Dominic Solanke named Daily Echo/Micky Cave AFC Bournemouth player of the season
DOMINIC Solanke became the latest winner of the Daily Echo/Micky Cave AFC Bournemouth player of the year, with Daily Echo readers recognising the forwards’ goal-laden 2023/24 campaign.
Despite a tight race with midfield maestro Ryan Christie early on in voting, Solanke ended up as the clear winner with 30.72 per cent of the near 1,500 votes cast.
Cherries fans could not ignore Solanke’s 20 goals in 40 appearances as Bournemouth eased away from the relegation battle and are currently set for a top-half finish.
Christie earned 23.68 per cent of the vote, with supporters recognising the Scot’s performances in the middle of the park.
Lewis Cook, Illia Zabarnyi, and Antoine Semenyo were amongst the frontrunners, garnering 13.93 per cent, 13.64 per cent, and 10.19 per cent of the vote respectively.
There was also love for stalwart Adam Smith (2.62 per cent), Marcos Senesi (2.35 per cent), and Justin Kluivert (1.39 per cent).
Solanke becomes the first striker to win the award since Cherries favourite Brett Pitman in 2008/09.
In total, only seven frontmen have earned the accolade out of 38 iterations of the award, with Solanke following in the footsteps of Pitman, James Hayter, Warren Feeney, Steve Fletcher, Steve Cotterill, and Luther Blissett.
Daily Echo/Micky Cave AFC Bournemouth player of the season award winners:
1986/87 – Gerry Peyton
1987/88 – Paul Morrell
1988/89 – Luther Blissett
1989/90 – Shaun Teale
1990/91 – Shaun Teale
1991/92 – Kevin Bond
1992/93 – Mark Morris
1993/94 – Steve Cotterill
1994/95 – Steve Fletcher
1995/96 – Matty Holland
1996/97 – Ian Cox
1997/98 – Eddie Howe
1998/99 – Eddie Howe
1999/2000 – Claus Jorgensen
2000/01 – Wade Elliott
2001/02 – Warren Feeney
2002/03 – Carl Fletcher
2003/04 – James Hayter
2004/05 – Garreth O’Connor
2005/06 – Neil Young
2006/07 – Darren Anderton
2007/08 – Danny Hollands
2008/09 – Jason Pearce
2009/10 – Brett Pitman
2010/11 – Jason Pearce
2011/12 – Marc Pugh
2012/13 – Tommy Elphick
2013/14 – Simon Francis
2014/15 – Harry Arter
2015/16 – Simon Francis
2016/17 – Steve Cook
2017/18 – Nathan Ake
2018/19 – Ryan Fraser
2019/20 – Aaron Ramsdale
2020/21 – Asmir Begovic
2021/22 – Mark Travers
2022/23 – Jefferson Lerma
2023/24 – Dominic Solanke