In 1988 Wimbledon lifted the FA Cup. In 2012, the MK Dons are 5th in League 2. Two completely unrelated facts to anyone who doesn’t know the history involved here. But of course Wimbledon FC and the MK Dons are one and the same. And there has been more than a simple name change involved in the evolution of this club. And if you don’t believe that, just ask an AFC Wimbledon fan.
Wimbledon FC rose to prominence in the 80’s, climbing from the fourth tier of English football to the top in just four years. Their 1988 FA Cup final victory over Liverpool only served to further cement their place at the top table.
As much as they were known for their staggering progress on the pitch, they were equally as famous for their antics off of it. Affectionately nicknamed the Crazy Gang, stories of dressing room initiations and pranks were common place. John Hartson famously had his Armani suit torched shortly after joining the club. Just another day at the office for the crazy gang.
As the Premier League era began to swing into full force Wimbledon and their group of rowdy players were a huge part of the league. Players like Vinnie Jones, Dean Holdsworth and Efan Ekoku were synonymous with the league in the mid 90’s. And their direct brand could cause problems for any side.
Wimbledon was no longer known for Tennis and Wombles. Although they never really troubled the likes of Manchester United, Newcastle United and Arsenal when it came to dominating the league at this time. Involved, more often than not, in the battle at the wrong end of the table.
Another underlying story to Wimbledon’s Premier League life was their attempts to find a permanent home. During their top flight stay they shared Crystal Palace’s Selhurst Park. This is one of the main determining factors in their eventual move to Milton Keynes. The difficulty of finding somewhere to build in London, paired with the expense, became an insurmountable hurdle.
In the USA it’s not unusual for one of their sports teams (or franchises) to up sticks and move to a completely different town or state. But in England a team moving away from its loyal fan base was unheard of and definitely unpopular. However it’s out of this situation that the MK Dons were born. An American style team name to go with their American style relocation. Wimbledon FC were no more and Milton Keynes Dons were here to stay.
The MK Dons played the first league match of this new era in League One in 2004. They are still a League One side with high aspirations and one of the most promising young managers in the country, 31 year old Karl Robinson. They have started to form a history all of their own, already winning a league (League 2) and a cup (the football league trophy) during their short tenure.
Things are certainly going well for the MK Dons thus far. Progress has been steady but visible, Stadium MK now averages over 8000 fans for a home game. Impressive for a side who had to establish an entirely new fan base from scratch in a new town. But what of the thousands of Wimbledon fans? Unsurprisingly, most weren’t willing to relocate to Milton Keynes even if their club had.
The term ‘Phoenix Club’ is a relatively new one to football. It refers to a football club created in the image, or possibly in the memory, of another. Rising from the ashes of Wimbledon FC were ‘AFC Wimbledon’. The idea being that they were a club set up by the fans, run by the fans, and most importantly run for the fans.
A firm protest against the decision to move their beloved team out of Wimbledon and into Milton Keynes. AFC Wimbledon were formed in 2002 as news of the relocation began to come to fruition. After five promotions in nine seasons, the club are now enjoying their first season as a full member of the football league. Playing Bristol Rovers at home in their first League Two game in August 2011.
AFC Wimbledon are the first of these ‘Phoenix Clubs’ to enter the football league. But others are hot on their heels. AFC Rushden and Diamonds the latest to be formed.
AFC Wimbledon have achieved a huge amount in their short time in existence. Arriving in the football league was a huge step for them. But priority number one now seems to be quite simple: overtake the MK Dons. There is still a lot of animosity from the AFC Wimbledon fans towards the team from Stadium MK. Even today they are campaigning for the word Dons to be removed from the Milton Keynes’ name. It is part of Wimbledon’s history they say, not Milton Keynes’.
The AFC Wimbledon fans may never forgive or forget the fact that their team was snatched away from them and moved 70 miles down the road, and who can blame them. The intertwined legacy of these two sides is of vital importance to everyone involved. But even more important still is where these franchises, sorry, I mean football clubs, end up in the future.