Eddie is OUR Hero

Last updated : 29 December 2009 By Bournemouth Co-Ordinator

AFCB LogoOn December 28th, 2008 Jimmy Quinn presided over the Cherries as he saw his charges loose 2-0 at Dean Court in a poor performance against Barnet. Little did we know at the time, but that would be his last game in charge as the Club sent him off on extended “gardening leave”. During his short tenure, Quinn managed the Cherries for 24 matches (19 League (5 wins, 7 draws and 7 defeats) and 5 FA Cup) which saw AFC Bournemouth limp to +7 points not to mention FA Cup exit at the hands of Blyth Spartans. 

Then late on New Years Eve, news broke that Quinn had gone with Eddie Howe being asked to step up to take temporary charge of the team. His first two games saw the Cherries extend their loosing run to 4 matches with defeat away at Darlington and Rotherham United. Then came what proved to be the turning point as Eddie Howe managed to persuade Crawley Town to part company with Steve Fletcher who returned to Dean Court to a hero's welcome to face (then) table toppers Wycombe Wanderers, who were seen off with a fine 3-1 win in front of a vocal 5946. 

The remainder of the season saw Eddie mastermind the greatest of great escapes as AFC Bournemouth avoided the dreaded drop in to the Conference. Memorable results during the run in came against:

  • Feb 24 v Dagenham & Redbridge (a) where Mark Molesley netted a last gasp winner
  • March 10 v Exeter City (a) where Brett Pitman stole the show in the second half to set up a fine 3-1 win at St James's Park
  • April 4 v Rochdale (h) where Brett Pitman netted his first hat trick in a 4-0 win
  • April 18 v Chester City (a) where goals from Pitman and Robinson all but confirmed safety for the Cherries in League Two
  • April 25 v Grimsby Town (h) where a fine team performance saw the talismanic Steve Fletcher score the winner to secure League Two survival. Who else would keep us in the League?
  • May 2 v Morecambe (a) proved to be icing on the cake as the Cherries ended the season style with an emphatic 4-0 win.

 In all, the final 22 matches of the 2008/09 season saw the Cherries with the following record over the period:

 

 

 

HOME

AWAY

 

 

 

PL

W

D

L

F

A

W

D

L

F

A

GD

Pts

2009

22

7

2

2

18

6

4

1

6

14

13

13

36

So on to the 2009/10 season. At least the Cherries started on 'nil point', even though handicapped with a permanent transfer embargo imposed by the Football League.

The season could not have started any better for the Cherries as ran off with a fine 3-0 away win at Bury on the opening day, which was followed with 2 home wins against Rotherham United and Aldershot Town. Defeat at Northampton Town was a blip as the best ever start to a new season continued through until the evening trip to Hereford United at the end of September.

Progress was made beyond the first round of the JP Trophy and the FA Cup, but cup defeats against Millwall (Carling Cup), Northampton Town (JP Trophy) and Notts County (FA Cup) ended cup interest before Christmas for another season.

2009 ended from a playing point of view with a controversial game against Torquay United on December 28. Where as 12-months ago, the Cherries lost to Barnet, this time a 2-1 victory was secured, albeit in controversial circumstances as Brett Pitman converted a 95th minute penalty. Under previous managers the Torquay match would have ended in defeat for the Cherries, such the never-say-die attitude of the first team.

Despite everything, the Cherries have spent two months at the top of League Two, and are currently nicely placed in the automatic promotion places some 9 points above the play-off places – such a contrast to the 2008/09 season when Bond and Quinn were in charge between them.

The record so far this season reads:

 

 

HOME

AWAY

 

 

 

PL

W

D

L

F

A

W

D

L

F

A

GD

Pts

2009/2010

23

8

1

2

14

9

6

3

3

14

13

6

46

 

Overall, Eddie's record in 2009 is as follows:

 

 

HOME

AWAY

 

 

 

PL

W

D

L

F

A

W

D

L

F

A

GD

Pts

Overall

45

15

3

4

32

15

10

4

9

28

26

19

82

So what will 2010 bring for AFC Bournemouth and the charismatic Eddie Howe?

Is the step up (and back) to League One on the cards by the time the Cherries take the field against Chesterfield on May 8th?

UP THE CHERRIES – IN ALL DEPARTMENTS and Happy New Year too!

Eddie Howe-280804