Eddie Had A Dream: Reserve team manger, the job's yours Eddie

The end of Eddie Howe's playing career came abruptly at the start of 2007, even though he kept his boots available until the summer. He was already coaching and Kevin Bond decided to that Eddie Howe's new career could really get going now that his playing career was over.

Extract from Eddie Had A Dream
Chapter 5. A modern coach
Kevin Bond was clearly pleased with the way Eddie took to coaching, because in June 2007 he offered Eddie and Rob Newman new contracts. The one-year contract for Eddie made him reserve team manager. Eddie had only announced the end to his playing career a week earlier, but had been on the coaching staff for six months. Howe’s calm manner with the younger players was just what the club needed. ‘To get the best out of young players, they need to be given freedom to play, rather than expecting someone to snap at them for every mistake they make.’ Howe said. ‘That’s what I try and do. The approach at reserve level is to say go out there to impress me and show me what you can do......’

The job offer to Eddie Howe at the time might not have seemed that enlightened, but if the club had not managed to retain his services at this transitional period, the club would never have had the success that was to follow. Eddie Howe certainly wasn’t thinking about the new contract leading to anything more long term. Asked if he thought he could one day become Bournemouth’s manager he said, ’I honestly haven’t thought about it. I’m doing this job to the best of my ability. You cannot worry about the future, you just have to wait and see what happens.’

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 Yet, Eddie wasn’t ruling himself of rising to the challenge one day. Eddie knew it would not be an easy job to do, but you can tell that he liked the prospect with the humour of his replies to any such suggestions. ‘I’ve seen how Kevin works behind the scenes and so far, it hasn’t put me off. I know what would be required, but it’s another thing going out there and doing it… It’s a big workload being a manger and it’s a very hard job to do properly. But I’m told it’s a lot better if you win on Saturday.’

Eddie Had A Dream is now out on paperback £13.49 and as an ebook £9.99 from Amazon/Kindle. Simply enter Eddie Had A Dream in the search field to find the books. The book should take you back to a few memories of AFC Bournemouth and years when Eddie Howe was developing as a player and then a coach. If you do buy a copy, don't forget to leave a review.

The £13.49 paperback version of the book is now available on Amazon/Kindle - click on this link

To order your £9.99 ebook copy of Eddie Had A Dream - click on this link

If you want more of a sneak preview, listen to my snippet in the video below when Eddie Howe is appointed manager having previously been youth and reserve team manager:

Match Preview: Cherry Chimes chats to Lofty Heights

Match Preview
AFCB v QPR
Blogger Interview - Lofty Heights

Cherry Chimes speaks to Tony Gibson of the Lofty Heights blog and gets his views on the season so far and views on QPR's owner who continues to fund the club strongly in his ambitions to get the club back into the Premiership.

CC: Harry has not been his happy, smiling, self of late but do you think he could have made better decisions to keep QPR on winning ways in 2014?

LH: To be honest, he never seems happy and it has become more and more noted by QPR fans. His body language in the dugout, well, he couldn’t look more disinterested. We see opposing managers standing constantly in their technical area where as Harry spends most of his time sat down, with Kevin Bond and Joe Jordan doing the leg work. As for decisions, I don’t think these loans have helped to cover our injuries with up and coming youngsters dotted around the Football League. He recruited 4 strikers in January on loan, one of which looks up to the job, Kevin Doyle, who incidentally is now injured and has gone back to Wolves. Will Keane from Manchester United does not look in any way a United player and has struggled at this level. Brazilian Dellatore has only featured for Elite Development Squad and as for Modibo Maiga, well, if Sam Allardyce would rather play with no strikers than Maiga, it must say something? Unfortunately, it has been proved that Big Sam was more than justified in his actions.

CC: I hate to say it but if QPR don't get promoted should Redknapp be sacked?

LH: Personally, I would say no after many years of constant upheaval, but if this is the case that we do not go up, I think he will go yes, or will walk.

CC: Are you worried that Tony Fernandes may soon decide that he has to stop throwing money at QPR?

LH: Of course it’s a big worry, but his Social Media activities suggest he is in it for the long haul and it is a long term project, so I guess we have to remain positive and put our trust in Tony. He has made mistakes yes but he is standing by them.

CC: Do you think QPR would be in serious financial trouble if they don't get promotion this time around?

LH: With the backing we have from Fernandes and the Mittal Family, I would say no, but I think next season would be very different in regards to outgoings etc

CC: Would you fancy your chances in the play-offs having just beaten Wigan?

LH: I never wanted the play offs following our defeat to Cardiff many years ago. But I have to say, if we could get Charlie Austin back and firing in time, we would have a great chance!

CC: Was QPR's spell of below par form just due to Charlie Austin being out of the team?

LH: Of course yes, but in fairness, it wasn’t just Charlie. We have lost Danny Simpson, Matty Phillips and Ale Faurlin to long term injuries. Take that sort of quality out of any team and they are going to struggle.

CC: Who do you think would be the first names out of Loftus Road in the summer if you stay in the Championship?

