kids encyclopedia robot

AFC Bournemouth facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
AFC Bournemouth
AFC Bournemouth (2013).svg
Full name AFC Bournemouth
Nickname(s) The Cherries
Boscombe
Founded 1899; 126 years ago (1899)
(as Boscombe)
Ground Dean Court
Ground Capacity 11,307
Owner Black Knight Football Club UK Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Black Knight Football and Entertainment
Chairman Bill Foley
Manager Andoni Iraola
League Premier League
2018–19 Premier League, 14th of 20

AFC Bournemouth is a professional football club from Bournemouth, England. They are often called "The Cherries" and play in the Premier League, which is the top football league in England. The club has played its home games at Dean Court since 1910.

The club started in 1899 as Boscombe. They joined the Football League in 1923 and changed their name to Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic. In 1971, they became AFC Bournemouth.

Over the years, Bournemouth has moved up and down through different football leagues. A big moment came when Eddie Howe became manager. Under his leadership, the club climbed from the fourth tier to the Premier League for the first time in their history. They won the Championship title in the 2014–15 season.

After five seasons in the Premier League, they were relegated in 2020 but returned in 2022. The club is now owned by Black Knight Football Club, led by Bill Foley.

History of AFC Bournemouth

How the Club Started

The club began in the autumn of 1899 as Boscombe Football Club. They played their first games in the Bournemouth and District Junior League. For the first two seasons, they played on a field in Castlemain Avenue. Later, they moved to a pitch in King's Park.

In 1910, a local businessman, J.E. Cooper-Dean, gave the club a long lease for land next to Kings Park. This became their home ground, named Dean Court after him. The club also signed its first professional player, Baven Penton, that same year.

Why "The Cherries"?

The club got its nickname "The Cherries" around this time. One idea is that it came from their cherry-red striped shirts. Another idea is that Dean Court was built near the Cooper-Dean estate, which might have had many cherry trees.

The club first played in the FA Cup in the 1913–14 season. However, World War I stopped their progress. In 1920, they joined the Southern League.

Deancourt 14092013 vblackpool
Dean Court, the home stadium of AFC Bournemouth.

Becoming Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic

In 1923, the club changed its name to Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic Football Club. This was to better represent the whole area. In the same year, they joined the Third Division South. Their first league game was against Swindon Town, which they lost 3–1.

Bournemouth spent many years in the Third Division. After World War II, they won their first trophy, the Third Division (South) Cup, by beating Walsall in the final.

The AFC Bournemouth Name

The club changed its name again to AFC Bournemouth for the 1971–72 season. The idea was to appear first in alphabetical lists of English clubs. A year later, they got a new badge. It showed stripes from their shirt and a player heading the ball, honoring Dickie Dowsett, a great scorer from the 1950s and 1960s.

The team's red-and-black kit, introduced in 1971, was inspired by the AC Milan team. This was also when Ted MacDougall scored nine goals in one FA Cup game, helping Bournemouth win 11–0 against Margate.

Late 20th Century Highlights

In January 1984, Bournemouth, managed by Harry Redknapp, famously beat Manchester United in the FA Cup. They also won the Associate Members' Cup in 1984, beating Hull City 2–1 in the final.

Redknapp led Bournemouth to the second tier of English football for the first time in 1987, as champions of the Third Division. They even challenged for promotion to the top league in the 1988–89 season, finishing 12th. This was their highest league position until the 2013–14 season.

AFC Bournemouth League Performance
A chart showing AFC Bournemouth's league positions over the years.

In 1990, on the last day of the season, Bournemouth were relegated after losing to Leeds United. There was some trouble caused by visiting fans, which affected the club for many years. For example, local police stopped them from playing home games on Bank Holidays for over a decade.

After Redknapp left, the club faced financial difficulties. They struggled in the league, but managed to avoid relegation in the 1994–95 season.

