We all know that the Championship is a hugely competitive league and this translates to the attendance figures that it gets. Last season it maintained its position as the 4th best attended division in Europe, with an average of 16,647 fans turning up per game. And the team with the highest occupancy rate across the football league was AFC Bournemouth at 91%.
So why have Bournemouth fans been so keen to turn up for games? Well, a lot has to be attributed to Eddie Howe, who is now in his second spell as manager. As a player he appeared almost 325 times for the south coast club, before retiring due to a knee injury in 2007 aged just 29. After short periods as reserve team and then youth coach, he stepped in as caretaker manager at the very end of 2008.
He was soon appointed full-time and in his first full season in charge the club were rewarded with promotion to League One as runners-up. The 2010/11 season saw Bournemouth pushing for back-to-back promotions but Eddie was tempted into leaving and became manager at Burnley.
After 18 months away he was tempted back to Bournemouth, and by the end of that season (2012/13) another runners-up spot was secured with promotion to the Championship. Last term saw a solid 10th place finish and now they are beginning to look like serious contenders for promotion to the Premier League. The Cherries have never played in the top tier and 5 years ago such a suggestion would have most likely been met with ridicule.
But this is one of the beauties of football, you can never be absolutely sure of what lies around the corner. What is certain is that Bournemouth are enjoying a period of sustained success that has been built off the back of stability. In Eddie Howe they have the dream scenario of a man who is steeped in the history of the club, and more significantly, one who has seamlessly adapted to management.
Following their 2-2 draw with Ipswich this afternoon, they are sat 2nd in the Championship by goal-difference. Today was the 300th time that Howe has been a manager in the dug-out, 213 of those have been with Bournemouth and his win percentage stands at just over 51%. Have no doubt about it- those are some impressive stats.
As for the Bournemouth players, a quick look at their squad immediately tells you that they have a good mix of experience and potential. Remember Ian Harte? Well he's still plugging away at the age of 37. There's Dan Gosling too, who once threatened to be a shining star at Everton, he's still only 24 and has a point to prove.
In goal they have Artur Borac on loan from Southampton, whilst up front they have the tried and trusted Brett Pitman who receives good service from Matt Ritchie in midfield. All in all the Bournemouth set-up is solid, and the proof is there in their league position and form. They last lost against Championship leaders Derby, back at the end of September.
The important question is can they maintain it? And the answer is of course they can, but it'll be a long hard slog. As I said before, the Championship is one competitive league, and it is full of clubs that are clambering over each other for promotion. Take a look at the league table and it would be difficult to completely rule out any club aside from Blackpool. Obviously some others are unlikely to be in the mix, but then every team from Fulham (17th) upwards could be considered as a threat.
Whatever happens to Bournemouth from now until the end of the season, you have to believe that their priority is to keep Eddie Howe in place. If they can do that, then it may soon be the case that Harry Redknapp is not the only major football personality to enjoy living life on the Sandbanks!