The following story caused much amusement amongst local Bournemouth fans but not many were taken in by it! Of course it was an April Fools prank. As far as we know the club has no plans to change it’s name. Up the cherries!
Local fans of AFC Bournemouth have been left bemused with the news that the club is in advanced talks with both the FA and the Premier League over a proposed name change for the 2019/2020 season.
After the three local councils of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole merged at the end of March to form the new BCP (Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole) Authority, the club has come under pressure from local civic leaders to reflect the new local identity by changing it’s name from AFC Bournemouth to AFC Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.
The move would mean that once the name change has taken place, the club would again have the longest name in League football. The club previously boasted the same honour when it’s name was Bournemouth and Boscombe Athletic Football Club before it was shortened to AFC Bournemouth in the 1970s.
BH Living has attempted to get further information from the club but no information has been forthcoming. An insider however revealed that Manager Eddie Howe is furious at the name change and says such talk would distract the players from the job in hand – premier league survival.
BH Living caught up with local fans across the conurbation for their thoughts;
Jim Smart, a long time fan of the club since his first game in 1956 commented “I remember the last time the club changed it’s name – there was a lot of anger at the time but people got used to it – I think it’s a good thing to move with the times”
Elaine Block from Poole said “It’s about time that Poole was included in the name of the local club, lots of Poole people support the club and we feel excluded. I can’t wait to start singing ‘AFCBCP, red and black army’. I can’t imagine it will be too difficult to adapt our songs on the terraces”
Rob Dyer on the other hand said “I’ve just about had enough of this BCP merger. If I’d known that it would mean the end of AFC Bournemouth, I’d never have supported the local council merger in the first place”
Alice Rogers from Christchurch said “I don’t really support football but support the name change so everyone feels included and it’s nice to see Christchurch isn’t last in the new name as it usually is. I think AFC Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole has a good ring to it”
BH Living contacted BCP council for comment but there was no official comment, with a leading official suggesting that more news would be released once all relevant parties had been consulted.
What do you think? Is the name change a good thing or a bad thing?
2 Comments
Maybe now it’s merging with Poole council move the stadium over to Poole stadium where the greyhound and Speedway is held
You’ll need to get up a lot earlier than this to try and pull a gag as bad as this!!