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AFC Wimbledon

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AFC Wimbledon
Full name AFC Wimbledon
Formed 2002
Ground The Fans' Stadium - Kingsmeadow, London
Manager Dave Anderson
Nickname The Dons

AFC Wimbledon is a semi-professional English football team representing the area of Wimbledon and Merton in London, though they currently play their games in nearby Kingston upon Thames. They spent their first seasons in the Premier Division of the Seagrave Haulage Combined Counties League but have been promoted to the Isthmian League First Division for the 2004/2005 season after winning the CCL championship with seven games left to play with a 0-3 away victory at Walton Casuals on April 13, 2004. On April 30, 2004 they completed a "Double" by winning the CCL's Premier Challenge Cup; on May 8, they completed an undefeated season in league competition (42 wins and 4 draws). They now hold the all-time United Kingdom record for consecutive unbeaten league games, at 78.

The club was founded in 2002 when The Football Association allowed the owners of what was then Wimbledon FC to relocate to the town of Milton Keynes on the far side of Buckinghamshire. Although the old team was unable to move for more than a year, their traditional local support dried up almost immediately. The Wombles mascot and Wimbledon heraldic badge were denied to them. Finally, in 2004, Wimbledon FC renamed themselves Milton Keynes Dons, leaving AFC Wimbledon the sole bearer of the 'Wimbledon' name.

All organized supporters' groups that had followed the old club switched allegiance to AFC Wimbledon, and the club has consistently drawn greater attendances, playing in a small regional league, than the old club, playing much better-known and better-supported opposition in the First Division of the Football League. Supporters of other clubs around the country have generally united in a boycott of Wimbledon FC (often mocked as "Franchise FC") in a protest against the club's relocation which is perceived as a move totally alien to the traditions of the English game.

In their first competitive season AFC Wimbledon started slowly, but won their last 11 league games to finish the season in third place, narrowly missing promotion to the Ryman Isthmian League. In their second, they were unbeaten, winning 42 games and drawing four. They won their first 21 league games before a draw on 10 January 2004, giving them 32 consecutive wins in league games over two seasons. By this time, AFC Wimbledon was the only club in England at any level to maintain a perfect league record for the 2003-04 season, and all others not to have lost had drawn more times. The Dons went on to complete an unbeaten regular season, easily earning promotion to the Isthmian League First Division.

The Dons set a new all-time record for longest streak of unbeaten league games at any level of senior football in the United Kingdom with their 76th, a 1-1 draw at Bromley F.C., on November 13, 2004, and a 2-1 victory over Bashley F.C. on November 27 made it 78. Withdean 2000, 2002/2003 CCL champions, delivered AFC Wimbledon's last league defeat on Saturday 22 February 2003.

Controlled by the Dons Trust, a supporters' group, AFC Wimbledon launched a share issue in 2003 to finance the acquisition of the Kingsmeadow ground, which they intend to operate as "The Fans' Stadium". The club hopes to play there until they can obtain a ground in Wimbledon proper, where no "Wimbledon" first team has played since the closure of Wimbledon F.C.'s Plough Lane ground in 1991.

By the end of the season, the biggest question was whether the players would manage to go through the entire season unbeaten. The answer was an emphatic yes as they finished with 42 games won and just four drawn, chalking up a record 130 points and a staggering goal difference of +148.

And, to complete a fantastic Combined Counties League double, the Dons also lifted the Premier Challenge Cup, coming from behind to beat North Greenford United 4-1 at a packed Kingfield stadium.

The summer of 2004 saw a Wimbledon side back in the Isthmian League for the first time since 1964. At the time of writing, the Dons are top of the Ryman First Division, having played 15 games, winning 11 and drawing 4. Although they lead only by two points, they have three games in hand on their closest pursuer. Also, the Dons, in their first appearance in the FA Cup since the creation of AFC Wimbledon, reached the Third Qualifying Round, bowing out to a better organised team, Thurrock, from Conference South (two divisions above).

In naming the club, the founders sought a name as close to "Wimbledon FC" as possible, and their first choice, "FC Wimbledon", was rejected by the authorities. They gained approval for "AFC Wimbledon", the initials A.F.C. being common in club names and understood to officially stand for "Association Football Club". However, the alternate meaning "A Fan's Club" is promoted to memorialize the intent of the Wimbledon supporters who formed the club.

Their main sponsors are Sports Interactive, the creators of Championship Manager and now developers of Football Manager.

Official sites

Unofficial sites

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