Distant Exiles: Canada calling

If you remember I invited Distant Exiles to get in touch having received a piece from Jonathan Baker on Christmas Day that I posted on Cherry Chimes. Well, we now have our second contributor. Jon Crofts has kindly offered to share his memories and love for AFC Bournemouth from his outpost in Canada. Jon has included a few pictures of his sons as well. Over to you Jon.

I remember becoming slowly aware that Bournemouth had a club of its own from around 12 years old. My family was never very sporty, but I loved football and managed to persuade my dad to take me in October '82. I remember the excitement of watching the players warm up, the smell of cigarette smoke drifting around the new stand, and arguing with my dad about how good Milton Graham was, a point Milton helped me to win by scoring twice (this was his debut). I was hooked.

From then on I wanted to go to every game, and it helped that we were in a promotion season. I remember the pitch invasion when we played Sheffield UTD, Stockport County playing in Argentina's colours (pre-Falklands) a cup game against Reading in front of 7000 or so, and promotion against Hereford Utd.

The first game I went to on my own was Cardiff City, we won 3-1 and I remember watching drunk Cardiff fans smashing in the side of a bus before using me for a game of pinball as they passed the bus stop on Holdenhurst Road, the wonderful yellow bus driver having closed the doors and left me to it!

I was in the south stand by the time of the Man Utd FA cup game, (I'd also been at the Milk Cup game when Phil Brignull broke Ray Wilkins cheek bone with a loud crack in front of the main stand) something I will never forget, along with Ron Atkinson's accusation that our fans were trying to get the game halted by invading the pitch! (They were in fact, trying to escape the Man Utd fans who had invaded the back of the stand).

I was at Fulham for promotion, and remember the 15,000 or so (officially anyway) for Middlesborough at home and many memorable away games from the mud of Devon to the smokestacks of up north.

Tom on the pitch (thanks to the groundsman at DC letting us in!).

Tom before the Charlton game.

Luther Blissett's hat-trick against Hull City stands out also, as does the day I met Brian Tyler outside the ground after a reserve game and became the first (I think) to hear that we had sold Carl Richards. (Brian seemed very happy with the deal, 30,000 I think!).

I moved to a little know Western Canadian town in 2002 (and have since met three other Cherries fans here) and have seen a handful of games since then, always timing my visits for maximum home games. On my last visit in October I was astounded by the progress of the club on and off the pitch. I have always believed that the club has huge potential if allowed to grow, and still find it annoying when people in the town suggest we are not big enough and somehow don't want success.

I now have three young sons, and they are all cherries fans who watch games with me on the net when they are being streamed live and at Dean Court when we are visiting.

Jamie Jack and Tom stopping for coffee on their way to '
Soccer Camp'.They were the only kids in Bournemouth kit!

If you wonder what Jon does in Canada here is his website.

To make these items a regular feature, I need more of you to write in from distant places. So if you are in Timbuktu, North Korea or somewhere stranger and follow AFCB we want to hear from you. If I receive four more articles we will have enough to the end of the season.

 Email me at bellp2103@gmail.com and please send in your picture too.

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Oxford Utd are full of new players for Cherries' visit

AFCB travel up to Oxford for their last pre-season game. The League Two side have lost their main strike man Dave Kitson this summer who retired, but there are plenty of new players coming into their squad to make it a feisty encounter. They have also had a change in manager this summer as Michael Appleton has joined the club after Gary Waddock was sacked in July. More importantly Oxford have been receiving multiple takeover bids. Still, Ian Lenagan and Darryl Eagles are not looking to hang about in getting the club out of League Two.

Oxford are one of those clubs that plays in a stadium with only three stands - a familiar feeling for AFCB supporters. However, there is a lot of talk about the desire for the Us to build a new stadium and move away from the Kassam stadium which holds 12,500. Other debates going on at the club this summer have included the very important decision of what to call the home supporter's bar which has been renamed The Manor Bar after the previous home ground.

