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AFC Wimbledon

A supporter-owned south-west London club whose modern identity was forged by refusing relocation, starting again at the bottom and bringing Wimbledon football back to Plough Lane.

Est. 2002 Wimbledon / Merton, south-west London Plough Lane (commercially named Cherry Red Records Stadium in current use) 51 researched sources
Matchday guides Plan an away day Official club links
OVERVIEW & IDENTITY

The club behind the badge

Identity & place

What this club is really about

Control, place and earned status. AFC Wimbledon exists because supporters decided that a football club could not be reduced to a league place that could simply be moved elsewhere. The striking part is what followed: they formed a side, built a democratic ownership structure, climbed from the Combined Counties League to the EFL, financed a new Plough Lane and filled that new ground with physical reminders of the old one.

Place, industry & identity
CLUB ARCHIVE

History Snapshot

  1. 1975: non-League Wimbledon frightens the establishment

  2. 1977: election to the Football League

  3. 1988: the FA Cup

View full history
Living identity

Why that identity still matters

The founding argument is still operational rather than ceremonial. Dons Trust members retain constitutional control, major funding decisions have repeatedly depended on supporter consent or supporter capital, and heritage is built into the stadium rather than kept in a detached nostalgia section. Even recent episodes such as the 2024 flood produced the same reflex: organise, raise money and protect the club collectively.

Supporters & community
verified contemporary broadcast/reporting

Akinfenwa advertises himself on live television

After converting the last-gasp penalty that sealed 2016 promotion, Adebayo Akinfenwa announced in the post-match interview that he was out of contract and told managers they could reach him on WhatsApp. It is funny because it happened at…

Explore Deep Cuts & Folklore
Official club links
51 Researched sources View sources →
  1. Club accessed 2026-09-28
  2. About the Trust accessed 2026-09-28
  3. Our corporate structure accessed 2026-09-28
  4. Game on for new Wimbledon accessed 2026-09-28
  5. A club is born accessed 2026-09-28
  6. Pitch battle accessed 2026-09-28
  7. AFC Wimbledon feel a sense of wonder on return to Football League accessed 2026-09-28
  8. Wimbledon keep on running to the record accessed 2026-09-28
  9. AFC Wimbledon’s history with MK Dons adds extra edge to Liverpool tie accessed 2026-09-28
  10. AFC Wimbledon 0-0 Luton Town (4-3 on penalties) accessed 2026-09-28
  11. AFC Wimbledon 2-0 Plymouth Argyle accessed 2026-09-28
  12. League Two play-off final: AFC Wimbledon v Plymouth Argyle accessed 2026-09-28
  13. Bradford 0-0 AFC Wimbledon accessed 2026-09-28
  14. Wally Downes: The Great Escape and AFC Wimbledon accessed 2026-09-28
  15. AFC Wimbledon 1-0 Walsall: League Two play-off final accessed 2026-09-28
  16. Update on the Plough Lane Bond accessed 2026-09-28
  17. It only took 29 years accessed 2026-09-28
  18. Thank you for bringing us home accessed 2026-09-28
  19. AFC Wimbledon and the fight for a club’s identity accessed 2026-09-28
  20. AFC Wimbledon secure their return to Merton accessed 2026-09-28
  21. AFC Wimbledon: The story of the club’s return to Plough Lane accessed 2026-09-28
  22. Wimbledon in Sporting History accessed 2026-09-28
  23. Wimbledon in Sporting History achievements brochure accessed 2026-09-28
  24. The Future Is Bright accessed 2026-09-28
  25. Paul Strank MBE accessed 2026-09-28
  26. Another fabled legend finds its rightful place accessed 2026-09-28
  27. Allen Batsford obituary accessed 2026-09-28
  28. Predictable Play Cost Burnley Defeat accessed 2026-09-28
  29. FA Cup: How Wimbledon’s Crazy Gang shocked Liverpool in 1988 accessed 2026-09-28
  30. Wimbledon’s 1988 FA Cup win: Former physio Caroline Brouwer recalls Crazy Gang accessed 2026-09-28
  31. AFC Wimbledon v MK Dons: “It is not a rivalry” accessed 2026-09-28
  32. AFC Wimbledon v MK Dons: The rivalry that fans say is not a rivalry accessed 2026-09-28
  33. AFC Wimbledon and MK Dons: history, identity and the first meeting accessed 2026-09-28
  34. AFC Wimbledon 2-0 MK Dons accessed 2026-09-28
  35. Wimbledon in Sporting History collection: 78 Game Unbeaten Run accessed 2026-09-28
  36. History accessed 2026-09-28
  37. England FA Amateur Cup history accessed 2026-09-28
  38. Who are your London rivals? accessed 2026-09-28
  39. The Songbook accessed 2026-09-28
  40. Underdog eat underdog: Wimbledon greyhounds make way for AFC stadium accessed 2026-09-28
  41. Borough of Wimbledon coat of arms accessed 2026-09-28
  42. About us accessed 2026-09-28
  43. Our story accessed 2026-09-28
  44. Wimbledon FC memorabilia returns home accessed 2026-09-28
  45. Wimbledon football heritage goes on permanent display accessed 2026-09-28
  46. AFC Wimbledon flood: More than 100,000 litres pumped from stadium accessed 2026-09-28
  47. AFC Wimbledon ask fans to pause flood fundraiser after £120,000 raised accessed 2026-09-28
  48. Plough Lane, AFC Wimbledon accessed 2026-09-28
  49. Kevin Cooper — WiSH/WOPA programme feature accessed 2026-09-28
  50. Allen Batsford era reunion / heritage feature accessed 2026-09-28
  51. Films and oral histories accessed 2026-09-28
The Dons
“A supporter-owned south-west London club whose modern identity was forged by refusing relocation, starting again at…”
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