AFC Wimbledon
Full name | AFC Wimbledon | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Nickname(s) | The Dons The Wombles | |||
Founded | 30 May 2002 | |||
Ground | Plough Lane | |||
Capacity | 9,215[1] | |||
Owner | The Dons Trust | |||
Manager | Johnnie Jackson | |||
League | EFL League Two | |||
2023–24 | EFL League Two, 10th of 24 | |||
Website | Club website | |||
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AFC Wimbledon is an English professional association football club based in Merton, London. The team compete in EFL League Two, the fourth level of the English football league system.
The club was founded in 2002 by former supporters of Wimbledon after the Football Association allowed that club to relocate to Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire, about 60 miles (97 km) north of Wimbledon. Most of the Wimbledon supporters were very strongly opposed to moving the club so far away from Wimbledon, feeling that a club transplanted to a distant location would no longer represent Wimbledon or the club's historic legacy and tradition.[2][3][4] Wimbledon moved in 2003 and formally changed the name of the club to Milton Keynes Dons in 2004.[3][5]
When AFC Wimbledon was formed, it affiliated to both the London and Surrey Football Associations, and entered the Premier Division of the Combined Counties League, the ninth tier of English football. The club has since been promoted six times in 13 seasons, going from the ninth tier (Combined Counties Premier) to the third (League One).
AFC Wimbledon currently hold the record for the longest unbeaten run of league matches in English senior football, having played 78 consecutive league games without a defeat between February 2003 and December 2004.[6] They are the first club formed in the 21st century to make it into the Football League.[7]
The club was initially based at Kingsmeadow, a ground bought from and then shared with Isthmian League club Kingstonian until 2017, and with Chelsea Women from 2017. In November 2020, the club moved to Plough Lane, a new stadium on the site of the defunct Wimbledon Greyhound Stadium, only 250 yards away from the original Plough Lane, Wimbledon's home until 1991. The new stadium has an initial capacity of 9,215,[1] with the option of expansion to a maximum 20,000 at a later date.[8][9]
History
Foundation
On 28 May 2002, the Football Association approved a decision by a three-person arbitration commission they had appointed to allow Wimbledon to relocate north to the new town of Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire; a decision influenced, among other factors, by claims from Wimbledon chairman Charles Koppel that such a move was necessary in order to prevent the club from going bankrupt.[10]
Although the absence of a ground in Milton Keynes meeting Football League criteria meant that the club were unable to physically move for over a year, major organised protests at the decision continued to be held by Wimbledon's traditional local support and a boycott of the club's home matches at Selhurst Park meant attendances dwindled immediately.[11]
Following the F.A.'s announcement of their decision, a group of Wimbledon supporters led by Kris Stewart and fellow founding members Marc Jones and Trevor Williams met in The Fox and Grapes pub on Wimbledon Common to plan what was to be done next as part of the protest. It was agreed that as there was no right of appeal, the only option was to start the club again from scratch. On 30 May 2002, the idea was put forward in a Wimbledon Independent Supporters' Association meeting to create a new community-based club named AFC Wimbledon and an appeal for funds was launched.[12][13]
