Well, here we are. The final post on Cherry Chimes! I must say I have thoroughly enjoyed writing posts on AFC Bournemouth for the past eight years and it was a hard decision to stop. I have been able to consider departing, unlike Eddie Howe, who left quickly last August or Jason Tindall, who was quickly removed in February. My mind was really made up though when Eddie left the club, as the blog started with Eddie, which led to the Eddie Had A Dream book. I am lucky that I had the Disrupted Season (2019-20) book to promote in the last few months and that gave me a good reason to keep up to date with the happenings at AFCB, even though I didn't renew my season ticket this season.
I must give a huge thanks to the advertisers that have been on Cherry Chimes over the years. I couldn't have done as much without that financial support. So, a massive thanks to all of them who supported me. And of course a huge thanks to you the readers who have managed to read through my pieces and for many of the thank you emails I have received about Cherry Chimes stopping and how you feel you will miss it. I hope you don't miss it too much as my aim in starting the blog was to make AFC Bournemouth better known and to help the club see more coverage, and get more people wanting to be fans of the club. I think there are a good number of websites and podcasts now that really help to keep fans captivated on every bit of news about the club.
When we reached the Championship in 2013, the blog took a big step up and to reach the Premier League was amazing. It has been incredible to be writing on the Cherries during this period and I'll not forget the many enthusiastic comments when the club had great results in the past few years.
Now it is time for a new chapter. There will be a new manager again, after Jason Tindall, and I'll follow it all closely. We may even see AFCB get to a semi-final or final of a domestic cup competition, wouldn't that be something! I might have to come back for a day if the club did get to Wembley. My thoughts at the moment are just hoping that AFCB beat Nottingham Forest today.
I have my fingers-crossed that AFCB can still get promoted this season. It would be a great moment for the club to go back up. I think it would cement AFC Bournemouth as a real force in English football if it could then build a strong platform for the second time in the top tier. I am still hoping that one day there is a new stadium that I can get a season ticket for in my old age, but until then UTCIAD!
If you want to recap what Cherry Chimes has been all about, check out the Archive on the blog and pick your way through the posts from 2013. There are, of course, also two books for you to read from Cherry Chimes that are available on Amazon (see below). Fifty per cent of the author proceeds now go to Julia's House Children's Charity. And thank you for those who have already bought a copy of Eddie Had a Dream and/or the Disrupted Season (2019-20) – now £9.99 – a big thank you. You have helped give some children a much better life.
RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY! RED ARMY!
Thank you for taking time over the past 8 years to blog. I will very much miss your posts as they are the only ones that are written by a true fan. Take care and enjoy having extra at weekends :-)
ReplyDeleteMany thanks Peter. I have enjoyed reading your thoughts on the ups and downs of being a cherries supporter. All good things must come to an end!
ReplyDeleteUTCIAD
Once again thanks for all the work, massive undertaking. I've been astounded by you work rate and dedication , wish you well in all you do
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for your views, comments and interpretations over the years. Your writing has been valued and you will be missed! Good luck.
ReplyDeleteThank you - you have been amazing.... I owe you a pint, let me know when. All the best And UTCIAD
ReplyDeleteThank you
ReplyDeleteWell firstly thanks for your blog which I've enjoyed over the last eight years,it does seem like a chapter has come to an end with Jason and Eddie gone, but what memories we've got, good luck ��
ReplyDeleteWell firstly thanks for your blog,it does seem like a chapter has ended with Jason and Eddie gone but what memories, good luck 😒
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for your dedication to this blog for these past eight years. I have always found you posts informed and well balanced and an enjoyable part of my Cherries 'content diet'. Sad to see it go, but I recognise how much time and effort this must be. Best of lick for the future and thanks for sharing the ups (and mostly those) and downs of the last 8 years.
ReplyDeleteSad to hear you are hanging up your keyboard. I will miss your measured views on the Cherries. Always fair, critical when it was justified, celebrating the successes and realistic about the failures. Thank you for the blog and enjoy your well earned rest.
ReplyDeleteSad to hear this, but you bow out gracefully 👌 and as you say there are some fantastic other fan-made content platforms out there. Do you have a personal favourite?
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