FC

Words by Lewis Royle

Wimbledon FC are a Southwest London side established in 1889 and go by the nickname ‘The Dons.' Like many, they have had their fair share of ups and downs.

They played at Plough Lane stadium, from 1912 until 1991, winning the Fa Amateur Cup in 1963, the FA cup after defeating Liverpool 1-0 in 1988, and they were elected into the English Football League in 1977 after three consecutive title wins.

Despite being relegated from the Premier League in 2000, the ‘Crazy Gang’ were founding members of the league in 1992 alongside several English Giants, Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool. They remained in the league under Joe Kinnear for eight years, with their highest finish sixth place.

However, in the early 90's, when the London side hit a massive financial crisis, causing their stadium, Plough Lane, to be taken away from them, forcing a share with Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, where they achieved their highest ever attendance of 30,115 spectators in a 1993 Premier League match against Manchester United. However, money was an issue and would be seen to cause a huge dent in the future of the club.

In 2002, Wimbledon Football Club would cease to exist. Over 70 miles away, the club would be bought by new owners, new supporters, and a new stadium, due to an FA commission. The force was led by Pete Winkelman, the current chairman of MK Dons. This brings us on to the uproar in society. MK Dons replaced Wimbledon as a club, they reinvented their name and their legacy, but was it worthwhile?

Since the club Milton Keynes Dons was first established in 2004, they took over Wimbledon's previous league place in the League One, after the former club were relegated from the Championship in the 2003/04 season. In their first season as a team, they scraped relegation, finishing 20th place, joint on points with Torquay United but beating them on goal difference by 10. Since, they have been up and down the English Football Leagues but have never played a minute of Premier League Football. The highest they have been the Championship for just one season.

Last season, with now Burnley attacker Scott Twine leading the way, they made it to the play off semi-final in the third tier but unfortunately lost out to Wycombe Wanderers.

In contrast, the club distraught, the club with everything taken away from them, were revitalised. Undeterred, four fans of the club refused to be beaten because of money, so contacted the London FA and launched Wimbledon under a new name ‘AFC Wimbledon.' This time the club would be owned by supporters in the shape of The Dons Trust with an executive board elected by the fans. The major talking point, and the thing that matters most to fans is the history. To their delight, when the paperwork was drawn up for the new reincarnation, it said 1889, where the predecessors had played their first games on Wimbledon Common. Furthermore, since 2020, the Dons are back at a new and modernised Plough Lane, now named the Cherry Red Record Stadium for sponsorship reasons.

Consigned five leagues below League Two, it only took The Wombles nine years to reach the football league once again as in 2011 they defeated Luton Town on penalties in the play off final. However, they still carry the most history, especially in comparison to their now gigantic rivals Mk Dons, whether that will last who knows. Heading into next season, both sides are back in the same league following Mk Dons relegation this year, where we will get to see the rivalry sparked once again.