Getting to Know you - AFC Bournemouth

Stephen Purches
Squad Number: 3
Position: Defender/Midfielder
Age: 22 Height: 5ft 11ins Weight: 11st 9lbs
Born: Ilford
Career (75 League Appearances/ 2 Goals): West Ham United (0/0), AFC Bournemouth (75/2)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 21/3
Details: Another relatively local-born lad (in relation to Southend) from Ilford, Purches began his career at West Ham amongst the now infamous England trio Joe Cole, Michael Carrick and Jermaine Defoe. However, he never made it onto the pitch in a League game, and after a successful trial period at the end of the 1999/2000 season, made his move to Bournemouth permenant. Since arriving at Dean Court, he has fulfilled full-back roles on both sides of the pitch, but with Young a regular on the right, he should line-up on the left-hand side against the Shrimpers. Has improved his goalscoring record during this season as he looks to push forward more often.

Marcus Browning
Squad Number: 4
Position: Midfielder
Age: 30 Height: 6ft Weight: 13st 2lbs
Born: Bristol
Career (292 League Appearances/ 21 Goals): Bristol Rovers (174/13), Hereford United [loan] (7/5), Huddersfield Town (33/0), Gillingham (78/3)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 17[3]/0
Details: Browning joined local club Bristol Rovers as a trainee back in 1989, but his big break as a Gashead came when he joined Hereford on loan in 1992. A seven game spell yielded five goals at the Edgar Street side, and he returned to Rovers, where he established himself in the first-team. Half-a-million pounds took the midfielder to Huddersfield in 1997, but he couldn't adjust to Division One life and was sold to Gillingham in 1999 after a one-match loan spell the previous November. Last season had finally seen Browning perform consistently in the First Division, but at the end of his contract he was released, and he has added some much-needed experience to the Cherries team. Browning has five Welsh caps to his name, gained mostly during his time at Bristol Rovers.

Warren Feeney
Squad Number: 5
Position: Forward
Age: 21 Height: 5ft 10ins Weight: 11st 5lbs
Born: Belfast
Career (47 League Appearances/ 17 Goals): Leeds United (0/0), AFC Bournemouth (47/17)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 6[5]/2
Details: The young Irish forward has been prolific in spells during his time at Dean Court, but this season has seen the burden become a little too much. George Graham and David O'Leary brought him through the Leeds youth system having picked him up from Belfast, but he dide not break into the first-team, and after a trial at Bournemouth, was allowed to stay in 2001. 13 goals last season promised much, but this year he has contributed just two, and is increasingly in danger of losing his place. His passionate displays have won over the fans, but manager O'Driscoll is becoming more and more frustrated by the silly yellow cards and bookings that he has collected. Sammy McIlroy has awarded the youngster two appearances for his native Northern Ireland. Was injured at the end of the recent cup tie with Doncaster, and may not make the trip to Essex.

Carl Fletcher
Squad Number: 7
Position: Midfielder
Age: 22 Height: 5ft 10ins Weight: 11st 7lbs
Born: Camberley
Career (105 League Appearances/ 14 Goals): AFC Bournemouth (105/14)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 20/0
Details: Carl Fletcher is a combative and committed midfielder who has even been awarded the captaincy at times in his fledgling career despite his tender age. A one-club man, he was brought up through the ranks on a Youth Training Scholarship, and once he had completed this, signed professional terms in time for the 1999/2000 season. Since then he has been a regular in the side, and has made a name for himself as a midfielder with the ability to score goals. Could be the danger man at the Hall, currently on a three-year contract, which goes to show how highly the Bournemouth management staff rate the playmaker.

