AFC Bournemouth CEO Jim Frevola admits he could be reduced to tears as almost 2,000 Cherries fans descend on San Sebastián for the club’s historic Europa League debut. From Grimsby and Lincoln to Spain, Frevola reflects on an extraordinary journey.
AFC Bournemouth CEO and President of Business Operations Jim Frevola could barely contain his emotions as he witnessed almost 2,000 Cherries supporters descend on the heart of San Sebastián ahead of the club’s historic Europa League debut.
Speaking exclusively to Back of the Net in the famous Plaza de la Constitución on Wednesday night, Frevola admitted he was overwhelmed by the sight of Bournemouth supporters filling the Spanish city - something he described as “startling” given the club’s journey over the past two decades.
"It’s unbelievable", Frevola said.
"Just over your shoulder, to see everybody from Bournemouth in not only just a different environment, but a foreign environment, over 127 years that they probably never imagined would happen, it’s startling to see for me".
© Sam Davis"I can’t imagine what it’s like for every single person here."
Around 1,800 to 1,900 Bournemouth supporters had travelled to San Sebastián, filling the club’s allocation for the first European match in its history.
The enormity of the occasion had already begun to hit Frevola earlier in the day when he visited the Reale Arena to watch the Bournemouth squad train ahead of Thursday night's historic encounter with Real Sociedad.
"I was at the stadium earlier today", he explained. "The guys were training about three or four hours ago, and I was just looking around like a child".
"I’ve been to some of the biggest events in the world, and I was in awe of what we were about to experience in an empty stadium. When you put 40-some-odd thousand people there tomorrow and the energy of the kickoff of the ball, the Europa League music..."
© Sam DavisThat empty stadium, of course, would soon be transformed, with Cherries fans turning up in both numbers and decibel level, as Bournemouth registered their first ever European win with a 2-1 win over "La Real".
"I’m not going to lie, I don’t expect a dry eye in where I’m sitting, and I don’t imagine too many dry eyes in the away end".
And with Bournemouth’s first European home game still to come, Frevola hinted that the club has big plans for the occasion - and expects the emotional impact to be just as powerful.
© Sam Davis"I can’t wait for the first home game", he added. "Because I know what we’re trying to do. We’re going to try to make you all cry."
For a club that once found it difficult to take 100 supporters to a northern away day, the sight of thousands of Cherries fans taking over San Sebastián represents just how far Bournemouth have travelled.
With the anticipation of the famous Europa League anthem ringing out at the Reale Arena, Frevola clearly was aware that Thursday night was to create a memory that would live with everyone connected to AFC Bournemouth for the rest of their lives.
As it transpired, it did - and with more planned for Cherries' next European clash, it seems Bournemouth fans should be ready to enjoy another emotional occasion.
