Bournemouth Football Club

Founded in 1899 as Boscombe St. John's Institute Football Club, AFC Bournemouth has a history that stretches back over a century. The club was established by the members of the local community who sought to create an outlet for their passion for football (source).

In its early years, the team had several names before finally settling on Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic Football Club in 1923. It wasn't until 1972 that they adopted their current name, AFC Bournemouth. Their initial years were primarily spent in the lower divisions of English football but nevertheless served to establish a solid local supporter base.

One notable early achievement came in 1910 when they reached the final of the FA Amateur Cup - a significant accomplishment given their non-league status at the time (source).

The club first tasted major success during Harry Redknapp’s reign as manager from 1983-1992. In his first season, Redknapp led them to victory in the Associate Members' Cup (now known as EFL Trophy) - this remains one of only two major trophies won by "The Cherries" till date (source).

However, nothing compares to Eddie Howe's tenure as manager where he took them from League Two (fourth tier) all way up to Premier League within six seasons (2009-2015). One unforgettable match from this period is undoubtedly their Championship winning game against Charlton Athletic in April 2015 which secured them promotion into England's elite league for first time ever! (source).

The main rival of Bournemouth is Southampton, despite the two clubs being over 30 miles apart. This rivalry, often referred to as the South Coast Derby or New Forest Derby, has been ongoing for several decades with matches between them often characterized by intense competition and fervent supporter loyalties (source). These clashes are significant events not only due to footballing reasons but also due to their cultural impact in reinforcing local identities and pride.

Bournemouth's home ground is the Vitality Stadium (previously known as Dean Court). With a capacity of just over 11,000, it’s one of the smallest stadiums in English professional football - yet what it lacks in size, it makes up for in atmosphere (source).

This intimate setting creates an intense environment which serves to galvanize both players and fans alike. Notable games at this historic venue include Bournemouth's first-ever Premier League victory against West Ham United in August 2015.

Bournemouth's fan base may be smaller compared to some other English teams but what they lack in numbers they make up for with unwavering loyalty. Supporters' chants such as "Red Army" echo around the stadium during matches creating a lively atmosphere that contributes significantly towards their home advantage. Their most active supporter group is 'Cherries Trust' who work tirelessly advocating for issues affecting AFC Bournemouth supporters (source).

On matchdays, it's a tradition for fans to gather at the club's iconic mascot – Cherry Bear – located in front of the Superstore before heading towards their seats. The sound of the pre-match anthem - And It's Bournemouth (to the tune of Dean Martin’s Amore) is another unique part of fan culture signaling that kick-off is imminent (source).

1. Gaining promotion to Premier League by winning Championship (2014-15 season)
2. Beating Manchester United 2-1 at home during their debut Premier League season (December 2015)
3. Winning Associate Members' Cup under Harry Redknapp’s management (1983-84)
4. Eddie Howe appointed as manager leading them from bottom tier all way up to top flight within six seasons
5. First-ever victory in Premier League against West Ham United at Vitality Stadium (August 2015)
6. Beating Liverpool 4-3 after being down by two goals twice! "The Great Escape" game (December 2016).
7. The return and survival in Championship post financial crisis, colloquially known as 'The Great Escape'
8. Record-breaking signing of Nathan Ake from Chelsea for £20m - showing ambition and growth as a club.
9. Final day survival on last day of first ever season in second tier with win over Grimsby Town under Mel Machin’s management.
10. Formation of Cherries Trust ensuring supporters have an active role in shaping future direction of club