The Dons are back at Plough Lane

We are back, We are home! AFC’s journey back to Plough Lane

Athrilled Ivor Heller, Commercial Director, tells the story: AFC Wimbledon were formed out of adversity in 2002 when we were to be relocated to Buckinghamshire. A group of fans drew a line in the sand. We would not move 70 miles away, we would start again! The fl edgling offi ces were in Haydons Road, with 10 working days to form the club, with nothing but righteous indignation. We got a groundshare agreement with Kingstonian FC and Senior Status from the London FA.

The Combined Counties League crowds were in excess of 3000 per match, up from 50! We then bought Kingsmeadow and could generate revenue! Nine years on and we were back to the football league.

Once back, the prospect of moving to Wimbledon loomed.

We played and narrowly lost to Liverpool in the FA Cup, gaining promotion to League One. 23,000 fans travelled to Wembley. We beat West Ham in an epic match at Kingsmeadow 4–2. We were back!

Building started July 2019. Running short of money, a small group of fans launched the Plough Lane Bond, raising £5.4M. Fundraising and a generous benefactor, raised in excess of £10M.

November 3rd the stadium hosted its fi rst match. When fans are allowed in, we can truly celebrate. The stadium will be a seven day a week venue with banqueting facilities of up to 500. Restaurants and boxes can be hired out. We have a fl ourishing Academy, with boys and girls from 8 to 18 and the Ladies team is a success story and getting stronger. Many times we were told we were mad - fans cannot run a club. Well they can - we proved it! Can anyone tell Wimbledon what we can or can’t achieve? We are back, we are home, we are Wimbledon! n

For the full story, go to: darlingmagazine.co.uk

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