AFC Wimbledon is a professional association football club located in Wimbledon, London. They currently compete in EFL League Two, the fourth tier of the English football league system. The club is known for its unique origin, having been formed in 2002 by supporters of the original Wimbledon FC after its controversial relocation to Milton Keynes. Fan ownership and community involvement are central to the club's ethos.
1912: Original Plough Lane Opening
In 1912, the original Plough Lane opened and became Wimbledon's home until 1991.
1977: Original Wimbledon's First Season
In 1977, The original Wimbledon had their first season as a member of the Football League in the old Fourth Division (now League Two).
1988: Hummel Former Wimbledon Kit Manufacturer
From 1988–89 to 1990–91, Hummel was a kit manufacturer of the former Wimbledon.
1988: Vinnie Jones wins FA Cup
In 1988, Vinnie Jones wins the FA Cup. The medal was donated to fans of AFC Wimbledon in June 2010 and is on display at Wimbledon in Sporting History's Museum at Plough Lane.
1988: Original Wimbledon won the FA Cup Final
In 1988, the original Wimbledon won the FA Cup Final against Liverpool. This was referenced on 14 May 2016, exactly 28 years later, when AFC Wimbledon beat Accrington Stanley in the first leg of the play-off semi-final.
1990: Hummel Former Wimbledon Kit Manufacturer
From 1988–89 to 1990–91, Hummel was a kit manufacturer of the former Wimbledon.
1991: Original Plough Lane Departure
In 1991, Wimbledon left the original Plough Lane, which had been their home ground.
1993: Darker Navy Blue Adaptation
In 1993, the darker navy blue and yellow adaptation was a recent adaptation in colours of AFC Wimbledon kit.
October 2001: Kingstonian Enters Administration
In October 2001, Kingstonian entered administration to avoid bankruptcy and lost the Kingsmeadow lease.
April 2002: Lease Assigned to Rajesh Khosla
In April 2002, the Kingsmeadow lease, previously held by Kingstonian, was assigned by the administrators to a property developer, Rajesh Khosla, who was also the owner of the club by then.
May 2002: Formation Planning at The Fox and Grapes
Following the F.A.'s decision, in May 2002, Wimbledon supporters met at The Fox and Grapes pub to plan the formation of a new club. On 30 May 2002, the idea for AFC Wimbledon was proposed at a WISA meeting, and a fundraising appeal was launched.
May 2002: FA Approves Wimbledon Relocation
On 28 May 2002, the Football Association approved the relocation of Wimbledon F.C. to Milton Keynes, influenced by the club chairman's claims of preventing bankruptcy.
June 2002: New Club Details Unveiled
On 13 June 2002, AFC Wimbledon unveiled their new manager, playing strip, badge, and stadium to fans and the media at the Wimbledon Community Centre. On 29 June 2002, player trials were held on Wimbledon Common to assemble a team.
June 2002: Terry Eames Appointment
On 13 June 2002, Terry Eames was appointed as the manager of AFC Wimbledon.
July 2002: First Pre-Season Friendly
On 10 July 2002, AFC Wimbledon played their first ever game, a pre-season friendly against Sutton United, resulting in a 4–0 loss.
July 2002: Sutton United Defeat AFC Wimbledon
On 10 July 2002, Sutton were the first team to play the reformed AFC Wimbledon, defeating them 4–0 at Gander Green Lane.
August 2002: Glenn Mulcaire Scores First Goal
In August 2002, Glenn Mulcaire scored AFC Wimbledon's first ever goal.
2002: First Club Formed in the 21st Century to Make it Into the Football League
AFC Wimbledon holds the record of being the first club to be formed in the 21st century to make it into the Football League.
2002: Club Founded
In 2002, AFC Wimbledon was founded by former supporters of Wimbledon F.C. after the Football Association allowed Wimbledon F.C. to relocate to Milton Keynes.
2002: First Ever Kit
In 2002, the first ever kit of AFC Wimbledon, which was used only during the pre-season friendlies, consisted of a royal blue shirt, white shorts and white socks.
