AFC Bournemouth
AFC Bournemouth is a professional association football club based in Kings Park, Boscombe, a suburb of Bournemouth, Dorset, England. Founded in 1899 as Boscombe, the club adopted their current name in 1971 and competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football. Known as "The Cherries," they have played their home games at Dean Court since 1910. The club's most notable achievement is their historic rise from League Two to the Premier League between 2009 and 2015, marking their first-ever appearance in England's top flight. They have won the Championship title once (2014-15), the Third Division title (1986-87), and the Associate Members' Cup (1983-84).
History
Overview
General information about the club
AFC Bournemouth is a professional association football club that competes in the Premier League, having established themselves as a top-flight club after a remarkable journey through the English football pyramid. Originally formed as Boscombe in 1899, the club has undergone several name changes throughout its history, becoming Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic in 1923 before adopting their current name in 1971. The club is nicknamed "The Cherries" and has been based at Dean Court since 1910, when they were granted a lease on wasteland next to Kings Park by local businessman J.E. Cooper-Dean.
Most recent season and achievements
In the 2024-25 season, Bournemouth achieved their best-ever Premier League campaign under manager Andoni Iraola, accumulating 56 points and equaling their best league finish of 9th place. The club set multiple Premier League records, including most wins in a season (15), fewest defeats (12), most goals scored (58), and fewest goals conceded (46). This performance followed their successful 2023-24 campaign where they achieved their previous best Premier League points tally of 48 points to finish 12th.
History
Early years
The club's exact founding date is uncertain, but evidence shows it was formed in autumn 1899 from the remains of Boscombe St. John's Institute Football Club. In their inaugural 1899-1900 season, Boscombe competed in the Bournemouth and District Junior League and the Hants Junior Cup. The club initially played on a pitch in Castlemain Avenue, Pokesdown, before moving to Kings Park in their third season. They graduated to senior amateur football in the 1905-06 season and signed their first professional player, Baven Penton, in 1910. The club first competed in the FA Cup during the 1913-14 season, but progress was halted by World War I, forcing them back to the Hampshire League.
Successful period
Bournemouth experienced their first major success period under manager Harry Redknapp in the 1980s. The club won the Associate Members' Cup in its inaugural 1983-84 season, beating Hull City 2-1 at Boothferry Park. Redknapp then led the team to their first-ever promotion to the second tier as Third Division champions in 1987. The club made a serious challenge for top-flight promotion in the 1988-89 season, ultimately finishing 12th - their highest position until 2013-14. Notable achievements during this era included Ted MacDougall's record-breaking nine goals in an 11-0 FA Cup victory against Margate in November 1971, and a famous FA Cup victory over holders Manchester United in January 1984.
Crisis and recovery
The club faced severe financial difficulties in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, entering administration twice. The first administration occurred in 1997, leading to relegation back to the fourth tier in 2002, though they immediately gained promotion by winning the play-offs in 2003. The second administration in February 2008 resulted in a ten-point deduction and relegation to League Two, with debts of around £4 million nearly forcing the club out of business. The 2008-09 season saw the club start with a 17-point penalty, but under new manager Eddie Howe, they secured their Football League status with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Grimsby Town in their final home game.
Current period
Under Eddie Howe's stewardship from 2009-2020, Bournemouth achieved an unprecedented rise through the divisions, winning three promotions in six years to reach the Premier League for the first time in 2015. This remarkable journey included a second-place finish in League Two (2009-10), second place in League One (2012-13), and the Championship title (2014-15). The club spent five seasons in the Premier League before relegation in 2020, but returned in 2022 as Championship runners-up under Scott Parker. Following Parker's dismissal after four games, Gary O'Neil took charge before being replaced by current manager Andoni Iraola in 2023. In December 2022, the club was purchased by Black Knight Football Club, a partnership led by American businessman Bill Foley and Cannae Holdings.
Achievements and Honors
Domestic competitions
AFC Bournemouth has achieved notable success in domestic competitions throughout their history. In league competitions, they won the Championship title in 2014-15 and finished as runners-up in 2021-22. The club also claimed the Third Division championship in 1986-87 and finished as runners-up in 1947-48 and 2012-13. In the fourth tier, they achieved runners-up positions in 1970-71 and 2009-10, gained promotion in 1981-82, and won the play-offs in 2003. Additionally, they finished as Southern League runners-up in 1922-23. In cup competitions, Bournemouth won the Associate Members' Cup in 1983-84 and were runners-up in 1997-98, while also claiming the Third Division South Cup in 1945-46.
