IT was a case of local boy done good as AFC Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe basked in the glow of the national spotlight after guiding the Cherries to the Premier League.

The former Phoenix Sports player who moved to Verwood as a youngster took over at Dean Court in 2008.

Engineering their great escape that season, he has taken them from the verge of bankruptcy to the richest football league in the world.

Promotion was all but secured on Monday night when the Cherries beat Bolton 3-0 in front of a sell-out crowd.

“It’s difficult to put it into words,” he said. “It’s difficult to reflect in football because you don’t get the time. You are always focusing on the next game and looking forward.

“Now is a time to look back and think where we were six years ago and how difficult it was to run the football club with bailiffs coming in near enough every day, staff and players not getting paid and people being made redundant.

“It doesn’t seem real to be where we are now, although of course we know it is.”

Howe made 254 appearances for Cherries from 1994 to 2007 and people on Facebook paid tribute to one of Verwood’s most famous sons.

Kate Stephens said: “Never did I think when I used to go and watch my brother play football for Phoenix that one day he would be a Premiership football manager!! WELL DONE EDDIE.”

Craig Selby said: “I reckon Eddie was influenced by the style of 1-2 touch football and good fitness levels we worked on.”

Barry Morris said: “I’m so proud of Eddie and what he has achieved.”