3651: AFC Wimbledon Keep the Plough

by : Hugh Larkin

In the past 12 months FC United of Manchester have been in the spotlight as they made their protest about the Glazer regime at Old Trafford. At the same time the other fans protest club, AFC Wimbledon- who enjoy very cordial relations with their FC United counterparts- continue to keep the Wimbledon flame alive in South London.

AFC are now in their 5th season of non-League football and because of their successes and the relegations of MK Dons, they now stand only three promotions (or demotions) from being able to take on the club that abandoned the Wimbledon area.

MK Dons have dropped to League Two, which is the fourth tier of English football. Below that lie the two divisions of the non-League Conference and then the Ryman Premier where AFC Wimbledon reside. It is a tantalising prospect for the disenfranchised fans that formed and nurtured the new club.

Like FC United, the new Wimbledon were able to gather momentum quickly and bring a huge number of supporters to matches at lower non-league level. The club came through two levels of the Combined Counties League in successive seasons, the second one as unbeaten champions and also secured promotion in their first year of Ryman football.

Progress was maintained with 4th spot in the Premier Division last season although there was disappointment in a play off defeat to Fisher Athletic. The current campaign has seen them off to an unbeaten start in 7 matches and there is every expectation of at least another crack at the play offs for a chance to join Conference South.

AFC Wimbledon isn’t just about the first team squad either. The club run an impressive number of junior teams- men and women- at all age levels and have been determined to ensure the club is part of the community. The formation of the Wimbledon Old Players Association maintains the links to past stars and the Dons side that shocked the Premiership. Famous names in the WOPA include Fashanu, Beasant, Ekoku, Bassett, Gayle and Kimble

AFC Wimbledon are imbued with the spirit that took the original Wimbledon up into the Football League from non-league roots. It was amazing that such a club could travel as far as the English top flight and all connected with the new club hope to make the return journey to the Football League.

By contrast, life hasn’t been too good for MK Dons since their move to Milton Keynes, although they have made a strong start to life in League Two. Naturally, MK Dons receive little sympathy at the Fans’ Stadium, although there were some Wimbledon supporters who continued to follow the relocated club.

In their climb up the non-league Pyramid, AFC have added experienced performers to their squad such as Roscoe D’Sane, an England international at semi-pro level, plus the club have held on to talents like Richard Butler, a striker coveted by more senior non-league outfits.

An average crowd of 2,700 is more than respectable at this tier of football and similar attendances can maintain the momentum at the club. Manager Dave Anderson has a solid record at this level with Hendon and the ex-Wolves and Glentoran player has been in charge since 2004.

At the elite level soccer is often castigated for its insular and sometimes warped values but down the Pyramid football teams make a positive contribution to their community identity and few are doing it with more energy than AFC Wimbledon.

Without wishing ill on MK Dons and their committed supporters, the AFC Wimbledon story is a continually uplifting tale and there is the hope that by the end of the decade the new Dons could be back within at least touching distance of League status.