On 13 June 2002, a new manager, a playing strip and badge based on that of the original Wimbledon, and a stadium were unveiled to fans and the media at the packed-out Wimbledon Community Centre.[14] In order to assemble a competitive team at very short notice, AFC Wimbledon held player trials on 29 June 2002 on Wimbledon Common, open to any unattached player who felt he was good enough to try out for the team.[15] The event attracted 230 hopeful players, from whom the club's squad for their inaugural season was eventually chosen.[13]
Non-League football (2002–2011)
Combined Counties League (2002–2004)
In the 2002–03 season, AFC Wimbledon competed in the Combined Counties League Premier Division under the management of former Wimbledon player Terry Eames, who was appointed on 13 June 2002.[14] Their first ever game, a pre-season friendly against Sutton United on 10 July 2002, resulted in a 4–0 loss in front of a crowd of 4,657.[16] At the end of their debut season, AFC Wimbledon finished third in the league and narrowly failed to win promotion to the Isthmian League First Division, despite a strong end to the season that involved winning their final 11 league fixtures.[17]
In 2003–04, AFC Wimbledon won their first 21 league games before a 2–2 draw against
Isthmian League (2004–2008)
The 2005–06 season proved far more competitive than previous seasons – as after winning their first few games, AFC Wimbledon found themselves struggling to remain in the
Much of the 2006–07 season was overshadowed by the threat of a proposed 18-point deduction by the FA for the club's fielding of Jermaine Darlington who, it transpired, had not been registered correctly by the club and had therefore played in three games whilst still officially ineligible.[27] However, this punishment was eventually reduced to a three-point deduction and a £400 fine on appeal, after the FA finally acknowledged that the club had made a simple administrative error.[28] The 'Darlington affair' also resulted in expulsion from the Surrey Senior Cup and the FA Trophy that year. Although AFC Wimbledon did enough to qualify for the play-offs, they once again missed out on promotion, this time as a result of losing 1–0 to Bromley in the play-off semi-final on 1 May 2007.[29] Manager Dave Anderson subsequently left the club by mutual consent on 2 May 2007.[30]
The Conference (2008–2011)
AFC Wimbledon spent most of the 2008–09 season near the top of the league table, eventually finishing as champions and earning promotion to the Conference Premier after defeating St Albans City 3–0 on 25 April 2009.[34] The match set an attendance record of 4,722 for Kingsmeadow stadium, which at that time was full capacity.[35]
The 2009–10 season was the club's first in the Conference Premier. Overall, the Dons finished eighth, 14 points short of the play-off zone. This was the first season in which the club had failed to make the top five in the league table.[36]
In
Football League (2011–present)
League Two (2011–2016)
The 2011–12 season saw AFC Wimbledon's promotion to League Two. The team started the season well, winning seven out of their first 12 matches, but failed to keep the momentum going and had a poor run, eventually finishing the season ranked 16th, 10 points clear of the relegation zone.
The
In the
The 2014–15 season saw AFC Wimbledon face Milton Keynes Dons once again in a competitive fixture on 12 August 2014 in the first round of the Football League Cup, with MK Dons eventually winning the match 3–1.[50] The two sides met once again on 7 October 2014, with AFC Wimbledon achieving a first 3–2 win over their rivals in the second round of the Football League Trophy following a late goal from Adebayo Akinfenwa.[51] The Dons also reached the FA Cup third round for the first time in their history on 5 January 2015, eventually succumbing 2–1 to Liverpool with Steven Gerrard scoring both goals.[52] AFC Wimbledon finished the season in a mediocre 15th place after a disappointing run of form saw them finish the season without a win in their last eight league fixtures.
