Back in November 2012, Ben Dudley took a look at a handful of various Phoenix clubs from around the country. He posted a lengthy article on 'Supporters Not Customers' ahead of a game between MK Dons and AFC Wimbledon. Here's what he had to say about the Dons.
This is not a game based on rivalry or dislike, but the shameful theft of a football club. Milton Keynes are a football club who simply should not exist, while AFC Wimbledon are a tale of true strength in the face of adversity. Not even Hollywood itself could come up with such a clearcut story of good versus evil, and AFC Wimbledon will surely have the support of the entire football public outside of Milton Keynes.
Instead of focusing on the odious tale of Milton Keynes and the football club that should not exist, the story of AFC Wimbledon is a rare example of the good in British football and supporters who are prepared to fight back against the modern game. While AFC Wimbledon are by far the most successful to date, there are a number of clubs that have either been wound up and come back to life thanks to the fans, or were founded due to opposition to the way the original club was run.
This is the story of the fans who fought back and the clubs who refused to die.
AFC Wimbledon
Formed in 2002 after being betrayed by the FA and the creation of Milton Keynes, AFC Wimbledon held open trials on Wimbledon Common, with over 200 players turning up to compete for a place in the first ever squad. Angered by the move and the statement that it was “not in the wider interests of football” for Wimbledon to rise from the ashes, the club began life in the ninth tier of football.
Finishing third in their first season and narrowly missing out on promotion at the first attempt, they would not make the same mistake twice. They began their second season with a staggering 21 wins in a row, ending the season unbeaten with 130 points from a possible 138 and a goal difference of +148. Perhaps unsurprisingly with that level of league dominance, they also collected the Premier Challenge Cup contested by teams in that division. There was no stopping AFC Wimbledon now, as they won the league once more, finishing comfortably clear of Walton and Hersham in second place by nine points. They did finally lose a game however, as a record 78 game undefeated streak in the league came to an end.
AFC Wimbledon had progressed extremely well up until the 2007/08 season, but it was at this stage that things truly took off. Manager Terry Brown was appointed after the Dons had lost to Bromley in the playoffs the season before, in what was to prove a magnificent appointment. Brown would become a true club legend, starting in style by winning promotion to the Conference South via the playoffs. Trailing Staines Town 1 – 0 in the final with eight minutes to go, two goals in two minutes saw the Wombles turn it round and move a step closer to a return to the Football League.
Brown was far from finished there, as AFC won the Conference North at the first attempt. The title was sealed on the final day of the season with a comfortable 3 – 0 win over St Albans, with a capacity crowd of 4,722 on hand to witness the Dons fourth promotion in seven seasons. Interestingly, at the other end of the table that season were Fisher Athletic, who would go bust before being relaunched by the fans.
It would take two attempts for the Dons, but a return to the Football League would eventually be completed in the most dramatic of circumstances. They had finished 8th in the 2009/10 season, some way off the playoffs despite a number of good results. If Wimbledon fans feared the journey back to the Football League was running out of steam, these fears would soon prove to be unfounded in the 2010/11 campaign. Big spending Crawley Town would win the title, finishing 15 points clear of second place. However, it was the Wombles themselves who took second position, qualifying for the playoffs.
AFC would see themselves take on Fleetwood Town in the playoffs, who are also a reformed club having come back to life in 1997. There was no time for niceties from Wimbledon however, who demolished their opponents 8 – 1 over the two legs of the semi-final, including four goals from striker Kaid Yusef Mohamed. This set up a playoff final at the home of Manchester City, taking on the long-term Football League side Luton Town. Showing the extent of the damage done to both clubs in recent years, 23 years earlier, Luton and the original Wimbledon had met in an FA Cup semi-final.
Like many playoff finals it was hardly a classic, with no goals in the 90 minutes or the extra time period. Penalties would settle the game at the Etihad, with the tensest of finishes for one side to complete their fairytale return to the Football League. After Luton missed their opening kick, it looked as is Mohamed may go from hero to zero. Having fired his team to the final with four goals, he missed from the spot and let Luton back in to the shootout. However, Luton missed their next kick, allowing Wimbledon hero and top goalscorer Danny Kedwell to step up. With an entire football nation behind him, he made no mistake and Wimbledon were back.
Wimbledon have thrived in the Football League, staying up comfortably in their first season and currently clear of the relegation places once again, despite conceding 11 goals in the first two matches of the season. Whatever the result when they take on the Milton Keynes abomination, they have proved they are indeed not only in the wider interest of football, but a true inspiration for any disenchanted football supporter.