Early 21st Century Challenges

Sean O'Driscoll became manager in 2000. After narrowly missing the playoffs, Bournemouth were relegated in 2002. However, they bounced back quickly, winning the Division Three play-offs in 2003. They beat Lincoln City 5–2 in the final at the Millennium Stadium.

In 2003–04, player James Hayter scored the fastest league hat-trick in English Football League history. He scored three goals in just two minutes and 21 seconds against Wrexham.

Tough Times and a Great Escape (2008–2009)

In February 2008, Bournemouth faced serious financial problems and had points deducted, which put them in danger of relegation. They were relegated to League Two.

The club started the 2008–09 season with a 17-point penalty because of their financial issues. Manager Jimmy Quinn left, and former player Eddie Howe took over. He was the youngest manager in the Football League at 31.

In the last home game of the 2008–09 season, Bournemouth secured their place in the Football League by beating Grimsby Town 2–1. This amazing comeback was called "The Great Escape." In June 2009, a group of local businessmen took over the club.

Climbing to the Premier League (2009–2015)

Eddie Howe's first full season saw Bournemouth finish second in League Two, earning promotion. Howe later left for Burnley, but returned in October 2012. He led the club to promotion to the Championship, the second tier of English football, for the first time since 1990.

On October 25, 2014, Bournemouth won 8–0 away against Birmingham City. This was their biggest league win ever. They also reached the League Cup quarter-finals for the first time. The club spent most of the 2014–15 season at the top of the Championship. A 3–0 win against Charlton Athletic on the final day secured the Championship title and their first-ever promotion to the Premier League.

Life in the Premier League (2015–2020)

In their first Premier League season (2015–16), Bournemouth faced many injuries but managed to avoid relegation, finishing 16th. The 2016–17 season was even better, with the team finishing 9th. They continued to stay in the Premier League for five seasons.

However, in the 2019–20 season, injuries and poor results led to the club dropping into the relegation zone. Despite a win on the final day, they were relegated back to the Championship. On August 1, 2020, Eddie Howe left the club.

Financial Fair Play

In 2016, Bournemouth had to pay a fine for not following the Football League's financial rules during their promotion season (2014–15). They had spent more money than allowed.

Back to the Championship (2020–2022)

Jason Tindall, Eddie Howe's assistant, became manager in August 2020. He was replaced by Jonathan Woodgate in February 2021. The club reached the playoffs but lost in the semi-finals.

In June 2021, Scott Parker became the new head coach. He led the team on a great 15-game unbeaten run at the start of the 2021–22 Championship season. Bournemouth secured promotion back to the Premier League in their second-to-last match, finishing as runners-up.

Second Premier League Era and New Owners (2022–Present)

Bournemouth's return to the Premier League started tough. After a big loss to Liverpool, Scott Parker was replaced by Gary O'Neil as interim coach. O'Neil improved the team's form and was made permanent manager in November 2022.

In December 2022, Black Knight Football Club, led by American businessman Bill Foley, bought the club. This group also includes Hollywood actor Michael B. Jordan. In June 2023, O'Neil left, and Andoni Iraola became the new manager.

Under Iraola, Bournemouth had their best Premier League season in 2023–24, finishing 12th with 48 points. In the 2024–25 season, they broke that record again, earning 56 points and finishing 9th. They also achieved their most wins (15) and fewest defeats (12) in a Premier League season.

Players

Current Squad

No. Position Player
1 Brazil GK Neto
3 France DF Adrien Truffert
4 England MF Lewis Cook (vice-captain)
5 Argentina DF Marcos Senesi
6 Wales DF Chris Mepham
7 Wales MF David Brooks
8 England MF Alex Scott
9 Brazil FW Evanilson
10 Scotland MF Ryan Christie
11 Burkina Faso MF Dango Ouattara
12 United States MF Tyler Adams
15 England DF Adam Smith (captain)
16 England MF Marcus Tavernier
17 Colombia MF Luis Sinisterra
19 Netherlands FW Justin Kluivert
20 Argentina DF Julio Soler
22 Mexico DF Julián Araujo
23 England DF James Hill
No. Position Player
24 Ghana FW Antoine Semenyo
26 Turkey FW Enes Ünal
27 Ukraine DF Illya Zabarnyi
29 Denmark MF Philip Billing
35 Wales DF Owen Bevan
40 England GK Will Dennis
43 England FW Zain Silcott-Duberry
44 England FW Daniel Adu-Adjei
45 United States DF Matai Akinmboni
46 Scotland GK Callan McKenna
47 England MF Ben Winterburn
49 England MF Dominic Sadi
51 England FW Remy Rees-Dottin
New Zealand GK Alex Paulsen
Serbia GK Đorđe Petrović
Ivory Coast MF Hamed Traorè
France MF Romain Faivre
France FW Eli Junior Kroupi

