--- source: thedugout.football generated: 2026-06-09T18:33:59.571Z last_updated: 2026-06-06T23:00:00+00:00 data_provider: API-Football canonical: https://thedugout.football/clubs/bournemouth/news/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYm91cm5lbW91dGhlY2hvLmNvLnVrL3Nwb3J0LzI2MTcxOTY3LnZpZXctcHJlc3MtYm94LWdvaW5nLWV2ZXJ5LWJvdXJuZW1vdXRoLWdhbWUvP3JlZj1yc3M --- # I went to every Cherries game this season for the Daily Echo - here are my thoughts - **Source:** - **Published:** 6 Jun - **Club:** Bournemouth - **Original URL:** https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/sport/26171967.view-press-box-going-every-bournemouth-game/?ref=rss THE Cherries made history this season by reaching the Europa League for the very first time, and, as the Daily Echo's sports reporter, I saw every minute of the record-breaking season. It has been a tremendous privilege travelling up and down the country following the team in what will go down as one of the club's best-ever seasons. The first thing that struck me when reflecting on the campaign was that it can be fairly neatly divided into three parts – a good start, an awful run, and then the record-breaking charge to the finish that clinched European football. "Top person, top coach" - Rose's admiration for Iraola and 'great work' at Cherries Rose relishing Europe challenge as he reveals impressive knowledge of Cherries' past Revelation Hill features as Cherries 'Europe Awaits' poster series continues Liverpool confirm Iraola as head coach after Cherries departure Rose confirms his staff who will join Cherries with him this summer While those parts are of differing lengths – the third is a game short of half of the season – they characterise the campaign well. Looking back to last summer, while many seemed to express concern over the state of the team after a window of sales, I never felt too concerned that the team would be in too much trouble. The season began at Anfield. (Image: NQ) Speaking with Simon Francis, while he felt that they couldn't make a final judgement on the window until much later, they were happy with the business done and where the squad was to take on the season. I left Anfield on the opening day feeling positively optimistic despite an opening day defeat, and that positivity was vindicated in the run of results afterwards. Eight games unbeaten left Bournemouth second in the league at the end of October, and were, briefly, top of the league when they were beating Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, before going on to draw with the Eagles. It was, then, a hugely successful start to the season and that answered any initial doubts over where the club would be fighting. The run that followed was disappointing, to say the least. A defeat at Manchester City started the team's poor run. (Image: NQ) Defeats at Manchester City and Aston Villa you could, on paper, accept due to the calibre of opposition. But following the Villa defeat, Andoni Iraola expressed worry over the manner of defeat and said both games would be a lesson to be learned from. A draw to West Ham and a poor defeat at Sunderland after being 2-0 up gave the feeling that things had turned against Bournemouth. While there were good performances in the 11-game run without a win, I'm thinking Manchester United away, Chelsea home and away and that second half against the Hammers, the Cherries couldn't get across the line. This season also included a trip to Wembley, where I had hoped to see Alex Scott, Djordje Petrovic and Veljko Milosavljevic play - but left disappointed (Image: NQ) The lowest point of the season was the 4-1 defeat at Brentford two days after Christmas. Iraola didn't pull any punches in his post-match presser, and you felt that something had to change. And that it did. A draw at Chelsea and a positive performance in defeat to Arsenal started to turn the tide. Little did we know that that 3-2 loss to the Gunners would be the final defeat of the season. Momentum in football is a strange beast – but it was with Bournemouth for the final 18 games of the campaign. Craven Cottage was the place where the Cherries put themselves on the brink of European qualification. (Image: NQ) It got to the point where, heading into the final three games of the season against Fulham, a press officer and I agreed that we just could not see Bournemouth losing any of those games. He was confident it would be three wins, and while it was just one and two draws, that was enough to make history and confirm the Cherries’ place in the Europa League. As reporters, we are in the privileged position that we get fed at every ground we go to. The quality of food is generally good – it ranges from slightly better quality school dinner type food, to genuinely excellent dishes that get the day at the ground off to a good start. The food at Bournemouth is good, but I enjoy seeing what we’ll be given at away grounds. I always enjoy going up to Newcastle, and Cherries fans were treated to two crackers there this season, with a penalty shootout defeat in the cup and a win on the road in the league. (Image: NQ) My favourite of the season will be one I won’t get next season, as it was at Burnley - delicious pulled pork in a brioche bun with hash brown bites, although I remember Spurs, all the way back in August, was good too, as we got a roast. I won’t miss the trip to West Ham next season – while the food was decent there, the London Stadium is a pain to work at, with the press box right in the gods and the media room down in the bowels of the ground, with the mixed zone also a trek away. My final word I will give to outgoing boss Iraola. The boss has been a pleasure to deal with this season and has always answered my questions fairly and thoughtfully. The Cherries won their first game at the Hill Dickinson Stadium (Image: NQ) Often at away games, I am the only journalist who asks any questions in post-match press conferences, as the only written reporter who travels to away games to cover the club. Iraola has been good to deal with and I think, over the past couple of seasons, has come to look out for me in those press conferences. A nice moment happened at Wolves away when I was interviewing Djordje Petrovic in the mixed zone and missed the start of his press conference. I got a message from the Cherries press officer as I was heading up to the conference that she was under orders from Iraola to check where I was, as he didn’t want me to miss him. That, I think, shows the measure of the man as a kind, thoughtful boss, and I wish him well at Liverpool – although I hope he doesn’t have too much success when facing Bournemouth! I’m looking forward to meeting Marco Rose and starting to work with him – I’m sure he will make more history at Dean Court.