LH: That’s a tough one as we are still very much off loading players from last season. Overall, I think the squad is very settled now. But I do hate to say this, I think if we were to stay down, we may well and unfortunately, see Joey Barton leave. Rob Green also as I think he is out of contract, I maybe wrong on that though.

CC: QPR are still getting results at home, it looks like it's the away from that is costing your team so do you think there is a problem playing away?

LH: Not really no, just think it has been a lack of fire power and having no Plan B has cost us away from home at times. If we have gone in front, Harry often just likes to shut up shop and take what we have rather than go hell for leather for the win. Our defeat at Doncaster was a classic example.

CC: What do you most like about Ravel Morrison?

LH: His confidence, he always wants the ball and when he has it, it only leaves his feet when he says it does. A real talent and definitely a star in the making.

CC: What has the support has been like for QPR this season?

LH: It’s been a bit of a mixed bag really with many frustrations on the pitch leading to many angry frustrations in the stands between our own supporters. Despite relegation, home crowds are healthy and often sold out and the away support is generally very good. The fact the Championship is somewhat cheaper than the Premier League has been a big appeal after last season.

CC: Have you been surprised by Bournemouth's league position this season?

LH: To be honest, no. The same happened to QPR when we were promoted to the Championship in the Holloway years. Teams who play good football often fair well in the Championship which is an excellent league. What I have been impressed with by Bournemouth is that you play, good, attractive, passing football and despite being defeated at Loftus Road earlier this season, I think just good finishing on the night was the difference between the 2 sides.

CC: QPR beat Bournemouth quite easily at Loftus Road earlier in the season but do you expect a harder game this time around at the Goldsands stadium?

LH: Most definitely yes. Your home form has been exceptional since the turn of the year. Including a draw with Burnley and only a narrow defeat against Leicester shows you can be a match for anyone and it will certainly be a very tough game. The 4-1 defeat of Leeds last week was certainly the eye catching result in the Division. There can often be a case where a team sneaks into the Play Offs following a good, late run and having looked at the table and see just a 7 point gap between you and 6th place, who says it can’t be Bournemouth?

CC: After the Birmingham game the gap has closed to five points for AFCB on the top six and indeed the Cherries are having a great season. Any ambitions of a high finish will be tested on Saturday by a QPR team that is very experienced and full of quality players. I think many of our supporters will hope for great things but if it doesn't happen for the Cherries there should not be any disappointment, because the team has performed fantastically even to get into the position it is now in. It should be a cracking game. Please have a read of  Lofty Heights' blog to see more on the form of QPR and their latest news, where Tony talks about the Hoops recent draw with Blackpool and much more.

Part 3: Rolling back the years with Steve Fletcher

Being released by Kevin Bond was probably the lowest point of Steve Fletcher's career in 2007. Callum Hart was also let go that year. Steve remembers Callum well with his loud coloured hair. "He was a strange one," he said. Steve remembers Callum being told to sort his hair out by the manager as it had two colours in it and it was a mess. Callum asked Steve what he should do. Steve replied "tone it down a bit." Callum though thought it best to turn up the heat and added another colour to his hair which was the last straw for Bond and he never played again for the Cherries.

Comedian Scott Charlton.

Steve remembers that when he was released at the time "it was devastating, but it also turned out to be the best thing". Sean O'Driscoll had left for Doncaster and Sam Vokes had come in and played well to keep Fletch out of the team. Every member of the squad went to see Kevin Bond, each half hour, to see what contract they would be offered. All the lads seemed to think Fletcher would be at least offered a one-year contract. But when Fletch went in he had hardly reached the chair before Kevin said, "Sorry Fletch, I can't offer you anything." Fletch was in shock but asked if he could at least help train the other strikers and bring them on, but Bond had decided it was time for Fletcher to move on.

Steve held it together until he saw all the messages of support for him on the web. There were some 750 messages of support and he broke down by the time he had read the second one. "It was the most terrible part of my career," he recalled. After 15 years he just got used to it. Then it was all taken away from him.But from then on he took nothing for granted and played every day as if it was his last. Steve feels he is now a better person and appreciates things off the pitch more now.

The Chesterfield move was easy for Fletch to take. He was 36 then and Lee Richardson offered him the chance to just have two days training a week and play the match on Saturday. "He made me feel wanted and it was curiosity as well as common courtesy that made me see what they had to offer," said Steve. He still has lots of supporters from those days and every time he goes to chesterfield they would sing "show us your guns." It usually would happen within the first few minutes of the game and Steve loved the support he would get from that crowd.

The Steve Evans case at Crawley Town was a bit different. "Steve Evans is the maddest person in football," says Steve. "He's off the planet." But he means it in the nicest of ways. Again it was a good move for Steve, it was only a two hour drive away and he only had to train a couple of times a week. Mark Stein was also at the club as physio.

