Football is temporal, that is why we love it so. Success does not last forever. The same can be said, with a bolder voice, for failure. The impossible is never truly impossible. In fact, quite often, football frequently surprises us. In an everchanging landscape, these tales are never too far away.
For AFC Bournemouth, Rotherham United and Luton Town, their individual journeys over the past decade have each been mesmerising in their own right and finally, after 11 years, the three clubs reunite again, weaving another chronicle into football’s rich tapestry.
As the 2008/09 season approached, the outlook for these three sides was, to say the least, bleak. Propping up the League Two table before a ball had even been kicked, they each began the campaign with a negative points tally: -17 for Rotherham and Bournemouth, and -30 for Luton.
This coming season, 11 years later, they start on equal footing with the other 21 teams in the Championship. The clubs’ separate routes to this point vary massively, with the fabled successes of Bournemouth rivalling the desperate lows for Luton. No story, however, quite personifies the perpetually changing shape of football than the entwined journeys of these three clubs.
Rotherham and Bournemouth could both define the 2008/09 season as a success – even if their justifications contrast somewhat. Rotherham, under Mark Robins, found inspired form and propelled themselves to a midtable finish, leaving fears of relegation firmly in the past. Bournemouth struggled under both Kevin Bond and Jimmy Quinn before, on New Years’ Eve 2008, appointing a manager who would go on to cement a legendary status at the Dorset club: Eddie Howe.
For AFC Bournemouth, Rotherham United and Luton Town, their individual journeys over the past decade have each been mesmerising in their own right and finally, after 11 years, the three clubs reunite again, weaving another chronicle into football’s rich tapestry.
As the 2008/09 season approached, the outlook for these three sides was, to say the least, bleak. Propping up the League Two table before a ball had even been kicked, they each began the campaign with a negative points tally: -17 for Rotherham and Bournemouth, and -30 for Luton.
This coming season, 11 years later, they start on equal footing with the other 21 teams in the Championship. The clubs’ separate routes to this point vary massively, with the fabled successes of Bournemouth rivalling the desperate lows for Luton. No story, however, quite personifies the perpetually changing shape of football than the entwined journeys of these three clubs.
Rotherham and Bournemouth could both define the 2008/09 season as a success – even if their justifications contrast somewhat. Rotherham, under Mark Robins, found inspired form and propelled themselves to a midtable finish, leaving fears of relegation firmly in the past. Bournemouth struggled under both Kevin Bond and Jimmy Quinn before, on New Years’ Eve 2008, appointing a manager who would go on to cement a legendary status at the Dorset club: Eddie Howe.
Brett Pitman, pictured here in 2015 after scoring for Bournemouth in the Championship, netted 83 times in 261 games for Bournemouth over two spells and 7 years. His 14 goals in 2008/09 helped the Cherries avoid relegation despite their points deduction.
Introduced with the club sitting 23rd – Luton occupied the foot of the table – Howe managed to guide Bournemouth to safety, eventually finishing nine points clear of the drop zone. Bournemouth’s later spell in the Premier League would become synonymous with the iconic Howe, once a Cherries player, and this first success revived the club on their journey up the divisions.
For the Hatters, the season resulted in the darkest days the club has ever known. Relegation was almost a certainty before a game had been played, and five seasons in the Conference (now the National League) followed. Those seasons would be remembered by near misses and play-off heartbreak, before John Still steered the club’s return to the Football League.
Even with failure, however, came success. Nine days before relegation was mathematically confirmed for Luton, 40,000 Hatters ventured to Wembley to see their team win the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy, a poignant reminder to the EFL hierarchy that Luton would return.
As Luton languished in Non-League, Bournemouth steadily climbed the football pyramid. In Howe’s first full season at the helm, the Cherries secured automatic promotion from League Two. Howe would be tempted away by then-Championship side Burnley in January 2011, but swiftly returned in October 2012 and, that season, led a promotion charge that took Bournemouth to the second tier of English football.
In fact, the 2012/13 season was a success for all three clubs. As Bournemouth won promotion to the Championship, Rotherham won promotion to League One. And, whilst Rotherham and Bournemouth secured promotion, so did Luton, romping through the Conference and winning the league with over 100 points.
Despite top half finishes from both Bournemouth and Luton in the following campaign, it was Steve Evans’ Rotherham who managed to secure back-to-back promotions, coming from 2-0 down to beat Leyton Orient on penalties in the play-off final.
For the Hatters, the season resulted in the darkest days the club has ever known. Relegation was almost a certainty before a game had been played, and five seasons in the Conference (now the National League) followed. Those seasons would be remembered by near misses and play-off heartbreak, before John Still steered the club’s return to the Football League.
Even with failure, however, came success. Nine days before relegation was mathematically confirmed for Luton, 40,000 Hatters ventured to Wembley to see their team win the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy, a poignant reminder to the EFL hierarchy that Luton would return.
As Luton languished in Non-League, Bournemouth steadily climbed the football pyramid. In Howe’s first full season at the helm, the Cherries secured automatic promotion from League Two. Howe would be tempted away by then-Championship side Burnley in January 2011, but swiftly returned in October 2012 and, that season, led a promotion charge that took Bournemouth to the second tier of English football.
In fact, the 2012/13 season was a success for all three clubs. As Bournemouth won promotion to the Championship, Rotherham won promotion to League One. And, whilst Rotherham and Bournemouth secured promotion, so did Luton, romping through the Conference and winning the league with over 100 points.
