- Published
'From -17 to Europe', read a flag in the away end at at the Anoeta Stadium.
asserted
flag → publish → Stadium
As Bournemouth embarked on the first European campaign in the club's 127-year history, it served as a reminder of just how far they have come.
But a 2-1 victory at Real Sociedad in their Europa League opener shows they are not ready to stop there.
asserted
they → embark → opener
It is now 11 years since the Cherries were first promoted to the Premier League, meaning there is now a generation of supporters who will view top-flight football as the norm.
asserted
who → promote → norm
From that perspective then, qualifying and playing in Europe might simply appear the next logical step for a well-run and ambitious club.
"It's a brilliant win in our first European game.
uncertain
It → qualify → game
It's brilliant for the club and the 2,000 fans from Bournemouth," manager Marco Rose told TNT Sports.
asserted
Rose → tell → Sports
Yet for the vast majority of fans celebrating a famous victory on Thursday, the whole thing still seems surreal.
asserted
thing → celebrate → Thursday
A 10-point deduction for entering administration resulted in their relegation to League Two.
asserted
deduction → enter → League
To even stay in the Football League for the 2008-09 season, they had to accept a 17-point deduction and agree not to appeal against the decision after it was ruled that, as they had been unable to agree a Company Voluntary Arrangement, they had not met their terms for exiting administration.
asserted
they → stay → administration
Thoughts of a £100m-rated midfielder picking out a Brazil winger to head Bournemouth to victory in Europe was the stuff of fantasy as the Dorset club battled for survival.
But that now is Bournemouth's reality with Alex Scott swaggering around San Sebastian, showing why there is such a clammer for his signature among top Premier League clubs, and Rayan providing another example of why the Cherries will demand every penny of a reported £130m release clause to let him go.
asserted
him → rat → clause
Bournemouth have nothing to compare it to but this was a proper European away performance.
asserted
this → compare → it
Up against a Real Sociedad side led by a World Cup-winning forward in Mikel Oyarzabal and who beat Atletico Madrid to win the Copa del Rey last season, they were dominant for 45 minutes.
asserted
they → lead → minutes
They suffocated Sociedad with their relentlessness off the ball, winning the ball back high up the pitch time and again and showing the quality on the ball to create chances - even when the defence was set.
But there is an edge to the Basque side and, poor as they had been, that they came out fighting after the break was no surprise.
asserted
came → suffocate → break
The adrenaline-fueled exuberance of Rose's side in the first half appeared to catch up with them in the second, but their desire to compete never wavered.
asserted
desire → fuel → second
Bournemouth are not known for their defensive resilience and, as Sociedad ramped up the pressure as the game wore on, thoughts might have turned to leads surrendered in each of their first four Premier League games.
uncertain
thoughts → know → games
But the Cherries, aided by the sharp reflexes of Djordje Petrovic in goal, held on to secure a famous win.
asserted
Cherries → aid → win
"It was very intense and tough," Rose told TNT Sports.
asserted
Rose → tell → Sports
The way we won balls and the possession high up.
asserted
we → win → balls
In the second half, we needed to suffer because we were not so sharp."
asserted
we → need → half
Speaking on BBC Radio Solent, former Cherries full-back Charlie Daniels added: "It is a big occasion.
asserted
It → speak → Solent
A big moment for the club, and they should be applauded for it."
asserted
they → applaud → it
Special moment for captain Smith
Bournemouth's incredible rise can be traced back to the appointment of Eddie Howe in January 2009.
asserted
moment → trace → January
The former boss guided the Cherries to safety, finishing nine points clear of the relegation zone despite that 17-point deduction.
asserted
boss → guide → deduction
A mere six and a half years later, Howe - back for his second spell as manager - had taken a transformed Bournemouth to the Premier League.
asserted
Howe → take → League
It was fitting then, that on this latest milestone night for the club, the team was led out by a man involved during Howe's first stint.
asserted
team → lead → stint
Adam Smith joined Bournemouth on loan during the 2010-11 campaign, returned on a permanent deal in 2014 and has been at the club ever since, with approaching 400 league appearances to his name.
asserted
Smith → join → name
"Adam has been with the club for so long," Daniels said.
asserted
Daniels → say → club
"Dedicated himself to the club, and it's such a proud moment, not only for him, but for his family, his team-mates and old team-mates to see how he's grown - not only as a player but as a man as well.
asserted
he → dedicate → man
"To lead out the Cherries on this historical night is fantastic."
asserted
lead → lead → night
Smith also made history of his own, becoming, at 35 years and 141 days, the oldest English outfielder to make their debut in major European competition since Ipswich's Reginald Pickett in 1962.
asserted
Smith → make → 1962
The club captain will appreciate more than most what a special night this was for Bournemouth.
asserted
this → appreciate → Bournemouth
Things have been far from straightforward for the club, even in recent years, with relegation in 2020 and, since re-establishing themselves in the top-flight, the seemingly annual battle to replace players picked off by Europe's top clubs.
asserted
Things → re → clubs
Even qualifying for Europe was not enough to keep hold of manager Andoni Iraola, who returns to the Vitality Stadium with his new club Liverpool on Sunday.
asserted
who → qualify → Sunday
That pattern is unlikely to stop anytime soon but, while there is the prospect of more nights like this one, Bournemouth supporters won't be complaining.
asserted
supporters → stop → one
They've seen enough to know that these are the good times.
asserted
these → see → enough
Subscribe and listen for everything you love about the Cherries
asserted
you → subscribe → Cherries
The Aporia
