Way back in 1971 us Bournemouth supporters thought we were witnessing the best day of our sporting lives.

On 1 May the Cherries beat York City 4-0 to gain promotion to the dizzy heights of League Division Three.

An open-top bus parade by the promoted players followed by drinks at the Neptune Bar near Boscombe Pier made it a night to remember once the hangovers cleared.

The club as far as we were concerned had reached its Everest with star striker Ted MacDougall scoring a remarkable 42 goals in a memorable season.

Later that year on the 20 November 1971 he scored nine goals for Bournemouth, against Margate in an 11-0 FA Cup first round win, which turned the Cherries striker into an overnight celebrity.

That record still stands today. In typical fashion Ted declared that he was disappointed as he thought he should have got all 11,

In our wildest dreams we could never imagine playing in the top flight domestically let alone playing in a European competition.

But last Thursday 55 years on AFC Bournemouth created history on a truly unforgettable night as they stepped onto the European stage for the first time and defeated Real Sociedad 2–1 in San Sebastián. 

For the players and supporters, this was far more than just another football match; it was the reward for years of hard work, sacrifice, and belief. 

The Cherries stunned their Spanish opponents by racing into a two-goal lead inside the opening 20 minutes. Justin Kluivert etched his name into Bournemouth history when he calmly finished Adrien Truffert’s low cross in the 11th minute, becoming the first player ever to score for the club in European competition. 

The celebrations that followed were filled with emotion as players and fans realised they were witnessing a moment that would live forever in the club’s history. 

Just nine minutes later, the dream became even sweeter when Rayan rose brilliantly to head home Alex Scott’s superb pass and send the travelling Bournemouth supporters into absolute delirium. 

Real Sociedad refused to give up and pulled a goal back through Sergio Gómez in the 57th minute, setting up a tense final half-hour. 

Wave after wave of pressure followed, but Bournemouth stood firm, with man of the match goalkeeper Djordje Petrović producing vital saves to keep his team in front. 

When the final whistle arrived, relief and joy swept through the Bournemouth section of the Anoeta Stadium. 

For Bournemouth supporters, the night in San Sebastián was about more than just three points. It was the culmination of years of progress, from the brink of non-league football to competing on the European stage. 

With their first European match ending in victory, The Cherries have given their fans a night they will never forget.