Wimbledon tickets

[recordmeister]

Well, all I know is that there are some ex-Wimbledon fans who chose to go with MK Dons.

I know how I feel about MD Dons (*spit*) but I also know that AFC, as touchy-feely as they are as a club, are also a magpie team who neither play in their own ground (in the traditional sense. I know they &quotown&quot it), nor in Wimbledon.

League rules, which were changed after Wimbledon moved to MK and changed their name, state that if a club is looking to relocate it:

&quotwould be appropriate having in mind the relationship (if any) between the locality with which by its name or otherwise the applicant Club is traditionally associated and that in which such Club proposes to establish its ground&quot

Now I know this is League rules and we're not in the league, but it seems to me that rule above is basically saying &quotyou need to play in the area you are named after, or traditonally associated with&quot. So one wonders, if these rules were to be applied to the Conference and lower, would BOTH AFC and Kingstonains be allowed to play at the Fan's Stadium? I would argue not. The Stadium is either in Kingston, in which case Kingstonians could play there and Wimbledon not. Or it is in Wimbledon. In which case Wimbledon can play there and the K's not.

It is very easy for us to have a rule poo-pooing MK Dons, and quite rightly so. But let's not forget that AFC are also franchising themselves into another Borough, into another teams ground, in order to enable them to play their football.

Pot, meet kettle. Kettle, meet pot.

As an aside, does anyone know if the League have approved The Fan's Stadium, if AFC do get promotion?

Except they're not franchising themselves into another area, and both clubs would have gone to the wall without the deal, so I don't really see your point.

Once Franchise FC had decided to play in MK and refused the option of the developed Plough Lane and that was sold off, there were no other grounds big enough to take AFCW in Merton. The only other grounds in that area are parks football.

LB of M refused permission to build a stadium anywhere else, so Kingsmeadow is as good and near as they can get pro tem.

I'm just working on the simple fact that AFC Wimbledon do not play in the area to which they are either associated or named after. Merton is a different place to Kingston, all be it neighbouring Boroughs. I live in Southwark. But if I paid my Council Tax to Lambeth, Southwark would not be too happy. Why? Because they are different places.

Let's have a look at what some of the staff at AFC have gone on record as saying:

AFC's Commercial director, Ivor Heller said:

&quotEveryone knows that if there’s anyway for us to get back to Merton, we’ll do it.

“We haven’t lost sight of a return home, particularly to Plough Lane and the greyhound stadium, so to return there would be a nirvana.

[Ray]

How do you feel about Bolton who have moved out to Horwich ?

Or Grimsby, who have played in Cleethorpes since 1898 ?

[recordmeister]

How do you feel about Bolton who have moved out to Horwich ?

Or Grimsby, who have played in Cleethorpes since 1898 ?

I think Old Trafford is in Salford, not Manchester (although I may be wrong about that) and I for one know how vocal people from Salford are if you say &quotI'm staying in Manchester&quot when you're actually in Salford. 2nd only to folk from Gateshead when you say the same about Newcastle.

A good point, but you don't hear directors of the above teams bleating on about &quotgoing home&quot or &quotmoving back&quot...

[GodalmingYellow]

[quote=&quotrecordmeister&quot]I'm just working on the simple fact that AFC Wimbledon do not play in the area to which they are either associated or named after. Merton is a different place to Kingston, all be it neighbouring Boroughs. I live in Southwark. But if I paid my Council Tax to Lambeth, Southwark would not be too happy. Why? Because they are different places.

Let's have a look at what some of the staff at AFC have gone on record as saying:

AFC's Commercial director, Ivor Heller said:

&quotEveryone knows that if there’s anyway for us to get back to Merton, we’ll do it.

“We haven’t lost sight of a return home, particularly to Plough Lane and the greyhound stadium, so to return there would be a nirvana.

[Baboo]

How do you feel about Bolton who have moved out to Horwich ?

Or Grimsby, who have played in Cleethorpes since 1898 ?

I think Old Trafford is in Salford, not Manchester (although I may be wrong about that) and I for one know how vocal people from Salford are if you say &quotI'm staying in Manchester&quot when you're actually in Salford. 2nd only to folk from Gateshead when you say the same about Newcastle.

A good point, but you don't hear directors of the above teams bleating on about &quotgoing home&quot or &quotmoving back&quot...

