1 May
The farewell Fun Day netted around £21k for the Stadium Appeal. Around 3500 attended, club merchandise raising some £5k and the guided main stand tours £1.2k. A lot of interest was shown in the auction.
More than 800 turned up at Victoria Park to see AFCB beat Poppies 8-0 in their 125th Anniversary game. Goals coming from Defoe (2), Eribenne, Hayter, Feeney, Steve Fletcher, Purches and an own goal from (Brian) Mundee. The Cherries fielded a full strength squad for the game and Poppies “can’t thank Sean enough” for doing so. Wade Elliott won the Daily Echo Micky Cave Supporters Player of the Year Award, picking up the trophy prior to the Anniversary Match. He polled some 22% of votes cast with Jermain Defoe (20%) and Jason Tindall (16%) in second and third. A record number of votes were reported, said to be in excess of 1000.
If AFCB fail to qualify for the play-offs, Jermaine Defoe may well start in West Ham’s match against Middlesbrough. Triallists Joe Fitzpatrick an unattached midfielder and Coventry City’s Barry Ferguson a defender played in the Anniversary game, and alongside Fulham’s Sam Keevil are in the Reserves squad for the visit to Dulwich Hamlet to play Crystal Palace.
2 May
Jimmy Case considers Wade Elliott could make it at Premiership level. The veteran was Manager at Bashley prior to Elliott’s transfer and Elliott says “he was my role model” there. Case and Tony Funnell visit Dean Court on a regular basis for the Press Association, working in conjunction with the PFA gathering statistics.
AFCB have sold their 3500 allocation for the trip to reading this Saturday.
Six triallists featured in the 5-1 defeat at Dulwich yesterday, Jayden West and Ubha Hardeep (from a London academy), Sam Keevil (Fulham), Michael Anderson (Sheffield United), Jon Walsh (USA) and Joe Fitzpatrick (unattached). “We wanted to get a few players in with an eye on next season” said Peter Grant.
3 May
Warren Feeney wants to sign a long-term contract at Dean Court but cannot sign now or else the club cannot use him until next season. “If they can match what I want, I don’t foresee any problems” said the Belfast born striker. Jason Tindall picked up the Exiles Player of the Year award “I was really over the moon” he said …"to get the award was the icing on the cake”.
4 May
The great Stan Newsham passed away early this morning following a fight against illness. Born on 24th May, 1931, Stan was sign by Bournemouth in June 1952 and went on to make 142 appearances, scoring 74 goals before moving to Notts County for £10,000 in August 1957. Here is a tribute from Andrew Kaye: "I am so sorry to hear your sad news. Your Dad was a lovely person and one of life's true gentlemen. Please pass on my condolences to your family and I hope you find strength in the knowledge that your Dad brought pleasure to so many people and I will do my best to ensure that he will be remembered. My thoughts are with you. Andrew Kaye".
5 May
Cherry youngsters Wade Elliott, Carl Fletcher, Karl Broadhurst and Jamie Hayter have signed extended contracts to keep them at Dean Court until June 2004.
9 May
News reported on BBC CEEFAX (South) that Carl Fletcher is to under go surgery to sort out a groin injury that could have kept him out for the end of season. A change in his training routine enabled him to play until the end of the season.
Reports are also out that the Club is engaged in negotiations to make Warren Feeney a permanent fixture at Dean Court by the end of the week.
12 May
FA Officials visit Dorchester Town on Monday to see if their ground is fit for League Football should it be required if the new Dean Court is not ready for the start of next season.
It seems from information on the Official Web Site and the Evening Echo, that Warren Feeney is due to sign for the Club at the beginning of next week.
17 May
It has been announced by the Club that an Honorary President has been appointed. He is Stanley Cohan OBE. In addition to the new position, he has invested in the New Stadium Project and "will help the club find the cash to complete their new stadium project".
Ex-loanee Jermaine Defoe has been promoted to the England U21 squad to face Mexico on May 24th and Greece on June 5th.