Players Out on Loan

No. Position Player
21 Canada FW Daniel Jebbison (at Preston North End until 31 May 2026)
37 England DF Max Aarons (at Rangers until 30 June 2026)
48 England DF Max Kinsey (at Truro City until 31 May 2026)

Youth Teams

AFC Bournemouth also has Under-21s and Academy teams where young players train and develop their skills.

Club Officials

Here are some of the people who help run AFC Bournemouth:

Board
Owner
United States Black Knight Football Club
Chairman President of Football Operations Assistant first-team technical director President of Business
United States Bill Foley Portugal Tiago Pinto England Simon Francis United States Jim Frevola
First Team Staff
Management
Manager
Spain Andoni Iraola
First Team Coaches
England Tommy Elphick

England Shaun Cooper

Head of Goalkeeping First Team Assistant Goalkeeper Coach
England Neil Moss England Gareth Stewart
First Team Fitness Coach
Spain Pablo de la Torre
Medical Team
Performance Director Head of Therapy Physiotherapists
Germany Robert Percy Marshall England Scot McAllister England Michael Harding England Joe Barton
England Dave Gardner England Natasha Nolan
Sports Scientists
Head of Performance and Physical Development Lead Rehabilitation & Performance Specialist Sports Scientists
England Alastair Harris England Charlie Moore Northern Ireland Sean McCullagh England Rob Lloyd
Analysis & Performance
First Team Senior Performance Analyst Analysts
England Ryan Dawes England Tom Webber England Sam May England Luke Summers
Position Name
Academy Manager England Sam Gisbourne
Academy Head of Coaching & Development England Bruce Suraci
Academy Head of Goalkeeping England Billy Granger
Development Squad Manager England Alan Connell
U18 Coach England James Lowy
U18 Assistant Coach England Junior Stanislas

Managers of AFC Bournemouth

Many managers have led AFC Bournemouth throughout its history:

  • England Vincent Kitcher (1914–1923)
  • England Harry Kinghorn (1923–1925, 1939–1947)
  • England Leslie Knighton (1925–1928)
  • England Frank Richards (1928–1930)
  • Scotland Billy Birrell (1930–1935)
  • England Bob Crompton (1935–1936)
  • England Charlie Bell (1936–1939)
  • Scotland Harry Lowe (1947–1950)
  • England Jack Bruton (1950–1956)
  • England Freddie Cox (1956–1958, 1965–1970)
  • England Don Welsh (1958–1961)
  • England Bill McGarry (1961–1963)
  • England Reg Flewin (1963–1965)
  • England John Bond (1970–1973)
  • England Trevor Hartley (1974–1975)
  • England Tony Nelson (1975)
  • Scotland John Benson (1975–1978)
  • England Alec Stock (1979–1980)
  • England David Webb (1980–1982)
  • England Don Megson (1983)
  • England Harry Redknapp (1983–1992)
  • Wales Tony Pulis (1992–1994)
  • England John Williams (1994)
  • England Mel Machin (1994–2000)
  • Republic of Ireland Sean O'Driscoll (2000–2006)
  • England Stuart Murdoch and
    England Joe Roach (jointly, 2006)
  • England Kevin Bond (2006–2008)
  • Northern Ireland Jimmy Quinn (2008)
  • England Eddie Howe (2008–2011, 2012–2020)
  • England Lee Bradbury (2011–2012)
  • England Paul Groves (2012)
  • England Jason Tindall (2020–2021)
  • England Jonathan Woodgate (2021)
  • England Scott Parker (2021–2022)
  • England Gary O'Neil (2022–2023)
  • Spain Andoni Iraola (2023–present)

Team Colours and Sponsors

The team's colours have changed a bit over time. They started with red-and-white stripes. Since 1990, they have mostly played in red-and-black stripes.

