The story of Wimbledon FC is, on the whole, a happy one. The late 80s brought unprecedented success, with the most treasured honour in their history being the 1988 FA Cup. The 'Crazy Gang' won plaudits in this spell for their spirited and committed performances, but a decade on, and the shine was wearing off. After the Hillsbrough disaster, the Taylor report ruled the extensive redevelopment of many grounds, including Plough Lane. The club had long been looking to leave the ground, and the then owner Sam Hamam did not have the money to redevelop, so they groundshared with Crystal Palace from 1991 to 2003. This was unpopular with fans, but not as much as what followed. From the 2003-04 season on, those that stuck around had to endure a relocation to Milton Keynes, 80 miles away, and after one season of transition under the original Wimbledon name, a new name to complete the misery - Milton Keynes Dons. Many previous owners had looked into alternative homes - understandable given Plough Lane's tiny capacity - but Charles Koppell, who had long been interested in a move to Milton Keynes, had taken was a step too far. In 2007, the move was complete, as the MK Dons set up home at Stadium mk, and since 2007, the club has given up the legacy and history of Wimbledon FC, as the Football Supporters Federation was refusing to recognise its supporters groups. Most of the original Wimbledon support had long since been following AFC Wimbledon, who began life in 2002 in the nineth tier, and have since risen to League Two. The two clubs even met once in the FA Cup, with the MK Dons coming through 2-1 at their new home in 2012.
I am from Bangor, aged 24, and possess an MA in Journalism from The University Of Ulster. I have had work published in the Belfast Telegraph and interviewed several local footballers and Olympic athletes. I also run my own sports blog, 'Sporting Thought' in addition to contributing to What Culture.