Bringing in new players though has been upper most in Michael Appleton's mind and among the new signings are Michael Collins a 28-year-old Irish midfielder who has arrived from Scunthorpe Utd and should add experience to the team. In goal, Oxford are likely to play new signing George Long who made 73 appearances for the Blades and has been the England U20 keeper - so a great signing for the Us. Right back Joe Riley, 22, has also come in on loan from Bolton until January.Appletone's latest signing is Junior Brown from Fleetwood, who can play at left back or left midfield. Up front Oxford are likely to play Danny Hilton who was signed from Rotherham in the summer and Alfie Potter, presuming that their are no injuries.

Talking of injuries, the Oxford team could be without Johnny Mullins at centre back who was injured in a friendly against Wolves recently.

Pre-season has gone pretty well for the yellow shirts as they have beaten Farnborough 1-2 and Oxford City and Didcot Town by a single goal each, but their last outing was a 0-1 defeat to Wolves at home. Last season Oxford finished 8th in League Two, just outside the play-offs so they are more than capable of giving AFCB a difficult time. AFCB's line-up could include some of those not on show yesterday like Kermorgant, Satnislas, Wilson, Cook and Arter but there will be major interest in the goalkeeper selection.

Don't forget All Departments spoke to John Harriss this week and you can listen to his Pitch Perfect podcast.

FA Cup day - it could of been us!

Well, okay it was a long shot for AFC Bournemouth to perhaps come away with a victory against Liverpool in the Fourth Round, let alone going on to beat Arsenal at the Emirates stadium - we will leave that for next year perhaps. We don't want to get ahead of ourselves now do we. Still, FA Cup day has taken a bit of a pounding in recent years. The indignity of it not being the last game of the season last year was hard to take and that came after a certain Red Devil team not even entering the competition a few years ago - shame on them!

We'll look forward to the game today and next year's competition.

For me and only a few million other football fans around the world, FA Cup day is a special day when the family should gather around the telly to watch the game. Let's face it unless you are lucky enough to be a supporter of one of the teams or a corporate box sponsor at Wembley there is little chance of you or me getting such a seat on a day like this. Even many of the fans of each club in the final are likely to be disappointed. Still, I hope Hull City and yes it is still City and Arsenal have a great day and hold the FA Cup in high regard.  

It may seem a distant event for the Cherries to aspire to, but we now have a club that only enters the competition in the Third Round and does not have to win so many matches to get to a semi-final as Sheffield Utd and Wigan have proved this last season. Whether AFCB get the opportunity to go to Wembley in the FA Cup, League Cup or through the play-offs one day, I know we would love the chance to pack out that stadium and the odds of the club doing that in future years are starting to come down. We have just signed a player who has played in an FA Cup final and by obtaining such players the expectations of the Cherries must surely start rising higher. 

If I get to Wembley just once with AFCB I will ensure that it is a day to remember. I hope the Hull City fans in particular savour every moment, while Arsenal need to win a cup just to give us all a bit of peace and quiet about the media going on and on about how they never win anything. Well, Gooners perhaps it will be your day. But next year I fancy the Cherries to build on their FA Cup performance against Liverpool and get a step or two nearer to that special turf at HA9 OWS. UTCIAD! 

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Nothing like a Blades v Bees game for AFCB fans

Well, last night was exciting wasn't it? Are you still buzzing? I think that the match highlights of the Sheffield Utd v Brentford game will mainly be the referee holding up his right arm to wave either the yellow or red card! Then we had the saga of missed penalties and the confusion of who we wanted to score.

At first it was Brentford who were the bad guys, taking a 1:0 lead, which actually would have been good for AFCB as long as we won our last two games. But  before you knew it the ref started dishing out cards left, right and centre. Bramall Lane must have represented something like a medieval battle field.