Since 2017, Umbro has made Bournemouth's kits. Before that, other companies like Adidas and Fila made them.

For the 2025–26 season, the team's shirts are sponsored by bj88, with LEOS International on the sleeves. Over the years, many different companies have sponsored the shirts, including Reg Heynes Toyota, Coopers Beers, and Dafabet.

Year Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor (front) Shirt sponsor (sleeve) Shirt sponsor (back) Shorts sponsor
1974–1978 Umbro No sponsor No sponsor No sponsor No sponsor
1978–1980 Adidas
1980–1981 Reg Heynes Toyota
1981–1982 In-House
1982–1983 Osca No sponsor
1983–1985 Umbro Reg Heynes Toyota
1985–1986 Coopers Beers
1986–1987 Hensons
1987–1988 Scoreline Canberra Homes
1988–1989 Nolan
1989–1990 No sponsor
1990–1992 Ellgren A1 Windscreens
1992–1994 Matchwinner Exchange & Mart
1994–1995 Frizzell
1995–1996 Le Coq Sportif
1996–1997 Patrick
1997–2000 Seward Cars
2000–2001 Super League
2001–2003 TFG Sports
2003–2006 Bourne Red
2006–2008 Focal Point Fires
2008–2011 Carbrini Sportswear Carbrini Sportswear JD Sports JD Sports
2011–2012 Fila Focal Point Fires Focal Point Fires No sponsor
2012–2014 Energy-Consulting Energy-Consulting
2014–2015 Carbrini Sportswear
2015–2017 JD Sports MansionBet No sponsor
2017–2019 Umbro MansionBet
2019–2020 MansionBet / Vitality
2020–2021 MSP Capital No sponsor DWP Housing Partnership United Pallet Network
2021–2022 QuinnBet
2022–2024 Dafabet DeWalt No sponsor No sponsor
2024– bj88 LEOS International The Soccer Tournament (in FA Cup matches)

Club Rivalries

According to a poll in 2019, Bournemouth fans see their biggest rival as nearby club Southampton. Other rivals include Portsmouth, Brighton and Hove Albion, Reading, and Leeds United.

Club Records and Achievements

  • Steve Fletcher has played the most games for Bournemouth, with 726 matches between 1992 and 2013.
  • Ron Eyre holds the record for most goals scored, with 229 goals between 1924 and 1933.
  • Ted MacDougall scored the most goals in a single season, with 42 goals in 1970–71.
  • The highest amount of money received for a Bournemouth player was £65 million for Dominic Solanke in August 2024.
  • The highest amount paid for a player by Bournemouth was £40.2 million for Evanilson in August 2024.
  • The club's highest league finish is 9th place in the Premier League, achieved in both the 2016–17 and 2024–25 seasons.
  • In the FA Cup, their best performance is reaching the quarter-finals in 1956–57, 2020–21, and 2024–25.
  • In the EFL Cup, they reached the quarter-finals in 2014–15, 2017–18, and 2018–19.

Honours (Trophies)

Source:

League Titles

Cup Wins

  • Associate Members' Cup / Football League Trophy
    • Winners: 1983–84
    • Runners-up: 1997–98
  • Third Division South Cup
    • Winners: 1945–46

More About AFC Bournemouth

  • List of AFC Bournemouth seasons
  • List of AFC Bournemouth records and statistics
  • AFC Bournemouth Women
  • Dean Court
  • Premier League

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: AFC Bournemouth para niños

kids search engine
AFC Bournemouth Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.