It was an evening soundtracked by the Unimaginable Dream.
And it was no coincidence that was the tune chosen on the Vitality Stadium earlier than Bournemouth’s first European house sport within the membership’s 127-year historical past.
As supporters fortunate sufficient to bag a ticket for the historic event waved flags to the Andy Williams basic, a large tifo rose from behind one of many stands, bearing the phrases ‘Minus 17 to European goals. AFC Bournemouth, established 1899’.
As not too long ago as 2008, an evening like this is able to have been unthinkable for Cherries supporters.
Simply 18 years in the past, Bournemouth have been dealing with the prospect of not present.
After getting into administration, the membership have been relegated from League One after being handed a 10-point deduction.
However that was not the tip of their troubles. To be allowed to compete within the 2008-09 season, Bournemouth, then managed by Eddie Howe, needed to settle for an additional 17-point deduction in League Two.
It left them on the backside of the Soccer League and seemingly destined for all times as a non-league aspect.
By the tip of the season, the Cherries had not solely accomplished one of many biggest escapes in English soccer historical past to safe a Twenty first-place end and survival, however had additionally laid the foundations for a decade of success, which culminated in a primary promotion to the Premier League in 2015.
Quick-forward to the current day and Bournemouth are making historical past for all the appropriate causes within the Europa League. Thursday’s 3-0 win over Sturm Graz meant they turned solely the second English aspect to win their first two matches in a serious European competitors since Bolton achieved the feat within the Uefa Cup 21 years in the past.
“It is a second that can stay lengthy of their recollections,” former defender Joel Ward advised TNT Sports activities. “The membership ought to relish this night time.
“The proprietor [Bill Foley] manifested this second when he first got here into the membership. He set the requirements for this membership, he has invested so much into it and he wished to see this membership in Europe.
“He obtained his want, they usually have actually began extremely effectively to this point.”