CHARLTON old boy Simon Francis described helping Cherries get one over his former club as “almost as good as getting promoted”.

Francis skippered Cherries as Eddie Howe’s men kicked-off their Championship campaign with a 2-1 victory over the Addicks on Saturday.

Lewis Grabban’s double – including a stunning clincher from 25 yards – saw Cherries claim a first home league win over the south Londoners in almost 40 years.

And victory was particularly sweet for Francis who joined Cherries in November 2011 after being offloaded by current Charlton boss Chris Powell.

Francis told the Daily Echo: “It could not have gone any better and it was pretty much perfect, both for me, the team and the club. For me personally, it was almost as good as getting promoted.

“It is always really important to make a good start, especially when you have just come up into a tough league, and I thought we were excellent. We are going to be underdogs in just about every game this season and that will suit us.

“We are going to play the right way, we are going to surprise a few people and I thought we showed that at times against Charlton because we played some great football. It was a bit cagey to start and both teams were a little sloppy in the first 10 to 15 minutes.

“But it settled down and the atmosphere was incredible. I thought we were better all over the pitch and had the better chances. They had one shot on target and scored, which was unfortunate for us. But we worked hard, especially after conceding, and got our rewards in the end.”

Francis, who made 45 appearances in 16 months for Charlton, was subjected by a section of away supporters to sarcastic choruses of ‘Simon Francis, he ain’t got a clue’.

“They used to sing that when I was playing for them so it wasn’t a shock!” laughed the 28-year-old defender. “I think I proved them wrong. I know I am capable of playing at this level and I was capable of playing for them in League One when I was there. It just didn’t work out for me, as is the case in football sometimes. It was just a bit of banter and there was nothing malicious in it. I wish them all the best. It was a great day and a perfect start for us.”

Francis also won the honours in a duel with future brother-in-law Mark Gower, the Charlton midfielder. Francis’s fiancée Ashley is the sister of Gower’s wife Danielle.