Eddie Howe: The Greatest Hits

I really don’t need an excuse to celebrate Eddie Howe - the man is an AFC Bournemouth legend, and I’m under no illusions that he’ll be the greatest manager the club will ever have in my lifetime.

But he did just celebrate three hundred games in charge of my side (over his two spells), so why not take this opportunity to run down what I think are his ten greatest moments during his time at my side - from fledgling youth teamer to being the mastermind who took us to the promised land of the Premier League.

These are listed chronologically by the way, as there’s no way I could rank Howe’s achievements - they’re just too varied and amazing to be put in order of greatness. Enjoy!

Eddieshare [Autumn 2004]

This is where I’d like to think Eddie Howe realised he is truly loved by the AFC Bournemouth fan base - and was responsible in some small way as to what’s happening to the club now.

Having sold Howe to Portsmouth in 2002, Howe was blighted a serious injury and returned to us on loan two years later - and the fans got together and raised the £21,000 needed to make a permanent transfer a reality.

That may not sound a lot, but for a small League One (then Division Two) it was a big gesture and was an ample demonstration of the strong bond that existed between the fans and the club. The buzz amongst the fans when we realised we had got Eddie back was something truly special.

Blackburn in the League Cup [September 2004]

Nowadays it seems almost quaint, but AFC Bournemouth beating a Premier League side in the League Cup was a big deal twelve years ago - especially considering we never used to draw sides in the top division in cup competitions, let alone beat them.

But we did it in this game (we were in the third tier back then) through some stylish counter-attacking football, resulting in a 3-3 scoreline after extra time. Eddie Howe then dispatched the winning penalty with aplomb.

The joyous celebrations at the end of the match showed what it meant to the players and the fans.

The return of Steve Fletcher [January 2009]

Howe’s first two games as caretaker manager were 1-0 defeats, so there was naturally some concern from some quarters when he was given the position on a full time basis. It felt like we had at least given the club back to someone who actually cared about it however, especially after previous manager Jimmy Quinn had done his best to erode our reputation as a side that always looks to play good football.

When Eddie got club legend Steve Fletcher back a whole new energy was instilled into the fans and team too - and he subsequently helped lead us to unlikely salvation…

AFCB 2 Grimsby 1 [April 2009]

…And this is the game in which that salvation was confirmed. Steve Fletcher’s late winner in this relegation decider against Grimsby will stick long in the memory of every AFCB fan - and Howe was the man responsible for starting the chain of events allowing it to happen.

Burton Albion 0 AFCB 2 [April 2010]

After the stress of the relegation battle in the previous season I think most AFC Bournemouth fans expected a more relaxed mid-table feel to the 2009-10 campaign. Howe had other ideas though, and got us automatically promoted with relative ease despite our ongoing debt issues - which resulted in a transfer embargo for much of the season (interesting fact: we missed out on signing Charlie Austin from Poole Town because of this).

The Return [October 2012]

Paul Groves was arguably an even worse managerial appointment than Jimmy Quinn, largely as he had actual investment but wasted it by playing a style of football that only a slow thinking sloth could find enjoyable.

He was thankfully given the boot and Howe made a triumphant return to the club (after departing for Burnley less than two years prior), sparking a fifteen game unbeaten run - with this momentum helping lift us from near the foot of the table to end the season in the automatic promotion spots.

I dread to think of what might have happened had Eddie not been tempted back. The chance of us getting rid of Groves and bringing in another inept manager - and potentially losing Maxim Demin and his investment - was just too high. I don’t like to think about it really.

AFCB 3 Bolton Wanderers 0 [April 2015]

I was a nervous wreck in the days leading up to this game - it was a match that effectively sealed our place in the Premier League if we won it.

I need not have worried though, as Howe sent out the team like they were just asked to have a pleasant stroll in the Monday moonlight - we won at a canter and I was left wondering what I was worried about.

Charlton 0 AFCB 3 [May 2015]

Sealing the Championship title in such dramatic fashion (Watford slipped up in injury time) was great - if only so it allowed me to see Howe hold the league winner’s cup aloft in front of me and the rest of the jubilant away following at The Valley. The celebrations that day are something I will never forget, and I have Howe to thank for that.

Chelsea 0 AFCB 1 [December 2015]

The 4-3 win at West Ham (our first ever victory in the Premier League) was unforgettable, but the three points we nabbed at the home of the champions a few months later was something else.

Sure, Jose Mourinho’s side were at a low ebb at the time - but the amount of talent they had on the pitch should have been able to blow away our cheaply assembled side with ease. The fact they didn’t is a testament to the belief and work ethic Howe managed to instil in them.

We then followed up this win by beating Manchester United at home, and we were on our way to proving we belonged in the Premier League. I’ve certainly had worse weeks.

First ever win over Liverpool [December 2016]

Well I’ve got to mention this haven’t I? What an amazing game, and the fact Howe was the one encouraging his players to get forward at the end and grab an unlikely winner just shows how lucky we are to have a manager who sticks to his attacking philosophy - win or lose.

His celebrations with assistant Jason Tindall at the end show that this team and club mean so much to him - and I hope he’ll go on to create even more great moments at AFC Bournemouth in the future. I genuinely don’t know what would happen to the club without him.