Junior Cherries have unbelievable tekkers

We all want to inspire the Junior Cherries to enjoy their football and not only like following the Cherries, but to get them to take part in playing the game for themselves, and staying as fans of the Cherries for the rest of their lives. There have been some great initiatives to help the youngsters of today feel connected with AFCB. I particularly like the Minikicker schools which take place often on a Saturday morning at the Goldsands stadium, on the team's small five a-side training areas. The fact that the training schools also have sessions to encourage any young footballer to come along within the age groups being featured is superb. I wish I had had an opportunity when I was a kid. All through October there are some great opportunities that the official club website points out.

This week the young supporters are being asked to have a go at Ian Harte's left foot challenge to win a pair of his boots. What exactly they will do with the boots I don't know, but they could put them on display and you never know they could grow up to be the same size. The good thing is that they will be encouraged to go outside and get some exercise kicking a ball around.

I would like to say that I try and encourage my two boys to go out and kick a ball around when I can. They are not going to be Kaka or Ronaldo but we have great fun doing our Know Howe videos and generally running about. That reminds me, I must do another Know Howe soon.

Unbelievable Tekkers!

I did spot a certain character who was perhaps looking to get involved the other week in playing some football. I think all the pre-match training sessions with the Junior Cherries has been paying off, because Eddie Bear is a bit of a natural now at playing keep-me-uppy. What do you reckon?  

AFCB mascot joy for Deklan Hill

I have always been pleased to offer up the chance for fellow AFCB supporters to come on Cherry Chimes and tell us something about the club if they have had a valuable experience or have something to share and I'm pleased to say today I can have a day off! Damien Hill, who sits next to me in the Family Stand (poor him) has finally given in to my demands and has kindly written the following piece on the day his son, Deklan, had as an AFCB mascot at a recent match. It should give those wondering how the day is organised a little more idea of the kind of time that their son or daughter will have as well as the proud parents. Here's Deklan's story told by his dad.

Wow, meeting the players in the changing room before the game.
Deklan and the other mascots fill their autograph books.

Deklan's day to remember

My son's birthday was in September and due to the international break there was no game on his birthday weekend, so we booked for him to be the mascot at the home game verses Blackpool. We booked as soon as the fixtures were released as we heard that places can quickly sell out and to make sure we got this fixture.

We are season ticket holders in the family stand, Deklan, Andy (nephew) and myself, and we enjoy going to the games. My wife (Nelia) wanted to come to the game as she had never seen our beloved AFCB play, so after a little persuasion of upgrading Andy's ticket, the wife was able to go.

We had a confirmation letter from the the club to be at the ground for 1 O'clock to meet at the players entrance, and as Nelia had never been before we arrived at the ground for 12:30 so she could meet all the players, as they arrived and to have a walk around the club shop, and to look at the wall of fame, behind the east stand (she actually new some of the faces on the wall to my surprise!). 

So with 1 O'clock fast approaching, we made our way back to the players entrance where we were greeted by an AFCB official and were told to wait inside the red barrier, which made Deklan feel very proud and important. Here we were told that Deklan and the other mascots would go inside the changing rooms to meet the players, and to get their autographs and pictures taken with their favourite player, this would take about 1/2 an hour, so the parents had time to get a coffee and a beer in the Legends Bar.

Deklan with Tommy Elphick.

When we returned to pick Deklan up, he had been given a goodie bag with a programme, pen and autograph book, of which he had filled with all of the players signatures. Not surprisingly, he had the biggest smile on his face that you could imagine. 

We were then told to come back at 2 O'clock and Deklan would go inside the stadium before being taken onto the pitch to play football. The it would be an even more exciting moment for him a bit  later when he would come out of the tunnel with the players before joining into the line up on the pitch and shaking hands with all the Blackpool players, just  moments before the kick-off. So at 2 O'clock we left him once again and made our way into the ground to watch the players warm up and to see Deklan have his kick around on the pitch.

Deklan and other mascots have a knock about before kick-off.

Deklan was having fun with all the other mascots and Cherry Bear playing football and then it was time to go into the tunnel, wait for music to start and to come out with the players. Nelia and I eagerly took to our seats and waited to see the teams come out. With the wife and crowd in full voice (taught her a few songs before we left home) the teams entered the field and Deklan lead the team out with Simon Francis, as Tommy was on the bench, mum had a little tear in here eye and one proud dad as pleased as punch stood happy cheering on. Deklan then had his photo taken with the captains, referee and other mascots and was then shown back to his seat with us to watch the game.

On to the pitch with Simon Francis leading the team out.

Deklan shakes hands with the Blackpool players.

All the mascots and Cherry Bear.

The referee, assistant referees and captains join in.

The result didn't go our way as we lost 1-2 but that didn't spoil our day and we all went home happy and wait eagerly for the Football League Show to see Deklan on the TV, leading out the team. A great day was had by all and it was a day Deklan will always remember. Thank you AFCB for the memory stick, full of pictures, that we received in the post and for a wonderful day.