Trotta's goal may have given the Bees the lead but they were soon pegged back and overtaken by the Blades with AFCB fans cursing Mr Kitson as usual. With the Bees down to 9 men and the Blades with 10 there seemed little hope of any redemption for AFCB fans who suddenly realised that Sheffield would be able to overcome the Cherries in the table and it could all come down to goal difference!! Missed penalties and more booking just added to the drama, but I don't think many Cherry fans were enjoying the evening.

Then Bradley Wright-Philips came on and, would you believe it, he just went and scored to level. I swear there were more whoops of joy, shouting and screaming in the southern county of Dorset than could be heard in Brentford or at Bramall Lane. Even when Sheffield's McMahon hit the post in time added Brentford's keeper Moore made a fantastic save, Bournemouth fans were on the edge of their seats.

When the ref finally blew for full time the twitter feed went mad. By the way, I was told the ref - Keith Stroud - used to live in Bournemouth. I am sure he was correct in every decision he made last night, hhh, hmm.

I wonder did Eddie Howe wrote the script? I am sure he would have been at the game and probably had a big smile on his face as he left the ground. With the prefect result and lots of cards for suspensions I don't think cherry fans could have hoped for more.

I had the pleasure of telling last night's score to two jubilant Junior Cherry supporters this morning.

Still, as more than one careful observer among the Cherry fans mentioned - we have won nothing yet. The real work as Eddie Howe has said all along comes on the next two Saturdays when AFCB have to claim their place in the Championship with two more wins.

AFCB are the best team in this league - now let's show everyone that they also have the best supporters. Get ready for Red&Black day.

AFCB are riding on a wave of optimism

It is refreshing that so many AFCB fans are suddenly more confident of the team succeeding on their efforts to reach the Championship. I am really looking forward to Saturday's game with an excitement of what great scenes we may all see at Dean Court - something not seen in some 27 years!

I remember when Harry Redknapp's team reached the second tier of English football back in 1987.  I was not so old then but had been following the team for a few years with some other school mates and, while I do not remember much about the final home match when we went up (was it Bristol Rovers we played?), I do remember the pitch invasion and hundred's of cushions from the main stand being thrown down in celebration on to the pitch.

No doubt the stewards will be lining up again on Saturday to ask everyone to keep off the pitch after the game - I wish them luck.

Before then we have some crucial entertainment tonight as Sheffield Utd take on inform Brentford at Bramle Lane. Already AFCB fans are wondering what is the best result for our club? I guess a nil-nil draw would be most favourable. Sheffield's home record has taken a bit of a battering of late although the Bees have not been winning many games away from home. A draw is not unfancied and if the pressure of not wanting to make a mistake is playing on the minds of those on the pitch, a safety first attitude could mean we end up with a stalemate. But if it is gung-ho action from the kick-off, I have a feeling that Brentford may be the victors on current form.

So AFCB could be third in the table going into the last two games, but with Doncater having to play Brentford on the last weekend that would still leave the Cherries every opportunity to get promoted if they win those last two games. Our goal difference is also slightly better than Sheffield Utd so if they win tonight against Brentford we need to keep that goal difference going if we are to pip the Blades to promotion.

Yet, strangely I don't seem as worried about what the others do anymore. Like many of you I have a faith that the Cherries will go up now, be it automatically or - spare us please - through the play-offs. 

Some things are meant to be and this story I am sure will have a happy ending. UTCIAD!

Good to see recognition but AFCB are not there yet

I've been scanning the pages on the internet about AFCB and it is clear that the players are starting to get recognised for their excellent performances so far this month. AFCB's official site says Pitman is among those selected to win NPower League One player of the month for March and both he and Matt Ritchie are in the Sky Sports' Team of the Week. It was funny that Sky asked whether we could keep hold of Matt Ritchie? Let me tell you, his asking price will have gone through the roof and I can't see AFCB wanting to sell its new prized asset any time soon.

It may not come as a surprise to some of you that the Cherries have racked up another seven wins on the bounce having already beaten the record undefeated run earlier this season. But hands up how many of you really thought that we would recover after those five defeats, in mid-February to early March, with such style? It has been another incredible ride and I seem to be among quite a few of you who are finding it hard to get to sleep at the moment.

