On Thursday, Bournemouth will step onto a continental stage for the very first time in their history, competing in the UEFA Europa League after a remarkable sixth-placed finish in the Premier League. The moment represents the culmination of a journey that, just five years ago, looked as though it might end in permanent irrelevance.

Rock bottom at Goodison Park

Cast your mind back to July 2020. A 3-1 win over Everton at Goodison Park was not enough to spare Bournemouth from relegation — Aston Villa's draw with West Ham United had already sealed their fate. Six days later, Eddie Howe resigned, ending a 26-year connection to the club as both player and manager. He had delivered an escape from the Football League, three promotions, and a record Premier League finish of ninth. It felt like the end of an era.

It was, in fact, only the end of the first chapter. A play-off semi-final defeat to Brentford in the Championship the following season introduced the first real test of the club's resilience. Vice-captain Lewis Cook, who joined in 2016, does not underestimate the stakes that were involved.