Dons 5th match of the season and my fourth visit to a game was against the (apparently) sponsorless Hartley Wintney today.  After 3 hours of madness getting shirts dished out June and I got into the ground just as the whistle went for kick off.  Very quickly after KO Joe Sheerin had a goal disallowed, everyone I've spoken to says it was a perfectly good goal.  The whole game was dominated by Dons and most of the game Hartley were forced to defend in numbers but they did break out from time to time only to be put back in their place.  Dons were awarded a genuine but very bizarre penalty which caused great hilarity around me as everyone fell about laughing at the HW player who, for some reason, just stood there and caught the ball.  Kevin Cooper must have felt great sympathy for the guy as he took the softest penalty which was easily saved.  Coops made amends later by scoring his 5th goal in five games in the first half.

 

The second half continued the domination by Dons and brought goals by Neil Robson and what could well turn out to be goal of the season by Sim Johnston with a 30 yard screamer into the top of the net.  Apparently Sim never scores goals according to a friend of his nevermind screamers.  The starting line up worked well together and even Coops is passing more than he ever did before and he assisted in the Robson goal.  Things turned a bit dodgy once Terry Eames made substitutions.  HW scored after Danny Roberts was subbed and the team seemed less of a unit once Dave Fry and Glen Mulcaire came on but I'm sure Terry will work on that.

 

Just a word for our new goalkeeper Glenn Shimmel.  Although Glenn didn't have a great deal to do he looks good.  He commanded his area well and never gave us anything to worry about.  I can only remember him having to make one very good save and that was in the second half, difficult to know from where I was sat if their goal was down to him or not.  I think he will do well as a Don and will probably keep his place.

 

Final score AFC Wimbledon 3 - 1 Hartley Wintney

Attendence 3476

 

 

There have been some playing staff changes at AFCW recently (no idea when they happened or why but they did and have).  I would like to express my thanks to Aiden Martin, Chris Theodore and Dean Martin and wish them good luck wherever they play in future (except against AFCW of course!).  I would also like to welcome our new players who are Glyn Shimmel (Goalkeeper), Sean Marshall (midfielder) and Alasdair Russell (forward).

 

 

It would seem that Franchise FC's hopes of moving to MK in time for their Boxing Day match against Watford have been dashed again.  To find out why follow this link:  http://www.seriousaboutnews.com/mk/pages/index.shtml

 

 

The Ash ground was similar to that of Sandhurst except for the badly undulating pitch in one half and reasonably flat in the other.

 

Dons dominated Ash for most of the game and Joe Sheerin worked his socks off in the first half by going for every ball that he could.  Keith Ward in defence played a blinder as far as I am concerned as did Sim Johnston.  Up front Ash marked Kevin Cooper closely but with him and Joe Sheerin constantly swapping positions they made marking difficult.  Ash are another team with knuckle scrapping neanderthals, 2 in fact.  One of them was eventually sent off four eye gouging (no doubt someone will correct me on that one).  In the second half Keith Ward was red carded apparently for deliberate hand ball and Ash converted from the spot.  But that was only after Kevin Cooper scored twice, once from free play and the other from a (dodgy?) penalty.  At that point I thought we had the game in the bag but how wrong I was.  Ash brought one back before Ward was sent off and with Dons down to 9 men and a very knackered Joe Sheerin they scored twice more to ruin every Dons day.

 

The linesman in front of me told supporters that six of the Ash players had played at Conference level, how long ago I didn't hear him say but it might go a long way to explaining why they finished second last season.

 

The referee was very inconsistent in his decisions and never seemed to know whether to have a word with a player, book him or just let things go.  At one point an Ash player barged a Don off the ball sending him flying and the ref did nothing, soon after a Don made a slight nudge on a Ash player and was booked for it.  It was like that for the whole game.  He made so many bookings that at one point I thought he forgotten he had booked Joe Sheerin earlier in the game, fortunately I was mistaken and it was Joe's only booking of the game.

 

Final Score - Ash United 3 - 2 AFCW (Attendence 900+ TBC)

 

 

A much anticipated match by me as it was my first opportunity to visit Kingsmeadow.  Having arrived at the ground at 11am immediately behind the Wombulance June and I got roped in to help out setting up the merchandise stall and somehow into selling it as well.  The day was nice and bright but nowhere near as hot as last saturday at Sandhurst.  Whatever the music was played by Chris Phillips when the players came out is still a mystery to me as, despite being right under a pair of speakers, we couldn't hear a thing due to the noise level of the crowd.

