Fifteen years ago, Bournemouth were playing in the third tier of English football, losing 2-1 at home to Bury. On Thursday at 8pm, they will welcome AC Milan to the Vitality Stadium for a Europa League meeting that highlights just how far the club have come.
The 12,357-capacity ground is expected to provide a lively atmosphere as Bournemouth look to maintain their perfect start to the competition. Victory would give them nine points from three games and leave them six clear of Milan in the league-phase table.
The contrast with the club's past is striking. There was a time when players changed in one part of town before travelling elsewhere to train. Now, supporters can walk through the same park to watch their team take on one of Europe's biggest clubs.
Milan arrive under former Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim, who is expected to rotate his squad. Luka Modric, 41, has started five matches this season and could feature, while Alphadjo Cisse is another player to watch after scoring a hat-trick against Salzburg.
The links between the clubs go back to the early 1970s, when Bournemouth manager John Bond introduced red and black stripes as a nod to Milan. The club also adopted the name AFC Bournemouth in 1972, partly to give it a more continental feel and improve its position in alphabetical league lists.
Milan, currently fourth in Serie A, will be keen to avoid another setback as they look to strengthen their position before the final five league-phase matches.