Bournemouth's Stunning Rise: From League One to Facing AC Milan
Bournemouth is set to clash with AC Milan, a match that falls exactly 15 years after they suffered a home defeat to Bury in League One.
"I can’t believe it’s happening," exclaimed Kirk Tovey, a diehard Bournemouth supporter.
"Not long ago, we were battling teams like Oldham Athletic and Hartlepool United in the lower leagues. Now, we’re about to face AC Milan. It’s just unbelievable."
On this significant date, the Cherries will host the seven-time European champions in a Europa League match that promises to be a milestone moment for the club, which has been a part of the Dorset community for 127 years.
Tony Pulis, who has deep roots with Bournemouth as a player and a manager, reflected on the club's extraordinary evolution.
"What my hometown club has accomplished over the past decade is nothing short of a dream," said Pulis.
"It’s an incredible journey when I think back to my days there in the 1980s and early 1990s, but I hope it continues to flourish."
Bournemouth's history is a rollercoaster ride, marked by near bankruptcy in 2008 and a dismal finish in League Two just a season later. But the club made a remarkable comeback, gaining promotion to the Premier League in 2015.
Now, as a well-established top-flight team, they are set to embark on their first European adventure, eager to take down one of the legendary clubs in football.
"We used to train in a local park, just a stone's throw from the stadium," reminisced Joe Partington, a former midfielder and now a commentator for BBC Radio Solent.
"Now, fans stroll through that same park to watch European matches."
Reflecting on their past struggles, it’s hard to imagine that just a decade ago, Bournemouth found themselves at the bottom of the third tier with just 12 points from 14 games. They faced a daunting defeat against Bury on this very day in 2011.
"Back then, we had to change in one place, then travel somewhere else just to train," Partington recalled, noting that he played in that fateful match against Bury.
Tovey, from the Cherries Red Army fan channel, shared how home crowds used to hover around 6,000.
"You could just stroll in ten minutes before kick-off, no hassle," he reminisced.
But those days are long gone. The Vitality Stadium has the smallest capacity in the Premier League, yet it’s undergoing expansions. Last week, they drew a crowd of 12,070 for a Europa League victory over Sturm Graz, their highest attendance in the 21st century.
An even larger crowd is expected for the visit of AC Milan, managed by former Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim. Many fans are already resigned to watching from home due to ticket shortages.
"My niece is devastated because she’s a huge Bournemouth fan but couldn’t get enough points for a ticket," Tovey shared.
Pulis praised the strides made since US billionaire Bill Foley took over in 2022.
"They’ve become a mainstay in the Premier League now, boasting a top-notch training facility and a brilliant academy for both boys and girls," he noted.
AC Milan currently sits fourth in Serie A, trailing their rivals Inter Milan. Their last European crown dates back to 2007, and they haven’t lifted the Serie A trophy in four years.
"They aren’t quite the powerhouse they once were," Tovey admitted.
"This is not the AC Milan of Kaka or Paolo Maldini, but they’re still a colossal club with a rich history. When the draw was made, AC Milan was the team that made everyone go 'wow.'"
Bournemouth has made a strong start in the Europa League, winning both of their initial matches. They’ve previously hosted football royalty, including Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored twice in a 6-0 friendly win for Real Madrid back in 2013.
On that day, Luka Modric was also on the pitch and is expected to feature again at the age of 41 on Thursday.
"It would be incredible to see Modric play here in a competitive game at Dean Court," remarked fan Chris during a BBC Radio 5 Live call-in.
This won’t be the first time Milan has graced Bournemouth; they played in a testimonial for former defender Warren Cummings in 2016.
But this time, it’s different.
"This isn’t a charity match or just a friendly; it’s a competitive game in Europe," Partington emphasized.
"People are still amazed that this is now a regular occurrence."
Interestingly, Bournemouth and AC Milan share similar colors.
Back in the 1970s, manager John Bond switched Bournemouth’s traditional cherry-red shirts to red and black stripes as a tribute to Milan’s dominance in Europe during that era.
In another nod to their prestigious opponents, the club changed its name in 1972 from Bournemouth and Boscombe Athletic to AFC Bournemouth, aiming to reflect their ambition.