Momentum surely counts for a lot now and AFCB can go into their last three matches in a positive frame of mind. Tommy Elphick is right when he says let the other teams worry about the points we already have on the board. Don't tell me that it is better to have games in hand at this stage.

Apparently, last night the Sheffield Utd players were kept behind for an hour after the final whistle to hear their manager's displeasure at their performance. Yes, we could get over taken but who is under more pressure at the moment? Being an underdog is not such a bad thing and Eddie Howe still says we are not favourites to go up.

Last night belonged to AFCB

Last night was surely very exciting for most AFCB fans. I was listening on Cherry Player to as many of the key League One fixtures as I could, while praying for a few favours for the Cherries. I needn't have worried too much. I think Eddie Howe wrote the results down that he wanted and that's what we got.

It is great credit to those who decided that the league system would be better with play-offs, because it means that more of the teams have something to play for at this stage of the season. We know very well that some teams can get a run of four or five victories or defeats in a row in our league and that is what made it important for clubs like MK Dons to give it their all last night. Swindon fans seemed to argue about their formation being 4-5-1, when they wanted two up front. Now they have to look over their shoulder at who is catching them as they had another slip up.

Meanwhile, Crawley seemed to like the big pitch up at Bramall Lane even if they were only playing for a slim hope of making the play-offs. Sheffield Utd were probably finding that two games a week is starting to catch up with them and, as one of the big teams of Leauge One that are expected to go up, they have all the pressure that goes with that too. Come out to the theme music of Star Wars in the second half, I was hoping the Blades might find Crawley players full of Jedi warriors ready to cut them down and they did.

At Doncaster I had expected their winning run to continue so it was a big bonus to see Carlisle ahead at half time and even better to hear they won the game after a second goal. Still Doncaster are hardly setting the world alight with their scoring prowess and at some point they were going to have to need more than a goal a game and they failed completely last night. Donny hit the bar twice, just as Sheffield battered the post twice in their game, but it's these thin margins that matter now.

It was good to hear Matt Ritchie admit the other day that the lads at AFCB do keep an eye on the other results and their desire to go up automatically was really demonstrated by their excellent come back against Notts County. All AFCB can try to do now is win their remaining games. 

Things are still not quite in AFCB's hand's and we can be overtaken. However, I am sure Eddie and Jason will have the players focussed. It won't be easy, but the belief is strong. We all feel the pressure but these sure are exciting times for the club.

I am not sure if I can take it all in, but I know Crewe could do AFCB yet another massive favour tonight against Brentford. Can we really be that lucky?

Here are last night's results at the top of the table:

Doncaster 0 v 2 Carlisle
MK Dons 2 v 0 Swindon
Sheffield Utd 0 v 2 Crawley

Sheffield Utd win ugly but deservedly

Match Report

AFCB V Sheffield Utd 0:1 

23 February 2013
Attendance 8497 (included 1177 away supporters)

Sheffield Utd supporters arrive at the Goldsands Stadium

 
It was a cold and crisp Saturday afternoon at Dean Court for the highly anticipated top of the league clash between the second placed Cherries and the Blades who sat in fourth place before kick-off. Cherry supporters knew how important this tie was to win and it was also clearly evident to both sets of players that a win today could put either one of them at the top of the league if other results went their way.
 

Players greet each other before kick-off 

The game started with opportunities for both sides to score early on as the contest began in a fairly open and expansive fashion with Sheffield kicking towards the Steve Fletcher stand in all white. After three minutes, Dave Kitson nodded a ball on to Barry Robson on the left wing and he thundered the ball against the bar from outside the 18 yard box with Jalal well beaten. It was a warning that fired the Cherries into action as Grabban raced through on five minutes one-on-one with the Sheffield keeper only to see his shot cleanly saved and pushed wide for the first Cherries corner of the game. It was a set piece favourite with the first runner stepping over the ball for Arter to run on to and he came close to opening the scoring.

