have ever seen. But an undeniable ethos remains that together, anything is possible. From our trips to Darlington and Hartlepool to Old Trafford and Anfield, it has always a pleasure to shout out loud: "Up the Cherries in all departments!"
Mike: The simple fact that I was brought up in Bournemouth was the deciding factor. My first game was Bournemouth v Liverpool on 27th January 1968 in the FA Cup third round. I was 11 years old and I found it hard to see past the teenagers in front of me, hogging the fence. Apparently, we had a goal disallowed and I nearly got crushed in a sea of duffel coats after the game. The attendance was 24,388.
I also saw Bournemouth beat Margate 11-0 and I have great memories of watching us play during the Harry Redknapp years, when I could see the matches.
Unfortunately I've moved away and I rarely get to games now. People can tease about Bournemouth being a small club but unless you've been on the rollercoaster ride that is supporting Bournemouth, you'll never understand the pride of getting to where we are now.
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Peter: I was brought up watching my father Laurie Cunningham playing for Bournemouth. I had a privileged start as a young boy, in terms of knowing all of the players and the staff. I have seen some great games at Dean Court, the highlight being a 2-1 defeat by Manchester United in 1957. My father passed away just before we reached the Premier League and he would have never believed what the Cherries have achieved.
Send your pictures and stories here
Football provides 'connections' in 'increasingly lonely' worldpublished at 11:49 BST 5 August
Nicola Pearson
BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty Images
'Why did you fall in love with your club?'
This week, we have asked hundreds of football fans across the world that very question and got hundreds of different answers.
Yes, the themes might be similar - born near a ground; family supported the team; watched a certain player - but the individual story will be unique to each supporter.
The relationship between a fan and their club should not be underestimated, with people ploughing uncountable amounts of money, time and emotional energy into their support for their team.
But what is that makes us love our clubs the way we do?
"A lot of it comes down to our identity," researcher and co-writer of the Routledge Handbook of Sport Fans and Fandom Danielle Sarver Coombs told BBC Sport.
"We become part of this group that means so much to us. It becomes a way to find a community that you're a part of and to find a group of people that, no matter where you are, you could find a pub with other fans of your team. You have that kinship.
"In a world that's increasingly quite lonely, this provides one of the ways that we can have connections so we can have the feeling that we're part of something bigger."
Connection and identity plays a big role in someone's love for their club - particularly when it is a family link.
Many fans talk of being born into who they support - that the connection is so strong there was no other team they could, or would, have chosen.
"The great thing with football is that there's such a strong heritage component to it," Sarver Coombs said. "Often, your grandfather, father, mother or whomever was a fan of the team, so it's part of your family's tradition.
"It's handed down from generation to generation."
The uniqueness of football fandom is something researchers are increasingly investigating.
An article, external published earlier this year in psychology journal Frontiers discusses how football fans often follow follow teams with 'significant attachment and commitment, sometimes to the bewilderment of those outside of the game'.
"With football clubs, you have decades of tradition that you can tap into and it's going to keep coming," Sarver Coombs added.
"Players come and go, managers come and go, shirts change, badges change, but the club itself - the heart and soul of it remains constant. You always have that piece that you're tied to, so the longevity of clubs is a really important part.
"But also, that constant in-person opportunity to be present in a community space really sets football apart from other passions that may be transient or do not have that constant engagement."
Share your story in our My Club My Passion campaign
'Defoe promised me he'd score the winner - and he did!' Fan stories published at 11:34 BST 4 August
We know the relationship between a football fan and their club is a special one so, as we gear up for the new season, we asked you to share why you fell in love with Bournemouth and some of your favourite moments supporting them.
Henry: In my teenage years, I went to every home game from late 2013 onwards until I turned 16 and needed to start earning some money.
One afternoon on a day off from college, after a Carabao Cup win away at Birmingham City in August, I went to the stadium to get a new shirt for my brother for his upcoming birthday.
While I was waiting for his shirt to be printed, several of the players came in and out of the main entrance, doing their recovery from the previous night's fixture. While many stopped for a photo, Jermain Defoe struck up a conversation with me.
