AFC BOURNEMOUTH
Premier League, Vitality Stadium, Sunday 23 April 2023, 2pm BST
West Ham United leave London for the first time in six Premier League fixtures when they travel down the M3 and M27 to Dorset to face AFC Bournemouth.
The Hammers head to the south coast seeking to complete a top-flight double over the Cherries for the first time, having won the reverse fixture 2-0 at London Stadium back in late October, when Kurt Zouma and Saïd Benrahma scored at the end of each half.
Bournemouth are managed by former West Ham midfielder Gary O’Neil, who was part of Sam Allardyce’s side which won promotion via the EFL Championship Play-Off final in May 2012.
The 39-year-old was appointed in August in succession to another ex-Hammers midfielder, Scott Parker, who had himself led Bournemouth to promotion last season.
O’Neil previously coached Liverpool’s U23s before initially moving to Vitality Stadium to join the backroom staff of his former Middlesbrough teammate Jonathan Woodgate in February 2021.
Vitality Stadium is by far the smallest venue in the Premier League, with just 11,329 seats, meaning West Ham’s away allocation is just over 1,300 tickets in the East Stand.
Emergency Alert System test...
One thing travelling fans should bear in mind is that the Government will be conducting a nationwide test of the ‘Emergency Alert System’ at 3pm on Sunday.
The test alert will send a message and audible alert for up to ten seconds to every mobile phone or tablet in the country which reads: “This is a test of Emergency Alerts, a new UK government service that will warn you if there’s a life threatening emergency nearby. In an actual emergency, follow the instructions in the alert to keep yourself and others safe. Visit gov.uk/alerts for more information. This is a test you do not need to take action.”
How to get there…
If you are driving head down the M3 motorway until you reach the M27 and travel westwards past Southampton, where the road becomes the A3, through the New Forest National Park and the small town of Ringwood to the junction with the A338.
Vitality Stadium is situated just off the A338, signposted Kings Park/Football Traffic. Take the first exit into Littledown Avenue, then the third exit into Harewood Avenue and then turn left and park at Avonbourne Academy, which is a ten-minute walk to the ground.
If you take a train from London Waterloo to Bournemouth Central, it is a 25-minute walk to Vitality Stadium, or alternatively take the Yellow Bus from stop 6. Adult bus tickets are priced at £4.20 each.
Where to stay…
Bournemouth is blessed with over 100 hotels, plus many more guest houses, B&Bs and other accommodation options.
Many of these are situated near the town centre, beach and pier, meaning you can stay close to the action.
Vitality Stadium is situated about a mile north east of the town centre in Boscombe – hence the club’s former name Bournemouth and Boscombe Athletic – and is easily reachable by taxi, bus or even a brisk walk.
What to do…
As a seaside town, there is plenty to keep visiting supporters occupied in Bournemouth and its neighbouring resorts.
Bournemouth Pier is home to Rock Reef, an award-winning family attraction with activities galore, including a zipline.
There is the sandy beach, of course, and various other family attractions including Mr Mulligans Pirate Golf, Go Ape, Smugglers Cove Adventure Golf, Oceanarium and Centre VR virtual reality arena.
For more information please visit www.bournemouth.co.uk
Nearby, the Jurassic Coast offers some of England’s most beautiful coastline, including the iconic Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door, while the New Forest National Park is 219 square miles of pasture land, heathland and forest.
What’s happened there before…
West Ham United’s first visit to Bournemouth and Boscombe Athletic was for an FA Cup fifth-round tie in February 1929, when Tommy Yews found the net in a 1-1 draw. The Hammers won the replay 3-1 at the Boleyn Ground.
The Irons did not visit again until 1989, by which time the hosts had been renamed AFC Bournemouth to ensure it appeared first in A-Z lists of Football League clubs! Again, the game finished 1-1, this time in the Second Division.
West Ham’s first win at Dean Court – now Vitality Stadium – came on 12 January 2016, when goals from Enner Valencia (two) and Dimitri Payet (pictured) warmed up the visiting fans on a freezing night and secured a 3-1 Premier League victory.
We then drew 3-3, lost 2-0 and drew 2-2 in subsequent seasons before Bournemouth were relegated in 2019/20.