The
League One (2016–2022)
The
AFC Wimbledon made an equally slow start to the
AFC Wimbledon saw a disastrous start to the 2018–19 season, losing twelve of their first seventeen league games. Manager Neal Ardley departed the club by mutual agreement on 12 November 2018 after a tenure of 6 years, 1 month, 2 days, making him the longest serving manager to date.[61] One bright spot in their season was the club's first ever appearance in the FA Cup 5th Round after beating West Ham United 4–2 in the 2018–19 FA Cup. On 4 December 2018, Glyn Hodges joined Wally Downes as AFC Wimbledon's assistant manager.[62] After being rooted to the bottom of the table for most of 2019, they lost only 1 of their last 12 league games to lift them out of the relegation zone, ultimately staying up on goal difference on the last day of the season after a 0–0 draw with already relegated Bradford City.[63] On 25 September 2019, Glyn Hodges took over the management of the first team on a temporary basis following the suspension of Wally Downes after being charged by the FA for betting misconduct.[64] The club's youth coach, Mark Robinson, replaced Hodges on 30 January 2021, after a run of poor results;[65] Robinson turned the season around and the club avoided relegation on the second-last matchday.[66]
Season-by-season record
Season | Division | Position | Significant events |
---|---|---|---|
2002 – AFC Wimbledon were formed and accepted into the Combined Counties League Premier Division
| |||
2002–03 | Combined Counties League Premier Division |
3 | Combined Counties League Premier Challenge Cup 2nd round |
2003–04 | Combined Counties League Premier Division |
1 | Champions, Combined Counties League Premier Challenge Cup Winners, FA Vase 3rd round |
2004–05 | Isthmian League Division One |
1 | FA Cup 3rd qualifying round
|
2005–06 | Isthmian League Premier Division |
4 | FA Cup 2nd qualifying round
|
2006–07 | Isthmian League Premier Division |
5 | FA Cup 4th qualifying round
|
2007–08 | Isthmian League Premier Division |
3 | FA 3rd qualifying round
|
2008–09 | Conference South |
1 | FA Cup 1st round
|
2009–10 | Conference National |
8 | FA Trophy 3rd round, FA Cup 1st round |
2010–11 | Conference National |
2 | FA Cup 2nd round
|
2011–12 | Football League Two |
16 | FA Cup 2nd round, Football League Cup preliminary round, Football League Trophy 3rd round |
2012–13 | Football League Two |
20 | FA Cup 2nd round, Football League Cup 1st round, Football League Trophy 1st round |
2013–14 | Football League Two |
20 | FA Cup 1st round, Football League Cup 1st round, Football League Trophy 1st round |
2014–15 | Football League Two |
15 | FA Cup 3rd round, Football League Cup 1st round, Football League Trophy 3rd round |
2015–16 | Football League Two |
7 | Play-off Final Winners, FA Cup 1st round, Football League Cup 1st round, Football League Trophy 1st round |
2016–17 | Football League One |
15 | Football League Trophy 2nd round
|
2017–18 | Football League One |
18 | Football League Cup 1st round, Football League Trophy 2nd round
|
2018–19 | Football League One |
20 | FA Cup 5th round, Football League Cup 2nd round, Football League Trophy 2nd round |
2019–20
|
Football League One
|
20 | Football League Trophy group stage
|
2020–21
|
Football League One
|
19 | Football League Trophy quarter-final
|
2021–22
|
Football League One
|
23 | Football League Trophy group stage
|
2022–23
|
Football League Two
|
21 | Football League Trophy round of 16
|
Crest and colours
The club crest, which is based on the coat of arms of the Municipal Borough of Wimbledon, features a black double headed eagle in reference to a local legend that Julius Caesar once made camp on Wimbledon Common, this symbol being his own attributed coat of arms.[67]
The colours that were chosen for the AFC Wimbledon kit were the royal blue and yellow traditionally associated with the rise of the original Wimbledon to the top of the Football League (rather than the darker navy blue and yellow that Wimbledon were wearing at the time, which had been a recent adaptation in 1993). The first ever kit, which was used only during the pre-season friendlies of 2002, consisted of a royal blue shirt, white shorts and white socks. Since then, the home kit has always been predominantly all royal blue with yellow detailing. The away kit used between 2002 and 2004 was white, however since then it has usually been predominantly yellow with blue detailing.
To mark their first game in the
On 14 May 2020, the club released a new, slightly modified, official club crest to mark 32 years since Wimbledon's 1988 FA Cup victory, as well as the forthcoming opening of the new stadium at Plough Lane.[69]
Sponsorship and kit manufacturer
Period[70] | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor |
---|---|---|
2002 (pre season) | Umbro | Championship Manager |
2002–2012 | Tempest Sports | Sports Interactive |
2012–2014 | Football Manager | |
2014–2018 | Admiral | |
2018–2022 | Puma | |
2022–2023 | Hummel | |
2023– | Umbro |
AFC Wimbledon's shirts have been sponsored by computer games developers Sports Interactive since the club's inception in 2002.[71] The kit used by the club is currently manufactured by Umbro. Previous manufacturers have been Umbro (2002, 2023–present), Tempest Sports (2002–2014),[72][73] and Admiral Sportswear (2014–2018).[74] Other club sponsors are Cherry Red Records, author and YouTuber John Green,[75][76] Puma (2018–2022), and Hummel (2022–2023).
