Jim Rosenthal may not have talked it up when the two balls came, but there was no doubt what Twitter and the media viewed as the potential tie of the second round: AFC Wimbledon versus MK Dons. The club formed in protest pitched against the team that, in many SW19-ers view, stole their club and their league place from the original Wimbledon. It was the tie the whole of football wanted. Well, all of football apart from AFC Wimbledon fans.
The Guardian’s report, supplied by the Press Association, described it as the draw AFC Wimbledon craved, while a quick search on Twitter would reveal that many neutrals were positively salivating over the game, with many hoping that Blue Square Premier side Wimbledon gave League One MK Dons a resounding beating. AFC fans were more circumspect, downbeat even.
Freelance football journalist Andy Brassell, an AFC Wimbledon fan and regular on 5Live’s World Football Phone-In, responded to questions on Twitter about the draw by saying he would “rather not acknowledge them [MK Dons]” or legitimise their existence.
Other Dons fans were similarly downcast. Clairwithnoe Tweeted “AFC Wimbledon fans did not want this draw EVER. Playing Franchise is the worst possible draw for fans of Wimbledon,” while Charles Williams mused about losing to Ebbsfleet in AFC Wimbledon’s replay or withdrawing from the competition (neither in complete seriousness), before concluding “Nothing good could come of it.”
AFC Wimbledon’s official club statement, meanwhile, was short and dignified:
“Depending on the outcome of two replays, we have been drawn against Milton Keynes in the FA Cup 2nd round to be played on 27 November.
“Most people know the way that Milton Keynes obtained their football club. It was wrong then and it is still wrong now, which makes this fixture very painful for us. However, when we entered the FA Cup we understood that this might happen and we will go about our business professionally and complete the fixture. But we would have preferred that it hadn’t happened. We have no further comment to make at the moment.”
Speak to any AFC fan about the MK Dons and their reaction is similar to that of Brassell. They have no rivalry with MK Dons, as a rivalry would imply they want to beat the Buckinghamshire side. Instead, many simply wish Karl Robinson’s team didn’t exist. If you want a rivalry at Kingsmeadow, then this season’s battles with Crawley Town are fast developing into one.
To neutrals, it may seem strange that AFC Wimbledon fans wouldn’t want the chance to beat the club that took their league position and carcass of the original Wimbledon, after the club was sold down the river by the FA, but the reaction shows just how raw the pain still is in South West London.
Writing on When Saturday Comes’ website, AFC Wimbledon fan Aled Thomas summed up the feelings on many Dons’ fans:
“It’s not the prospect of losing that bothers me. Yes of course I’d hate to lose, but it’s more fundamental than that. Milton Keynes stole my club and its League position, losing in the cup or league doesn’t matter compared to that. I don’t believe the club has a right to exist. I want it to go out of business as soon as possible, I don’t want Wimbledon giving Milton Keynes any sort of spurious legitimacy by playing them.”
The circumstances of the original Wimbledon’s demise has been covered at length elsewhere, most notably by David Conn is his excellent book The Beautiful Game? In a follow-up article after AFC Wimbledon won promotion from the Blue Square South two seasons ago, Conn reminded us of a quote from the FA commission that originally voted in favour of the move to Milton Keynes:
“”Resurrecting the club from its ashes as, say, ‘Wimbledon Town’,” opined the panel, “is, with respect to those supporters who would rather that happened … not in the wider interests of football.”"
Few would agree with that sentiment now. AFC Wimbledon may not be totally popular with every non-league fan, but there is still a huge amount of goodwill and respect towards a team that has been created from the ashes of a club destroyed, and is run democratically as part of the wider Supporters’ Trust movement. If anybody wants an example of what a fan-owned club can achieve, AFC Wimbledon are leading light.
In honesty, though, as AFC Wimbledon rose up the leagues and the squad improved, a game against MK Dons was always going to become increasingly likely and many Wombles, deep down, will have known this day was likely to come at some point, assuming MK Dons retained financial stability.
There is a school of thought, summed up on Twitter to me by football journalist Josh Perry, that it’s best to get this game out of the way due to its inevitability, but the sentiment I’ve picked up from Dons fans is that if the game does happen then they would rather the two met in the league when the two were on some form of parity and AFC could rise above the club who took their place.
Of course, much of this talk is somewhat premature. Both sides have to get through tricky FA Cup replays. AFC Wimbledon have to travel to another club with an unusual ownership history in Ebbsfleet United, who did well to keep the game goalless at Kingsmeadow, while MK Dons host Stevenage, a team that will be fired up by manager Graham Westley, no stranger to cup controversy himself.
No Dons fan would ever want their team to lose, but one suspects that they won’t be too sorry if Ebbsfleet end up hosting MK Dons, although obviously seeing a Stevenage upset would be their preferred method. Having to host the Buckinghamshire side at Kingsmeadow and give them a share of the gate receipts would be a bitter pill for fans to swallow, and the worry of violence would always hang over such a fixture.
