AFC Wimbledon facts for kids
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| Full name | AFC Wimbledon | |||
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| Nickname(s) | The Dons The Wombles |
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| Founded | 30 May 2002 | |||
| Ground | Plough Lane | |||
| Capacity | 9,215 | |||
| Owner | The Dons Trust | |||
| Manager | Johnnie Jackson | |||
| League | League One | |||
| 2018–19 | League One, 20th of 24 | |||
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AFC Wimbledon is a professional association football club in Wimbledon, London. The team plays in EFL League Two, which is the fourth level of English football.
The club started in 2002. It was created by fans of the old Wimbledon F.C. The original club was allowed to move to Milton Keynes, about 60 miles away. Most fans did not want the club to move so far. They felt it would no longer represent Wimbledon. The old club moved in 2003 and changed its name to Milton Keynes Dons in 2004.
When AFC Wimbledon was formed, it joined the Combined Counties Football League. This was the ninth level of English football. The club has been promoted six times in 13 seasons. They moved from the ninth tier all the way to the third tier (League One).
AFC Wimbledon holds a record for the longest unbeaten run in English senior football. They played 78 league games without losing between February 2003 and December 2004. They are also the first club started in the 21st century to join the English Football League.
The club first played at Kingsmeadow. They shared this ground with another club, Kingstonian. In November 2020, AFC Wimbledon moved to Plough Lane. This new stadium is very close to the original Plough Lane, where Wimbledon played until 1991. The new stadium can hold 9,215 fans.
Contents
Club History: How AFC Wimbledon Began
Starting a New Club: The Foundation Story
On May 28, 2002, the the Football Association allowed Wimbledon to move to Milton Keynes. This decision was made partly because the club's chairman said they might go bankrupt.
Many Wimbledon fans were very upset by this. They protested and stopped going to home games. This caused fewer people to attend matches.
After the FA's decision, a group of Wimbledon fans met. They decided that since they couldn't stop the move, they would start a new club from scratch. On May 30, 2002, they decided to create a community-based club called AFC Wimbledon. They asked for money to help start it.
On June 13, 2002, the new club announced its manager, team kit, and badge. They also showed off their stadium. To find players quickly, AFC Wimbledon held trials on June 29, 2002. Anyone who thought they were good enough could try out. About 230 players showed up, and the first team was chosen from them.
Climbing the Ranks: Non-League Football (2002–2011)
Combined Counties League: Unbeaten Run
In the 2002–03 season, AFC Wimbledon played in the Combined Counties Football League. Their first manager was former Wimbledon player Terry Eames. Their very first game was a friendly against Sutton United on July 10, 2002, which they lost 4–0. However, 4,657 fans came to watch! In their first season, they finished third in the league. They almost got promoted, winning their last 11 games.
In 2003–04, AFC Wimbledon won their first 21 league games. They had an amazing run of 32 wins in a row over two seasons. The team finished as champions of the Combined Counties League. They did not lose a single game that season, with 42 wins and four draws. They also won the league's Premier Challenge Cup, completing a double (winning two trophies in one season).
Isthmian League: More Promotions
Dave Anderson became the new manager in May 2004. Under him, AFC Wimbledon continued their success in the 2004–05 season. They played in the Isthmian League First Division and stayed at the top all season. They won the title and were promoted again. They also won the Surrey Senior Cup, making it another double. During this season, AFC Wimbledon set a new record. They went 78 league matches without losing. This was the longest unbeaten run in senior football in the UK.
The 2005–06 season was tougher. AFC Wimbledon struggled to stay in the play-off spots. They eventually made it to the play-offs but lost 2–1 to Fisher Athletic. This stopped them from getting promoted for a third time in a row. They also lost the Surrey Senior Cup final to Kingstonian.
In 2006–07, the club faced a problem with a player's registration. This led to them being kicked out of two cup competitions. They also had three points taken away from them. Despite this, they reached the play-offs again but lost 1–0 to Bromley. Manager Dave Anderson then left the club.
