CAPTAIN Tommy Elphick revealed another motivational masterstroke from boss Eddie Howe had helped pave the way for Cherries to all but seal promotion.

Elphick, who has started every game in the Championship this season, again led from the front as victory over Bolton on Monday effectively clinched a place in the Premier League.

And the triumph came just a day after Howe had shown his players a DVD charting some of the momentous occasions in the club’s 116-year history.

Elphick said: “The manager often sits us down and shows us inspirational videos. On Sunday, we watched one which went through the history and showed what we have done for the club as well.

“It took us back to the start when the club was formed and showed some of the momentous times like when Ted MacDougall was playing and Mel Machin kept them up in 1995.

“We also saw footage of when the club escaped from relegation in 2009 and of the promotions we have had recently. We all came out of the meeting feeling pretty emotional.

“After what had happened on Saturday with the other results going our way, we knew we had to grab the opportunity with both hands and just wanted to do it for the manager, the club and the people who have been involved for so long.

“It is such a great story and it really hits home about what it means to people when you see their faces and how many lives we have affected. It is such a remarkable achievement in such a tough league and we have got a lot to look forward to next season.”

Elphick, voted supporters’ player of the year after skippering Cherries to promotion from League One in his first season at Dean Court, said he had sensed a confident mood around the squad during pre-season.

“There was a mentality on the first day of pre-season training,” added the linchpin defender. “We had come so close to the play-offs last season and the aim was always to build on that and to try to get in the top six.

“The manager made some astute signings, he freshened up things and it gave everyone a real lift. The standard from day one has been as good as I have ever known. The manager has never lost that winning mentality and has always instilled that in us.

“It was always in the back of my mind that we could have a good season and we went to Huddersfield on the opening day and really put on a show.

"But it is a tough league and there are some big clubs and some very good players in the Championship. You always visualise winning promotion but you never quite really believe it until you have done it.”