In April 2022, the club announced that it would be switching its kit manufacturer for start of the 2022–23 season to Hummel, a nostalgic link up with the kit manufacturer of the former Wimbledon in three seasons from 1988–89 to 1990–91.[77] On March 6, 2023, AFC Wimbledon announced they would be switching kit manufacturer from Hummel to Umbro due to Hummel UK distributor Elite Sports Group going into bankruptcy administration.[78]
Mascot
In 2006, AFC Wimbledon introduced a new mascot to represent the club, a
Rivalries
Milton Keynes Dons
The most obvious of AFC Wimbledon's rivals are Milton Keynes Dons, the club which resulted from the relocation of Wimbledon to Milton Keynes in 2003.[80] However, there is some debate amongst AFC Wimbledon supporters as to whether this should be considered a rivalry. Since some supporters do not recognise the legitimacy of the club, it is argued they cannot be considered rivals.[81] The two sides have met four times in cup competitions, all games at Milton Keynes, of which AFC Wimbledon have won one and one game went to penalties. Owing to MK Dons' relegation from the Championship in the 2015–16 season, alongside AFC Wimbledon's promotion from League Two, AFC Wimbledon and Milton Keynes Dons competed in the same league division for the first time in the 2016–17 season. Both clubs won one and lost one in that season's league matches. In the nine league matches played between the clubs, Wimbledon won one, drew three and lost five.
Crawley Town
One of AFC Wimbledon's main rivals have been Crawley Town.[82] This is purely due to their frequently fractious meetings at a non-League level since 2009. The two sides did not play each other between 2012 and 2015 due to Crawley's promotion to League One. However, Crawley's relegation during the 2014–15 season meant the two sides played each other on 15 August 2015 which the Dons won 2–1. Between Wimbledon's 2016 promotion into League One and 2022 relegation into League Two, they met just once competitively in the second round of the 2020–21 FA Cup with Crawley Town winning 2–1. With both teams back in the same league since the 2022–23 season, they have met two times, with the home team winning each fixture.
Sutton United
AFC Wimbledon had never shared a league with Sutton United before 2022, but due to the geographical proximity the two clubs share a friendly rivalry. Sutton were the first team to play the reformed Dons on 10 July 2002, defeating them 4–0 at Gander Green Lane.[83] Before they met in the FA Cup in 2017, the most recent competitive match between the two sides was in the 2013 Surrey Senior Cup semi-final at Gander Green Lane on 11 April 2013, a game which Sutton won 5–2.[84] The clubs played each other in the third round of the FA Cup on 7 January 2017, which resulted in a 0–0 draw.[85] The replay took place at Kingsmeadow on 17 January 2017, with Sutton winning 3–1.[86] The two clubs will both be in League Two for the 2022–23 season.
Stadium
Plough Lane
Since its inception in 2002, AFC Wimbledon had stated that one of its primary aims was to play in
Plans to develop the greyhound stadium site as either a multi-purpose stadium or as a football stadium were publicised frequently by the club and the media prior to 2013. In 2013, AFC Wimbledon announced that discussions were underway with Merton Council over a joint bid for the greyhound stadium and surrounding land, in cooperation with developer Galliard Homes, to build a new football stadium, 600 residential units and a wide range of shops and community facilities.[87]
The plans for the football stadium were approved unanimously by Merton Council on 10 December 2015.[88][89] Clearance of the site in preparation for the new football stadium and housing was begun on 16 March 2018.[90] The stadium's opening was initially planned for summer 2019, however, delays caused the approximate completion date to be moved to 25 October 2020.[91] The land's freehold was transferred to an AFC Wimbledon subsidiary on 24 December 2018, among other transactions that also formally transferred ownership of Kingsmeadow to Chelsea.[92]
Wimbledon played the first four home matches of the 2020–21 season at
Loftus Road
AFC Wimbledon started the 2020–21 season at Loftus Road, after agreeing a temporary groundshare agreement with Queens Park Rangers, while construction of Plough Lane was completed. They played four league games at the ground, plus two cup ties, before departing at the end of October 2020. Due to the coronavirus restrictions in place at that time, all of the club's games at Loftus Road were played behind closed doors.