Continental and global competitions
Based on the provided information, AFC Bournemouth has not participated in any continental or global competitions during their history.
Symbols and Colors
Current logo and logo history
In 1972, AFC Bournemouth adopted a new badge as a symbol of their progress after changing their name from Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic. The badge featured stripes in the background based on the club shirt, with the foreground displaying the profile of a player heading the ball in honor of Dickie Dowsett, a prolific scorer for the club in the 1950s and 1960s. The club revealed another new crest during the 2012-13 season when they achieved promotion to the Championship.
Traditional home and away kits colors
AFC Bournemouth's colors have varied throughout their history, starting with red-and-white stripes before adopting various combinations including all-red shirts and red with white sleeves. Since 1990, they have predominantly worn red-and-black stripes, though they briefly returned to a predominantly red shirt for the 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons before fan demand brought back the stripes in 2006-07. The current red-and-black kit, introduced in 1971, was based on the AC Milan strip. Since 2017, the club's kit has been manufactured by Umbro, and for the 2025-26 season, their shirts are sponsored by bj88 with LEOS International as the shirt sleeve sponsor.
Traditional club anthem
The provided source does not contain information about AFC Bournemouth's traditional club anthem.
Traditional Rivals
Southampton
According to a recent poll named 'The League of Love and Hate' in August 2019, Bournemouth supporters named their near neighbor Southampton as the club's biggest rival.
Portsmouth
Portsmouth was identified as the second biggest rival according to the same supporters' poll.
Brighton and Hove Albion
Brighton and Hove Albion ranks among Bournemouth's main rivals as identified by supporters.
Reading
Reading is considered one of the club's rivals according to the supporters' poll.
Leeds United
Leeds United is also named among Bournemouth's rivals, which may stem from the violent incidents that occurred when Leeds visited Dean Court on the final day of the 1989-90 season, causing over £1 million worth of damage and affecting the club financially for more than a decade.
Club Traditions and Behind the Scenes
Sponsors
AFC Bournemouth has had numerous sponsors throughout their history. Early sponsors included Reg Heynes Toyota (1980-82, 1983-85), Coopers Beers (1985-87), and Canberra Homes (1987-88). More recent main shirt sponsors have included Mansion (2015-2020), Vitality (2020), MSP Capital (2020-2022), and Dafabet (2022-2024). For the 2025-26 season, bj88 serves as the main shirt sponsor with LEOS International as the shirt sleeve sponsor. DeWalt was the shirt sleeve sponsor from 2022-23 to 2023-24 seasons.
Nicknames
The club is commonly known as "The Cherries," a nickname obtained around 1910. There are two leading explanations for this nickname: the cherry-red striped shirts the team played in, or because Dean Court was built adjacent to the Cooper-Dean estate, which may have contained many cherry trees.
Ownership and finances
AFC Bournemouth has experienced significant ownership changes throughout its history. The club faced severe financial difficulties, entering administration in 1997 and again in 2008 with debts of around £4 million. In 2009, a consortium including Adam Murray, Jeff Mostyn, former vice-chairman Steve Sly, Neill Blake, and former Dorchester Town chairman Eddie Mitchell took over the club. Maxim Demin later became owner from 2011 to 2022. In December 2022, the club was purchased by Black Knight Football Club, a partnership led by American businessman Bill Foley and Cannae Holdings, with a minority ownership group led by Hollywood actor Michael B. Jordan and Kosmos founder Nullah Sarker.
Traditions and culture
AFC Bournemouth has maintained strong connections to its local community throughout its history. The club's nickname "The Cherries" has become deeply embedded in the club's identity, and the red-and-black striped kit introduced in 1971 has become a traditional symbol. The club has a history of developing local talent and maintaining close ties with supporters, particularly evident during the financial crises when fan support helped ensure the club's survival.
Stadium
Dean Court has been AFC Bournemouth's home since 1910, when the club was granted a long lease over wasteland next to Kings Park by local businessman J.E. Cooper-Dean. The stadium was named after the benefactor and has undergone various redevelopments throughout its history. During the early part of the 2001-02 season, the club temporarily played their home matches at Dorchester Town's ground while their own stadium was being redeveloped. The venue has witnessed many historic moments, including Ted MacDougall's nine-goal performance and the dramatic final-day survival against Grimsby Town in 2009.