Sheffield then began to take control and Eddie Howe started barking out orders from the dug out as the visitors won a couple of corners in a row. Sheffield pressure continued when the referee gave a further contentious corner after 15 minutes which had the home crowd screaming in disapproval at the poor decision. It was a scene that repeated itself many times throughout the game. 

While Ritchie has a shot saved shortly after the quarter hour mark it was Kitson that was winning lots of headers and setting up play for the Blades in the Cherries half. When Grabban was booked after 18 minutes, Sheffield took the free kick and hit a cross ball towards Bournemouth's left side and Painter slipped over at the vital moment letting in Jamie Murphy who smashed his shot against Bournemouth's left hand post only for the ball to rebound kindly into the forward's path so that he could put the Blades one nil up.

Sheffield continued to come forward after the restart and Tony McMahon fired over as the assistant referee and referee ignored all shouts of off-side. The home crowd were by this time getting more and more angry at the referee Mr Sutton who was having a shocker. Ritchie and Pugh began to feed some crosses in but nothing was coming off for the Cherries in the final third with ball being hit too long and the sand-laden pitch not making for a smooth playing surface. Indeed, the aerial ability and more physical style of Sheffield's play seemed more suited to conditions. While Bournemouth tried to play their patient passing game our midfield couldn't create any quality threatening moves. Meanwhile, the home crowd grew more quiet and dissatisfied with the officials.


The Steve Fletcher stand saw Sheffield take the spoils in a scrappy encounter

The second half saw Eddie Howe try to liven things up from the start by taking Painter off and moving Ritchie to left back, while McQuoid came on to take up a position on the right wing. Bournemouth began the second period fairly well winning a few early corners, but Sheffield were playing a spoiling game and preventing the Cherries from getting any rhythm going. 

There was a confrontation when Pitman went down some eight minutes into the second half but to the home fans consternation nothing was given. This was turning into a  messy affair which suited the Blades' big, hefty centre backs. Maguire was hoovering everything up at the back for Sheffield and was having a great game at centre back. While for the Cherries, O'Kane was giving the ball away too frequently in midfield. Even when Bournemouth thought their was a strong handball claim on 61 minutes the ref waved the players away. The Cherries were by now making a few mistakes with Cook heading the ball into the path of the opposition in front of the Cherries D and more passes were going awry.

Ryan Fraser made his home debut on 66 minutes when Pitman was subbed and McQuoid went up front. Soon after Grabban was replaced by Tubbs. We only saw one moment of skill from Fraser on the right but sadly he slipped after he had convincingly beaten his man. That was about as good as it got for the Cherries as the Blades easily saw time out. Home fans were left to vent their frustration at the referee the end of the game, but it was't a day when Bournemouth were anywhere near their best and a lot of that has to be down to how Sheffield Utd played.

It was a disappointing day for the Cherries but these games are won and lost on small margins. One mistake was all it needed in a game that ended up not seeing hardly any goal scoring opportunities. My man of the match for Bournemouth was Dan Seaborne who looks more and more comfortable and assured at the back. I wanted to see Francis and Pugh deliver more crosses and I felt the midfield did not provide enough quality to really hurt the opposition while Grabban and Pitman had little to feed off. Let's hope for better on Tuesday. The table still looks very close.

Player Ratings
Jalal (6), Francis (6), Cook (5), Seaborne (7), Painter (4), Ritchie (6), Arter (6), O'Kane (5), Pugh (6), Grabban (5), Pitman (5)

Subs: McQuoid (5), Fraser (6), Tubbs (5)   Not used: Allsop, Hughes, MacDonal Fogden 

Booked Graban and Arter

Sheffield Utd fans cheer their team on to victory as the blades go top of the Table



Flying Blades next up at Dean Court

The Cherries will need to be on top form when they take on Sheffield Utd on Saturday. The Blades have recently returned to form having won their last three league fixtures against Shrewsbury, Bury and Colchester. Having closed the gap at the top of the table and with a run of back to back away wins behind them, Sheffield Utd will not come to the south coast thinking that a draw is the best that they can achieve.

