A.F.C. Bournemouth: The Little Club That Could

A.F.C. Bournemouth is a football club and once upon a time, it was one of England’s best-kept secrets in football. Located in the seaside town of Bournemouth, the club was founded in 1899 as Boscombe FC. Being the plucky underdogs, they won only a handful of titles before rising to national fame and fortune. And by ‘national fame’, we mean “oh, they finally got promoted to the Premier League”.

The team’s journey to the top tier has been a crazy rollercoaster ride full of twists, turns, and a lot of head-scratching moments. But let’s spare a moment to celebrate Bournemouth’s most notable achievement - being the only team in the Premier League whose stadium has a beachfront view. Take that, Tottenham Hotspur!

The club has undergone major revamps since its humble beginnings, including several name changes. After Boscombe FC rebranded itself as A.F.C. Bournemouth, they received the nickname ‘The Cherries’, which is probably the most fruity team nickname in football history.

In their early years, the club played in the lower divisions and brought home a measly two cups—the Dorset Junior Cup in 1902 and the Hampshire Junior Cup in 1904. These were precedents that set the trend for the team’s performance - they were happy being the little guys, and they didn’t want to rock the boat.

That is until they finally got their act together and climbed the football pyramid. But their real rise to stardom didn’t come until they won the Championship and made it to the Premier League. It was a promotion that even their fans were ecstatic about. Many saw it as the underdog story come to life, much like the plotline of a cheesy Disney movie.

Since their entry into the Premier League, the ‘little club that could’ has caused a fair share of upsets. In 2020, they thumped Tottenham Hotspurs 1-0 at home, which effectively ended their chances of making it to Europe. Take that, Harry Kane!

So, there you have it - an introduction to A.F.C. Bournemouth, the club that gives hope to tiny teams across the world. We hope you enjoyed it and remember, when supporting the Cherries, always bring a bag of fruit salad to the game. Because, you know, it’s only fitting.