CounterPress gets sixth Premier League site with Cherries On Top set to chronicle Bournemouth's European adventure

Cherries On Top is the latest outlet to join a growing roster of dedicated sports websites on the CounterPress network, and will deliver intelligent, independent coverage of Bournemouth as the club embarks on its first ever season in Europe.

The site is fronted by Jack Tanner and Tom Crocker. Both lifelong locals to the area, Jack and Tom are reuniting having previously formed the sports department at the Bournemouth Daily Echo, working together covering the Cherries home and away for two seasons.

Jack has worked in sports journalism for over 10 years, starting in local non-league football at 14 and first contributing to the Bournemouth Echo at 16.

Staying local to study multimedia journalism at Bournemouth University, Jack joined the Echo on a permanent basis shortly after graduating. He reported on Cherries for the Echo for four years, before continuing to cover the club on a freelance basis for national newspapers.

Tom began his sports journalism career as a teenager, volunteering on matchdays to write for AFC Bournemouth’s official club website, during their time in the third and fourth tiers.

After reporting on their fortunes on a freelance basis on and off in the following years, Tom then took a role at the Echo, covering the club full-time for five years, from 2019 until 2024.

Cherries On Top members can look forward to features, nostalgia, interviews and in-depth tactical analysis relating to the first team, as well as keeping abreast of goings on from the progressing youth and women’s sides.

Jack said: “Bournemouth will always have a soft spot in my heart after getting to know the club in my first full-time role in journalism. Circumstances dictated my departure from covering the club but I have continued to keep an eye on happenings at Dean Court.

“The chance to work again with Tom, covering a club we both deeply care about, is really exciting. I’m delighted that this opportunity allows us to provide a passionate fanbase with equally passionate articles, and offer something different.”

Tom added: “I am excited to be back covering AFC Bournemouth again, ahead of what is going to be yet another historic season for the club.

“My association with the Cherries goes back well over 20 years since first attending a game as a child at Dean Court, to more recently reporting on them day in, day out whilst Chief Sports Writer at the Bournemouth Daily Echo.

“For various reasons it felt like the right time to step away a couple of years ago, but I look forward to now reconnecting with some supporters I got to know during my previous time covering the club, as well as engaging with fans who will not have seen my work previously.”

Cherries On Top’s early interest waiting list is now open ahead of a full launch later this month.

Bournemouth supporters keen to explore the platform can secure an exclusive discount on membership by adding their details to the mailing list today.

Cherries On Top becomes the sixth Premier League club to be covered by a CounterPress outlet, joining The Brighton Base (Brighton and Hove Albion), The Phoenix (Coventry City), Saturday White Fever (Fulham), The Sunderland Stories (Sunderland) and The 1878 (Manchester United).

CounterPress offers the technical infrastructure and industry knowledge and support that journalists and creators need to build their own media brand.

Co-founder Sam Morshead said: “Tom and Jack are established reporters in Bournemouth, and I’m delighted that CounterPress can offer them the platform to pick up where they left at the Echo.

“Both are hard-working journalists, with an understanding of the Cherries, the club’s wider community, and the audience they will serve.

“This promises to be an excellent service for a Premier League team which doesn’t quite compete with the larger outfits for column inches and website space among the larger publishers.

“It’s exactly the sort of project CounterPress was conceived to support.”