"Have you been to many of the games recently?" he asked. I explained I had previously but was unable to go to many at the time, but mentioned that I had used up my little holiday entitlements to book off the upcoming Friday night fixture mid-September against Brighton and how excited I was.
"Oh really? Well, that's amazing - it's great to hear, so I'll make you a promise. Brighton you say yeah? I'm going to win that one for you. I promise you that - I'll shake on it."
We shook hands and I laughed it off but I admired his confidence and self belief to claim it. Roll on 15 September and a dark cold autumn evening. It was 1-1 after an Andrew Surman goal, but who stepped up? Defoe, 73rd minute, 2-1.
It was the first game I'd been able to attend in over six months and it made the game, the win and the atmosphere all that more personal to me.
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Rob: I'm retired and now live in Spain and my photo is at my local team Elche. I first started watching Bournemouth when I was eight. I'm 72 now.
My favourite moments were against Charlton when we went up and beating Aston Villa away with Ted MacDougall's headed goal.
My favourite goal was Brett Pitman in the away win at Fulham in our promotion year. Two bizarre memoroes is hitchhiking late at night to York away and sleeping at Leeds coach station and getting a lift with Bournemouth winger Tony Scott to Newport away in his sports car.
Football has been a massive part of my life and I am really proud of my team!
Richard: My first experience of watching AFC Bournemouth was with my father when I was about 11 years old (1963). I remember going with him to watch their first ever match under floodlights. It was a friendly against a German side.
Before that, all games were played early in the afternoon. I spent many hours outside the players' entrance hoping to get the autograph of my heroes. If the first team were playing away, I used to go and watch the A Team playing on a Saturday. At half-time, the Bournemouth orchestra used to march around the pitch while playing and entertaining the crowd.
I have remained a supporter throughout my life, despite the team's ups and downs and in particular the year when they were nearly demoted from the Football League.
Eddie Howe will always be held fondly in the hearts of all supporters for not only saving them from relegation, but most of all for getting them promoted to the Premier League. Now we have one of the best managers in the league in Andoni Iraola and an owner who fully supports the develop the club.
So thank you, AFC Bournemouth, for so many great years of watching football.
Send your pictures and stories here
Cherries beaten by West Hampublished at 08:53 BST 4 August
Image source, Getty Images
Bournemouth were beaten 2-0 by West Ham in the final match of the Premier League Summer Series, in the USA.
Evanilson and Hamed Traore hit the post in the first-half, before Illia Zabarnyi's header was denied by the crossbar in the second-half.
West Ham's Niclas Fullkrug put Graham Potter's men ahead and captain Jarrod Bowen sealed their win with a second in the closing stages.
The Cherries will now return home and conclude their pre-season by hosting Real Sociedad on Saturday, 9 August.
Some 'not at the level required' - Iraola on pre-seasonpublished at 08:15 BST 3 August
Image source, Getty Images
Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola - speaking to media before Sunday's final Premier League Summer Series game against West Ham - says he doesn't want a repeat of Wednesday's 4-1 defeat by Manchester United: "It is getting closer. I hope we can finish these two weeks in America with better feelings than we had the other day."
Iraola on the secret behind Bournemouth's success: "We are a strong team as a collective, when everyone is on their best form and we can compete collectively, everyone looks better in our team. Our approach is quite aggressive. Everyone has to play their part. When three, four, five players are not in their best moment, we struggle collectively, everyone looks worse. We have some players who are in a great place at this moment in pre-season, others are not at the level required."
PSG restart talks for Bournemouth's Zabarynipublished at 10:10 BST 1 August
Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Paris St-Germain have re-opened negotiations with Bournemouth to sign defender Ilia Zabarnyi.
The European champions are keen to add the Ukraine international defender before their pre-season starts on Wednesday, 6 August.
Talks had initially stalled but PSG have re-opened dialogue with Bournemouth's recruitment staff. However, despite reports in France describing a deal as "close", there remains a gap in valuation between the two clubs.
Bournemouth want a total package of £59m but PSG are looking to negotiate the price down, with Tottenham said to be watching the situation in case the French club walk away.
Zabaryni is keen to move to Parc des Princes and has already agreed personal terms with Luis Enrique's Champions League winners.