18 May
Jamie Day’s hopes for a move to Australia have been dashed in that no club seemingly wanted to release current playing staff to secure his services. He is now looking to try to break into League football through the non-league circuit, and Farnborough Town are said to have spoken to him.
The new Chairman at Bashley, David Malone is reported to be keen on securing a relationship with the Cherries. The chance for players to play for the Cherries like Wade Elliott is certainly of interest.
19 May
Jermaine Defoe makes his Premiership debut for West Ham coming on as a substitute against Middlesbrough. This is his second appearance for West Ham this season having come on in the League Cup to score against Walsall at the Bescot Stadium.
20 May
According to ITV Teletext, Bohemians player Shaun Maher has rejected a move to Dean Court claiming "Bournemouth ruled themselves out. Their offer wasn't good enough". The item links Shaun with a move to Swindon Town instead.
21 May
Ex Bournemouth player Mark Watson has joined Aldershot having been signed from Chesham United reports BBC CEEFAX (South). Another ex-Cherry at Aldershot, Owen Coll has signed a new contract to keep at the Recreation Ground.
The ground development is progressing nicely. Only the shell of the old Main Stand remains upright, and some of the new Main Stand’s framework is already up.
Proceeds in the region of £5.5k were raised for the KDSA following an auction of some 400 donations including a Leeds United shirt and an Ipswich Town one donated by Matt Holland.
22 May
Carl Fletcher is out of action for up to 2 months following a double hernia operation. Thankfully an operation on his knee will not be necessary following checks. The knock on his knee was picked up during the final game of the season against Reading.
24 May
ITV Teletext reports that Sean O'Driscoll is drawing experience from other sports and Clubs to learn the secret of success. He revealed that he was picking up lessons from other local sports such as the Bournemouth Volleyball team.
Jermaine Defoe scored the second of three goals in a 3-0 win for England U21 over Mexico U21.
Warren Feeney, yet to sign for the club, sits out the Northern Ireland under 21 International next week having tweaked knee ligaments in the Reading game.
25 May
AFC Bournemouth are to play Plymouth Argyle in a pre-season friendly on August 3rd, 8 days before the new season starts.
26 May
Steve Fletcher will have to wait for an operation to sort out a recurring problem with his ankle. The operation cannot be performed until June 11, leaving the popular Cherries skipper about a month to be ready for pre-season training.
Warren Feeney has now signed for the Club. The deal will formally take effect once his current contract at Leeds runs out at the end of June.
27 May
The old Dean Court has finally been demolished. The Main Stand has been levelled leaving the walls bounding the New Stand and Brighton Beach Ends left of the old stadium.
28 May
Former keeper, Nick Colgan picked up a runners-up medal following Hibernian’s 3-0 defeat at the hands of Celtic in the Scottish Cup.
Steve Fletcher’s ankle operation has been delayed until 11 June. He hopes to be ready to resume training when the pre-season opens on 5 July.
30 May
BBC CEEFAX (South) report that Stephen Purches is close to signing an extended deal that will keep him at Dean Court until 2004. "I love it down here and I had a good season. Unfortunately I picked up an injury at the wrong time. But I hope the next three years will be as good" he said.
Further pre-fixtures have been announced. AFC Bournemouth are to play against Hamworthy at Magna Road on July 10, Brockenhurst (a) on July 17, a three team tournament at Thame United over the weekend of July 28/29 involving Oxford United, Thame United and AFC Bournemouth as well as matches away to Plymouth (August 3rd) and Dorchester Town (August 7th).
The situation regarding Warren Feeney remains in the balance. The Irish FA seem to think that he is an AFC Bournemouth player, but the club say nothing is finalised a “we won’t be signing anybody until 1 July because we would have t pay wages over the summer”.
31 May
If Dean Court is not ready AFCB can play at Dorchester Town’s ground, up to and including November 4. This is providing certain criteria are met, including 600 visiting places. This is 900 for Cup ties if requested. There must be twelve press reporting positions and dugouts with space for eleven in each must be available. Financial terms are not mentioned but the Cherries remain confident that Dean Court will be ready in time.
