Hello there, Who are yer and how long have you supported Bournemouth
I am Dave Jennings, the editor of fans' website upthecherries.co.uk and have supported Bournemouth since I was about 10 or 11.
What made you support your club?
Although it wasn't my local team, I spent most weekends in the area as a kid and so they became my local team as that was where I was when they were playing!
Whats your favorite away day and why?
It was Swindon Town until they were relegated last season, a realtively local game for us and it's actually closer to where my family live than Bournemouth so it was always a good day out. Hopefully they will come
straight back up this season!
Whats your proudest moment being a Bournemouth Fan?
Surviving administration in 1997 was a good day, I remember going to what I thought was my last ever game and buying as much as I could afford from the club shop! Wembley the following year was also great, despite losing! But gaining promotion at the Millennium Stadium in 2003 in style with a 5-2 win was probably the best on the field performance.
And your most embarassing / disappointing?
Losing to Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup wasn't exactly a highlight and I wasn't even there! I was watching it on Sky and the text messages that followed was certainly a low point!
So who is your main rival?
We're tucked away a little bit on the South Coast so we struggle for rivals.
Southampton are our nearest neighbours but we haven't really faced them in recent history. Same to be said for Leeds who a lot of our fans are still very bitter towards.
There are growing rivalries with Yeovil and Weymouth but nothing like a real footballing rivalry.
If Bournemouth was a Song, what would it be, and why?
Blimey good question! Something with a good up tempo beat which promises a lot but always fails to deliver!
Whos your all time favourite player, and why?
Well as kid my favourite players always left so I soon learned not to have one! But for pure impact, Jermain Defoe on loan was something special. To score 10 league goals in 10 games is something I am sure we will never see again.
Out of the current crop, I`d say Steve Fletcher, pure legend.
How did you feel when Sean O'Driscoll left?
Very disappointed, the whole club has been built around Sean from the youth set-up, through the reserves, right through to the first team. Every time a player signs a contract extension, his first reason for staying was
O'Driscoll due to him being such a great coach. Players like James Hayter came through the youth team with him as youth team coach so it is a massive change for the club.
He had been with us for 23 years as player, physio, coach driver, coach, assistant and manager!
Hows the new lad Kevin Bond doing?
Far too early to tell as he has only been in charge for one game, he certainly ticked all the boxes during the managerial search and he is saying all the right things, but only time will tell.
Rumours about James Hayter leaving, will he still be there come Feburary?
All depends on whether Hayter wants to stay and how much another club offers for his services. Last season he only had 6 months left on his contract and was free to walk for nothing come the end of the season. We turned down a reported offer of £300k from Bristol City for him in January and Hayter then signed a 2 year deal to stay with us.
But if a club offers a deal that we cannot afford to turn down and Hayter wants to leave then he may go.
Your Supporters trust run the club am I right? How are they doing?
No you are not right, our club is run by a board of directors and and Chief Executive just like most other clubs.
Our "supporters trust" currently hold a golden share, but in practice has never really been used.
The only time it was set to be used was when the board proposed a sale and leaseback deal. The "trust" held a vote with its members which was a complete shambles and then abstained from the vote meaning that the sale of the stadium went through.
Your Playershare scheme, what is it and how does it work?
It works on a shareholding method, where people buy shares in the company and then that money is used to help fund the first team. PlayerShare then own a percentage of a player and so if that player is sold a percentage of the fee is paid to playershare, which is then in practice put back in to fund the team.
There is also a PlayerShare raffle where fans can donate a £1 on a match day with all of that money put towards funding loan signings.
One player from this division you would like in your team, and why?
A tough tacking box to box midfielder, don't care who!
Worried about losing any players come the January sales?
As always but with supporting a team like Bournemouth it's just what you
expect!
Who's your strongest / Weakest link?
James Hayter is probably our strongest and weakest link all rolled into one. He is our strongest link due to being a proven 20+ goals a season striker.
But he is also our weakest link because we can become too reliant on him.
Predicted Line-up?
-------------------Stewart
-----------Young-Gowling-Maher
------Purches-----------------Cummings
------------Anderton--Hollands
---------------------Foley
-------------- Hayter--Fletcher
Predicted Score?
Could be anything, we have failed to find the net in recent games, if we can score first I think we could go on to win the game. But if we fall behind I think a draw is the best we can hope for as you seem to be on a bit of a roll this season.
Whos going up??
Nottingham Forest, Bristol City and anyone else from the whole of the division as currently everyone is beating everyone.
And finally. Steak & Kidney, Meat & Tatty or Balti??
Plain ol' chicken please!