STEPHEN Purches has fond memories of Brisbane Road but there are no doubts where his loyalties lie and those of his Orient-supporting father. The Cherries utility man returns to his old stomping ground when Eddie Howe's men travel to the capital tomorrow (3pm). Purches, who returned to Dean Court in the summer after leaving Leyton Orient, spent three seasons with the Os and was also captain during his spell with the London club. The 30-year-old has long-standing links with Orient, having watched them as a child after first being taken to a match by his father Rob at the age of seven. But Purches will be as determined as ever to see Cherries emerge victorious and he thinks his dad will also be rooting for Howe's high-flying side. My dad's an Orient fan and it was the first professional game I went to see when I was about seven, he explained. It has fond memories for me when I was a kid. It was good to go there and play for them. But my loyalties are firmly with Bournemouth and I'm loving my time being back here. When asked if he thought his dad would be backing Cherries come tomorrow afternoon, Purches replied: He'll definitely be in our camp. It was a proud moment for him, the time when I was there, but he's my biggest supporter so he'll be behind us. Essex-born Purches is predicting a decent spectacle in the League One clash. Orient are in good form, having lost just twice in their past nine league matches, while striker Alex Revell will be a man to watch after netting 10 goals this term and six in four outings. Purches said: It's always a different experience when you go back to a former club, like getting changed in a different changing room and things like that that you are used to. I'm sure it will be a bit strange but it should be a good game. Orient have come into form in the past few games and we want to push on up the league ourselves. It makes for a good game. They had a big change-over in the summer with personnel and things like that, so it has probably taken a bit of time to gel. But they seem to have put together a bit of a run. By all accounts, when I spoke to a couple of the lads, they've been playing okay. Asked if there was anything to prove returning to a former club, Purches added: No, I don't think you go back with anything to prove. But you want to go there and come out with a win. That's a given.
Source: Bournemouth_Echo