Steve Fletcher

Steve Fletcher
Squad Number: 10
Position: Forward
Age: 30 Height: 6ft 2ins Weight: 14st 9lbs
Born: Hartlepool
Career (345 League Appearances/ 64 Goals): Hartlepool United (32/4), AFC Bournemouth (313/60)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 6[4]/4
Details: Fletcher is the archetypical Third Division target man. Standing at well over six feet tall and nearly 15 stones in weight, he has racked up well in excess of 400 League and Cup appearances over his 12 year career. Joining local club Hartlepool as a trainee, he made little impact at Victoria Park, and was snapped up by Tony Pulis for the Cherries for just £30,000. He has been slow to realise his full potential, and his record of a goal every five games is hardly prolific. But he gives a great deal of experience and advice, especially in his role as club captain, which Sean O'Driscoll immediately gave him upon his appointment. Lasst season he was ravaged by injury, making just two League appearances, but this season he has slammed home four goals from just six starts.

Wade Elliott
Squad Number: 11
Position: Midfielder
Age: 24 Height: 5ft 10ins Weight: 11st 1lb
Born: Southampton
Career (94 League Appearances/ 20 Goals): AFC Bournemouth (94/20)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 17[3]/3
Details: The inconsistent winger can be devastating on his day, but unfortunately for Bournemouth he cannot always perform. In the absence of Steve Fletcher he was given penalty-taking duties last year, with varying success. Very much in the mould of our own Steven Clark, Elliott was voted Player of the Year by the supporters for the 2000/1 season, his first full one with the club. Prior to that he had been playing for non-League Bashley, and persuing an academic career as well. Level-headed, Elliott has improved greatly in the Nationwide League and should he find form at the weekend, Blues will have to be extra tight defensively.

Carl Fletcher

Garreth O'Connor
Squad Number: 12
Position: Midfieleder/Forward
Age: 24 Height: 5ft 10ins Weight: 11st
Born: Dublin
Career (80 League Appearances/ 5 Goals): Shamrock Rovers (8/0), Bohemians (22/4), AFC Bournemouth (50/1)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 11[6]/2
Details: Another young Irishman, O'Connor had short spells with Bohemians, Shamrock Rovers and Bohemians again in the Eirecom League before moving to Devon on the recommendation of Mel Machin just before the 2000/1 season. The attacking midfielder, who is not adverse to playing in a striking role, struggled to get into the team, and a knee injury seemed to have spelt the end of his Cherries career. However, upon his return, O'Driscoll was prepared to risk the 24-year-old, and his impressive form led to a one-year extension on his contract.

Neil Moss (on loan from Southampton)
Squad Number: 13
Position: Goalkeeper
Age: 27 Height: 5ft 10ins Weight: 14st
Born: New Milton
Career (56 League Appearances/ 0 Goals): AFC Bournemouth (22/0), Southampton (24/0), Gillingham [loan] (10/0)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 14/0
Details: Moss began his career at Bournemouth, progressing through the youth ranks to make his debut in the 1992/3 season. He was starved of chances at Dean Court first time around, and it was perhaps a little shock when he was signed by Southampton for £25,000 in 1995. He has played understudy to Paul Jones for the bulk of his seven-year career at the Dell, and a ten-match loan period at Gillingham was not enough to convince Tony Pulis that he should sign him again. He returned to Southampton, but this year has seen him make his most appearances ever in a season already, the rotund shotstopper earning four clean sheets in his 14 games so far.

James Hayter
Squad Number: 14
Position: Forward
Age: 23 Height: 5ft 9ins Weight: 10st 13lbs
Born: Newport (Isle of Wight)
Career (142 League Appearances/ 22 Goals): AFC Bournemouth (142/22)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 13[7]/2
Details: Hayter is naturally a forward, although many of his recent performances have come in the unfamiliar territory of the left-hand side of midfield. He averages a goal once every seven games, which is rather poor, but he does add a great deal of versatility to the team, and options all around the park. His goalscoring record is even more poor when you consider that four goals came in one match - a 5-2 success over Bury in October 2000, and he had been farmed out to Salisbury Town the season before (where surprisignly he managed eight goals in his ten games). Reckoned to be the best finisher at the club, though often he has not proved this.