Origins of FC Zurich match finally revealed

It was quite a surprise for most of us AFCB fans to find out that our beloved club would be playing a pre-season match on 5 July in Switzerland against the mighty FC Zurich. No one really questioned why such a match has come about or why the Cherries are able to attract the attention of such a team. Well Cherry Chimes has been endeavouring to find out how the game actually came about and I can now reveal a little more.

You might have thought that Lucerne would be the best match up that Bournemouth would find in Switzerland as the two town's are twinned. Yet, the link up between FC Zurich and AFCB is not based on the friendship of the towns. It is more to do with individuals I've been told.

No, Steve Fletcher has not been put in plaster after skiing in the Alps and Eddie Howe has not been scouting Switzerland's best young international players with FC Zurich's help. I approached Eddie Bear about which individual it could be, but he has been told to keep the answer secret with the promise of a few Toblerone bars! I tried to get him to talk, but I couldn't get anything out of him. His lips are sealed. No, honestly they are.

Eddie Bear is sworn to secrecy over the origins of the Zurich match.

I was beginning to run out of ideas but being resourceful Cherry Chimes used all his skills and managed to hear some news on the Swiss football hotline about how it all came about. The reason for the match is quite simple. Are you ready?

I guess it's only fair that I tell you now. But perhaps you have already guessed the answer? No?

Oh well, the reason is that Mr Maxim Demin and the FC Zurich club owners have become close friends in recent times. Maxim has some business interests in Zurich and is also a keen follower of the side over there. Although the friendship does not really go any deeper than that, I am told that the game is being held as a sign of the friendly relationship between the two owners of the clubs. There, the secret is out.

What a shame that the NPower league closed that loop hole about loaning players from foreign teams last season after the Watford and Udinese dealings. Of course AFCB could still benefit from having close friendships with a foreign club and learning from their experiences.

In this instance though it was a case of who you know and Mr Demin clearly knows some very powerful people in the football world, having already introduced AFCB to Locomtiv Moscow and FC Saarbrucken, only a couple of seasons ago (2011), when the Energy Consulting Group Cup tournament was held at Dean Court.

While know body yet knows the pre-season fixtures for next year, but we have surveillance outside the San Siro, Camp Nou, Bernabeu and Allianz Arena, just in case Mr Demin is spotted at another a stadium.

Ellis Dunne has a special match day experience at the Cherries

Guest article
Written by Michael Dunne and Ellis Dunne, 

AFCB Season Ticket Holders - Family Stand

Ellis arrives early at the Goldsands Stadium and
is confident of scoring against Cherry Bear 

On Saturday 9 March 2013, Ellis was one of several mascots for the game against Doncaster Rovers. Ellis’s opportunity came as a result of his father doing a short stint as Cherry Bear when Steve Fletcher came to visit him at work.

Cherry Bear is ready to go to work

Father Michael with Steve Fletcher                

Ellis arrived at the Court at 1pm to begin his duties. This was unusually early because, despite living quite close to the ground, most weeks it is a last minute dash to make it into his seat just as the teams come out onto the pitch.

As a result, it was quite a surprise to see the amount of supporters milling around the ground two hours before kick off. Ellis waited outside the main entrance for a few minutes and joined some of the fans in wishing Marc Pugh, Shaun MacDonald and Wes Fogdan good luck as they arrived to begin preparations for the match. It wasn’t long before Ellis joined the other mascots and their excellent minders Lewis and Luke in following their heroes into the home dressing room.

Ellis joins the other mascots for a kick about

Ellis went from player to player collecting signatures with his complementary autograph book and pen. He had his photo taken with Marc Pugh for publication in the next match programme and all of the team were very kind to him. Emerging from the main entrance after half an hour, he reported that there was a lot of laughing and joking in the dressing room, and this despite the absence of Harry Arter.

Following a kick about with Cherry Bear in the Junior Fanzone under the family stand, Ellis was back on duty as kick off approached.

With the team warming up on the pitch, Ellis and his fellow mascots did some pre-match exercises in the shadow of the main stand and it was here that Ellis put three goals past Liam to record a hat trick on his Dean Court debut. The mascots were then called to the centre circle and introduced to the crowd before heading back down the tunnel once again.

All smiles for the photographs

Cherry Bear gets in on the action

Waiting in the tunnel for the match to begin, Ellis was playfully given a straight red card by referee Fred Graham. Captain Steve Cook gave lots of verbal encouragement to his players and then Ellis was lucky enough to join him in leading the team out onto the pitch. Ellis shook hands with Mr Graham and the other officials before doing the same with the Rovers players. He then made his way to the centre circle for a few more photos with the officials and captains before leaving the pitch to a standing ovation from at least one very proud parent.

If you have been a mascot or want to talk about a particular match day experience that was unusual or funny, get in touch with Cherry Chimes. Other Cherry fans will love to hear your unique story.