Meanwhile, Bournemouth are scouting replacements for both Zabaryni and the departed Dean Huijsen who joined Real Madrid in a £50m move earlier this summer.
They want two new senior central defenders if Zabaryni leaves and have had a £27m bid rejected for Lille centre-back Bafode Diakite. They remain reluctant to pay his £35m asking price.
They are also known admirers of Chelsea's Josh Acheampong and Sevilla's Loic Bade.
Andoni Iraola's side have already replaced Milos Kerkez with Adrien Truffert and are looking for a striker to compete with Evanilson in the final month of the transfer window.
Gossip: Bournemouth end Zeze pursuit published at 07:24 BST 1 August
Premier League duo Bournemouth and Liverpool have both opted not to match newly promoted Saudi Pro League side Neom SC's huge offer for Nantes' French defender Nathan Zeze, 20. (TBR Football), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column
Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport
Send your pictures and stories of why you love Bournemouthpublished at 16:31 BST 31 July
Image source, Richard
On Monday, we asked you to tell us why you fell in love with Bournemouth and some of your favourite moments supporting them.
You have already been getting in touch with your photos and stories and here is just a taste from Richard:
"Being an AFC Bournemouth fan means so much to me. I remember getting obsessed with them as we survived relegation, beating Brentford 2-1 in the 1994-95 season.
"Watching with my dad was special for so many years. I now share that passion with my son, who recently was a mascot for the team. Never did I believe we would be a Premier League team all those years ago!"
So join the conversation and send your best photos about why you love the Cherries.
Your first visit to the stadium? A special kit? An amazing away trip?
Send us your pictures and stories
Rain drives fans away at exposed Soldier Fieldpublished at 09:07 BST 31 July
Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Premier League officials had been hoping for an attendance of just under 50,000 for the second game of their three-match Summer Series.
However, there were far fewer in the stands by the end as the awful conditions soaked the fans who had remained.
Heavy rain was swept across one end of Soldier Field to the other. There is no cover at the 61,500 arena, which is a surprise given the freezing temperatures this city experiences in the winter and the fact the stadium hosts the Chicago Bears NFL team.
Locals attending tonight's game suggested it was a source of pride for Bears fans that they brave such conditions but evidently, that view is not shared by league chiefs who have never hosted a Super Bowl in Chicago.
Bournemouth's perfect pre-season ended by Man Utdpublished at 08:21 BST 31 July
Image source, Getty Images
Bournemouth suffered their first pre-season defeat in heavy rain and swirling wind, losing 4-1 to Manchester United in Chicago.
Both sides went into the match at Soldier Field with positive pre-season records, but Ruben Amorim's side took the convincing win.
Antoine Semenyo had a goal ruled out for offside, with the Cherries' sole consolation coming through a Mattias de Ligt own goal in the 88th minute.
"The weather obviously had a big part in the game," Iraola said post-match. "It was the same for both teams, but especially in the first half the wind was against us and we were struggling to kick the ball around.
"It was the opposite in the second half and we didn't take that advantage, so I think they played much better than us and deserved the win.
"I think this game will probably serve us more than the other day [3-0 win over Everton] because we have made more mistakes and we have more things to correct.
"We struggled because we didn't have that collectiveness. Some players performed well but others did not, and they made everyone look worse. We need all of our players on the same page."
Next, Andoni Iraola's side head to Atlanta next to face West Ham United in their final match of the tournament on Sunday, 3 August (19:00 BST).
Gossip: PSG push to sign Zabarnyipublished at 07:57 BST 30 July
Paris St-Germain are pressing on to finalise a deal with Bournemouth for Ukraine defender Illia Zabarnyi, 22. (Fabrizio Romano), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column
Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport
Bournemouth unveil 2025-26 away kitpublished at 07:56 BST 30 July
Image source, AFC Bournemouth
Bournemouth have unveiled their away kit for the 2025-26 season, saying that bringing back blue and black stripes "pays homage to the club's rich history".
The last time the Cherries had this combination was the 2011-12 season in League One.
The strip will be worn for the first time in the Summer Series game against Manchester United in Chicago on Thursday (02:30 BST).
