Premier League fever has landed on the south coast

No less than three days after the announcement of next season's fixtures at Dean Court and I awoke to the news that all the mascot packages had already been sold out and that only a few 12th Man Packages remained, despite the rise in prices. This is of course great news for the club that can already sense that demand for almost everything that it has on sale is likely to vanish very quickly with many eager takers wanting to grab something to mark the club's first year as a Premier League club.

I expect the dash for the club shirts and hospitality (sold out) will be equally popular. It is hard to imagine how much the club will benefit from all the increased revenues and interest. We have already seen the media coverage reach new highs and even abroad the message will be heard loud and clear when the team takes on a series of games in different countries over the summer.

Mascot packages have proved to be extremely popular for next season.

While I anticipate record crowds at the Goldsands for pretty much all the games next season, I imagine there will be quite a few new faces around the ground. Those coming to watch the Cherries for the first time will surely enjoy the occasion, but it is important for the club that these new supporters are eager to sign up for season tickets when the ground eventually has the capability to expand. I don't really imagine that any of us have really let it sink in that AFCB will be host to players that we are usually seeing on the TV, but it will be very interesting to see how the Cherries do in taking on proven internationals. 

The days to the start of the season are clicking down fast now. The excitement is growing and I already feel a desperate need to see the Cherries in action again. 


Cherry Bear Gossip
I did hear at the end of last season that our well loved Cherry Bear could possibly be joined by a female companion for the start of next season. What has Cherry bear been up to?

Can AFCB emulate what Burnley have already achieved?

Comparing Burnley with AFCB is only natural with the close ties that have been established between the clubs in recent years. Burnley is a provincial town with a good Championship side at the top of its game and their home crowds are not so disimilar to Bournemouth's in size. But they are a good model for AFCB to try and work towards and luckily Eddie Howe and Jason Tindall have a lot of the inside knowledge on what has helped Burnley to become a strong force in the Championship.

While AFCB might not be able to pull some of the players that Burnley have in their current side, Eddie will have a very good idea of how they play which is similar in style to AFCB's passing game. The big difference is their front strike force, but I would imagine that Eddie Howe will want AFCB to establish something similar for next season if not before.

When you look at the big cities in this league you have to take your hat off to Burnley because they are over achieving in many peoples' eyes. To me though they are being well run and managed and show just what can be achieved with players that give their all and want to succeed against the odds. The team spirit and hunger that Burnley's players show is something that I already see in Bournemouth's squad and with some luck and hard work I believe that Eddie Howe's dream of contending for the top places in the Championship will gradually start to happen if he can keep the squad together.

Burnley are a good blueprint for AFCB and they have proved that it is not only the teams with 25,000-30,000 supporters that can challenge for top honours in the Championship.


Mascot shirt request
Finally, I have been contacted by an AFC Bournemouth supporter whose son is to be a mascot at the AFCB v Doncaster game on 1 March 2014. Alexander is aged 7 and needs to borrow an AFCB junior replica shirt to be able to be the mascot, but the club shop has sold out. If you have a son or daughter of that age who has a spare shirt or could let Alexander borrow it for the day on 1 March please email me at bellp2103@gmail.com and I will put you in contact with Alexander's family. The family live in Worthing so perhaps you would need to be able to meet up and hand over the shirt over early on the morning of 1 March. 

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.