THERE’S always likely to be tension when AFC Bournemouth play Southampton - but nobody would have expected trouble when the two sides faced one another for a testimonial match.
The date was August 8, 1987, and John “Captain” Kirk’s Cherries testimonial game was marred by a mindless minority.
The game between Cherries and Saints at Dean Court was held up for four minutes shortly after the match began as a handful of fighting youths spilt onto the pitch.
Before police could move in to stop the trouble in the South End terrace, Southampton supporters at the opposite end responded and it took the effort of police dogs and the club marshalls to restore order.
It was only a brief flare-up, but enough to sour an evening that otherwise belonged to John Kirk, Dean Court’s 25-year stalwart trainer.
Players on both sides were determined to put the trouble behind them and produced a display that matched the occasion.
Saints went ahead in the 26th minute when Gordon Hobson bundled Colin Clark’s header over the line. And it was Clark himself who made it two in the 52nd minute.
Bournemouth had their chances - notably through David Armstrong, keen to score against his former club - but the first-division visitors put the result beyond doubt when Danny Wallace beat Peyton in the 84th minute.
Cherries host Saints in the Premier League this evening. With Saints desperately searching for points, it’s likely that tensions will be high again. But hopefully cooler heads will prevail and there will not be a repeat of 1987.
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