Gossip: Bournemouth miss out on promising defenderpublished at 08:09 BST 29 July
Bournemouth, Aston Villa, Everton and Liverpool are set to miss out on highly rated 20-year-old Frenchman Nathan Zeze, with the Nantes defender preferring a move to Saudi Pro League side Neom SC. (Sun, external)
Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column
Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport
Why do you love Bournemouth?published at 16:34 BST 28 July
There is something unique about a football fan's love for their club.
As once said by the great Arrigo Sacchi: "Football is the most important of the least important things in life".
Tears of joy - and heartbreak. Friendships forged. Memories that last a lifetime.
Sometimes it is there from the beginning, sometimes a moment is what starts it all or takes it to another level.
Wherever it comes from, the love for a club is often there for life.
As a new season edges closer, we want to know why you love Bournemouth.
When was the moment it all began?
What is your most special memory?
Your first home game? Earliest shirt? A seminal away trip?
Send us your pictures and stories
Why do you love your club? Tell us your story, published at 12:57 BST 28 July
Attribution
Premier League
Pitch for double-header used for one night onlypublished at 14:02 BST 27 July
Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter at the MetLife Stadium
Image source, Getty Images
Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola and Everton counterpart David Moyes had a bit of a grumble about the state of the pitch at the MetLife Stadium on Saturday night.
This follows on from complaints during the recent Club World Cup.
It is not ideal given the venue will host the World Cup final in 12 months' time.
The good news is, it won't be the same pitch. In fact, the surface used last night for the double-header which also saw Manchester United beat West Ham was a different one to the Club World Cup.
This pitch was laid at the beginning of the week after three shows by country music star Zach Bryan and will be taken up this week in time for WWE's Summer Slam on Saturday and Sunday.
The pitch will be taken to a local farm where it will be used to make compost soil.
'More a decision from him and the club' - Iraola on Billing futurepublished at 10:00 BST 27 July
Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter at the MetLife Stadium
Image source, Getty Images
Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola says he is "happy" to have Philip Billing back at the club but is not sure if the midfielder will still be around when the transfer window closes.
Billing spent the second half of last season on loan at Napoli.
He played often enough to be part of a Serie A winning side – and scored a crucial 87th-minute equaliser against champions Inter Milan in March - but not enough to persuade the Italians to take up an option to make the move permanent.
Billing proved his value with an excellent opener in Bournemouth's outstanding 3-0 win against Everton in the opening game of the Cherries' three-match Premier League Summer Series campaign.
But no-one can be sure how long the 29-year-old midfielder will be around for.
"I am happy to have him back," said Iraola.
"Even not playing a lot of minutes for Napoli, even from the bench he was very important. Winning Serie A is big achievement, even if you are not one of the starters.
"But sometimes it is not us pushing for a move. Sometimes it is the players who are not happy with their roles and they are the ones who want to try something else.
"It is a question for him and more a decision from him and the club."
Iraola said there would be further movement of incomings and outgoings before the transfer window closes on 1 September.
But he refused to confirm Bournemouth's interest in Chelsea's 19-year-old defender Josh Acheampong.
"I cannot speak about players who are not ours," Iraola added.
Bournemouth punish Everton in Summer Series openerpublished at 00:16 BST 27 July
Image source, Getty Images
Bournemouth kicked off their Premier League Summer Series campaign with a convincing 3-0 win over Everton at MetLife Stadium.
Andoni Iraola's attacking side got the better of David Moyes' error-strewn team, as Philip Billing and Dango Ouattara scored two goals in four minutes during the second half to sink the Toffees.
Academy graduate Daniel Adu-Adjei also featured on the scoresheet, with the 20-year-old netting the Cherries' third goal to seal victory in New Jersey.
Everton travelled to the pre-season tournament with only a 23-man squad and were without experienced defenders James Tarkowski, Jarrad Branthwaite and Michael Keane for the opener.
Both teams will head to Chicago for their next matches, where Everton will face David Moyes' former club West Ham United and Manchester United await Bournemouth.
Cook could return after September international breakpublished at 20:26 BST 26 July
Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter in Chicago
Image source, Getty Images
Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola expects midfielder Lewis Cook to be out of action until after the September international break.
Cook suffered a knee injury in last weekend's pre-season friendly with Bristol City.