Terry Brown became the new manager in May 2007. In his first season (2007–08), he led the club to promotion to the Conference South. They finished third in the league and won their play-off final against Staines Town 2–1.
The Conference: Reaching the Football League
AFC Wimbledon spent most of the 2008–09 season at the top of the league. They became champions of the Conference Premier after beating St Albans City 3–0. This game had a record crowd of 4,722 at Kingsmeadow.
The 2009–10 season was their first in the Conference Premier. They finished eighth, which was their first season not in the top five.
In 2010–11, AFC Wimbledon finished second in the Conference Premier. This meant they qualified for the play-offs. They beat Fleetwood Town 8–1 over two games. This was the biggest winning difference in the play-offs since they started. In the final at the City of Manchester Stadium on May 21, 2011, AFC Wimbledon beat Luton Town in a penalty shoot-out. This victory meant they were promoted to the English Football League! It was their fifth promotion in just nine years. AFC Wimbledon became the first club started in the 21st century to reach the Football League.
Playing in the Football League (2011–Present)
The 2011–12 season was AFC Wimbledon's first in EFL League Two. They started well but then had a tough time. They finished 16th, safely away from the relegation zone.
The 2012–13 season was the club's tenth anniversary. After a bad start, manager Terry Brown was sacked. Former Wimbledon player Neal Ardley took over. On December 2, 2012, AFC Wimbledon played Milton Keynes Dons for the first time in the FA Cup. AFC Wimbledon lost 2–1. The Dons secured their Football League spot on the last day of the season. They beat Fleetwood Town 2–1, even though they started the day in the relegation zone.
In the 2013–14 season, a game involving AFC Wimbledon was part of a failed attempt to fix a match. Some people were charged with trying to bribe players. The club also had three points taken away because a player was not properly registered.
The 2014–15 season saw AFC Wimbledon play Milton Keynes Dons again. MK Dons won 3–1 in the League Cup. However, AFC Wimbledon got their first win against their rivals, beating them 3–2 in the Football League Trophy. They also reached the FA Cup third round for the first time. They lost 2–1 to Liverpool.
The 2015–16 season was their fifth in EFL League Two. They finished strong, winning seven of their last ten games. This put them in seventh place, their highest League Two finish. They qualified for the 2016 Football League play-offs. A record 4,870 fans watched them beat Accrington Stanley 1–0 in the play-off semi-final. This win led them to the final at Wembley against Plymouth Argyle. On May 30, 2016, exactly 14 years after the club started, AFC Wimbledon won 2–0. They were promoted to League One!
The 2016–17 season was AFC Wimbledon's first in EFL League One. They did well in local derby games, drawing with Millwall and Charlton Athletic. They also beat Charlton 2–1 away. This season, AFC Wimbledon was in the same division as Milton Keynes Dons for the first time. AFC Wimbledon beat them 2–0 at Kingsmeadow. The club finished 15th in the league.
AFC Wimbledon had a slow start to the 2017–18 season. They won only five of their first 20 league games. On December 3, 2017, they beat Charlton Athletic 3–1 in the FA Cup. They then played Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley. On December 13, 2017, the club got permission to build a new stadium. It would be on the site of the old Wimbledon Greyhound Stadium. This new ground is only 250 yards from the original Plough Lane (1912–98). The club stayed in League One. For the first time, AFC Wimbledon was in a higher division than Milton Keynes Dons.
The 2018–19 season started very badly. They lost twelve of their first seventeen league games. Manager Neal Ardley left the club. A highlight was reaching the FA Cup 5th Round for the first time. They beat West Ham United 4–2. After being at the bottom for most of 2019, they lost only 1 of their last 12 league games. This helped them avoid relegation on the last day of the season.
Moving to Plough Lane
In November 2020, the club moved to Plough Lane, their new stadium. It's only 250 yards from the original Plough Lane. The first match there was on November 3, 2020, a 2–2 draw against Doncaster Rovers. The club's youth coach, Mark Robinson, became manager in January 2021. He helped the club avoid relegation. At the end of the 2021–22 season, Wimbledon was relegated from League One. Johnnie Jackson was then appointed as the new manager.
