MK Dons shocked the footballing world in August 2014 when they thrashed Louis Van Gaal’s Manchester United 4-0 in the EFL League Cup. Today’s Bournemouth striker Benik Afobe and football meme master Will Grigg each fired two goals past David De Gea alongside now Spurs crucial first team player Dele Alli. However, not many people are aware of the colorful and controversial past of MK Dons, the way the League One team came to be can only be described as a total mess.
(IMG: Getty)
The Dons
The “Dons” in MK Dons may not mean much to you, but to the supporters of AFC Wimbledon, it is a scandal. AFC Wimbledon and MK Dons have now become fierce rivals in the EFL League One but the two teams share the same history, the two rivals were once a very successful South-London based team called Wimbledon FC nicknamed “The Dons”. MK and Wimbledon’s rivalry is based on the dissolution of the original Wimbledon FC. When people hear the of the club Wimbledon FC they think success and for many years the Dons were playing at top level, including the 1988 FA Cup where a famous win over Liverpool saw them lifting the old trophy. Trouble however, struck the team in 1991.
(IMG: Getty)
Wimbledon FC Dissolution
After almost eighty years at Plough Lane, Wimbledon FC decided in 1991 to relocate to a different stadium and their temporary solution was to groundshare Shelhurst Park with nearby Crystal Palace came a reality, however that temporary solution proved to last over a decade and in the end saw Wimbledon being relegated from the FA Premier League. In August 2001 the club announced that it would relocate 50 miles north-west of London to Milton Keynes much to the appaul of fans and in May 2002 that permission was given by the FA to the old Wimbledon FC to change to today’s MK Dons after they changed their name following the club’s administration.
AFC Wimbledon
Wimbledon fans in London were left with a sour taste in their mouth and took matters into their own hands and only two days after the FA confirmed the old Wimbledon’s relocation, the fans of the famous club formed a new club starting in the lowest tier in England, the ninth tier. The club was called AFC Wimbledon. The club hosted trials for unattached players who considered themselves good enough for the team, attracting 230 players and from those players, the club’s first team squad was selected. AFC Wimbledon’s first game was a pre-season match against Sutton United, ending with a 4-0 defeat under former Wimbledon FC player Terry Eames. The club enjoyed a rapid rise in the English Football tiers and in spring of 2011, the club reached the playoffs for the Football League Two and after beating Fleetwood Town 8-1 on aggregate in two legs, the team faced Luton Town at Manchester City’s home, the Etihad Stadium. The game went on to finish 0-0 in regular time with AFC Wimbledon eventually winning 4-3 on penalties in what is possibly today the club’s greatest moment and finally entering the Football League again officially as a different club.
(IMG: Daily Mail)
Heated Rivalry
In 2016 AFC Wimbledon were promoted to the EFL Football League One after a 2-0 playoff win over Plymouth Argyle at Wembley and their following season would be very interesting for their fans as they were now in the same tier as their former original club MK Dons, the two teams had faced each other three times before meeting in League One in various cup competitions but their rivalry would be taken to a new level in December of 2016 when the two teams would meet at Stadium MK which enden in a 1-0 win for MK but in the reverse fixture, AFC Wimbledon overcame their enemies in a dramatic 2-0 win much to the delight of fans who felt they made a statement to MK as of which club is the superior one and that crazy night at Kingsmeadow in Kingston upon Thames will surely be one that Wimbledon fans will remember. This season MK beat Wimbledon first time out but at Stadium MK in the reverse fixture, a stone cold 0-0 draw was made. However as of matchday 28, AFC Wimbledon sit in 16th place, five places above MK Dons who are facing danger of relegation into League Two, however, future fixtures between these two sides will surely be very interesting and hopefully a team like AFC Wimbledon, a fan owned team can reach the Premiership and take their rivalry with MK into the elite tier.
Future of Both Clubs
For both clubs, the future seems very bright. MK Dons boast a beautiful stadium and one of England’s best youth systems, notably players such as Dele Alli and more. In the future we might see MK Dons challenging for a place in the Premier League if the club continues it’s path. The same goes for their rivals in Wimbledon, the club is one of England’s fastest rising teams and have shot up the tiers and it would be no surprise if they could reach the same heights as the original Wimbledon FC did back in the day. A plan for a new stadium is in the picture at the club that will take 11.000 sitting spectators, more than double what they have at their current ground Kingsmeadow, which is shared with Chelsea FC’s womens and youth teams, even greater for the club is that the new stadium is planned to be built in the same street as original Wimbledon FC’s ground Plough Lane stood, further making the claim that they are the successors of the Dons.
(IMG: Pete Norton - FA)
Post by: Emil Árnason
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