New look Cherries: everything you need to know about Bournemouth

Match previews

6 Oct 2023

Crystal Palace return to Selhurst Park on Wednesday, 6th December (19:30 GMT) to take on Bournemouth – and before kick-off it’s time to get the lowdown on our latest opponents…

Factfile

Manager: Andoni Iraola
Position: 16th
Nickname: The Cherries
Ground: Vitality Stadium
Founded: 1899 (124 years ago)

What’s the story?

Bournemouth made a major call over summer when they elected to part ways with Gary O’Neil and hire Andoni Iraola in his place. The former-Spain international had become known for the style of play exhibited by his teams in Greece, with AEK Larnaca, and in Spain with Mirandes and Rayo Vallecano.

It has taken some time for his philosophy to take hold at the Vitality Stadium but the Cherries headed into the international break with a hugely impressive two-goal victory over Newcastle United which boosted their hopes of emerging from an increasingly dangerous relegation fight.

Those positive signs were followed by another three points against Sheffield United, followed by a draw against in-form Aston Villa – it was so nearly three wins on the spin, but for Ollie Watkins’ dramatic equaliser in added time.

Can Bournemouth avoid the kind of mid-season dip which saw them only narrowly escape relegation last season, or will victory give them confidence ahead of a mixed run of fixtures – visits to Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur while hosting Luton Town and Fulham at home – and see them push on into mid-table?

The boss

The former Athletic Bilbao defender made more than 500 appearances to become a legend in the Basque Country, starting his managerial career in Cyprus before moving spending three years at Rayo Vallecano, earning plaudits for his style of football. He replaced Gary O’Neil at Bournemouth last summer.

Record against Palace

Palace have won their last five games against Bournemouth in the Premier League, keeping a clean sheet in their last four with the fifth an eight-goal thriller at Selhurst Park in May 2019.

Boot in both camps

Legendary centre-back Gary Cahill spent two years in south London having earned 61 England caps, made almost 400 Premier League appearances and won every major trophy on offer, retiring after a final year on the south coast.

Did you know?

Confusingly, despite the club operating under the name AFC Bournemouth, they are still registered as Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic Football Club – the club’s official name since 1923 when they changed from Boscombe F C.

So why AFC Bournemouth? Adopted by the club in 1971, the idea was to appear first in any list of clubs in alphabetical order – and to be fair, it has worked. Soon after their home kit switched to red and black stripes, in homage to AC Milan.

There is some dispute over how Bournemouth came by their ‘Cherries’ nickname. Two explanations have gained traction, the first emanating – obviously – from the cherry red colour of their home strip, before the introduction of black stripes in the 1970s. The second, less standard but simultaneously less plausible explanation, is an idea that original stadium Dean Court was build next door to the Cooper-Dean estate. The estate supposedly contained row after row of cherry trees. Thus: the Cherries. Voila.

Match details

Wednesday, 6th December
19:30 GMT
Selhurst Park
Live on Amazon Prime Video

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