Kingsmeadow
The club played at the 4,850 capacity Kingsmeadow[95][96] in Kingston upon Thames until May 2020. Until 2017, AFC Wimbledon groundshared with Kingstonian with the Dons being the landlords and Kingstonian the tenants since the summer of 2003; before then the roles were reversed. In November 2015, AFC Wimbledon supporters voted to approve the selling of Kingsmeadow to Chelsea to help fund a planned new ground in Merton,[97][98] On 13 December 2017, the contract was signed for the new stadium to be built,[99] with Kingstonian leaving the ground in 2017 as a result.
Ground purchase and debt
Upon their foundation in 2002, AFC Wimbledon entered into a ground–sharing arrangement with Kingstonian to play home fixtures at Kingsmeadow in the neighbouring borough of Kingston upon Thames.
After Kingstonian entered administration to avoid bankruptcy and lost the Kingsmeadow lease in October 2001, it was assigned in April 2002 by the administrators to a property developer, Rajesh Khosla, who was also by then owner of the club.
After an SGM, it was felt by the AFC Wimbledon board of directors that securing ownership of Kingsmeadow would safeguard the ground for the future of both clubs. In March 2003, the Dons Trust members voted to purchase part of the lease for Kingsmeadow and in June 2003 the contract for buying the lease to the stadium was agreed with Rajesh Khosla;[100] £3 million needed to be raised.
AFC Wimbledon were already sub-tenants at Kingsmeadow, before raising £2.4 million to buy the lease from Khosla in June 2003, with a view to making Kingsmeadow their home. Kingstonian secured a 25-year sub-tenancy agreement with AFC Wimbledon, with customary break clauses. The clubs operated a ground-sharing arrangement, with Kingstonian receiving preferentially cheap rental terms.[101]
Expansion
At the end of the 2011–12 season, AFC Wimbledon commenced work on building a new 1,000 capacity all-seater stand to replace the existing Kingston Road End. This was completed by 13 October 2012 game against Cheltenham Town which saw an attendance of 4,409.[102] The new stand was named the North Stand before being renamed The Nongshim Stand and in July 2015 the John Green Stand following sponsorship deals. The work increased the stadium capacity to approximately 4,850 with 2,265 seats.[95]
Sale
In 2015, AFC Wimbledon agreed plans to sell Kingsmeadow to Chelsea in order to help finance their plans to move to a new stadium in Merton. Chelsea's intention was to use the ground for their own youth and women's teams and were not willing to accommodate Kingstonian. This was met with protests from Kingstonian fans, as the club would be left without a home ground of their own.[103][104][105][106] Since the sale, Kingstonian have had to groundshare with Leatherhead and then Corinthian-Casuals.[107] AFC Wimbledon departed Kingsmeadow in May 2020.[108]
Ownership and legal status
AFCW plc was placed under the ownership of The Dons Trust, a supporters' group which is pledged to retain at least 75% control of that ownership. In 2003, a minority interest was sold in a share issue in order to finance the purchase of Kingsmeadow; given the circumstances of the club's formation, this decision raised concerns among some members but was quickly accepted.[citation needed]
The Dons Trust is an industrial and provident society registered with the Financial Services Authority as "Wimbledon Football Club Supporters' Society Limited". This is not to be confused with Wimbledon Independent Supporters Association (WISA) although WISA has as one of its stated constitutional aims "to purchase shares in AFC Wimbledon's holding company".
