Bill Foley has thanked Bournemouth supporters after a historic season saw the Cherries finish sixth, set a new points record and qualify for Europe for the first time. With Andoni Iraola praised and stadium redevelopment approved, Foley says the club’s ambitious journey is only beginning.
AFC Bournemouth owner Bill Foley has hailed the club’s historic campaign and thanked supporters for helping deliver a season that has rewritten the record books - while also pointing to an ambitious future that increasingly mirrors the bold promises he made when first arriving on the south coast.
When Foley completed his takeover of the Cherries in late 2022, his long-term vision for the club raised eyebrows across football. Speaking openly about growing Bournemouth into a consistent Premier League force, improving infrastructure and ultimately competing at a higher level, his ambitions were viewed by some as unusually bold for one of the division’s smallest clubs.
Yet, with European football now secured for the first time in the club’s history and plans advancing for a transformed stadium, Foley’s statements increasingly look less like aspiration and more like a roadmap.
In an open letter to supporters following the end of a landmark season, Foley reflected on what he described as another record-breaking campaign.
"Together, we have witnessed history across another record-breaking campaign".
"We end the season in our highest ever top-flight position of sixth place, with our points totalling a new high of 57. Additionally, we’ve enjoyed an incredible unbeaten run of 18 matches and, for the very first time in our club’s history, European qualification has been accomplished. These are achievements that the supporters, players, members of staff and everyone else connected with this football club should feel incredibly proud of."
Speaking on afcb.co.uk, Foley praised the collective spirit that carried Bournemouth through the campaign and highlighted the role supporters played in creating the atmosphere that helped fuel the team’s success.
“From the beginning of the season, there has been a belief, resilience and togetherness that has defined this team. Week after week, you created an atmosphere at Vitality Stadium that inspired the players and showed the football world exactly what this club and its community represents.”
Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY SportsSpecial recognition was also reserved for head coach Andoni Iraola, whose work has transformed Bournemouth into one of the Premier League’s most admired sides.
"I want to personally thank Andoni Iraola for his outstanding leadership, ambition and commitment. Andoni and his staff have helped build a team that plays courageous, exciting football and continues to push boundaries."
Foley also pointed to another milestone reached in recent days – planning permission for the redevelopment of Vitality Stadium – describing it as a defining moment in the club’s long-term growth.
"There is even more reason to be excited about the future. Receiving planning permission for the redevelopment of Vitality Stadium marks another hugely important step forward for AFC Bournemouth. This project is about more than bricks and seats — it is about building a home for future generations of supporters and creating a club infrastructure that matches our ambitions."
Vitality Stadium - Wikimedia CommonsHis message closed with a reminder that, in Foley’s eyes, Bournemouth’s story is only beginning.
"These are truly exciting times ahead for AFC Bournemouth, and none of it would be possible without your unwavering support. Thank you for being a continued presence in our journey – we are building something special together".
"Always advance, never retreat."
For a club that not long ago was fighting simply to survive, the phrase feels increasingly less like a slogan and more like a statement of intent.
