Bournemouth players celebrate victory over Bolton which effectively clinched promotion
Monday 27 April 2015 23:11, UK
The Bournemouth players were happy to celebrate promotion to the Premier League following their 3-0 victory over Bolton at the Goldsands Stadium.
The Cherries are still not mathematically certain of a place in the top flight next season, but they would need to lose to Charlton on Saturday with Middlesbrough beating Brighton and a swing of 19 goals to in order to miss out.
Man-of-the-match Matt Ritchie, who scored a superb second goal against Wanderers, said: "It's a dream come true for everyone.
“Obviously the turnaround in the last couple of years has been unbelievable. I woudn't have had a season like I've had without everyone supporting me."
Captain Tommy Elphick added: “Everyone, the whole staff, medical staff, analysts, the manager and the lads - they've performed so well week in, week out - it's an unbelievable achievement and something we'll never forget.
“We've got to be professional and see the season out.
"The title is still up for grabs and the pressure is on Watford against Sheffield Wednesday. They came down here and made it hard for us, so hopefully they can do the same to them and we can get three points. You never know and it would be nice to lift the trophy."
Everyone, the whole staff, medical staff, analysts, the manager and the lads - they've performed so well week in, week out - it's an unbelievable achievement and something we'll never forget.
Bournemouth will go into the final day of the season one point behind leaders Watford, who host Sheffield Wednesday.
Forward Brett Pitman, one of the players who has come all the way through the divisions with Bournemouth, remembers the day they avoided the drop out of the Football League with a 2-1 win over Grimsby.
"If you'd have said back then I don't think anyone would have believed you," he said of reaching the top flight.
"We've been by far and away one of the best teams in the league if not the best team. We've been up there the whole season and it's nice to finish it off."
Callum Wilson, who signed from Coventry last summer, said promotion was the realisation of the ambitions which attracted him to the club.
"When I came here obviously it was to play in the Championship, but I knew they had the ambition to get to the Premier League and I wanted to be part of it. I made that decision to come here and here we are," said the striker.
