AFC Bournemouth won the skybet championship in the 2014/15 season, in which was only their second full season in the second flight, following their promotion from League 1 in the 2012/13 season.
On 2nd May 2015, AFC Bournemouth clinched the title after a convincing 3 - 0 win away against Charlton Athletic. Meanwhile Watford, in the drivers seat prior to kick off had to settle for second place after failing to hold onto their 1 - 0 lead at home to mid table Sheffield Wednesday.
Let's start by looking at the lineup in that final game of the season. Bournemouth started the game in a 4-4-1-1 formation.
Goalkeeper
Artur Boruc
On Loan from Southampton, The Polish international made 37 Appearences during the title winning season. Keeping an impressive 16 clean Sheets in the process, the most he achieved in a single season. AB would then go to sign for the The Cherries permanent the following summer. Going on to make a further 79 Premier league appearences during the next 5 years. He then moved on to Legia Warsawa retiring in 2022 at the age of 42 making a further 38 appearences for the club. Boruc hasn't really done much since retiring 2 years ago, he was scheduled for 'An evening with' earlier this year in Glasgow. Also participating in a Celtic FC legends charity match against Borussia Dortmund. Other than that, he seems to have had a fairly quiet retirement.
Right Back
Simon Francis.
Francis made over 300 appearences for Bournemouth in nine seasons for the club. Scoring 3 times and amounting 38 assists, after signing for the club during their permanently during their promotion from League 1. The former Cherries captain would eventually retire from playing is 2020 at the age of 35. Moving on to become part of the backroom staff at the club in the role of technical director.
Centre Back
Tommy Elphick
Elphick started in every league game in the 2014/15 season. But unfortunately only went on to make 12 Premier league appearnces the following season. Before moving on to play for Aston Villa, Reading, Hull and Huddersfield. Where he amounted 77 apearences over the 5 seasons elsewhere. Elpick, another former Cherries captain is now an assistant coach back at Bournemouth.
Centre Back
Steve Cook
Cook amounted nearly 400 apearences for Bournemouth during his 11 years at the club. Before eventually moving on to spend 2 years at Nottingham Forest, helping them to promotion back to Premier League. Cook spent last season with QPR, where is seems the 33 year old will be staying on for a further season. Cook also owns Westfield Football Club, currently playing in the Mid-Sussex League.
Left Back
Charlie Daniels
Daniels made 42 league appearences during the title winning season, also amounting over 250 appearences for Bournemouth during his 9 years at the club. Daniels went on the appear for Portsmouth, Shwesbury and Colchester. Appearing in 49 league outings during this 3 year period. Retiring in 2022 from professional football at the age of 35. Daniels was registered as player for former teammate Steve Cook's club, Westfield.
Right Midfield
Matt Richie
Richie scored twice against Charlton in this game. Richie appeared in every game of the 2014/15 season, scoring 15 goals and accumulating 17 assists in the championship. MR made 37 appearences in Bpurnemouths maiden Premier league season having involvement in just 10 goals that season. Richie then signed for relegated Newcastle, where he amounted over 200 apearences in 8 seasons. Richie, at the age of 34 has this summer been released by Newcatle. Presumably there will be some interest from teams on a short term deal.
Centre Midfield
Harry Arter
Arter scored after just 12 minutes against Charlton, setting the Cherries well on their way to the title. HA made over 200 appearences for Bournemouth over his 10 years at the club. However 2 of these were spent on loan at Cardiff and Fulham. Arter will end up signing for Nottingham Forest in 2020 and would make just 14 appearences for the Reds in 4 years. Arter also had loan spells at Charlton and Notts County during this period. Forest have since released the 34 year old.
Centre Midfield
Andrew Surman
There seems to something in the water at Bournemouth, here's another player with over 200 appearences for the club. Born in South Africa, Surman joined the Southampton academy at the age of 10. However his bournemouth career started with spending a year on loan from Norwich before signing permanent for a total of 7 years at Bournemouth. Surman signed for MK Dons in 2020/21 for a single season before retiring at the age of 34. Surman spent a year coaching the Bournemouth under 18s before swapping for the same road at Southampton early 2024.
Left Midfield
Marc Pugh
Pugh made over 300 appearences for the cherries from League 1 through to the Premier league. Having over 100 goal involvements during his 9 years at the club. Pugh went to have stints with Hull, QPR and Shrewsbury. Retiring in 2021 at the age of 34. Pugh is now an online health coach.
Centre Forward
Yann Kermogaant
Form is temporary, class in Kermogaant. Somewhat of a cult hero at Bournemouth, despite only 3 seasons with the cherries. YK only made 69 appearences for Bournemouth, scoring an impressive 27 goals. Kermogant left Bournemouth for Reading in 2015, where he spent 3 season at the championship side before moving to Vannes OC where he spent 2 years before retiring at the age of 38. It doesn't seem the now 32 year old has been up to much.
Striker
Callum Wilson
Signed from Coventry at the start of the season, Wilson was no doubt instrumental towards Bournemouth success, scoring 20 league goals and amounting 13 assists. Wilson would go on to spend 6 full seasons with Bournemouth. Moving up North to Newcastle in 2020 following Bournemouth relegation back to the Championship. Wilson still turns out for Newcastle now scoring 9 premier league goals in 20 league appearences last season. Wilson has also managed 9 caps for England, scoring twice.
Other key figures during this season include;
Eddie Howe
No doubt, manager Eddie Howe deserves a mention. The former Bournemouth Centre half took the helm for his second spell as manager in 2012, guiding Bournemouth to promotion that season. Eddie Howe left Bournemouth is 2020 after their relegation from the Premier league. Reportedly by mutual consent. Jason Tindall would take charge for the following season. Both are now at Newcastle United as manager and assistant respectively.
Brett Pitman
The Striker made 39 appearences this season, scoring 14 times. Pitman went on to play for Ipswich, Portsmouth, Swindon, Bristol Rovers, Eastleigh, AFC Porchester and most recently Shaftesbury. The 36 year old still seems to be turning out in the Southern League.
Adam Smith
The Full back made 36 appearences this season, Smith stayed at Bournemouth and went on to make over 300 appearences for the cherries. Smith is still on the books at Bournemouth 10 years at the club, the 33 year old made 28 appearences in the 23/24 season.
Dan Gosling
The now 34 year old Midfielder spent 7 years at Bournemouth. Making over 150 Appearences. Turning out 24 times in the 2014/15 season. Gosling now plays for former teammate Steve Cook's club Westfield, along with Charlie Daniels.
Tokelo Rantie
The 33 year old striker retired in 2020 after making 40 appearences for South Africa, scoring 12 goals. Rantie seems to be another cult hero for the cherries, only scoring 5 goals in 44 appearences during his 3 year stay at the club. Rantie is remembered for, bluntly, not being very good but working hard.
That concludes our run through of Bournemouths title winning season. Bournemouth scored a total of 98 league goals and amounted an impressive 90 points.
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