Season-by-Season Results
Club Badge and Colours
The club's badge is based on the old coat of arms of Wimbledon. It shows a black double-headed eagle. This comes from a local story that Julius Caesar once camped on Wimbledon Common. The eagle was his symbol.
The team's colours are royal blue and yellow. These were the colours of the original Wimbledon team when they became successful. The first kit in 2002 was royal blue, white shorts, and white socks. Since then, the home kit has always been mostly royal blue with yellow details. The away kit is usually yellow with blue details.
To celebrate their first game in the Football League on August 6, 2011, the team wore a special white and blue kit. It looked like the kit the original Wimbledon wore in 1977–78. This was to remember their first season in the Football League.
On May 14, 2020, the club released a slightly changed badge. This was to mark 32 years since Wimbledon won the FA Cup in 1988. It also celebrated the new stadium at Plough Lane.
Sponsors and Kit Makers
| Period | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 (pre season) | Umbro | Championship Manager |
| 2002–2012 | Tempest Sports | Sports Interactive |
| 2012–2014 | Football Manager | |
| 2014–2018 | Admiral | |
| 2018–2022 | Puma | |
| 2022–2023 | Hummel | |
| 2023–2024 | Umbro | |
| 2024– | War Child |
AFC Wimbledon's shirts have been sponsored by Sports Interactive, a computer game company, since 2002. The current kits are made by Umbro. Before, other companies like Tempest Sports, Admiral Sportswear, and Puma made their kits.
In April 2022, the club announced that Hummel would make their kits for the 2022–23 season. Hummel used to make kits for the old Wimbledon FC. However, in March 2023, AFC Wimbledon switched back to Umbro because Hummel's UK distributor went out of business.
Club Mascot
In 2006, AFC Wimbledon got a new mascot. It's a Womble named "Haydon". The name comes from Haydons Road, which is the closest train station to both the old and new Plough Lane stadiums.
Club Rivalries
Milton Keynes Dons: The Big Rivalry
AFC Wimbledon's biggest rival is Milton Keynes Dons. This is because MK Dons is the club that resulted from the original Wimbledon moving in 2003. Some AFC Wimbledon fans don't even see MK Dons as a real club.
The two teams have played each other four times in cup games, all in Milton Keynes. AFC Wimbledon has won one of these games. Since MK Dons were relegated and AFC Wimbledon were promoted in 2016, they have played in the same league. In nine league matches, Wimbledon has won one, drawn three, and lost five.
Crawley Town: A Fierce Rivalry
Crawley Town is another rival for AFC Wimbledon. This rivalry started because of many tough games they played in non-League football since 2009. They didn't play each other between 2012 and 2015. But after Crawley was relegated, they met again in August 2015, with the Dons winning 2–1. They met once in the FA Cup in 2020, with Crawley winning. Now, both teams are back in the same league since the 2022–23 season.
Sutton United: Local Friends and Rivals
AFC Wimbledon and Sutton United had never been in the same league until 2022. But because they are close geographically, they have a friendly rivalry. Sutton was the first team to play the reformed Dons in a friendly in 2002, winning 4–0. They played in the FA Cup in 2017, drawing 0–0. Sutton won the replay 3–1. Both clubs are now in EFL League Two for the 2022–23 season.
Stadiums: Home Grounds
Plough Lane: The New Home
Since it started in 2002, AFC Wimbledon wanted to play in Merton. They wanted a new stadium close to the original Plough Lane (1912–98). This was the home of the old Wimbledon team for over 80 years. The goal was to build a new stadium on the site of the Wimbledon Greyhound Stadium. This site is only about 250 yards from the old football stadium.
Plans to build a new football stadium there were talked about a lot. In 2013, AFC Wimbledon announced they were working with Merton Council and a developer. They planned to build a new football stadium, homes, shops, and community facilities.
Merton Council approved the stadium plans on December 10, 2015. Work to clear the site began on March 16, 2018. The stadium was supposed to open in summer 2019, but there were delays. It finally opened around October 25, 2020. The club officially took ownership of the land on December 24, 2018. The new stadium can hold 9,215 people. It can be made bigger to hold up to 20,000 later.
Wimbledon played their first four home games of the 2020–21 season at Loftus Road. This was while Plough Lane was being finished. The club played its first match at Plough Lane on November 3, 2020. It was a 2–2 draw against Doncaster Rovers.
Loftus Road: A Temporary Home
AFC Wimbledon started the 2020–21 season at Loftus Road. They made a temporary agreement to share the ground with Queens Park Rangers. This was while their new stadium, Plough Lane, was being built. They played four league games and two cup games there. All games at Loftus Road were played without fans because of coronavirus rules.
Kingsmeadow: The Former Home
The club played at Kingsmeadow in Kingston upon Thames until May 2020. This stadium could hold 4,850 people. Until 2017, AFC Wimbledon shared the ground with Kingstonian. AFC Wimbledon owned the ground and Kingstonian rented from them.
In November 2015, AFC Wimbledon fans voted to sell Kingsmeadow to Chelsea. This money would help pay for the new stadium in Merton. Chelsea wanted to use the ground for their youth and women's teams. Kingstonian had to leave the ground in 2017. Since then, Kingstonian has had to share grounds with other clubs. AFC Wimbledon left Kingsmeadow in May 2020.
Buying and Selling Kingsmeadow
When AFC Wimbledon started in 2002, they agreed to share Kingsmeadow with Kingstonian.
Kingstonian had problems and lost their lease for Kingsmeadow in 2001. A property developer bought it.
AFC Wimbledon decided that owning Kingsmeadow would protect the ground for both clubs. In March 2003, the Dons Trust members voted to buy part of the lease. In June 2003, they agreed to buy the lease for £3 million. AFC Wimbledon raised £2.4 million to buy the lease. Kingstonian then rented from AFC Wimbledon.
Kingsmeadow Expansion and Sale
At the end of the 2011–12 season, AFC Wimbledon started building a new stand. This new stand could seat 1,000 people. It was finished by October 2012. The new stand was named the North Stand, then The Nongshim Stand, and later The John Green Stand. This work increased the stadium's capacity to about 4,850, with 2,265 seats.
In 2015, AFC Wimbledon agreed to sell Kingsmeadow to Chelsea. This helped them pay for their new stadium in Merton. Chelsea planned to use the ground for their youth and women's teams. Kingstonian had to find a new home. AFC Wimbledon left Kingsmeadow in May 2020.
Club Ownership
AFC Wimbledon is owned by The Dons Trust. This is a group of supporters who promised to keep at least 75% control of the club. In 2003, they sold a small part of the club to raise money for Kingsmeadow. This decision was accepted by members.
The Dons Trust is a special type of society registered as "Wimbledon Football Club Supporters' Society Limited."
The first chief executive was Erik Samuelson. He was a retired accountant who worked for a very small payment. He retired in 2019 and Joe Palmer took over.
Community Work: Helping the Local Area
The club believes it's important to be a social hub for the local community. They want to give everyone a chance to play football. That's why AFC Wimbledon started the Community Football Scheme (CFS) in 2004. On May 1, 2010, the CFS received a top award for its excellent coaching facilities. The club offers football courses for children aged 4–14, taught by qualified coaches. They work with local areas like Merton and Kingston.
AFC Wimbledon also has a Schools Coaching Programme. They encourage healthy and active lifestyles for school children. They teach football and other sports in a fun way. On March 15, 2012, CFS coaches worked with the Football League to promote the FA's 'Respect' campaign. They taught nearly 2,000 children aged 10 and 11 about good behavior in football. The goal is to stop bad behavior like racism and violence in football.
On March 27, 2012, AFC Wimbledon became the first football club to receive the Prime Minister's Big Society Award. This was for their great work in the community. The club has 19 youth and women's teams. They also have school health and sport projects. Hundreds of children take part each week. They even have a stadium school to help children learn maths using football.
Then Prime Minister David Cameron praised AFC Wimbledon. He said they had "united a community" and made a "huge difference" to many lives.
Erik Samuelson, the club's chief executive, said the award showed that a club owned by its fans can have high standards, focus on the community, be financially stable, and still be successful on the field.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, a group of fans called the Dons Local Action Group helped out. They made sure people in the community had enough food. They also helped students get the technology they needed for online classes.
Players
Current Squad
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Players Out on Loan
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For youth teams see AFC Wimbledon Development Squad and Academy.
Player Awards and Top Scorers
This table shows players who have been team captain, won the Player of the Year award, or scored the most league goals in a season.
| Season | Club captain | Player of the year | Top scorer | Goals |
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| 2002–03 |  Joe Sheerin |
Kevin Cooper |
Kevin Cooper |
37 |
| 2003–04 | Joe Sheerin |
Matt Everard |
Kevin Cooper |
53 |
| 2004–05 | Steve Butler |
Richard Butler |
Richard Butler |
24 |
| 2005–06 | Steve Butler |
Andy Little |
 Shane Smeltz |
19 |
| 2006–07 | Chris Gell |
Antony Howard |
Roscoe Dsane |
17 |
| 2007–08 | Jason Goodliffe |
Jason Goodliffe |
 Steven Ferguson |
10 |
| 2008–09 | Jason Goodliffe |
Ben Judge |
Jon Main |
33 |
| 2009–10 | Paul Lorraine |
Danny Kedwell |
Danny Kedwell |
21 |
| 2010–11 | Danny Kedwell |
Sam Hatton |
Danny Kedwell |
23 |
| 2011–12 | Jamie Stuart |
Sammy Moore |
Jack Midson |
18 |
| 2012–13 | Mat Mitchel-King |
Jack Midson |
Jack Midson |
13 |
| 2013–14 |  Alan Bennett |
Barry Fuller |
Michael Smith |
9 |
| 2014–15 | Barry Fuller |
Adebayo Akinfenwa |
Adebayo Akinfenwa |
13 |
| 2015–16 | Barry Fuller |
Paul Robinson |
 Lyle Taylor |
23 |
| 2016–17 | Barry Fuller |
Tom Elliott |
Lyle Taylor |
14 |
| 2017–18 | Barry Fuller |
Deji Oshilaja |
Lyle Taylor |
18 |
| 2018–19 | Deji Oshilaja |
Will Nightingale |
Joe Pigott |
15 |
| 2019–20 | Will Nightingale |
Terell Thomas |
 Marcus Forss |
11 |
| 2020–21 | Alex Woodyard |
Joe Pigott |
Joe Pigott |
22 |
| 2021–22 | Alex Woodyard |
Jack Rudoni |
Jack Rudoni |
12 |
| 2022–23 | Alex Woodyard |
 Ali Al-Hamadi |
 Ethan Chislett |
11 |
| 2023–24 | Jake Reeves |
Jack Currie |
Ali Al-Hamadi |
17 |
Most Appearances and Goals
For a list of all AFC Wimbledon players who hold appearance or goal-scoring records see List of AFC Wimbledon records and statistics.
Famous Former Players
Wimbledon Old Players Association
The Wimbledon Old Players Association (WOPA) started in 2005. It was part of a campaign to bring back the history of Wimbledon Football Club. All former Wimbledon and AFC Wimbledon players and managers can join WOPA. Some of the first members included Glenn Mulcaire, who scored AFC Wimbledon's first goal. Kevin Cooper is the club's all-time top scorer with 107 goals. He also scored the most goals in a season with 66 in 2003–04. Many legends from the old Wimbledon also joined, like John Fashanu and Dave Beasant.
In June 2010, Vinnie Jones, another former player, gave his 1988 FA Cup winners medal to AFC Wimbledon fans. The medal is now on display at the Wimbledon in Sporting History's Museum at Plough Lane.
