Let me tell you a story about Eddie Howe ( #afcb thread)

On the final day of the 2017-18 season, me and @EchosportDan covered #afcb’s fixture at Burnley for the Bournemouth Echo.

#afcb won 2-1 thanks to Callum Wilson’s late winner and after the game, Eddie did his usual interviews. Dan was on player duty. I was to speak to Eddie.

Post-match for a manager is typically extensive. He would have spoken to plenty of radio and TV outlets at length before heading into the press conference, where I was #afcb

I knew I needed a ton of content. There are very limited opportunities to speak to staff and players during the summer (they need a break!), so you have to fill up or you are in big trouble #afcb

But at the same time it was no good getting this content in the press conference, with other reporters present. I needed it to be exclusive so I could avoid being scooped and use it as I wished over a period of months #afcb

Eddie must easily have done half an hour of interviews by the time he walked out of the press conference. He was probably desperate to leave the ground, go home and relax after a long season #afcb

But instead and without hesitation, he happily agreed to take questions from me for an additional 15 minutes #afcb

I should add at this point that plenty of PL managers are not overly enthusiastic about their media commitments, much less having a relationship with their local reporter #afcb

Many (and there are exceptions) are simply trying to get away as soon as possible #afcb

But Eddie is different. He didn’t roll his eyes and give a few grudging quotes before exiting stage left, he treated it like an extended sit-down interview #afcb

He was brilliant. Engaging and interesting. There wasn’t a bad answer in there. And that content proved vital to our small sportsdesk for 2-3 months, at a time of year when football stories are tough to come by #afcb

But that’s the kind of bloke Eddie is. He gives his time. Because he knows the importance of his local paper. Because he’s a proper community man. Because he’s a nice person #afcb

Sincerely hope it works out well for him. If he decides to return to management, there won’t be a shortage of offers... #afcb