AFC Bournemouth Vs Rayo Vallecano

Matchday 63 marked the third match in three days, and we were starting to feel the strain. Our day began bright and early as we caught a train from Sandwell & Dudley to Birmingham New Street, then boarded the 09:11 direct CrossCountry train to Bournemouth.

It was a pleasant surprise to catch up with Paul, the Train Manager, who I had trained with in the past. Paul was exceptional, especially in looking after Liam. The journey was smooth until Reading, where the train became very crowded due to service disruptions affecting South Western Services in and out of London Waterloo. Passengers were rerouted from London Paddington to board CrossCountry trains at Reading for onward travel to Southampton and Bournemouth.

Uncertain of the weather, we dressed warmly due to rain in the Midlands. However, by the time we arrived and made the 25-minute walk to the stadium, the weather had turned warm. We couldn’t resist the allure of an ice cream van, indulging in knickerbocker glories despite the £5 price tag. Afterward, we visited the club shop to pick up a scarf (£15) and a program (£3), then took a leisurely walk around the stadium, enjoying the sunshine and taking numerous photos.

We found a stone bench and took a break to eat some of the food we had brought with us. As the gates opened, we entered the stadium, first stopping by the toilets before finding our seats. The weather was beautiful, but it soon became clear we were overdressed for the heat. This turned out to be the hottest match we had attended so far.

As the players warmed up and the game began, Liam started feeling the effects of the heat, even after drinking a couple of bottles of water. He developed a headache, and we were concerned he might not make it through the match. During halftime, we retreated inside the stand to cool down, which helped. Thankfully, Liam recovered, and we stayed to watch the rest of the game.

Bournemouth played well, scoring a scrappy goal in the 32nd minute and ultimately defeating Rayo Vallecano 1-0. Given the long day, we decided to leave at the 87th minute to catch the 17:40 train back home.

The return journey was much quieter, and again, the CrossCountry Train Manager provided excellent service, ensuring Liam was comfortable.

With a few days of rest ahead, we’re gearing up for another intense stint of three matches in three days. Matchday 64 will see us visiting newly promoted Chesterfield FC as they take on Swindon Town.

Five Facts About Bournemouth:

1. Recent Premier League Success: AFC Bournemouth enjoyed a successful stint in the Premier League from 2015 to 2020, achieving their highest-ever league finish of 9th place in the 2016-2017 season.
2. Historic Rise: The club achieved a meteoric rise through the football leagues, going from League Two to the Premier League in just five seasons under manager Eddie Howe.
3. Vitality Stadium: Bournemouth’s stadium, has a capacity of approximately 11,364, making it one of the smallest stadiums in the English Football League.
4. Financial Turnaround: The club faced severe financial difficulties in the late 2000s, even entering administration in 2008, but remarkable management and investment saw them rise to the Premier League within a few years.
5. Community Focus: Bournemouth is known for its strong community involvement and has several initiatives aimed at promoting football and healthy living among local youth.

Hashtags:

#Matchday63 #Bournemouth #RayoVallecano #FootballJourney #CrossCountryTrains #IceCreamTreat #ClubShopFinds #SunnyMatchday #HeatwaveGame #FootballAdventure