About

AFC Bournemouth, founded in 1899, are a professional football club based in Kings Park, Boscombe in Bournemouth, and they compete in the Premier League. The club’s modern rise from the lower leagues to England’s top tier is well documented, and Walkouts lists signed football shirts that reflect key eras and player autographs tied to those campaigns.

Formed as Boscombe and elected to the Football League in 1923, Bournemouth have played at Dean Court since 1910 and retain strong local identity in Dorset. The ground and the Kings Park suburb remain central to provenance for match-worn and retail shirts, with season badges and home patches often used to confirm era and issue.

The recent high point for collectors is the promotion era under Eddie Howe and later managers, capped by the 2014-15 Championship title and the club’s first Premier League season. Those campaigns generated durable player signatures and limited retail releases, spanning League Two, League One, the Championship and the Premier League years that shape most sought-after shirts.

On anniversaries, there are no official post-1970 anniversary shirt releases listed in the club records we reference, so collectors focus on season issues and debut runs rather than commemorative reprints. This absence is itself informative for provenance; early retail runs and original season badges carry extra interest when anniversary editions are not available.

Season magnets include campaigns such as the promotion-winning 2014-15 run, the 2015-16 Premier League debut season and the recent high-scoring 2023-24 campaign, each chased because of clear player lists and match programmes that aid verification. Away shirts also attract attention; the club’s notable white away colourway from the 2016-17 era and similar white kits are associated with decisive away wins and Premier League survival battles, making those shirts desirable for display and framed pieces.

Fans collect both match-worn and retail pieces, but signed fanshop shirts are specifically sought after, including early production runs, player-issue variants and region-specific retail releases. Provenance is often demonstrated through supply-era details such as JD, Erreà and Adidas supplier marks and through documentation. A practical club insight is that South Coast derby provenance and player signatures from home fixtures at Dean Court or key away fixtures are repeatedly cited by collectors. For authenticated retail signatures we list COA in our notes, and final provenance for items is cross-referenced against season rosters and match records; Walkouts offers curated selections that reflect the 2014-15 promotion season and the 2023-24 Premier League campaign.

Collector Highlights

Iconic home kits

  • 2014–15 Red/black Championship champions (first PL)
  • 2015–16 Red/black Premier League debut season
  • 2023–24 Red/black Premier League record points

Iconic away kits

  • 2016–17 White Premier League away wins

Collector seasons

  • 2014–15 Championship title/promotion
  • 2015–16 Premier League debut
  • 2023–24 Premier League record points tally

Honours

AFC Bournemouth’s honours chart reflects a steady climb through the English pyramid to the elite. A landmark came with the club’s first second-tier championship, lifting the Championship title in 2014-15 to secure a historic debut in the top flight. Earlier decades brought silverware in the lower divisions, including the third-tier crown in 1986-87 when they won the Third Division title. National cup pedigree includes triumph in the 1984 Associate Members' Cup, a Wembley-style showpiece for clubs outside the top tier, and success in the post-war Third Division South Cup in 1946.

Promotion deciders have featured prominently in the modern era, notably the 2003 play-offs which delivered an immediate bounce-back. Subsequent runners-up in the Championship in 2021-22 confirmed a return to the Premier League, where Bournemouth have since re-established themselves. Their progress has also been recognised internationally, with an IFFHS club world ranking position of 198. From regional beginnings to the highest level, Bournemouth’s roll of honour captures more than a century of competitive achievement.

Legends & Leadership

Steve Fletcher is remembered as a legend player whose influence in the 1990s embodied Bournemouth’s perseverance, leading the line with commitment that resonated with supporters during testing lower-league campaigns.

Callum Wilson emerged as a recent key player in the mid-2010s, providing the decisive cutting edge as the club settled into Premier League life and turned hard‑won promotion momentum into consistent top‑flight performances.

Simon Francis contributed as a recent key player across the 2010s, bringing steadiness and resilience at the back during the climb through the divisions and the early years of top‑tier competition.

Eddie Howe stands as the club’s defining managerial figure of the late 2000s to mid‑2010s, guiding Bournemouth from administration-threatened times to three promotions in six years, culminating in a Championship title and the club’s first spell in the Premier League.

Stadium

Dean Court provides the home backdrop for AFC Bournemouth, set within Kings Park in the Boscombe area of the town. The ground has been the club’s base since 1910, anchoring more than a century of football identity on the south coast. Supporters know the venue for its close-knit atmosphere and its association with The Cherries’ rise to the Premier League. Matchdays bring a strong local flavour, with fans from Bournemouth and surrounding Dorset communities converging on the stadium to back the side.

The venue’s profile intensifies when the regional South Coast derby against Southampton is on the calendar, a fixture that heightens pre‑match anticipation and noise levels. With its long service and familiar contours, Dean Court remains central to club culture, linking eras from early league days to contemporary top‑flight campaigns.

Also known as
Dean Court
Local derby
South Coast derby Southampton regional

Authentication & Provenance

  • Verification EFL vs EPL patches differ
  • Suppliers JD/Erreà/Adidas; verify codes
  • Provenance first-PL-season shirts valued

FAQ

Q: What league do AFC Bournemouth compete in? A: The club play in the Premier League, the top tier of English football.

Q: When was the club founded and what was its original name? A: The club were formed in 1899 and originally known as Boscombe.

Q: Where is Bournemouth’s home ground? A: Home matches are played at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, a venue the club have used since 1910.

Q: What is the club’s nickname? A: The team are nicknamed The Cherries.

Q: How do you verify the authenticity of signed Bournemouth items, and do you ship internationally? A: Each signed item is supplied with a recognised COA or equivalent LOA for peace of mind. Free worldwide shipping.