TO THIS day, Paul Moulden still struggles to decipher which was the bigger shock – his swift Cherries exit or the club’s relegation.

Shortly after rattling home two of promotion-bound Manchester City’s goals in a 3-3 draw with Cherries, Moulden was used as a makeweight in Ian Bishop's switch to Maine Road in July 1989.

It was a culture shock as a local lad, with City from the age of 15, ventured south to partner Luther Blissett in attack, albeit to a place packed with happy memories of childhood holidays.

He quickly adjusted. Six goals in his first three home league matches for Harry Redknapp's side included a hat-trick in a 5-4 epic against Hull before a decisive brace to trump Newcastle 2-1.

“I remember the two goals against Newcastle,” Moulden recalled. “One was a three-inch tap-in and the other was a run from the halfway line.

“I just felt Bournemouth was a really good place to be, everyone at the club was each other’s mate.

“People like Shaun Brooks, Paul Miller and Sean O’Driscoll were great, there were no cliques in the dressing room and I made so many good friends.

“It was the first time I had lived away from home but I thoroughly enjoyed the place and playing for the club.”

An eighth goal in 11 games against the side that would sign him later in the season – Oldham Athletic – saw Cherries perched ninth midway through October.

Peaks and troughs followed but a mid-table position always looked on the cards until Moulden’s unwitting part in the start of a crippling injury crisis at Dean Court coincided with his exit.

“It all hinged on a tackle with Shaun Teale in training,” he said.

“On a bobbly pitch, we both went for the ball but it was one of those where something was going to happen. It was full blooded and Shaun did his cruciate.

“The gaffer was not too happy with the outcome and Oldham were bombing on at the time, they had already enquired at Christmas and Harry needed some money to get in reinforcements. It was just one of those things.

“As I remember it, any one of a few lads could have gone. Newcastle were sniffing around Gavin Peacock and someone was after Gerry Peyton but I was the first one he could get the cash for.

“We played Oldham on a Tuesday night and when we got to the hotel, Harry pulled me to one side and said there had been an offer.

“I had reservations because I enjoyed my time in Bournemouth so much and felt a real connection.

“It was surreal, it happened so quickly but I was under the impression straight away that the club needed money for players.”

Moulden finished with a record of 13 goals in 32 Division Two outings before switching to Boundary Park but Cherries' sudden drop into the relegation mire still hit him hard.

“We would turn up at grounds as little Bournemouth and beat them, it was a really good time,” he added. “But because of injuries and one thing or another, results went from bad to worse.

“It was a bitter disappointment to see them go down, even after I left. Everybody had worked so hard but the wheels came off without any one big reason.

“I phoned Shaun Brooks and Luther Blissett before the match against Leeds to wish them all the best and couldn’t believe it when they lost.

“You just thought ‘how could this happen?’ Oldham had played Bradford, I went home and was shell-shocked. It was a choker.

“It might sound silly to say because they were relegated but Harry spent some money and was so close to achieving similar to what they have done recently.

“But now, they have got what they were striving for all those years ago and it has been a pleasure to watch.”

Moulden now runs the family chip shop in Bolton while trying to help his three sons get on in the professional game.

Joe, aged 19, has a scholarship at Butler University, Indianapolis, 15-year-old Ted is at Bolton Wanderers, while 14-year-old Louie is a goalkeeper at Liverpool.

“I finished at Rochdale and my mum and dad had a chip shop. I enjoy the cooking and as most footballers do, I just fell into it,” Moulden said.

“You never know what you’re going to do. I have worked with teams locally and at Manchester City on the coaching side part-time. I enjoy my job but as the lads get older, I would like to help them develop their own careers.”