This is a fan’s personal view of AFC Bournemouth from the outside looking in. It reports on the daily official activities reported by the club and comments made by individual fans on social media and fanbase websites. Life as an AFCB fan is never dull. As a life-long supporter of the Cherries, it is the friendliness of the staff, fans and my enthusiasm for the club that inspired me to write this blog.
I mentioned a certain drinking hole called the Eight Bells that AFCB fans basically descended on during Friday afternoon before the match and I thought I had better let you know what the atmosphere was like pre-match among the fans. I was going to go to the Crabtree pub, but with mates already in place at the Eight Bells that is where I was headed and I guess my name meant that it was a good choice anyway - they could always do with another Bell. I was a bit late up as I had to come from Dorking on the train via Wimbledon and then on the District Line to Putney Bridge. My friends - the two Damiens - had already been at the pub for a couple of hours by the time I strolled up at 6pm and I was met by three bouncers who said move on - no more fans, we are full!
Stack'em high - the Eight Bells - you needed to be a giant to get in.
Standing room only.
Ouch I thought, what do I do? I stood around by the door and pleaded but it was to know avail. So I picked up my mobile and tried to call through to the lads inside to see if they could get me in. Luckily a few supporters came out and as they did I managed to squeeze in.
Big Rich and Rob Mitchell.
Sarah was getting a lot of attention behind the pumps.
I was met by many happy faces and I think they were more pleased to see me as they knew I would be able to buy a few more rounds! We got straight to work of course loading up the drinks and singing a few of our favourite AFCB songs. Things were getting pretty rowdy and most of the male AFCB fans certainly had the eye for Sarah who was pulling the pints behind the bar along with a few fellow bar staff.
My mate Damien buys Rob a pint - I think he was pleased.
There were quite a few songs also sung in the direction of Rob Mitchell, AFCB's Commercial Director, as he came through the doors and while we sang about the bears being on him we actually bought him a pint in the end. You can sample some of the atmosphere on the videos. Come match time we had to make a walk through the park and along the embankment to the ground. As it was an evening kick off I did not get to see as much of the ground as I probably would have done so maybe I'll have to hope we get Fulham in the cup next year if AFCB go up. Still I was surprised that the stewards were very laid back and only gave my ruck sack a token glance such was the closeness to kick off time.
Once inside, it would have been rude not to go and join my mates at the back of the Putney End and by the time I had climbed the stairs to the very top I soon found everyone singing away and waiting for the players to come out for the start of the match. The wire fence at the back of the stand made a suitable accompaniment to our musical tunes, and the ground was soon banging as you'd say! I could hardly hear myself speak let alone hear anyone else, but with note book and pen I had lots to concentrate on. Somehow the build up to the match left me in know doubt that AFCB would play well. The noise was so good that it had to inspire them, while the Fulham fans just sat really quietly - well we could not hear them if they were singing.
Once the goals started going in we were getting in even more celebratory mood and being top of the league again really will have made this one of the more memorable away days of the season. As predicted I had lost my voice by the end of the game but it had been more than worth it.
Last night I attended the AFC Bournemouth business evening at Sevens Boat Shed in Poole for AFCB business members and any interested fans who wanted to come along. While the weather was abysmal with the torrential rain outside perhaps putting some off from attending and sampling the wine and canapes, those who did attend had plenty to talk about.
The Sevens Boat Shed venue
Nigel Hedges of the Bournemouth Chamber of Trade and Commerce got the evening under way with a brief welcome speech. Rob Mitchell, the club's commercial director, then updated attendees on how AFCB was preparing for the new season which is fast approaching. He said that everyone was eagerly awaiting the fixtures next Wednesday with so many big clubs going to play the Cherries. Currently season ticket sales have topped 5500 up 2000 from 3500 sold last season.The Family Stand is completely sold out which Rob was particularly pleased about with the club having put so much effort into community projects and in attracting more families to AFCB. Of course, we know the club has already picked up the NPower Family Excellence Award in this respect. As I was making the trip down to Poole it seemed a good opportunity to go over to Dean Court to see what was going on. I popped over despite the pouring rain to take a few snaps of the area being worked on for the new temporary stand and for the club shop extension. I guessed that you all might like to see what progress has been made. There were only three workmen by the South stand and they were busy cutting up iron grids, but the ground for the footings seemed to be coming along with small stakes lined out on the now level ground.
Not sure if I could get near at first.
Found my way in. Photos taken 12 June 2013.
I expected to be chased off but it was so wet no one
seemed to mind that I took some snaps.
This is going to look so different in a few weeks time.
Rob said the new temporary stand will take capacity at the Goldsands Stadium up to 11,500 capacity. Still no news though yet on whether it will be for all away fans or split with home fans, but I was told that time lapse photography has been sorted out on the South stand as it goes up, so we should see a movie on that some time in the future on the AFCB official website. For those who like the Wall of Fame, I heard that they would be looked at in terms of the posters that are exposed to everything that the elements can throw at them. I think last time I looked some of the bottom corners of Eddie Howe's poster had started to lift.
The club shop extension is really moving along fast. Great big red steel girders are already in place and the scaffolding is well up on the the first floor. Charlie Daniels and Miles Addisson are looking on as a giant poster in one of the bottom windows. I guess you want to see some shop extension pictures as well. I'm spoiling you!
Side entrance for the shop then.
This is starting to look the business.
I wish I had one of those AFCB safety hats.
Charlie and Miles are ready to break out of the shop.
Meanwhile, back at the Boat Shed it was good to be told that the club has also been building its business club members which are now 1100 members and the target is to raise this to 1500 by the Christmas period.
When Rob had finished his speech, I quickly got the conversations on to Cherry Chimes and met with as many people as I could to see how they were involved in supporting AFCB. The people were very diverse and talked about all kinds of businesses like tyres, glass fitting, hotels, corporate events and entertainment and recruitment just for starters.
It was particularly interesting to hear about how the hotels were looking forward to hearing the fixtures so that they could apply to away clubs to book their rooms early. The extra business that the Championship has brought to the town is giving local businesses a real buzz and an opportunity to do well in future months.
The next corporate events for AFCB include the Macmillan cancer bike ride on 7th July and the Golf day at the Dorset Golf and Country Club on 31 July. There is also a business breakfast on 10 July at the Goldsands Stadium. For more information visit: http://www.afc-business.co.uk/