History also tells us that AFCB do not have a good record against them. When the teams last met at Bramall Lane on 1st September 2012, AFCB came out on the wrong side of an eight goal thriller. Ryan Flynn was the Cherries chief tormentor on that day with his brace from midfield, although the winger has only netted one other league goal this season.

In the 2011/12 season the Blades took all six points from both games, so recent encounters between the two teams have all favoured Utd. Will things will be different this time round I ask myself?

Bournemouth have to get over the hurdle of beating the big name sides in this division if they are to make their ambition of promotion a reality. The table could be looking very different if the Cherries could have done better than draw with Brentford and Swindon when they both visited the Goldsands Stadium. We have heard Eddie Howe saying that the team were slow out of the traps last week, but I don't see that repeating itself on Saturday. The Cherries will be going all out to get the three points, so that they can go into the Coventry and Leyton Orient games with renewed confidence.

The big threats to the Cherries will be the striker pairing of Dave Kitson who has scored eight league goals in this campaign and Jamie Murphy who signed from Motherwell in January and is yet to open his account for the Blades. Also be aware of Kevin McDonald who broke his duck in front of goal last time out against Colchester Utd. With eight away wins this season, only Doncaster and Coventry have better away records. And while January was Sheffield Utd's worst month, Danny Wilson has turned results around and will certainly be a candidate for manager of the month if the Blades can get something at Bournemouth.

This match is a difficult one to call, but some of my tweeter guests are brave enough to have ago (see side bar). If you want to post a score prediction you can do so on the comments section below or tweet me your scores at @peterbell19

Competition for places and home is support key for Cherries

While AFCB have not managed to build on going top of the division last week, the management is confident that the team can respond against the big challenges that are coming their way in the next few games. It is the defining part of the season when teams either go on a run to secure their place in the automatic and play-off positions or fall by the wayside. 

Where the Cherries are helped is in the strong squad that has now been assembled at Dean Court. For example, just take a look at the right wing position. There is going to be intense competition between Ritchie, McQuoid and Fogden for that place in the coming weeks and Ryan Fraser and Donal McDermott are further cover.

Of course the player that has been putting most of the crosses for the forwards to feed off on the right is Simon Francis, playing at right back. I must admit I wasn't always his biggest fan but he has made the right back place his own and continues to put a shift in every game. We have not been so fortunate recently at left back. Charlie Daniels is a big miss and it is a problem area, even if Ritchie played well there. Eddie Howe will I'm sure be working hard with Painter this week and Pugh in trying to get some under standing going. While Miles Addison has been out for a long while it would also help if he becomes available for selection again soon as this would give Eddie more options at the back, with perhaps Cook going to left back. Yes, I know Miles isn't everyone's cup of tea and there's no news of how he is doing yet.

With the side knowing that they can recover from defeats and with an unbeaten league home record that stretches back to the end of September, if you discount Wigan's victory in the FA Cup in January, there are reasons for Howe and Tindall to be confident that the Cherries can continue their push for promotion. It was Walsall who was the team to beat us last at home, if like me you had forgotten who it was. They have been a bit of a thorn in or side this season having done the double over the Cherries. Still the players will get over their recent defeat at Preston very quickly this week, because Eddie I'm sure won't allow it to play on their minds. They know three points is always massive at this stage of the season and that is the target now.

It's also down to the fans to help the team through this crucial period. Get any negative thoughts out of your head early this week, AFCB is still in a good position to challenge for honours. Sing up next Saturday. Our voices can give the Cherries confidence to go and beat Sheffield Utd, Coventry and Doncaster at home. We have to be up for these games as much as the players. We have to put these teams under pressure by supporting our team with real passion for 90 minutes and more - I for one expect to lose my voice at the Goldsands Stadium this month! I hope you do too.