The full extent of the problem was diagnosed following Bournemouth's flight to the United States to take part in the four-team Premier League Summer Series.
Thankfully for Cook, it is the less serious medial ligament injury.
The 28-year-old has already recovered from two lots of cruciate ligament surgery that led to extended periods on the sidelines.
When asked if the first international break of the 2025-26 campaign - 1-9 September - represented a realistic recovery timeframe, Iraola replied: "It could be a reference.
"We don't know how long it will take but normally, with this kind of injury, we would be talking about something around there.
"Lewis [Cook] is a player you never want to lose because he is very reliable, but he is also someone who has probably gone through more difficult injuries."
Iraola hopes Bournemouth lose more players next summerpublished at 19:58 BST 26 July
Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter in Chicago
Image source, Getty Images
Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola hopes he has another difficult summer next year trying to replace key men.
Iraola's attempts to build on last season's ninth place Premier League finish have been severely hampered by the loss of key men.
Defensive duo Dean Huijsen and Milos Kerkez have already joined Real Madrid and Liverpool for a combined £90m. The club's hopes of turning Kepa Arrizabalaga's loan from Chelsea into a permanent move were dashed when the goalkeeper opted to join Arsenal and back-up Mark Travers has left for Everton.
Bournemouth have done some business though, spending almost £40m on Chelsea goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic and defender Adrien Truffert, who has moved to the Premier League from Ligue 1 club Rennes.
But there can be no guarantees of success for a club that has punched massively above its weight under Iraola and, for a long time last season, looked as though they were going to qualify for Europe for the first time in their history.
Iraola himself was linked with the pending vacancy at Tottenham, but quickly decided he was staying put.
However, rather than moan about the situation he has found himself in, Iraola feels it is proof of a job well done, which is why he hopes it happens again in 12 months' time.
"It is something you have to accept," he said. "At the end of the day, I am happy for those players we lost. They are players that basically started every game when they were available.
"We will have to find a way to replace them, which is not going to be easy, but this is how it works. I trust the club.
"I hope next summer we have the same problem with more players. It would mean we had a really good season and the players have shown their level."
Cook to miss start of season with injurypublished at 17:00 BST 25 July
Image source, Getty Images
Bournemouth midfielder Lewis Cook is set for a period on the sidelines after suffering a knee injury during pre-season.
The 28-year-old damaged his medial collateral ligament in the Cherries' friendly against Bristol City.
The club have confirmed Cook does not need surgery but will miss the beginning of the 2025-26 Premier League campaign, which gets under way for Bournemouth when they travel to Liverpool on 15 August.
In a statement, the Cherries said: "Cook will be fully supported by the club's medical team throughout a process of rehabilitation as he begins his recovery in Chicago with the remainder of the squad."
'People love the underdog' - Cherries fans as far as the USApublished at 14:33 BST 25 July
Image source, Getty Images
Life-long Bournemouth fan David Cordell, who lives in the United States, spoke to BBC Radio Solent's Fern Buckley about the club's pre-season tour, and says it is a sign of how far the Cherries have come.
Bournemouth are in the USA ahead of the Premier League Summer Series which they are competing in alongside other English top-flight sides.
"We have Bournemouth fans all over the country - we're not as big as Manchester United or Liverpool, obviously, because we haven't had the same success. But a lot of people choose Bournemouth because we are the underdog.
"We try to persuade people to join us, who don't want to support one of the big six clubs. We play in the same colours as Atlanta so we get a lot of supporters from there.
"To see Bournemouth becoming a regular Premier League team under a great owner is very lucky and I hope Bill [Foley] will take us to places we've never dreamed about.
On growing their fanbase: "We try to do some meet and greets. We have Steve Fletcher [former Bournemouth forward] coming to meet us before the game on Saturday and the club is organising a training session for fans in Chicago. It's good fun and really nice to get to know other fans.
On the pre-season tour: "It would be nice to win some silverware, but this is all about preparation for the new season.
The Cherries play Everton in New Jersey on Saturday (21:00 BST), before then taking on Manchester United in Chicago on 30 July (02:30) and finally West Ham in Atlanta on 3 August (19:00).
Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds.