AFCB welcomes the TV cameras to Dean Court

Peter Beagrie and Simon Thomas give it the big match build up.

Smile, someone said behind me - the camera's on you! It has been some time since the TV cameras have come to Dean Court. I know that they were around for the play-off first leg against Huddersfield a couple of seasons ago, but I'm not sure if they have been at the ground since then, apart from the England Women's and England U16 International. It is a shame, because the Goldsands stadium is a superb venue now and we have a great football team.

Simon Thomas and Peter Beagrie with Eddie Howe. (photo by Michael Dunne)

SKY presenters Peter Beagrie and Simon Thomas wasted no time in interviewing Eddie Howe ahead of the game with Brighton & Hove Albion. Cameras were situated just about every where around the ground with numerous roving cameras picking out players and expectant fans.

The camera man goes in for a close up on AFCB players warming up.

The only change to the usual pre-match set up with the presence of the cameras was to see the match day mascots having to have their kick about up the other end of the ground next to the main dugouts. That was not so much of a problem for the kids and Eddie Bear, but the parents of the children found it a little more difficult than usual to get photographs of their child's big day. Little mascots are perhaps not what Mr Beagrie and Mr Thomas want near them when they are trying to do a live link to the studio, but it would have been funny to see a ball gently lofted in error in their direction when on air.

Secret cabin between the North stand and Family stand.

The cabin between the North stand and the Family seats in the West stand looked a bit like a building site with hastily erected scaffolding but it created a csoy little tunnel for spectators to walk under. It was not the prettiest of structures, but the curtain over the structure gave it an air of mystery - was Gary Neville's tactics board hidden in there? Perhaps Willo will want his own tree house room at the ground now after seeing that.

Viewing the actual match was perhaps not as action packed as the Sky audience might have liked. No sending offs and one yellow card was a bit quiet even for a south coast derby, but the goals were both breath taking and the quality of play showed the Championship off in a good light. I am not sure if the cameras picked up on the spat between Lee Camp and Ashley Barnes near the end of the match, but I suspect it gave the camera man and presenters something to get excited about.

In all though it was a pretty good match for the cameras to come and see, and if AFCB get a good draw in the FA Cup, perhaps we will see them again at Dean Court before the end of the season.  

Not much room along the touchline yesterday.