The original chief executive was Erik Samuelson, a retired accountant, who carried out his full-time duties in return for the nominal sum of one
Community work
The club places great emphasis on its role as a social focus for the entire local community, and part of this role is to offer the chance to play football to all. For this reason AFC Wimbledon established the Community Football Scheme (CFS) in 2004. On 1 May 2010, AFC Wimbledon's Community Football Scheme was awarded the FA Charter Standard Community Club Award, the highest graded award attainable in the FA Charter Standard Club Programme, in recognition of the club's outstanding coaching facilities in the local community. The club offer a number of different football courses open to children of any ability aged 4–14, who receive coaching from FA qualified coaches. The club aim to reach as many children as possible through their football and multi-sports programme by having vital links with their surrounding boroughs, most notably Merton and Kingston, which has allowed them to become one of the main providers of sports coaching in their local community.[112]
AFC Wimbledon also offers a Schools Coaching Programme in
On 27 March 2012, AFC Wimbledon became the first football club to be presented with the Prime Minister's Big Society Award for outstanding contributions to the local community. The club was recognised for the honour because it offers a wide range of community development schemes including 19 youth and women's teams, school health and sport projects (hundreds of children a week participate in the outreach schemes provided) and a range of innovative activities, including a stadium school to help children get to grips with maths by using football as a teaching aid.[114]
Congratulating AFC Wimbledon on receiving the award, then Prime Minister David Cameron said:
The team behind AFC Wimbledon have not just given fans a local club to support, but much more than this, they have united a community, given them the chance to have a real stake in their club's future and made a huge difference to the lives of many people in the area at the same time. Football is a team game, and AFC Wimbledon have shown just what can happen when people don't just sit on the sidelines, but choose to get involved and really pull together – a great example of the Big Society. Congratulations to AFC Wimbledon and all their fans and supporters whose determination and devotion has created a community-owned club that has gone from strength to strength.[115]
Accepting the award, Erik Samuelson, chief executive of AFC Wimbledon stated:
This club's achievements show that a co-operatively owned football club can be faithful to its high ethical standards, keep a keen focus on community involvement, be financially sustainable – and still be successful on the pitch. Everyone who has contributed to the club's success and this award should be very proud.
— Erik Samuelson, statement on the Number 10 official website[116]
A group formed by the club's fans, the Dons Local Action Group, stepped up during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, ensuring community members were distributed sufficient food and that students locked down at home had the technology they needed to keep up with classes.[117]
Players
Current squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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|
Out on loan
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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For youth teams see AFC Wimbledon Development Squad and Academy.
Player of the year, club captains and top scorers
The following table shows players who have previously been selected to be club captain, have been The Wimbledon Independent Supporters Association (WISA) player of the year and have been the player who scored the most league goals in a season (including penalties) in chronological order:
Season | Club captain | Player of the year | Top scorer | Goals |
---|---|---|---|---|
2002–03 | Joe Sheerin | Kevin Cooper | Kevin Cooper | 37 |
2003–04 | Joe Sheerin | Matt Everard | Kevin Cooper | 53 |
2004–05 | Steve Butler | Richard Butler | Richard Butler | 24 |
2005–06 | Steve Butler | Andy Little | Shane Smeltz | 19 |
2006–07 | Chris Gell | Antony Howard | Roscoe Dsane | 17 |
2007–08 | Jason Goodliffe | Jason Goodliffe | Steven Ferguson | 10 |
2008–09 | Jason Goodliffe | Ben Judge | Jon Main | 33 |
2009–10 | Paul Lorraine | Danny Kedwell | Danny Kedwell | 21 |
2010–11 | Danny Kedwell | Sam Hatton | Danny Kedwell | 23 |
2011–12 | Jamie Stuart | Sammy Moore | Jack Midson | 18 |
2012–13 | Mat Mitchel-King | Jack Midson | Jack Midson | 13 |
2013–14 | Alan Bennett | Barry Fuller | Michael Smith | 9 |
2014–15 | Barry Fuller | Adebayo Akinfenwa | Adebayo Akinfenwa | 13 |
2015–16 | Barry Fuller | Paul Robinson | Lyle Taylor | 23 |
2016–17 | Barry Fuller | Tom Elliott | Lyle Taylor | 14 |
2017–18 | Barry Fuller | Deji Oshilaja | Lyle Taylor | 18 |
2018–19 | Deji Oshilaja | Will Nightingale | Joe Pigott | 15 |
2019–20 | Will Nightingale | Terell Thomas | Marcus Forss | 11 |
Most league appearances and goals
For a list of all AFC Wimbledon players who hold appearance or goal-scoring records see List of AFC Wimbledon records and statistics.
