Ward endeared himself to the fans last season

Elliott Ward may not be the first AFCB player you think of when looking back on the club's return to the Championship. That is perhaps a little unfair because he more than most bought into the Eddie Howe dream and was free to pick and chose which Championship he wanted to go out on loan to. More than that he signed up for a few more years, because he knew he was able to be part of something special at Dean Court.

Ward had a strong season at AFCB.

Injuries slowed him down a little though.

At first I used to see Elliott as a player that maybe was a bit too relaxed when on the ball and not always looking like he was busting a gut to be first to the ball, but as I have watch and looked on with greater understanding I have seen that there is a lot to his game that almost goes unnoticed. He'll win more than his fair share of headers and his long stride is deceptively quicker then you might think. Above all though it's his reading of the game that gets him out of trouble and it's a quality that top players simply have. 

Elliott won't be back until mid-July.

Even more surprising was when Eddie Howe asked him in certain matches to press forward and try and make a nuisance of himself up front. He did fantastically well at Middlesbrough to fashion the equaliser and he always seems to have fun when can add to the attack. He shouldn't be able to beat a few players in the box, but he has it in his locker as they say. To see Elliott especially look to have time on the ball in the opposition's box is something that you can only applaud. Let's hope we see a bit more of it from time to time next season. From the Echo's report he is said to be out until mid July following the operation he has had on a knee that caused him problems after hitting an advertising hoarding against Leicester City at home.

Breaking news
Meanwhile, the Cherries are said to have made a bid for Callum Wilson at Coventry city as a replacement for Lewis Grabban and Coventry are believed to have rejected the bid, according to the Vitals site. To learn more about Callum Wilson sign up for Cherry Chimes newsletter here.

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Finally, it was stormy stuff for England in Miami against Honduras and not just the weather - see World Cup Chimes for the reaction. All Departments has also released a podcast with former AFCB chairman Trevor Watkins - see All Departments. 

Football is an addiction for Eddie and many others

The summer months may mean no Championship football for AFCB but Eddie Howe is certainly not taking a rest. It will be the busiest time of the year in many ways and I wonder if his family ever get a rest from the football clock. If you read the last Match Day programme against Nottingham Forest, which had the Ask Eddie feature in it, there was a very apt question put to Eddie by Paul Longhurst about what had surprised Eddie about being a manager? It wasn't the work load or the frustration of being on the sidelines, but simply the addiction that he now has for the game.

Eddie has the addiction to footie, do you?

In many ways I can sympathise with Eddie about his addiction to the great game as I am sure many of you can too. For me, Cherry Chimes has become a bigger part of my life than I had ever expected and I hope you all continue to like reading my views while the blog continues on its merry way. But the game takes on new meaning when you have a connection with it in checking on the performance of players, yesterday's results and forthcoming fixtures. As a reporter, we can switch off now and again when the opportunity arises but for a club manager there simply is no break.

I don't quite find as many days when I can switch off as I used to now and the prospect of never stopping thinking about the game and the goings on at AFCB gradually creep up on you. Once hooked though it is hard to let go and that is what makes me have the utmost respect for Eddie Howe, because he did give it up once for a new challenge at Burnley and found that things were perhaps not quite the same. Long may he be addicted to the AFCB hot seat, because I can't think of a single manager that could d a better job with the squad of players that we have at the club. UTCIAD!  

As a novice football addict myself I have not been sitting doing nothing as we have a World Cup around the corner. I am already getting up to speed now that the FA Cup means the end of our domestic season. You too can find out which blogs are top of the league when it comes to the World Cup if you take a look at World Cup Chimes where you will see the Samba beat has already taken hold.

The final day of the season is here

It's been fun hasn't it? It has been my pleasure to give you my thoughts over the course of the Cherries first season back in the Championship for many a year. We had some lows but many more highs and I think AFCB supporters will remember this season as one of the greatest for the club in year's to come, even if it is surpassed one day by even greater achievements.

It's been a great. 

I don't want anyone to underestimate what the team has achieved this season. A team that has not been the most that costly to put together compared to established Championship teams has pushed for a place in the upper reaches of the division when many of us like me predicted that a good season would be to finish 18th or 19th. Eddie Howe sets the bar high and I hope that he sets it even higher next season. 

We head into the last game though not wondering what could have been or predicting what might happen in the future but just loving the moment and seeing our club doing well with plenty of smiles on people's faces. I will travel up to the Millwall game today to see a side that has re-written AFCB's history books and has had fun doing it. While I will miss seeing the red and black shirts in front of me for a few months I hear there is a lot of football to be played to the Samba beat in the upcoming weeks and if you keep your ears to the ground you will find World Cup Chimes has a few thoughts to share.

But before then there is a final round of games to go in the Championship and it is strange not to have a big weight hanging over Bournemouth's game for a change. It won't be as easy viewing in the Millwall end, but I hope that the Lions stay up because it is by far the shortest away trip for me. Still, I'll be shouting for the Cherries and if the outcome means another three points for the Cherries it will bring to an end a superb season that I hope we have the chance to celebrate just a little more at the Den, especially if Millwall also stay up.

My prediction is 2-2, but more importantly the inflatables have been packed and will be on show - see you there!

Click on Rival Lines as well for your blogger interview with Following Millwall FC.