2002: Ground-Sharing Arrangement with Kingstonian
In 2002, upon their foundation, AFC Wimbledon entered into a ground-sharing arrangement with Kingstonian to play home fixtures at Kingsmeadow.
2002: Women's Team Switches Affiliation
In the 2002-03 season, AFC Wimbledon Women switched affiliation from Wimbledon.
2002: Sports Interactive Kit Sponsor
Since AFC Wimbledon's inception in 2002, the club's shirts have been sponsored by computer games developers Sports Interactive. The kit used by the club is currently manufactured by Umbro.
February 2003: Start of Unbeaten Run
In February 2003, AFC Wimbledon began a record-breaking unbeaten run in league matches in English senior football.
February 2003: Defeat to Withdean 2000
On 22 February 2003, AFC Wimbledon suffered a 2-0 defeat at home to Withdean 2000.
March 2003: Dons Trust Members Vote to Purchase Lease
In March 2003, The Dons Trust members voted to purchase part of the lease for Kingsmeadow, aiming to safeguard the ground for the future of both AFC Wimbledon and Kingstonian.
June 2003: AFC Wimbledon Buys Kingsmeadow Lease
In June 2003, AFC Wimbledon raised £2.4 million to buy the lease for Kingsmeadow from Rajesh Khosla, with the aim of making Kingsmeadow their permanent home. Kingstonian secured a 25-year sub-tenancy agreement with AFC Wimbledon.
June 2003: Contract Agreed for Buying Lease to Stadium
In June 2003, the contract for buying the lease to Kingsmeadow stadium was agreed with Rajesh Khosla, requiring £3 million to be raised.
2003: Start of Winning Streak
During the 2003-04 season, AFC Wimbledon began a remarkable run, winning their first 21 league games.
2003: Kevin Cooper Scores 66 Goals in a Season
During the 2003-04 season, Kevin Cooper scored 66 goals for AFC Wimbledon.
2003: Wandle the Womble Mascot
In 2003 when the club relocated to Milton Keynes, permission to use the then mascot Wandle the Womble was not renewed as owners of the Wombles brand no longer wished to be associated with Wimbledon FC.
2003: Groundsharing with Kingstonian
In 2003, AFC Wimbledon were the landlords and Kingstonian were the tenants at Kingsmeadow.
2003: Wimbledon F.C. Relocation
In 2003, Wimbledon F.C. moved to Milton Keynes following the decision by the Football Association.
2003: Relocation of Wimbledon to Milton Keynes
In 2003, Wimbledon relocated to Milton Keynes, resulting in the formation of Milton Keynes Dons.
2003: Share Issue to Finance Kingsmeadow Purchase
In 2003, a minority interest in AFCW plc was sold in a share issue to finance the purchase of Kingsmeadow. While the decision raised concerns among some members, it was quickly accepted given the circumstances of the club's formation.
January 2004: Winning Streak Ends
On 10 January 2004, AFC Wimbledon's winning streak ended with a 2–2 draw against Sandhurst Town, concluding a run of 32 consecutive league wins over two seasons.
February 2004: Terry Eames Suspension and Sacking
On 13 February 2004, Terry Eames was suspended as manager and subsequently sacked on 18 February 2004 for gross misconduct, with Nick English taking over as assistant manager.
April 2004: League and Cup Double
On 30 April 2004, AFC Wimbledon won the Combined Counties League's Premier Challenge Cup, completing a double for the season, after already securing the league title.
May 2004: Kevin Cooper Ends Season as Top Goal Scorer
As of May 2004, Kevin Cooper remained AFC Wimbledon's all-time highest goal scorer with 107 goals.
May 2004: Dave Anderson Appointed Manager
On 11 May 2004, Dave Anderson was appointed as the new manager of AFC Wimbledon.
December 2004: End of Unbeaten Run
In December 2004, AFC Wimbledon's record-breaking 78-game unbeaten run in league matches came to an end.
