Today is a very happy day for the Skipper. AFC Bournemouth, his team, have not only been promoted to the Premiere League for the first time in their history, they go up as champions. Promotion was guaranteed last weekend and we were able to watch the ecstatic celebrations after the match, but the top spot was hotly disputed, as indeed were all the play off places this year. I think it is important to recognize that Sheffield Wednesday played their part by drawing with Watford. We seem to have turned our knack of conceding last minute goals into a happier one of scoring them. Bournemouth will go up to fame and unheard of riches, an inspiring story for a small club that would have gone under, but for the loyalty of its fans and players.

Despite the guaranteed promotion and the “not really minding” the day started out nervously for the Captain. We cleaned below decks and tidied within an inch of our lives. Then we headed up to the Marina bar for coffee and wi-fi, to keep up with the scores from all the early kick offs. Confidence no doubt boosted by last weeks’ performance, Eddy Howe’s team were soon racking up the score. More unexpectedly Wednesday were doing them a favour by holding Watford. Then Watford took the lead. The Captain could take it no longer and we headed back to the boat for lunch. Half way through his mobile blinged and we just knew it would be his brother Pete, fellow avid Cherry. It was too early for full time by our watches, but this must be the result, one way or the other. John went below for the phone, there was clicking and a long pause.

“Championes! Championes! Wednesday just scored against Watford in extra time, we must tell the kids.”

Lunch was forgotten in a blaze of texting, Pete providing as much atmosphere as he could with screen shots of his TV – Bournemouth heading the leader table, the team in their blue away strip celebrating in front of ecstatic fans, and apparently receiving a standing ovation from their own supporters and the very sporting Charlton fans. No doubt folk will be celebrating along the South coast tonight, with at least one outpost in Essex. Here in Spain we plan to paint the town Cherry red.

Image credit AFC Bournemouth Official Website