Back to Bournemouth
It was a strange period of 10 days when Eddie Howe suddenly became manager at AFC Bournemouth and decided he wanted Big Fletch back. It was New Year's Day when Eddie got the job and Steve was still in contract having only been at Crawley for six months. He had six months to go on his contract and Crawley had a year's option on him. When Eddie called Steve said I can't get out of it. But Eddie was sure that he could sort it. Fletch was too scared to ask Steve Evans if he could leave, but Eddie said he would call him. "We were like two school boys," says Steve. "Go on then, do it," he told Eddie. Crawley were away at a game on a Tuesday night when Evans got the call from Eddie, just an hour and a half before the start of the game. He pulled Steve to one side and said: "You'll never guess who has been on the phone." Steve acted as if he hadn't a clue. When he was told it was Eddie he said: "No, really? What an earth could he want?"

The deal was pretty much done.  "Don't you b... well go and get injured," said Eddie to Steve. It was an easy decision for Steve. Evans knew he wanted to go and let him leave without any constraints as long as he could get a replacement in within 24 hours and Evans managed to do that. Evans knew what AFC Bournemouth meant to Steve Fletcher. If it was any other club he would not have let Steve go but if had been any other club Fletcher would not be in Evans office asking to go. That was the season of the great escape from -17 points. The Cherries were still 10 points adrift at Christmas.

Eddie Howe as manager
Working with Eddie has always been easy for Steve. They used to room mate together. Joining the team again when they were in such desperate need was surreal. Eddie had already lost his first two games in charge to Rotherham and Darlington. When Steve came down Eddie made the players line up and give Steve a guard of honour on the training pitch. Steve felt wanted again - he had come home.

The 3:1 win against top of the table Wycombe just set the team up to have the belief to stay up. Regarding Eddie Steve just says he is "top draw". "I respect him more than any other manager," he adds. The last two games against Chester and Grimsby were two of the most difficult games Steve has ever played in, but the team's character got them though. The team spirit with players like Brett Pitman, Liam Feeney, Jason Pearce and Anton Robinson was a bond that was so very strong. the goal Steve scored against Grimsby is his favourite moment of his career. "It was my defining  moment," he said. We had no chairman or director. The small squad meant Jayden Stockley was taken out of school to play.

Play-offs
The league One play-offs against Huddersfield in 2010-11 were another massive moment for Steve. It was his last chance to get to lay Championship football and he thought we were going to do it when we were 3:2 up in extra-time, but it was not to be. "It was the best team I played with," he said. "I was in floods of tears at the final whistle."

Then to see the team ripped apart with other clubs coming in for the players was simply heartbreaking. Only Jalal survived from the starting eleven against Huddersfield at the start of next season. But Steve does not blame the players they wanted Championship football and they deserved the chance to play at the higher level.

Assistant manager
The role as assistant manager under Lee Bradbury came about because Eddie Mitchell said I want you two to manage the club but don't mind which one is the manager. We had to work it out as to who was best to manage. Steve wanted to play on so therefore Lee took the manager's job. Now, Steve wishes he had not decided to play on. "It was the wrong decision. It's too much to play and be assistant manager." the duo did okay though going 11 games undefeated a record they finally lost when the had a defeat to Exeter City. Steve still loves his Walsall away goal when the shirt came off and he did his run. "The whole thing was a whirlwind and I wouldn't change anything," he said.

Eddie's return
Talking of Eddie and Jason's return Steve said he had no idea it would happen. "I was just shocked and overjoyed," says Steve. Fletcher had been at Plymouth with Carl Fletcher on loan carrying out another mini great escape. Paul and Shaun didn't manage to get it right on the pitch with the results and something had to change. Steve would have been outside with the fans when it was announced Eddie Howe was coming back. He recalls that not many Chairman would have been brave  enough to go out and face the crowd after the Walsall game, but Eddie Mitchell wants what is best for the club. "Bournemouth had lost its spark. Eddie was the missing ingredient," said Fletcher. "We were playing some good football, but simply weren't hurting teams."

The Eddie Howe factor is something special. "He will stay out and work with you on your game and be the last one in," said Steve. "He will work on the flaws in your game." When the team beat top of the table Tranmere 3:1 it was like deja vu. "A lady fan said to me it didn't matter about the result today, we got Eddie Howe back. I know what she meant, the result did matter but she had got her football team back that day."

Now everything is geared for Championship football. We have the stadium and training facilities and we do everything together.

Fletch's all time AFCB eleven - only slightly influenced by Eddie Howe who asked to see his sheet of paper and said "you have got to be kidding" with some of Steve's choices!

                                                            Neil Moss
Neil Young                             Ian Cox                  Eddie Howe           Warren Cummings

Wade Elliott                 Carl Fletcher (capt)         Matt Holland        Garreth O'Connor
                                          Mark Stein                James Hayter

Subs: Richard Hughes, Steve Robinson, Steve Jones, Brett Pitman, Efan Ekoku, Marc Pugh.

A number of personal items of Steve Fletcher's were auctioned off on the night including his last pair of boots that he wore for the Tranmere away game which went for £350. There was also an AFCB shirt signed by all the current squad which went for £150. Some poster displays of famous players were also won in the draw.

1966 World Cup England team signatures.

Tom Finney collection

English football legends.