December 2004: Defeat to Cray Wanderers
On 4 December 2004, AFC Wimbledon were defeated 2-0 by Cray Wanderers, ending their 78-match unbeaten league run.
2004: Name Change to Milton Keynes Dons
In 2004, Wimbledon F.C. formally changed its name to Milton Keynes Dons, completing the relocation process.
2004: Away Kit Color Change
In 2004, the away kit used between 2002 and 2004 was white, however since then it has usually been predominantly yellow with blue detailing.
May 2005: Surrey Senior Cup Win
On 3 May 2005, AFC Wimbledon defeated Walton & Hersham 2–1 in the Final of the Surrey Senior Cup, securing another double for the season.
2005: Competitive Season
During the 2005–06 season, AFC Wimbledon experienced a more competitive season, struggling to maintain a position in the play-off places.
2005: Formation of Wimbledon Old Players Association (WOPA)
In 2005, The Wimbledon Old Players Association (WOPA) was formed as part of WISA's campaign to reclaim the history of Wimbledon Football Club.
April 2006: Play-off Qualification
On 22 April 2006, AFC Wimbledon qualified for the play-offs after a 1–0 win against Hendon.
May 2006: Play-off Defeat and Surrey Senior Cup Loss
On 2 May 2006, AFC Wimbledon were defeated 2–1 by Fisher Athletic in the play-offs, preventing promotion. The team also lost the Surrey Senior Cup final to Kingstonian.
July 2006: WOPA Fields Team in Masters Football Tournament
On 16 July 2006, Wimbledon Old Players Association (WOPA) fielded a team in the Masters Football Tournament at Wembley Arena, with AFC Wimbledon's backing. The team included Carlton Fairweather, Scott Fitzgerald, Marcus Gayle and Dean Holdsworth.
2006: Introduction of Haydon the Womble Mascot
In 2006, AFC Wimbledon introduced a new mascot, a Womble known as "Haydon" after Haydons Road.
2006: 'Darlington Affair'
Much of the 2006–07 season was overshadowed by the 'Darlington affair,' involving a proposed points deduction for fielding an ineligible player.
May 2007: Play-off Semi-Final Loss and Manager Departure
On 1 May 2007, AFC Wimbledon lost 1–0 to Bromley in the play-off semi-final. Dave Anderson subsequently left the club on 2 May 2007.
May 2007: Terry Brown Appointed Manager
On 15 May 2007, Terry Brown was appointed as the new manager of AFC Wimbledon.
April 2008: Play-off Semi-Final Win
On 29 April 2008, AFC Wimbledon beat Hornchurch 3–1 in the play-off semi-final.
May 2008: Promotion to Conference South
On 3 May 2008, AFC Wimbledon triumphed 2–1 over Staines Town in the play-off final, securing promotion to the Conference South.
2008: Near Top of League Table
During the 2008-09 season, AFC Wimbledon remained near the top of the league table.
April 2009: Promotion to Conference Premier
On 25 April 2009, AFC Wimbledon defeated St Albans City 3–0, securing promotion to the Conference Premier. The match set an attendance record of 4,722 for Kingsmeadow stadium.
2009: Eighth Place Finish
In the 2009–10 season, AFC Wimbledon finished eighth in the Conference Premier, failing to reach the play-off zone.
2009: Rivalry with Crawley Town
Since 2009, AFC Wimbledon's main rivals have been Crawley Town, purely due to their frequently fractious meetings at a non-League level.
June 2010: Vinnie Jones Donates FA Cup Winners Medal
In June 2010, Vinnie Jones, a former player of Wimbledon, donated his 1988 FA Cup winners medal to the fans of AFC Wimbledon. The medal is on display at Wimbledon in Sporting History's Museum at Plough Lane.
May 2011: Promotion to the Football League
On 21 May 2011, AFC Wimbledon beat Luton Town 4–3 in a penalty shoot-out in the play-off final at the City of Manchester Stadium, resulting in promotion to the Football League.
