Bournemouth - Sport

Sport

The town has a professional football club, AFC Bournemouth, known as the Cherries, who play in League One, and Bournemouth F.C., the older club, known as the Poppies, who play in the Wessex League Premier Division. AFC Bournemouth plays at the Fitness First Stadium near Boscombe in Kings' Park, 2 miles (3 km) east of the town centre. The Westover and Bournemouth Rowing Club is the town's coastal rowing club situated on the West Beach next to the Oceanarium. The oldest sporting club in Bournemouth, it competes in regattas organised by the Hants and Dorset Amateur Rowing Association that take place on the South Coast of England between May and September. Bournemouth Rugby Club, which competes in the South West Division One, has its home at the Bournemouth Sports Club which hosts an annual internationally acclaimed sevens tournament and festival located next to Bournemouth Airport. Hampshire County Cricket Club regularly played first-class cricket at Bournemouth's Dean Park until 1992. This became the home ground of Dorset County Cricket Club, a minor county. Bournemouth Cricket Club, also situated next to the airport, is one of Dorset's largest cricket clubs. its first team plays in the Southern Premier League.

Recently, the Bournemouth International Centre has become a venue for a round of the Premier League Darts Championship organised by the Professional Darts Corporation. It was rated as one of the favourites to become the new host for the PDC World Championships as the last site, Circus Tavern, could not hold the growing numbers of fans.

Bournemouth also has a thriving watersports community with its beaches having suitable conditions for windsurfing and kitesurfing. On a windy day y one can see many kitesurfers and windsurfers out enjoying the waves all the way along the beach from Hengistbury Head to Sandbanks, and there are quite a few local schools for the beginner to learn either sport. There is a local kiteboarding club, Bournemouth Boarding, which is recognised by the BKSA.