Barring a scoreline of Biblical proportions next weekend, AFC Bournemouth secured promotion to the Premier League last night with a 3-0 victory over Bolton Wanderers. The south coast side are now three points clear in second place with just one game remaining, while their goal difference is 19 better than third-placed Middlesbrough.
When you consider that just seven years ago Bournemouth went into administration, faced relegation from the Football League and possibly liquidation, it's perfectly understandable that Cherries chairman Jeff Mostyn - who wrote a cheque for $150,000 to save the club in 2008 - completely lost his mind on live TV in the aftermath of their achievement (warning: Jeff deploys some fairly choice language during his celebrations; those of a sensitive disposition should, well, read another website):
He wasn't alone:
While the Cherries have a financial chasm deeper than the Mariana Trench to overcome if they want to hang with the Premier League's big boys next season, how many sides will fancy the trip to the small, compact and raucus Dean Court (capacity: 12,000) on England's South Coast? Bournemouth are the Championship's top scorers with 95 goals from 45 games and, under manager Eddie Howe, play an attractive brand of football.
They'll be a welcome addition to next season's Barclays Premier League.