Notable former players
Wimbledon Old Players Association
As part of WISA's campaign to try and reclaim the history of Wimbledon Football Club, the Wimbledon Old Players Association (WOPA) was formed in 2005. Membership of WOPA is open to all former Wimbledon and AFC Wimbledon players and managers. Among the sixty founding members were Glenn Mulcaire, who scored AFC Wimbledon's first ever goal in 2002[120] and Kevin Cooper, who remains the club's all-time highest goal scorer with 107 goals between August 2002 and May 2004, as well as retaining the title for the most goals scored in a season with 66 during 2003–04. Others that joined included some of the legends of the old Wimbledon, such as John Fashanu, Dave Beasant, Efan Ekoku, Neil Sullivan, Dave Bassett, Wally Downes, Marcus Gayle, Neal Ardley, Alan Kimble, Andy Thorn, Roger Joseph, Dickie Guy, Allen Batsford, Roger Connell, Ian Cooke, Roy Law and Steve Galliers.[121] On 16 July 2006, WOPA fielded a team in the Masters Football Tournament at Wembley Arena, with AFC Wimbledon's backing.[122] The team included Carlton Fairweather, Scott Fitzgerald, Marcus Gayle and Dean Holdsworth.
In June 2010, Vinnie Jones, another former player of Wimbledon, donated his 1988 FA Cup winners medal to the fans of AFC Wimbledon. The medal is on display at Wimbledon in Sporting History's Museum at Plough Lane.
Management
Current management and coaching staff
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Current academy and youth development staff
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Managerial history
- As of 4 March 2024
These statistics incorporate results for league matches (including
.Name | Place of Birth | From | Until | Managed | Won | Drawn | Lost | Win % | Honours |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Terry Eames | Kennington | 13 June 2002 | 13 February 2004* | 82 | 69 | 4 | 9 | 84.15 | |
Nicky English | 13 February 2004 | 11 May 2004 | 21 | 19 | 2 | 0 | 90.48 | Combined Counties League Premier Challenge Cup winners
| |
Dave Anderson | Belfast | 11 May 2004 | 2 May 2007 | 167 | 98 | 40 | 29 | 58.68 | Isthmian League First Division Champions
|
Terry Brown | Hillingdon | 15 May 2007 | 19 September 2012 | 270 | 133 | 54 | 83 | 49.26 | Conference National play-off winners
|
Simon Bassey (caretaker) | Lambeth | 19 September 2012 | 10 October 2012 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 50.00 | |
Neal Ardley | Epsom | 10 October 2012 | 12 November 2018 | 326 | 108 | 91 | 127 | 33.13 | Football League Two play-off winners
|
Simon Bassey (caretaker) | Lambeth | 12 November 2018 | 4 December 2018 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 40.00 | |
Wally Downes[62] | Hammersmith | 4 December 2018 | 25 September 2019** | 41 | 11 | 12 | 18 | 26.82 | |
Glyn Hodges | Streatham | 25 September 2019 | 30 January 2021 | 62 | 18 | 18 | 26 | 29.00 | |
Mark Robinson | 30 January 2021 | 28 March 2022 | 70 | 18 | 23 | 29 | 25.71 | ||
Mark Bowen (caretaker) | Neath | 30 March 2022 | 7 May 2022 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 00.00 | |
Johnnie Jackson | Camden | 16 May 2022 | 101 | 35 | 27 | 39 | 34.65 |
* Terry Eames was suspended as manager on 13th February for disciplinary reasons, but was not officially dismissed until 18th February 2004. Following his suspension, the role was undertaken by his assistant Nicky English.[123]
** Wally Downes was suspended as manager on 25th September 2019 after he was charged by the Football Association over bets placed on games, with his assistant Glyn Hodges taking over his duties. Downes was not officially dismissed until 20th October 2019, when he was suspended by the FA after admitting breaching Football Association rules around betting. Hodges was then named his permanent replacement.[124]
Restarts coach and substitution coach
In spring 2021, AFC Wimbledon appointed
Women
AFC Wimbledon Women switched affiliation from Wimbledon after the 2002–03 season.