It's all to do with the distances involved. But I'm now confused because someone told me the other day that Kidlington is in London.

[Hog]

I suspect you're thinking of Kennington!

[Paul Cooper]

I suspect you're thinking of Kennington!

No I suspect the comment is in relation to the newly named 'London Oxford Airport'.

[Mally]

I suspect you're thinking of Kennington!

No I suspect the comment is in relation to the newly named 'London Oxford Airport'.

Yes it's clearly in London

They say 40 miles from &quotthe Greater London area&quot but google maps tells me it's over 60 miles from central London to Kidlington.

[Kernow Yellow]

I'm just working on the simple fact that AFC Wimbledon do not play in the area to which they are either associated or named after. Merton is a different place to Kingston, all be it neighbouring Boroughs. I live in Southwark. But if I paid my Council Tax to Lambeth, Southwark would not be too happy. Why? Because they are different places.
[...]
These quote suggest to me that the Directors of AFC Wimbledon know they are living in someone's home and want to move back as soon as they can, for which they should be commended. It still does not ease the fact that, in order for them to exisit, they play their football in a different jurisdiction from where the club is named after or historically connected with. Much the same as MK Dons, no?

(PS- Kingston being closer to Merton than MK, does not clear the fact that AFC play somewhere other than Merton / Wimbledon)

Sorry, Joel, but your argument is full of so many holes. When I lived in Clapham, I lived in the borough of Lambeth, but the houses across the road were in Wandsworth. Does that mean they were in a different area to me? Of course not.

Crystal Palace play in Thornton Heath, Grimsby play in Cleethorpes, Oxford play in Blackbird Leys, and Wimbledon play in Kingston. All places within a few miles of their nameplace. What's the big deal?

Anyway, you're missing the point entirely. AFC Wimbledon was set up by the fans to play as close to Wimbledon as possible, and still intend to move even nearer if they get the chance. Wimbledon (now MK Dons) were forcibly moved against the wishes of the fans to a completely different town the other side of London. There's no similarity in the situations whatsoever. And I would suggest that Wimbledon fans that followed the team to MK either didn't fancy watching step 7 football in a park, or didn't actually live in Wimbledon any more. Fair enough, but no need to go bleating about the people that weren't prepared to accept the move.

Having said all that, I hope that now we're in the same division as AFC that we start treating them as the rivals that they are, rather than some cuddly friends that we hope get promotion. They've done very well for themselves to get this far, but we have to hope they get no further, at least until after we've gone up ourselves...

[recordmeister]

Sorry, Joel, but your argument is full of so many holes. When I lived in Clapham, I lived in the borough of Lambeth, but the houses across the road were in Wandsworth. Does that mean they were in a different area to me? Of course not.

Crystal Palace play in Thornton Heath, Grimsby play in Cleethorpes, Oxford play in Blackbird Leys, and Wimbledon play in Kingston. All places within a few miles of their nameplace. What's the big deal?

Anyway, you're missing the point entirely. AFC Wimbledon was set up by the fans to play as close to Wimbledon as possible, and still intend to move even nearer if they get the chance. Wimbledon (now MK Dons) were forcibly moved against the wishes of the fans to a completely different town the other side of London. There's no similarity in the situations whatsoever. And I would suggest that Wimbledon fans that followed the team to MK either didn't fancy watching step 7 football in a park, or didn't actually live in Wimbledon any more. Fair enough, but no need to go bleating about the people that weren't prepared to accept the move.

Having said all that, I hope that now we're in the same division as AFC that we start treating them as the rivals that they are, rather than some cuddly friends that we hope get promotion. They've done very well for themselves to get this far, but we have to hope they get no further, at least until after we've gone up ourselves...

Jon, my issue is two fold:

1. I know some Wimbledon fans who chose to follow MK Dons, for the following reason: They wanted to support a team that played in Merton. As neither AFC or MK Dons did, they chose MK Dons. It was their choice and they are entitled to it. You don't often hear the other side of the argument, which is what I was trying to put across.

2. I totally agree with your last paragraph. Every football supporter, to a man, seems to be willing AFC up the league as some cuddly club who should be back in the Premier League. I know that is not what the AFC fans think they seem to want a few seasons of consolidation in the Blue Square (plus I'm not sure they'd be allowed up anyway due to the stadium issues), but it seems to be what the rest of football want. Why? Wimbledon FC would most likely have gone into adminstration (it did after reloaction) anyway and possibly even worse. If so, it would have had to reform in a lower league anyway, like Halifax etc. But you don't see Halifax getting all the press coverage that AFC have had. Or the massive outpouring of love from across the game.

