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 two seasons in the Premier Division of the Seagrave Haulage Combined Counties League, but were 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 12, 2004. On April 30, 2004 they completed a "Double" by winning the CCL's Premier Challenge Cup. Wins on March 28 and April 9, 2005 guaranteed promotion to the Isthmian League Premier Division and the First Division title. They set 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 Milton Keynes Dons FC (often mocked as "Franchise FC" or "MK Franchise") in a protest against the club's relocation which is perceived as a move totally alien to the traditions of the English game.
AFC Wimbledon was placed under the ownership of the Dons Trust, a supporters' group which has pledged to retain 75% or greater ownership, though in 2003 they sold a minority interest in a share issue to finance the acquisition of Kingstonian's Kingsmeadow Stadium, which they operate as The Fans' Stadium, Kingsmeadow, offering space to the Football Supporters Federation. AFC Wimbledon intend to play there until they can afford to return to Wimbledon proper, where no "Wimbledon" first team has played since the closure of Wimbledon F.C.'s Plough Lane ground in 1991.
In 2002-03, 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 2003-04 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(42 wins,4 draws,goal difference +148), easily earning promotion to the Isthmian League First Division.
The 2004-05 season saw a Wimbledon side back in the Isthmian League for the first time since 1964. After 39 games, they had won 27, drawn nine, and lost three, having led the division all season. 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 Thurrock from Conference South (two divisions above).They will contest the Surrey Senior Cup final on May 3,having defeated teams from higher leagues in earlier rounds.
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) before the streak finally ended at Cray Wanderers F.C. with a 2-0 loss on December 4, 2004.
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 London F.A.. 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". In January 2005, Marc Jones - one of the founders of the club - explained that in actual fact "'AFC' stands for NOTHING... we thought it sounded non-league but it never stood for anything." [1]. That said, the alternate meaning "A Fan's Club" has been suggested by some to memorialize the intent of the same Wimbledon supporters who formed the club.
Their main sponsors are Sports Interactive, the creators of Championship Manager and now developers of Football Manager.
External links
Official sites
Unofficial sites
Last updated: 05-08-2005 05:05:30