Kevin Foster is the manager and the team competes in the
Wimbledon Women's former player Sophie Hosking won an Olympic gold medal for Team GB in the women's lightweight double sculls at the London 2012 games. Hosking continues to be an avid supporter of AFC Wimbledon and demonstrated as such when she painted her fingernails in the club's royal blue and yellow colours for the Olympic final at Dorney Lake on 4 August 2012.
Honours
AFC Wimbledon's honours include the following:[130]
League
- League Two (level 4)
- Play-off winners: 2016
- Conference (level 5)
- Play-off winners: 2011
- Conference South (level 6)
- Champions: 2008–09
- Isthmian League
- Play-off winners: 2008
- Isthmian League Division One
- Champions: 2004–05
- Combined Counties League
- Champions: 2003–04
Cup
- Combined Counties League Premier Challenge Cup
- Winners: 2003–04
- Isle of Man Tournament
- Lanes Cup
- London Senior Cup
- Winners: 2013–14[134]
- Surrey Senior Cup
- Winners: 2004–05[135]
References
- ^ a b Plough Lane
- ^ Parker, Raj; Stride, Steve; Turvey, Alan (28 May 2002). Report of the Independent Commission on Wimbledon F.C.'s wish to relocate to Milton Keynes (PDF). The Football Association. pp. 17–18, 61–67. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 November 2004. Retrieved 13 December 2014.
The proposal has met with considerable opposition, and not just from the WFC fans. ... [M]ost of the hundreds (over 600) of communications we have received have argued against the proposal. They have generally been from individual WFC fans. 57. Supporters' associations and individual fans from many other clubs and people from as far afield as the United States, Australia (Wimbledon Supporters Downunder), Russia and Norway have also expressed similar views. ... The fans are not of the opinion that a club in Milton Keynes is better than no club at all.
- ^ a b White, Jim (11 January 2003). "Pitch battle". The Guardian. London: Guardian News and Media. Retrieved 5 June 2009.
Ten miles from Selhurst Park, in Kingston upon Thames, the following Saturday, the streets around the tidy little Kingsmeadow football ground are filling up an hour before kick-off. It is here that Wimbledon fans, fed up with the direction in which the owners were leading the object of their love, have set up a football club of their own. ... Wimbledon fans were in seemingly perpetual dispute with the club's owners. At times last season, the vitriol was so intense that the directors' box at Selhurst Park would be surrounded for entire games with supporters hurling venom at its occupants. ... Early in 2001, Wimbledon's owners announced that they intended to move the club to the Buckinghamshire new town. The fans were adamant that it should remain in their community. 'They wanted to steal our club', says Kevin Rye, of the Wimbledon Independent Supporters Association (Wisa). 'Nick it and move it 70 miles north. That's what it is: nothing short of theft.'
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External links
- Official website
- The Dons Trust
- AFC Wimbledon on BBC Sport: Club news – Recent results and fixtures
- AFC Wimbledon at the Football Club History Database