In the meantime, much will be written and hyped up as the tie that all of football wants, a chance for AFC to get even. Should both teams win their replay, then AFC Wimbledon won’t be short of support from neutrals, even if they’d rather not be in a position to receive it in the first place.
twofootedtackle.com is trying to raise £1,000 for Cardiac Risk in the Young, which works to raise awareness of heart conditions that lead to sudden cardiac death and sudden death syndrome. You can help by donating just £2 at justgiving.com/twofootedtackle.
Tags: AFC Wimbledon, Ebbsfleet United, FA Cup, FA Cup 2nd round, MK Dons, Stevenage
Ebbsfleet fans (and Stevenage fans), yes that is a very good point annd I’m sure both Daish and Wesltley would love to gatecrash the media party. I guess in a way Ebbsfleet can’t lose as they’ve already got TV replay money. I wouldn’t be shocked to see you pull off an upset.
“If the AFC fans end up boycotting the game (if it happens) it may as well be a home tie. ”
What - in front of the 500 or so soccer-crazed Miltonians that would actually make the trip?
“Anyway what’s wrong with playing the match in a world class sporting arena.”
I thought you were suggesting playing the match at the Frenzydome?
Alan/Glenn - as an AFCW fan, rest assured we want Ebbsfleet to win as much as you do. As to the speculation, I look at it like this: say you have to choose between two doors to open and then enter the room behind that door. One of the room contains a crazed killer who will kill you; the other room is empty. Even though you may never enter the room with the killer, you’re still going to speculate wildly about that possibility aren’t you?
Mike T - some interesting points but am not sure you can seriously expect us to believe you thought you could wear that shirt and be left alone. Especially as you seem to acknowledge the raw emotion and strength of feeling which still exists. And not ALL fans would end up boycotting. I wouldn’t. I’d turn up and hope we destroy your disgrace of a “club”. I genuinely hate your “club” and all it stands for with a passion.
Sorry - that second para was obviously for the London based MK Dons fans rather than Mike T
london MK franchise = we are at home and we do not want to play at your soulless 3 quarter empty stadium.
[EDITOR'S EDIT: Sorry to edit this, but as I've stated on another thread, we don't tolerate threats of violence on here, implied or otherwise. I know this topic aroses very strong feelings, but this has been an excellent debate with some excellent comments. Let's keep it this way. Thanks. Gary]
Jonathan p = speak for yourself, I’m a lifelong Wimbledon fan, and i do want us to beat ebbsfleet , whoever we have to play next. but i agree with you last paragraph
as half the gate money goes to each club, how about reducing ticket prices to £1, and selling programmes for £10? The programme money would go to AFC, and MK would not probably not get any money…remember, policing costs are deducted before the gate receipts are halved.
London MK Don - you’re clearly having a laugh with your comment about a world class sporting arena….. most of what I would class world class arenas have at least been completed…….
…… and it sums up your lack to tact and complete arrogance…. if the game happens it would be OUR HOME GAME (don’t usually use capitals, but you don’t seem to be getting the message).
By that logic, how about all Franchise away cup ties being switched to MK…. bet you’d like that, especially given your poor away support…..
Also you’re assuming that Frannies would pack our place out - the fact you can’t even muster three figures at most away games I think tells us all we need to know.
The reaction you got at the station was nothing to do with Wimbledon fans not being educated - it’s called a red rag to a bull. What are you going to do next, wear a Rangers shirt in the main stand at Celtic Park? Or sit among Cardiff fans in a Swansea shirt??
It’s called common sense - and you got what you deserved. A gesture designed to provoke a reaction, and when you got it, you conveniently portray your assailants as uncouth yobs.
‘Uncouth yobs’, not all of them. I did have an interesting chat with one of them.
But this is about a game of football that may or may not even happen. I don’t actually care where the match is played. It would be much easier for me if it’s played in Kingston. But if it does happen, I will be there supporting my team. We’re on a hiding to nothing with this match. If we lose the press will be at us, and win and we will probably get the same, not to mention the constant tirade we get from AFC, but we are used to that.
Glad to see you are used to it, because it won’t be ending any time soon.
The thing I find hardest to understand about people such as yourself is how you mention your Wimbledon roots from years back, but now you are not only following a club that bears no resemblance or relation to that team you first followed, but are also happy to travel 70 miles to do so.
London MK Don: I’ll be there supporting my team…
They’re not your team, you just support them for some reason. I’d rather schlep to Kingston-on-Thames to watch conference football than support that sham of a club, even though its shadow does darken my doorstep, so I can’t imagine why you’d want to make the opposite journey.
If being a supporter of that team made them your team, then Wimbledon supporters would have been able to prevent the move in the first place, before it became MK Dons.
Enjoy the football if you can, but don’t start thinking MK Dons is yours just because they call themselves a football club.