August 2011: AFC Wimbledon Commemorative Kit
On 6 August 2011, to mark their first game in the Football League against Bristol Rovers, AFC Wimbledon wore a white and blue commemorative kit based on that worn by the original Wimbledon during 1977–78.
2011: Commencement of Stand Construction
At the end of the 2011–12 season, AFC Wimbledon commenced work on building a new 1,000 capacity all-seater stand to replace the existing Kingston Road End.
2011: Promotion to League Two
The 2011–12 season marked AFC Wimbledon's promotion to League Two.
March 2012: Community Outreach Scheme Promoting FA's 'Respect' Campaign
On 15 March 2012, coaches from the CFS, in partnership with nPower, engaged in a community outreach scheme promoting the FA's 'Respect' campaign to school pupils, teaching nearly 2,000 children aged 10 and 11 about abusive verbal and physical behaviour on the pitch.
March 2012: Prime Minister's Big Society Award
On 27 March 2012, AFC Wimbledon was presented with the Prime Minister's Big Society Award for outstanding contributions to the local community due to its wide range of community development schemes.
August 2012: Sophie Hosking Wins Olympic Gold Medal
On 4 August 2012, Wimbledon Women's former player Sophie Hosking won an Olympic gold medal for Team GB in the women's lightweight double sculls at the London 2012 games. She painted her fingernails in the club's royal blue and yellow colours for the Olympic final.
September 2012: Terry Brown Sacked
On 19 September 2012, manager Terry Brown and assistant manager Stuart Cash were sacked due to an abysmal start to the season.
October 2012: Neal Ardley Appointed Manager
On 10 October 2012, Neal Ardley was appointed as the permanent replacement for Terry Brown, with Neil Cox as his assistant manager.
October 2012: Completion of New Stand
On 13 October 2012, AFC Wimbledon completed the construction of a new 1,000 capacity all-seater stand to replace the existing Kingston Road End. The game against Cheltenham Town saw an attendance of 4,409. The new stand was named the North Stand.
December 2012: First Meeting with Milton Keynes Dons
On 2 December 2012, AFC Wimbledon faced Milton Keynes Dons for the first time in the FA Cup, resulting in a 2–1 defeat.
2012: Teams did not play each other
Between 2012 and 2015 AFC Wimbledon and Crawley Town did not play each other due to Crawley's promotion to League One.
April 2013: Sutton Won Surrey Senior Cup
On 11 April 2013, Sutton won 5-2, the Surrey Senior Cup semi-final against AFC Wimbledon at Gander Green Lane.
April 2013: Securing Football League Status
On 27 April 2013, AFC Wimbledon secured their Football League status by beating Fleetwood Town 2–1.
November 2013: Match-Fixing Plot
In November 2013, a match involving AFC Wimbledon was at the centre of a failed match-fixing plot after the club's 1–0 loss against Dagenham & Redbridge on 26 November 2013.
2013: Discussions with Merton Council
In 2013, AFC Wimbledon announced that discussions were underway with Merton Council over a joint bid for the greyhound stadium and surrounding land to build a new football stadium.
February 2014: Points Deduction
On 19 February 2014, AFC Wimbledon were docked three points for fielding an ineligible player, Jake Nicholson.
August 2014: League Cup Meeting with MK Dons
On 12 August 2014, AFC Wimbledon faced Milton Keynes Dons in the first round of the Football League Cup, with MK Dons winning 3–1.
October 2014: First Win Over MK Dons
On 7 October 2014, AFC Wimbledon achieved their first 3–2 win over Milton Keynes Dons in the second round of the Football League Trophy.
2014: Crawley's Promotion to League One
Between 2012 and 2015 AFC Wimbledon and Crawley Town did not play each other due to Crawley's promotion to League One in 2014.
2014: Admiral Sportswear Kit Manufacturer
Between 2014 and 2018, Admiral Sportswear manufactured AFC Wimbledon's kit.
July 2015: Naming Rights Sponsorship
In July 2015, the North Stand was renamed The Nongshim Stand and later the John Green Stand following sponsorship deals.