Despite top half finishes from both Bournemouth and Luton in the following campaign, it was Steve Evans’ Rotherham who managed to secure back-to-back promotions, coming from 2-0 down to beat Leyton Orient on penalties in the play-off final.
Alex Revell pictured with the League 1 Play-Off trophy after Rotherham won 4-3 in the shoot-out.
As the Millers adjusted to life in the Championship, Bournemouth went from strength to strength and, for the first time in their history, were promoted to the top flight. Ninety points, 98 goals and the Championship trophy immortalised Eddie Howe in Bournemouth folklore, taking his beloved Cherries from the brink of Non-League to the glory of the Premier League.
In the following seasons, all three clubs took very different approaches. Rotherham, after staving off relegation twice, finally succumbed and footed the Championship table in 2016/17. Promotion was secured at the first time of asking from League One, although relegation ensued after a one-season return to the Championship. This sequence would repeat itself once more, with Rotherham becoming increasingly considered a Championship yo-yo team, flirting with relegation from the second tier and promotion from the third.
Luton announced Nathan Jones as manager in January 2016, and the popular manager quickly embarked on a mission to return the Hatters to the Championship. Despite play-off heartbreak in his first full season, Luton would obtain League One status after a mesmerising season: wins 7-0 against Cambridge, 7-1 against Stevenage and 8-2 against Yeovil (on the opening day) the pick of the bunch.
A second successive promotion would follow for Luton, as they won the League One title. Manager Nathan Jones would leave for Stoke City (only to return in the 2019/20 season) and club legend Mick Harford – who was at the helm during the fateful 2008/09 campaign – would step in, keeping the Hatters on course to gain promotion.
Bournemouth not only survived in the Premier League but thrived, too. The Cherries, firmly acknowledging they were punching well above their weight, enjoyed a top half finish in 2016/17 and established themselves not as perennial strugglers, but as a competitive side, held in high regard for their attacking, attractive style. It is testament to Bournemouth that, as the 2019/20 season approached, very few would have predicted their oncoming relegation.
However, Bournemouth’s Premier League journey came to an end this July. Luton’s Championship status nearly did as well, if not for a dramatic final day victory which lifted them outside of the relegation places for the first time since Boxing Day. Rotherham, although not having a full 46-game season, were promoted via the Points Per Game system and return to Championship for the 2020/21 campaign – their 5th term at this level in seven seasons.
In the following seasons, all three clubs took very different approaches. Rotherham, after staving off relegation twice, finally succumbed and footed the Championship table in 2016/17. Promotion was secured at the first time of asking from League One, although relegation ensued after a one-season return to the Championship. This sequence would repeat itself once more, with Rotherham becoming increasingly considered a Championship yo-yo team, flirting with relegation from the second tier and promotion from the third.
Luton announced Nathan Jones as manager in January 2016, and the popular manager quickly embarked on a mission to return the Hatters to the Championship. Despite play-off heartbreak in his first full season, Luton would obtain League One status after a mesmerising season: wins 7-0 against Cambridge, 7-1 against Stevenage and 8-2 against Yeovil (on the opening day) the pick of the bunch.
A second successive promotion would follow for Luton, as they won the League One title. Manager Nathan Jones would leave for Stoke City (only to return in the 2019/20 season) and club legend Mick Harford – who was at the helm during the fateful 2008/09 campaign – would step in, keeping the Hatters on course to gain promotion.
Bournemouth not only survived in the Premier League but thrived, too. The Cherries, firmly acknowledging they were punching well above their weight, enjoyed a top half finish in 2016/17 and established themselves not as perennial strugglers, but as a competitive side, held in high regard for their attacking, attractive style. It is testament to Bournemouth that, as the 2019/20 season approached, very few would have predicted their oncoming relegation.
However, Bournemouth’s Premier League journey came to an end this July. Luton’s Championship status nearly did as well, if not for a dramatic final day victory which lifted them outside of the relegation places for the first time since Boxing Day. Rotherham, although not having a full 46-game season, were promoted via the Points Per Game system and return to Championship for the 2020/21 campaign – their 5th term at this level in seven seasons.
Luton lost just one match subsequent to football's restart, and after Wigan's points deduction, the Hatters finished in a solid 19th position.
Eleven years ago, these three clubs were not only on the brink of relegation, but were also on the brink of extinction, too. They have taken wildly differing routes but return to the same tier once more. This time, however, it is not League Two but the Championship. Bournemouth, Rotherham and Luton are, simply, worlds apart from those gloomy depths.
As the 2020/21 season approaches, the story of these three clubs serve as a reminder that success and – more importantly – failure does not last. Some fans will suffer heartbreak, whilst others will celebrate. This is the beauty of football. We enjoy the highs and mourn the lows, knowing that the roles could be reversed next year.
There needs to be winners and there needs to be losers. So, enjoy the highs. Mourn the lows. For football, with its everchanging landscape, will no doubt remind us that they do not last forever.
As the 2020/21 season approaches, the story of these three clubs serve as a reminder that success and – more importantly – failure does not last. Some fans will suffer heartbreak, whilst others will celebrate. This is the beauty of football. We enjoy the highs and mourn the lows, knowing that the roles could be reversed next year.
There needs to be winners and there needs to be losers. So, enjoy the highs. Mourn the lows. For football, with its everchanging landscape, will no doubt remind us that they do not last forever.
Written by - James McEvoy
Edited by - 3-At-The-Back
Edited by - 3-At-The-Back