What legacy has Aston Villa signing Tommy Elphick left at Bournemouth?

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The departure of Tommy Elphick has left an enormous void at AFC Bournemouth. The club’s most successful captain called time on his four-year stay when he joined Championship outfit Aston Villa, for a fee believed to be in the region of £3 million. In total, Elphick made 142 appearances and spearheaded two promotions as the Cherries climbed from the murky depths of League One to the promised land of the Premier League. Make no mistake; Elphick’s exit marks the end of an era – but what a glorious era it was.

Some observers may question why Elphick has decided to drop down a division, having skippered Bournemouth to the top-flight little more than a year ago. Why would he relinquish the opportunity to ply his trade in the most-watched and most competitive league in the world? The answer is simple – security. Elphick had a year left on his contract and although he had reportedly been offered an extension, the lure of a three-year deal with Aston Villa, a club steeped in a rich history and tradition, was too good to refuse. At 28 years of age, this may well be the final long-term contract of his career and it provides him and his new wife, Hannah, with stability.

There are footballing reasons behind the switch, too. Elphick was a peripheral figure at Bournemouth last season. He had been ever-present during the historic Championship title-winning campaign and resumed his partnership with Steve Cook at the start of last season. But an ankle injury sustained back in September ruled him out of action for four months and limited him to just 16 appearances in total. In his absence, Simon Francis established himself as Cook’s partner, meaning Elphick was no longer a guaranteed starter.

With manager Eddie Howe seeking defensive reinforcements, Elphick may well have found himself pushed even further down the pecking order. But his leaving should in no way diminish the outstanding contribution he has made. When Elphick moved from Brighton in the summer of 2012, he could not have imagined the unprecedented success that would follow. For creating history by being the first captain to lead the Cherries to the top-flight, Elphick has left an indelible mark of the club and its supporters. He is something of a folk hero, which stems from his pre-match ritual of head-butting and kicking the upright, to his lion-hearted, no-nonsense performances. He has been a talismanic figure and a fine ambassador, both on and off the pitch.

Francis took the armband during Elphick’s injury lay-off and it is likely he will assume the responsibility again next season. Although not as vocal as his tub-thumping predecessor, Francis is nonetheless a commanding presence who leads by example. Like Elphick, he is well respected in the dressing room and embodies all the characteristics a manager looks for in his captain. Of course, Howe may have identified a new recruit as the next skipper – and with Sylvain Distin having been released, additions are surely inevitable. But for continuity, Francis would be the ideal fit and a popular choice.

A footballer’s career is transient by its very nature, but so synonymous with the club was Elphick that he had almost become part of the furniture at Dean Court. It will take some time for the fans to adjust to the fact that he will never again lead out the team. But his legacy is guaranteed. In just four years, Elphick achieved more than he ever thought possible at AFC Bournemouth and played an instrumental role in making the dreams of thousands of supporters a reality. For that, the Cherries’ faithful will be eternally grateful. Thanks for the memories, Tommy.

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