Narada Bernard
Squad Number: 15
Position: Midfielder
Age: 21 Height: 5ft 7ins Weight: 10st 7lbs
Born: Bristol
Career (22 League Appearances/ 0 Goals): Arsenal (0/0), AFC Bournemouth (22/0)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 3[2]/0
Details: A promising child actor, Narada (as he is more commonly known) was a trainee at Arsenal before making the switch to Bournemouth in the summer of 2000, having realised that there was little chance of him making the grade in the Premiership. He had previously impressed both Liam Brady and Arsene Wenger whilst still playing in the Tottenham youth team! A left wing-back, Narada is full of energy, but has struggled to get a regular spot in the team, and will need to impress in the remainder of the season to retain a contract.

Derek Holmes

Stephen Purches

Squad Number: 16
Position: Forward
Age: 24 Height: 6ft 2ins Weight: 15st 5lbs
Born: Lanark
Career (83 League Appearances/ 23 Goals): Heart of Midlothian (2/1), Cowdenbeath (13/5), Heart of Midlothian (6/0), Ross County (25/8), AFC Bournemouth (37/9)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 9[4]/2
Details: The bulky Scottish striker is in the second year of his first spell south of the border, having contributed nine goals during last season. Originally signed as cover for the injured Steve Fletcher, with the big man's injury becoming more severe, and Ross County desperate to lower their wage bill, Holmes made the move permenant at the beginning of the 2001/2 season. Seen as a future replacement for Fletcher, he has so far managed just two goals in the current campaign.

Amos Foweya
Squad Number: 20
Position: Forward
Age: 20 Height: 5ft 8ins Weight: 12st
Born: Nigeria
Career (8 League Appearances/ 0 Goals): AFC Bournemouth (8/0)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 0[1]/0
Details: Signed from West Ham in July 2001, Foweya made his first appearance of the season in the 2-1 victory over Football Conference Doncaster Rovers in the F.A. Cup last Saturday, replacing Warren Feeney with eight minutes to go. The diminutive front-runner could actually have joined Southend instead, but took the advice of former team-mate Stephen Purches to join the Dorset side. Despite his obvious potential, he is yet to score a first-team goal.

Karl Broadhurst
Squad Number: 21
Position: Defender
Age: 22 Height: 6ft 1in Weight: 11st 1lb
Born: Portsmouth
Career (69 League Appearances/ 0 Goals): AFC Bournemouth (69/0)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 16[1]/0
Details: Broadhurst came through the ranks of the Bournemouth youth system to make his debut in the Worthington Cup at the age of 18 in 1999. He has slotted in as a right-back when required, but should start the match with United in a more central position. A Bournemouth player all his life, he is a solid and reliable player who has had problems in the past with a recurring ankle injury.

Danny Thomas
Squad Number: 22
Position: Midfielder
Age: 21 Height: 5ft 7ins Weight: 10st 10lbs
Born: Leamington Spa
Career (15 League Appearances/ 0 Goals): Nottingham Forest (0/0), Leicester City (3/0), AFC Bournemouth (12/0)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 17[1]/2
Details: Thomas was signed last January having spent four years at Leicester City, making just three appearances in the 1999/2000 season in his time at Filbert Street. Prior to representing the Foxes, he had been on the books of Nottingham Forest. A tricky left winger, Thomas was only to happy to link up with the Cherries last season, and he has consistantly played well this year, contributing his first two League goals to the cause.

Chris Tardif (on loan from Portsmouth)
Squad Number: 25
Position: Goalkeeper
Age: 23 Height: 5ft 11ins Weight: 12st 7lbs
Born: Guernsey
Career (5 League Appearances/ 0 Goals): Portsmouth (5/0)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 6/0
Details: The short of stature custodian is another to have linked up with Bournemouth from the South Coast. Having made just five appearances in four years at Portsmouth, Tardif was farmed out two days before the start of the season, but nine goals conceded in six games was enough for Sean O'Driscoll to be convinced that Neil Moss would do a better job between the sticks.

Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com