Advertising Feature 

IT’S out – the Daily Echo’s unique book charting the dramatic history of AFC Bournemouth.

AFC Bournemouth – The Cherries: 1890 to the Premier League, is arriving in bookshops now and will be at a long list of local stockists from Friday.

The book’s 160 pages are packed with more than 500 photographs drawn from the Daily Echo’s comprehensive archives.

From the club’s beginnings at Boscombe St John’s Lads Institute before it became Boscombe FC in 1899, the book charts the spectacular highs and suspenseful lows of the club’s 125 years to date.

You’ll see Cherries legends from ‘Supermac’ Ted MacDougall to loan star Jermain Defoe and latter day hero Steve Fletcher.

And you’ll relive high points such as the match against Busby’s Babes – Manchester United’s stellar squad of the 1950s; the club’s Division Three triumph of 1987; and their comprehensive giant-slaying against Manchester United in the FA Cup in 1984.

Along the way, there have been several occasions when the Cherries either threatened to drop out of the Football League or go out of business together – and those events are in there, including the amazing 1997 meeting at the Winter Gardens when fans rallied to save their club.

Fans who lived through all that could barely believe it when the Cherries were knocking on the door of the Premier League – and the club’s first season in the top flight of English football has been rich reward for their decades of loyalty.

Daily Echo editor Andy Martin said: “This is a fantastic book packed with amazing pictures of the history of the Cherries.

“It’s a vital souvenir for anyone who has lived through the astonishing rollercoaster ride of the last few years, from the club almost going out of business to its historic arrival in the Premier League.”

The book is sponsored by Rockett Plumbing and Heating Supplies and costs £14.95.

It is available from Daily Echo offices on Richmond Hill in Bournemouth, and Commercial Road in Swanage, and from the following stockists.

Blandford: WHSmith, Market Place.

Bournemouth: WHSmith, the Square; Waterstones, the Arcade; WHSmith, Castlepoint; Waterstones, Castlepoint; WHSmith, Christchurch Road, Boscombe; Chaos Corner, Ashley Road, Boscombe; Club Shop, AFC Bournemouth; Bradpole Road Post Office, Castle Lane West; Devon Candies, Sea Road, Boscombe; Westbourne Bookshop, Poole Road;

Christchurch: Bookends, High Street.

Poole: WHSmith, Falkland Square; Waterstones, Falkland Square; DJ Brooking, Ashley Road, Parkstone.

Ringwood: WHSmith, High Street; Waterstones, the Furlong.

Swanage: Swanage Bookshop, Station Road.

Wareham: Farwells, North Street.

Wimborne: Gullivers Bookshop, High Street.

Alternatively, call 01305 830924