I admire the chutzpah of the AFC fans in setting up a new club and taking it to the level they have in such a sort space of time. But they would probably have had to do this anyway, if the club had gone out of business. Sadly, we all now have an additonal club above us in the league that we all hope fails. But I also hope AFC achieve a status of their own, and don't rely on the football world wanting them to become the mirror of the legend that was the much loved Crazy Gang. Let's not forget that Wimbledon FC was a club failing both on and off the field even before their &quotrelocation&quot was even mooted and if wikipedia is be taken seriously (!) then &quotThe club and its supporters consider it to be a continuation of the former Wimbledon Football Club&quot. Good luck, as they weren't doing too well when they ceased to exist...

[Baboo]

[
Having said all that, I hope that now we're in the same division as AFC that we start treating them as the rivals that they are, rather than some cuddly friends that we hope get promotion. They've done very well for themselves to get this far, but we have to hope they get no further, at least until after we've gone up ourselves...

Absolutely. Come 3 o'clock on Saturday I'll view them as nothing but rivals.

[Baboo]

I suspect you're thinking of Kennington!

No I suspect the comment is in relation to the newly named 'London Oxford Airport'.

Yup.

[A-Ro]

[
Having said all that, I hope that now we're in the same division as AFC that we start treating them as the rivals that they are, rather than some cuddly friends that we hope get promotion. They've done very well for themselves to get this far, but we have to hope they get no further, at least until after we've gone up ourselves...

Absolutely. Come 3 o'clock on Saturday I'll view them as nothing but rivals.

I'm not sure about the cuddly friends bit, Isn't there some bad blood between us and AFCW? I seem to remember an incident some years ago (2002?) at Wallingford where a load of yellows had gone looking for trouble and ended up with the Wallingford clubhouse getting trashed.

I wasn't there and the story may have altered with the telling and it was a long time ago so some or all of the above may not be true.

[GodalmingYellow]

Jon, my issue is two fold:

1. I know some Wimbledon fans who chose to follow MK Dons, for the following reason: They wanted to support a team that played in Merton. As neither AFC or MK Dons did, they chose MK Dons. It was their choice and they are entitled to it. You don't often hear the other side of the argument, which is what I was trying to put across.

2. I totally agree with your last paragraph. Every football supporter, to a man, seems to be willing AFC up the league as some cuddly club who should be back in the Premier League. I know that is not what the AFC fans think they seem to want a few seasons of consolidation in the Blue Square (plus I'm not sure they'd be allowed up anyway due to the stadium issues), but it seems to be what the rest of football want. Why? Wimbledon FC would most likely have gone into adminstration (it did after reloaction) anyway and possibly even worse. If so, it would have had to reform in a lower league anyway, like Halifax etc. But you don't see Halifax getting all the press coverage that AFC have had. Or the massive outpouring of love from across the game.

I admire the chutzpah of the AFC fans in setting up a new club and taking it to the level they have in such a sort space of time. But they would probably have had to do this anyway, if the club had gone out of business. Sadly, we all now have an additonal club above us in the league that we all hope fails. But I also hope AFC achieve a status of their own, and don't rely on the football world wanting them to become the mirror of the legend that was the much loved Crazy Gang. Let's not forget that Wimbledon FC was a club failing both on and off the field even before their &quotrelocation&quot was even mooted and if wikipedia is be taken seriously (!) then &quotThe club and its supporters consider it to be a continuation of the former Wimbledon Football Club&quot. Good luck, as they weren't doing too well when they ceased to exist...

1. They claimed to want to support a team playing in Merton and had the choice of AFCW playing 2 miles away, or Franchise playing in Milton Keynes, or a parks side playing in Merton. And they chose Milton Keynes. I think I would question their claim Joel.

2. I am willing AFCW up the league, provided it is not at our expense. Not because I love AFCW, but because they deserve their place back in the league instead of Franchise.

Wimbledon would not have had to do the things you suggest, as there was a perfectly feasible Plough Lane development plan in place which had the support of Merton BC.

[A-Ro]

I think a character limit may have been reached there.