For some football fans*, the rise of AFC Wimbledon has been a happy story after the other ‘Dons’ made their move to Milton Keynes. The fallout from the decision to take the old club out of south London and create MK Dons was not a popular move at all. But the ‘new’ Dons channeled that into something positive for the local community. The biggest milestone on that journey was the relegation of MK Dons to League Two in 2018, while AFC Wimbledon went up into League One; quite the crossing of paths in the wider context… if that sort of thing interests you.
One other leap forward in more recent times came when the ‘new’ Dons moved back in their spiritual home at Plough Lane; moving into a 9,300-capacity ground in the London Borough of Merton. It’s been quite a ride, but their meteoric rise came to a bit of a halt in 2022 with relegation back to League Two. A double relegation (and return to non-league) was only avoided by five points come the end of the 2022-3 season. Luckily for them, the course was righted and the 2024-5 campaign saw them promoted back into League One via the playoffs. Again, leaving MK behind.
The official date for when AFC Wimbledon came into existence is, apparently, 30 May 2002. That came just two days after the FA ratified a proposal that would see the old Wimbledon move to Milton Keynes. Let’s be honest – the move angered no end of football fans, not just those loyal to the Dons. Anyway, it set in motion a train of events that would ultimately take football back to the London Borough of Merton. And, eventually, the “new” Dons would have the long-awaited euphoria of overtaking MK Dons in the pyramid.
Maybe it shouldn’t be too much of a shock that AFC Wimbledon would achieve so much in a short space of time. The club had support, resources, and oodles of goodwill. At the start, they joined the Combined Counties League; soaring to the title in only their second season with an unbeaten record. Isthmian League Division One was conquered in only one campaign too. The wait to get out of the Isthmian League Premier Division was a longer one, however. It took the club three years to overcome that hurdle and secure a place in Conference South.
Why do we know the Dons?
This rise through the Isthmian League isn’t all that dissimilar to our own during the 1990s. Mind you, we had Division Two North to get out of first. Does the Combined Counties League compare? Well, maybe. Anyway, promotion up to Conference South wasn’t a step too far for the Dons either. In fact, they swept straight through the division; securing promotion to the Blue Square Premier at the end of the 2008-9 campaign. It brought them up against us – and there was no way they were scuppering our promotion hopes in 2010. That said, they did end up in the playoffs…
AFC Wimbledon: Record vs Boro'
Pl
W
D
L
F
A
GD
Pts*
WR%
Overall
13
8
2
3
23
15
8
20
62%
Home
5
3
2
0
7
3
4
8
60%
Away
8
5
0
3
16
12
4
12
63%
League
8
6
2
0
15
7
8
20
75%
Cup
5
2
0
3
8
8
0
n/a
40%
* league points only
AFC Wimbledon: Result-by-Result (Boro' Scoring First)
How to get to AFC Wimbledon – Travel Information – Distance: 37 miles
By Road
The shortest route to Plough Lane would take you close to the centre of London. So, you might find it easier to add a couple of extra miles onto your car journey and take as wide a path as you can get away with. That’s what we’ll talk you through now too.
Head down the A1(M) and onto the A1 into the northern districts of the capital. At Hendon, you want to keep right on the Barnet bypass so that you’re heading towards the A41. Once you find yourself heading south on the A41, don’t go further than Brent Cross. This is where you’ll hook up with the A406 North Circular – and you want to be heading counter-clockwise.
Upon reaching the Hanger Lane Gyratory, go across the railway bridge; taking a slight left to join Western Avenue. It eventually leads you onto the A40 Westway. When you reach its junction with the A3220 at White City, exit and take the second exit. Follow the A3220 into the deepest reaches Kensington and Chelsea, before turning right onto King’s Road (A308/A3217).
Turn left onto Wandsworth Bridge Road (A217), before taking the second exit at the roundabout after crossing the Thames. As you head through Wandsworth Common, take a right for Windmill Road (B234). More than half-a-mile later, it’s a left at Earlsfield onto the A217. Soon after, go right at the Arrow electrical store and follow this around to the left.
As you might expect for a ground in the London area, parking options near to the stadium itself are at a premium. It puts public transport at a distinct advantage in that sense. If you are driving, maybe check out either the Merton or Wandsworth borough council websites for details of any restrictions.
By Rail
Station: EARLSFIELD
Services to: VAUXHALL and LONDON WATERLOO
This isn’t the easiest journey by rail. In fact, we think the easiest option is to go to Vauxhall from Finsbury Park on the Victoria Line. Then, take a South Western Railway service to Earlsfield.
From here, the walk is around 15 minutes; following the latter stages of the road route. Go south from Earlsfield station, passing the various amenities available here. The ground will be on your right behind some commercial units. And you may have options as to which way in you go.
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