August 2015: AFC Wimbledon Won Against Crawley Town
On 15 August 2015, AFC Wimbledon won against Crawley Town 2–1.
November 2015: Supporters Vote to Sell Kingsmeadow
In November 2015, AFC Wimbledon supporters voted to approve the selling of Kingsmeadow to Chelsea, a decision made to help fund a planned new ground in Merton.
December 2015: Stadium Plans Approved
On 10 December 2015, plans for the football stadium were approved unanimously by Merton Council.
2015: Agreement to Sell Kingsmeadow to Chelsea
In 2015, AFC Wimbledon agreed to plans to sell Kingsmeadow to Chelsea to help finance their plans to move to a new stadium in Merton. Chelsea's intention was to use the ground for their own youth and women's teams, causing protests from Kingstonian fans as they would be left without a home ground.
2015: AFC Wimbledon's League Two Season
In 2015, AFC Wimbledon started their fifth consecutive season in League Two.
2015: AFC Wimbledon Promotion
In 2015, AFC Wimbledon's promotion from League Two alongside MK Dons' relegation from the Championship meant they competed in the same league division for the first time.
May 2016: AFC Wimbledon Win Play-Off Final
In May 2016, AFC Wimbledon had a strong finish to the season, securing their highest League Two finish, seventh place, and qualification for the Football League play-offs. They won the play-off final at Wembley against Plymouth Argyle, 2-0, in front of 57,956 people, exactly 14 years to the day since the club's foundation.
September 2016: AFC Wimbledon won against Charlton Athletic
On 17 September 2016, AFC Wimbledon recorded a 2–1 away win against Charlton Athletic at The Valley.
2016: Wimbledon's Promotion into League One
Between Wimbledon's 2016 promotion into League One and 2022 relegation into League Two, they met just once competitively in the second round of the 2020–21 FA Cup with Crawley Town winning 2–1.
2016: AFC Wimbledon Promotion
In 2016, AFC Wimbledon's promotion from League Two alongside MK Dons' relegation from the Championship meant they competed in the same league division for the first time.
March 2017: AFC Wimbledon triumph over Milton Keynes Dons
On 14 March 2017, AFC Wimbledon faced Milton Keynes Dons for the first time at Kingsmeadow, triumphing 2–0.
December 2017: Contract Signed for New Stadium
On 13 December 2017, AFC Wimbledon signed the contract for their new stadium to be built. This also resulted in Kingstonian leaving Kingsmeadow in 2017.
December 2017: AFC Wimbledon Won FA Cup
On 3 December 2017, AFC Wimbledon recorded a 3–1 win over Charlton Athletic in the second round of the FA Cup. On 13 December 2017, the club received permission to begin work on constructing a new stadium.
2017: Ground Sharing with Chelsea Women
In 2017, AFC Wimbledon shared Kingsmeadow stadium with Chelsea Women's team.
March 2018: Stadium Site Clearance Begins
On 16 March 2018, clearance of the site in preparation for the new football stadium and housing was begun.
November 2018: Neal Ardley Departs AFC Wimbledon
On 12 November 2018, Manager Neal Ardley departed AFC Wimbledon by mutual agreement.
December 2018: Ownership Transfers
On 24 December 2018, the land's freehold was transferred to an AFC Wimbledon subsidiary, among other transactions that also formally transferred ownership of Kingsmeadow to Chelsea.
December 2018: Glyn Hodges Joins AFC Wimbledon
On 4 December 2018, Glyn Hodges joined Wally Downes as AFC Wimbledon's assistant manager.
2018: Puma Kit Manufacturer
Between 2018 and 2022, Puma manufactured AFC Wimbledon's kit.
September 2019: Glyn Hodges Takes Over as Interim Manager
On 25 September 2019, Glyn Hodges took over the management of the first team on a temporary basis following the suspension of Wally Downes.
