A lifelong fan of Bournemouth, lawyer Trevor Watkins was horrified when it was announced at the beginning of 1997 that the club was 5 million in debt and that the board felt the club was bound to go under. Unlike sugar daddies Jack Walker and Mohammed al Fayed, Watkins had no money to pour into the club but he had his legal expertise and was able to draw together the local community in the rescue of the club. He became the figurehead of the operation to save the Cherries from the receivers, turning it into the first community-owned club in Europe and making it profitable once more. Taking the story to the start of the 1999-2000 season, this is a remarkable tale that shows one way ahead for endangered football clubs.