City fan since I knew what football was way back in the late 1950’s and passionately supported them through all that followed. I moved to Bournemouth for love in 2002, about the time that Bournemouth almost went out of existence. For the next few years, the ground capacity was 25% less than now, and there was no stand at the south end. They have done brilliantly to climb through the levels to get to the Premier League twice in the last decade, and they are investing in an academy that will be crucial to their future, equal to many in the Premier League. I am no fan, but as a local resident I can see how they are trying their best, they could be the next Brighton, who were without a ground and close to bankruptcy not long ago.
So I would just like to remind my fellow City fans how close we (City) were to going out of existence not so many years ago. It is frustrating for me that my grandkids can’t get tickets for Bournemouth home games, except for occasional Youth games, friendlies and Carabao or FA Cup games. They are desperate to see Premier League football, and I can’t get a ticket in my home town to watch City on Saturday either. So frustrating! Please consider what it is like for clubs like Bournemouth now, and remember the bleak days of the 1990s before moaning about the lack of away tickets. The local catchment area has around half-a million people, but because there is no expectation of success, the fan-base grows slowly.
