Cherries handed home tie in FA Cup draw

There was a time when AFC Bournemouth fans were thrilled by the prospect of the FA Cup's third round draw. It was an occasion we didn’t often experience, filled with the anticipation of possibly facing a team from the top two tiers of English football. The magic of the FA Cup was definitely alive and well along the south coast.

From the start of the new millennium until 2013, the Cherries only experienced three weekends in the third round of the FA Cup. However, they have participated in every draw over the last 13 years and have achieved notable success during that period. They've made it to the fourth round four times, the fifth round twice, and even reached the Quarter-Finals once.

Last season marked the inaugural experience for AFC Bournemouth's head coach, Andoni Iraola, in the world's oldest club tournament. The Cherries made it to the fifth round before being eliminated by Leicester City in extra time. Can AFC Bournemouth embark on a successful cup journey this season? Is it possible for them to reach a Wembley Semi-Final for the very first time in the club’s history?

The journey to Wembley begins at home as West Bromwich Albion, a team from the Championship, heads to Dean Court on the weekend of January 11th and 12th, 2025. The match will probably take place on the 11th since there are several exciting matchups in the draw, making it less likely to be featured on television.

This will mark the 24th encounter between the two teams and their first matchup in the FA Cup since 1999.

Bournemouth Vs. West Brom: Match Preview

I think the last time we faced West Brom in the cup—was it the League Cup?—their fans were seated behind the goal at the south end. I imagine it will be similar this time around. They managed to level the score, but right as they were celebrating, we kicked off again and quickly took the lead. There's something satisfying about quieting a crowd like that. I'd be happy to see something like that happen again. If you want to join the discussion, click here.