Bournemouth's first competitive European campaign begins this week, a landmark moment that caps a journey from the brink of non-league football to the Europa League. The club qualified on the final day of last season, fulfilling owner Bill Foley's prediction of European football within five years.
Club legend Steve Fletcher, whose winning goal against Grimsby in 2009 kept Bournemouth in the Football League, summed up the feeling. "I retired a month earlier, and I thought: 'Yeah, that's typical, isn't it?'" he said, recalling how he missed the chance to play in a friendly against Real Madrid 13 years ago.
That 6-0 defeat to a star-studded Madrid side featuring Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric is now a distant memory. The club's current trajectory is defined by Foley's 'Always Advance, Never Retreat' motto, displayed in the boardroom. His vision, which saw him build the Stanley Cup-winning Vegas Golden Knights in ice hockey, has materialised ahead of schedule.
The long road
The scale of the climb is immense. Bournemouth began the 2008-09 season on minus 17 points after failing to exit administration. Fletcher's late goal that season was a literal survival act. Now, assistants Tommy Elphick and Shaun Cooper, who played in those third-tier days under Eddie Howe, are part of the coaching staff guiding the team in Europe.
Current coach Marco Rose leads a squad blending experience with new European pedigree. Captain Adam Smith, in his 15th season at the club, once had a loan spell in League One. He is now joined by players like Brennan Johnson and Neco Williams, who have lifted European trophies with other clubs.
Building for the occasion
Preparations have been extensive. The Vitality Stadium has been upgraded to meet Uefa regulations, and the club will host Sturm Graz next month before welcoming AC Milan, the Italian giants whose red-and-black stripes inspired Bournemouth's kit in the 1970s. Viktoria Plzen and Hapoel Be'er Sheva will visit in December and January.
Fletcher, who has a stand named after him, often reminds people of the club's humble past. "I always say to people around Bournemouth: 'Don't ever take this for granted,'" he said.
The European adventure provides a bright spot in a mixed start to the domestic season. Bournemouth sit 15th in the Premier League with three points from four games, their recent form reading one win, three draws and one defeat from the last five. They face a quick turnaround, hosting Liverpool this Sunday before the historic trip to San Sebastián.
The report in full is at The Guardian
