'Willo so popular with fans and will be missed'
The stories from the 22 years I spent commentating on AFC Bournemouth matches with Willo (John Williams), who is retiring as BBC Radio Solent's football pundit, would need their own book.Eddie Howe played under Willo in his early days at AFCB, and you only have to see the warmth that Eddie, and other team-mates, have always had towards him to tell you what kind of guy he is. We used to be the only media allowed to travel on the Bournemouth team plane to northern games - simply because of the respect Eddie had for Willo.He was alongside me for such a significant part of my life and was a brilliant ally and partner in crime. John understood the role and decided he was going to be unfailingly positive. Bournemouth as a town and a club has been a huge part of his life - one that he absolutely loves and will continue to do so.Putting the wrong fuel in the car, getting lost in his native Liverpool, watching him on a slingshot ride on Blackpool Pier, trying to crowbar him into Everton's cosy press box, boarding a packed train to West Ham without him and countless dodgy quizzes with suspect or incomplete answers. It's been a ride.Like a lot of couples who have spent two decades together, we had our moments bickering. My commentator's attention to detail drove him mad.He's not an internet user, or a savvy mobile phone operator. He doesn't do data and relies on his ex-professional's footballing eye. He loves nothing more than seeing a homegrown youngster progress and would clamour for them to play.Willo is so popular with Bournemouth fans, particularly those who watched him play in the late 80s. If our motorway stop accidentally coincided with an AFCB supporters' coach, after a few chants of "Willo, Willo, Willo" from the KFC queue, John decided he preferred staying with the car than be embarrassed by the attention.Everything has to come to an end. I know Willo has given this plenty of thought and will hugely miss the job. The listeners (which include myself now) will certainly miss him.Listen to John's final game as summariser on BBC Radio Solent from 16:00 BST on Sunday as he joins Jordan Clark for Bournemouth v Leicester
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