No rush to get in, but never leave early with Bournemouth | OneFootball

With Bournemouth, one rule endures, never leave early. The club have a taste for the spectacular, and the consequences can be unforgettable.

On 24 February 2004, Bournemouth hosted Wrexham at Dean Court in Division Two (now League One). Mary and Richard Hayter left with 10 minutes to play, thinking son James would not feature after two changes, and to catch the 10.30pm Isle of Wight ferry. According to Diario Vasco, they left convinced he would not play.

Four minutes after they exited, Hayter came on, then in 140 seconds he scored three, the fastest hat-trick in English professional league history. He eclipsed Jock Dodds’s two and a half minute mark that had stood nearly 61 years. Three days earlier he had become a father, and that night he needed only four touches.

In the car, Richard tuned in and heard the commentator first report the substitution, then scream James’s name over and over. He was torn between laughter and tears.

Bournemouth history revels in extremes. In November 1970, Ted MacDougall hit six against Oxford City in the Cup. A year later he scored nine versus Margate, the tie ended 11-0 and his third treble arrived in the final 10 minutes.

The spree brought a call for Geoff Hurst’s testimonial, West Ham against a Rest of the World side featuring the likes of Eusebio and Jimmy Greaves. MacDougall scored in a 4-4 draw.

There is no need to rush through the turnstiles, they have never won anything, but with Bournemouth the smart move is to stay until the end.

Source: Diario Vasco

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”