Today I'm going back 28 years to 1994 and York City's visit to Dean Court, Bournemouth for a Second Division (third tier) fixture, played in front of an official attendance of 3,181. My visit to Dean Court (now known as the Vitality Stadium) was my fourth of five to date and the ground has subsequently been significantly re-modelled to include the building of new stands after pivoting the pitch 90 degrees. I feel like I should go back one day soon as it's almost a new ground but whilst AFC Bournemouth are in the Premier League it's notoriously difficult to obtain tickets. One day eh?
Younger readers may be surprised to see that York not only played but trounced AFC Bournemouth but games against the Cherries were commonplace until Eddie Howe took charge and York slid out of the League. In fact Bournemouth could themselves have slipped into Non-League football in 2009 when Howe took the managerial reigns as the youngest manager in the top divisions at the time. Howe steered the Cherries to safety in that first season and the following season he guided them to promotion to the third tier. The rest, as they say, is history with Howe being surely one of the most experienced and successful young (he's still only 44) managers in the English game. Certainly Howe's reputation since taking over the managerial hot seat at newly minted Newcastle United last season has led to his reputation soaring once again and it looks like more of the same this term with Newcastle being competitive against all comers in the Premier League. Howe was actually a player for Bournemouth between 1994-2007 making exactly 300 appearances (15 goals) but didn't make his debut for the Cherries until the season after today's featured game.
In the featured game, Alan Little's York were out of sight by halftime having scored three goals without reply in the first half. City's first goal was scored after 11 minutes by Paul Barnes, following up Tony Canham's shot which had bounced down off the crossbar. Barnes scored the second too in the 35th minute after being put clean through by Jon McCarthy. City's third goal came gift wrapped courtesy of Bournemouth keeper Neil Moss whose clearance was played straight to McCarthy who returned the ball with interest into the back of the net. Shortly after halftime the Cherries scored what proved to be their consolation goal from the penalty spot following a somewhat dodgy handball decision against Paul Atkin. Warren Aspinall performed the honours for Bournemouth. There was one final goal to come to top off what was an excellent afternoon's work for City and Paul Barnes in particular who secured his hattrick on the hour with a shot that hit both posts before nestling in the onion bag.
Don't go thinking that Mel Machin's AFC Bournemouth line-up wasn't up to scratch either. Their side contained the likes of future managers Sean O'Driscoll and Steve Cotterill but would go on to finish 19th (out of 24), surviving the relegation trap door by just one place and two points with five clubs being relegated that season due to the reduction in numbers in the Premier League and the knock-on effects of that restructuring. Buoyant York finished in 9th position that season but things were about to nose dive for City and, following relegation from the third tier in 1999 they have never returned since. Champions of League Division 2 that season were Birmingham City who were promoted with Play-Off winners Huddersfield Town (only two sides were promoted). The relegated five were Cambridge United, Plymouth Argyle, Cardiff City, Chester City and Leyton Orient.
CRB Match No. 913
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