September 2019: Wally Downes Suspended as Manager
On 25 September 2019, Wally Downes was suspended as manager by AFC Wimbledon after being charged by the Football Association over bets placed on games, with his assistant Glyn Hodges taking over his duties.
October 2019: Wally Downes Dismissed as Manager
On 20 October 2019, Wally Downes was officially dismissed as manager of AFC Wimbledon after being suspended by the FA for breaching betting rules. Glyn Hodges was then named his permanent replacement.
2019: Erik Samuelson Retirement
In 2019, Erik Samuelson, the original chief executive of AFC Wimbledon, retired. He was replaced by the club's former COO, Joe Palmer.
2019: Original Stadium Opening Plan
The stadium's opening was initially planned for summer 2019, however, delays caused the approximate completion date to be moved to 25 October 2020.
May 2020: Departure from Kingsmeadow
In May 2020, AFC Wimbledon departed Kingsmeadow, their home ground since 2002, after agreeing to sell it in 2015 to help finance their new stadium in Merton.
May 2020: AFC Wimbledon Departs Kingsmeadow
In May 2020, AFC Wimbledon officially departed Kingsmeadow, following the agreement in 2015 to sell the ground to Chelsea to finance their new stadium in Merton.
May 2020: New club crest released
On 14 May 2020, the club released a new, slightly modified, official club crest to mark 32 years since Wimbledon's 1988 FA Cup victory, as well as the forthcoming opening of the new stadium at Plough Lane.
October 2020: New Stadium Completion Date
Delays caused the approximate completion date of the new stadium to be moved to 25 October 2020.
October 2020: Temporary Groundshare Agreement
In October 2020, AFC Wimbledon started the 2020–21 season at Loftus Road, after agreeing a temporary groundshare agreement with Queens Park Rangers, while construction of Plough Lane was completed.
November 2020: AFC Wimbledon Move to Plough Lane
In November 2020, AFC Wimbledon moved to Plough Lane, a new stadium, and played its first match on 3 November 2020; a 2–2 draw against Doncaster Rovers.
November 2020: Move to New Plough Lane
In November 2020, AFC Wimbledon moved to their new stadium, Plough Lane, built on the site of the former Wimbledon Greyhound Stadium.
2020: Dons Local Action Group During COVID-19 Pandemic
In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Dons Local Action Group stepped up, ensuring community members were distributed sufficient food and that students locked down at home had the technology they needed to keep up with classes.
2020: Crawley Town Won Against AFC Wimbledon
In 2020-21 FA cup, Crawley Town won against AFC Wimbledon 2-1.
January 2021: Mark Robinson Replaces Hodges
On 30 January 2021, Mark Robinson replaced Hodges as AFC Wimbledon's coach.
2021: Appointment of Specialist Coaches
In spring 2021, AFC Wimbledon appointed Andy Parslow as restarts coach, becoming the first English Football League club to appoint a specialist restarts coach. In summer 2021, AFC Wimbledon appointed Sammy Landers as substitution coach, becoming the English Football League club to appoint a specialist substitution coach.
April 2022: Kit Manufacturer Switch to Hummel
In April 2022, AFC Wimbledon announced that it would be switching its kit manufacturer to Hummel for the start of the 2022–23 season.
2022: Hummel Kit Manufacturer
Between 2022 and 2023, Hummel manufactured AFC Wimbledon's kit.
2022: Wimbledon's Relegation into League Two
Between Wimbledon's 2016 promotion into League One and 2022 relegation into League Two, they met just once competitively in the second round of the 2020–21 FA Cup with Crawley Town winning 2–1.
2022: League Two
In 2022, both AFC Wimbledon and Sutton United will be in League Two for the 2022–23 season.
March 2023: Kit Manufacturer Switch to Umbro
On 6 March 2023, AFC Wimbledon announced they would be switching kit manufacturer from Hummel to Umbro due to Hummel UK distributor Elite Sports Group going into bankruptcy administration.
2023: Umbro Kit Manufacturer
In 2023, the kit used by the club is currently manufactured by Umbro.
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