HE may have only played one season for Cherries but Ian Bishop certainly left a lasting impression.

A £35,000 buy from Carlisle in July 1988, the skilful midfielder became a huge terrace favourite thanks to a series of dazzling displays.

His exploits helped Cherries to a then club-record highest finishing position, while Bishop also starred as Harry Redknapp’s men took Manchester United to an FA Cup fifth round replay.

He missed just two games in a marathon 56-match season in 1988-89 – Cherries’ second of three in the second flight in the late-80s when they finished 12th.

Liverpool-born Bishop was 23 when he was snapped up by Redknapp, the former Everton apprentice having failed to make the grade at Goodison Park.

He suffered back-to-back relegations at Carlisle and left the Cumbrians after they had finished 91st in the Football League in 1987-88.

“The move to Bournemouth resurrected my career,” said Bishop, in an exclusive interview with the Daily Echo ahead of Cherries' clash with Manchester City tomorrow.

“I had my fall-outs with Harry but I still say it to this day – I love him and the club to death for what they did for me.”

Bishop, who recently moved from Virginia because “four feet of snow in the winter was too much for me!”, now runs a football consultancy in Florida and talent-spotted Niko Hamalainen, a Finland under-21 international who is on the books at QPR.

“My time at Bournemouth was surreal,” said the 51-year-old. “We were a small club in that league and I think it is comparable to them being in the Premier League now. We surprised a few people then and they have certainly done that by progressing through the divisions so quickly.

“I’m not in the town so can’t feel what’s happening but the buzz must be fantastic. I remember the same thing then.

“We were close to making the play-offs at one stage and we took some big scalps. For the size of the club and the stadium, it was some achievement.

“We had a mish-mash of players all brought together by Harry. That was what he was good at. We had such a great camaraderie and everybody enjoyed everybody’s company, on and off the field. We worked hard for each other on the pitch.

“Some days I think my career never happened it was that long ago!”

Bishop went on to play in the top flight for Manchester City and West Ham, earning cult hero status at both clubs: “It is one of those things I take so much pride in. I never left anywhere on bad terms.

“I always remember getting such a good reception when I went back to clubs I had played for previously. My team-mates used to look at me and say “what the hell did you do for people to like you so much?”

“It still hits me today when people tweet to ask who I’m supporting when City, West Ham, Everton or Bournemouth play each other. I always say whoever needs the points the most and I genuinely mean it. I had such different experiences at every club but loved every one just as much.”

Bishop’s penultimate appearance for Cherries came in the epic 3-3 draw with Manchester City at Maine Road in May 1989.

Two goals from Paul Moulden – who was part of the £465,000 deal which saw Bishop join City – and a goal from Trevor Morley saw the high-flying hosts take a 3-0 lead into half-time.

However, after Peter Shearer and Matty Holmes had bagged their first goals for the club, Luther Blissett capped one of the most memorable comebacks in Cherries’ history when he rifled home an equaliser from the penalty spot in stoppage time.

“It is still talked about today!” said Bishop. “It had a slightly different meaning for me because I ended up being in the other colours a couple of months later. I remember finding out the story of how they had felt in their dressing room.

“I remember coming in at half-time and asking how we were losing the game. We had outplayed them and dominated possession.

“The best bit was that if they had won, their reserves were going to play the final game of the season because they would have guaranteed promotion and the first team lads were going to Australia for two weeks. By drawing with them, we killed the holiday!

“As soon as I signed for them, their players kept reminding me how we had ruined their trip. I remember having a ding-dong with Neil McNab on the pitch and grabbing him by the throat.

“I asked him why he kept coming for me and he said I was dominating the game and getting my team back in it. He ended up taking a swipe at me.”

Bishop follows Cherries’ fortunes on television and says he is delighted to see the club prosper in the Premier League.

“There is also a tinge of jealously but in a good way,” he added. “The players now have exceeded what we did all those years ago.

“I had it at Manchester City as well. I played in the 5-1 derby win in 1989 which was a record until City won 6-1 in 2011.

“Something inside you loses a bit but there is still that sense of pride about the club you played for. Four of my clubs are in the Premier League and I couldn’t be happier for all of them.”

  • See tomorrow's Daily Echo for another interview with Ian Bishop, a feature with chairman Jeff Mostyn and the thoughts of Eddie Howe and Steve Cook ahead of Cherries' Premier League clash with Manchester City