Club Management
Current Coaching Staff
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Academy and Youth Staff
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Manager History
These numbers include results from league games (including play-offs) and all major cup competitions.
| Name | From | Until | Managed | Won | Drawn | Lost | Win % | Honours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terry Eames |
13 June 2002 | 13 February 2004* | 82 | 69 | 4 | 9 | 84.15 | |
| Nicky English | 13 February 2004 | 11 May 2004 | 21 | 19 | 2 | 0 | 90.48 | 2003–04 Combined Counties League Premier Division Champions 2003–04 Combined Counties League Premier Challenge Cup winners |
 Dave Anderson |
11 May 2004 | 2 May 2007 | 167 | 98 | 40 | 29 | 58.68 | 2004–05 Isthmian League First Division Champions |
| Terry Brown |
15 May 2007 | 19 September 2012 | 270 | 133 | 54 | 83 | 49.26 | 2007–08 Isthmian League Premier Division play-off winners 2008–09 Conference South Champions 2010–11 Conference National play-off winners |
| Simon Bassey (caretaker) |
19 September 2012 | 10 October 2012 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 50.00 | |
| Neal Ardley |
10 October 2012 | 12 November 2018 | 326 | 108 | 91 | 127 | 33.13 | 2015–16 Football League Two play-off winners |
| Simon Bassey (caretaker) |
12 November 2018 | 4 December 2018 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 40.00 | |
| Wally Downes |
4 December 2018 | 25 September 2019** | 41 | 11 | 12 | 18 | 26.82 | |
 Glyn Hodges |
25 September 2019 | 30 January 2021 | 62 | 18 | 18 | 26 | 29.00 | |
| Mark Robinson |
30 January 2021 | 28 March 2022 | 70 | 18 | 23 | 29 | 25.71 | |
| Mark Bowen (caretaker) |
30 March 2022 | 7 May 2022 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 00.00 | |
| Johnnie Jackson |
16 May 2022 | 101 | 35 | 27 | 39 | 34.65 |
* Terry Eames was suspended as manager on February 13 for disciplinary reasons. His assistant Nicky English took over.
** Wally Downes was suspended as manager on September 25, 2019, due to a betting investigation. His assistant Glyn Hodges took over permanently.
Specialist Coaches
In spring 2021, AFC Wimbledon hired Andy Parslow as a restarts coach. This made them the first English Football League club to have a special coach for set pieces. In summer 2021, AFC Wimbledon hired Sammy Landers as a substitution coach. They were also the first English Football League club to have a special coach for substitutions.
AFC Wimbledon Women's Team
The AFC Wimbledon Women's team joined AFC Wimbledon after the 2002–03 season. Before that, they were part of the original Wimbledon FC.
Kevin Foster is the manager. The team plays in the FA Women's National League South.
A former Wimbledon Women's player, Sophie Hosking, won an Olympic gold medal in rowing at the London 2012 games. Sophie is a big fan of AFC Wimbledon. She even painted her fingernails in the club's blue and yellow colours for the Olympic final!
Club Records
AFC Wimbledon has achieved the following club records:
- Best FA Cup result: 5th round, 2018–19
- Best EFL Cup result: 3rd round, 2021–22, 2024–25
- Best EFL Trophy result: Quarter-finals, 2020–21, 2023–24
- Best FA Trophy result: 3rd round, 2007–08, 2009–10
- Best FA Vase result: 4th round, 2003–04
Club Honours: Trophies and Wins
Here are the main awards and titles AFC Wimbledon has won:
League Titles
- League Two (level 4)
- Play-off winners: 2016
- Conference (level 5)
- Play-off winners: 2011
- Conference South (level 6)
- Champions: 2008–09
- Isthmian League
- Play-off winners: 2008
- Isthmian League Division One
- Champions: 2004–05
- Combined Counties League
- Champions: 2003–04
Cup Wins
- Combined Counties League Premier Challenge Cup
- Winners: 2003–04
- Isle of Man Tournament
- Winners: 2009–10
- Lanes Cup
- Winners: 2007–08 2011–12
- London Senior Cup
- Winners: 2013–14
- Surrey Senior Cup
- Winners: 2004–05
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See also
In Spanish: Association Football Club Wimbledon para niños