 

The first half was good with end to end football for much of the time with Dons having slightly more possession than Cove.  With about 10 minutes left of the half I went to the tea bar (tea was disgusting and cold by the way) and typically Cove scored in almost absolute silence (must stop going to the tea bars during play, the opposition almost always score when I do).

 

The second half started off with cove having the better of things until Dons (Lee Passmore) scored to level it, then Cove immediately replied to take the lead once again and almost just as quickly Dons (Neil Robson) scored again.  At that point I was convinced the game would end in a draw but no, with just a minute or so to go Lee Sidwell made himself a hero by scoring from 25 yards to send the fans on all 4 sides of the ground into raptures.  For the last 30 minutes Dons sent in attack after attack only to be constantly frustrated by the Cove defence but in particular by their No5 (Martin Day - he definately ate all the pies and his knuckled dragged in the floor) by constantly fouling anyone he could get hold of and in particular Joe Sheerin with very little reaction from the referee.  Eventually the ref put his glasses on and booked the guy to the delight of all Dons fans.

 

Final Score AFCW 3 - 2 Cove (Attendence 3330)  Not only was the attendence bigger than Franchise FC by some 800 or so our attendence (as far as I can tell) was the largest on the day in non-league football.

 

 

Those who pre-ordered their AFC Wimbledon shirts will be able to collect them at Kingsmeadow next Saturday at the home game against Hartley Wintney, postage will be refunded.

 

 

The Dons first home game of the CCL season started with a 30 minute delay as thousands tried to get into the game.  Unfortunately the ground capacity of Kingsmeadow had been reduced and with an attendence of 4215 inside there was still 1000 locked out.

 

Chipstead took the lead after 15 minutes but before that Dons skipper Joe Sheerin headed over the bar and soon after the goal Dons missed a near chance following a good cross from Andy Sullivan.  Goal scoring machine Kevin Cooper equalised on about 33 minutes.  Another chance was missed after a penalty appeal was turned down shortly before the break.  Half time score 1-1

 

Judging by the lack of information on the Match Updates site very little happened in the second half apart from one missed shot by Dons and Trigger coming on for Joe Sheerin.  A few minutes later Terry Eames took off Sidwell and Passmore and replaced them with Fry and Robson.  Shortly after the substitutions Chipstead took the lead again.  Final score 1-2.  Defence dodgy apparently.

 

 

 

 

It has come to my attention that on 6 August 2002 someone registered a new company with Companies House in the name of Wimbledon Football Club (MK) Ltd with an address given in Cardiff.  As a added bit of information for conspiracy theorists there are two companies registered in the names of Wimbledon Football Club (Holdings) Ltd and Cardiff City Football Club (Holdings) Ltd, both registered at the same address in London.

 

 

On a blazing hot summers day fans and players made the trip to Sandhurst for the opening game of AFC Wimbledon's first league campaign.  The Sandhurst supporters were very friendly and very accommodating to the point that they were only too happy to help put two large AFCW flags on the roof of the sports club.  I think June and I caught them on the hop at bit by suddenly appearing at 11 o'clock.

 

The PA man annouced the team lists about 30 minutes before kick off and said that Joe Sheerin was playing in the No9 shirt.  By the time the next team announcement was made Joe was out of the team and Trigger was playing which suprised me and those around me as we all thought he had busted ribs (what was wrong with Joe?).  Having watched Trigger during the first half he didn't look to clever for most of it and was replaced by Simon Bassey soon after the re-start.

 

The first half of the game was all we could have wished for, Kevin Cooper powering us into the lead and five minutes later Ward scoring the second and somewhere in between the Sandhurst keeper having to tip a shot over the bar.  After that the biggest cheer before the final whistle was the announcement that Franchise were losing to Watford.  Sadly Sandhurst scored within 5 minutes of half time.

 

In the second half the sun must have been getting to players as well as the supporters.  For a time the game didn't seem quite as lively as the first half but some good attacking woke everyone up.  Unfortunately that attacking failed to result in any more goals.  Sadly Tony Readings picked up what must have been quite a nasty head injury juding by the size of the bandage round his head and the time it took to treat him.  Unlike those namby pamby prima donnas in the Premiership who would have needed a stretcher, Tony walked off the pitch with a little help.  He looked very dazed and unsteady on his feet but at least he was walking, apparently he now has nine stiches in his head.  Dave Fry came on in his place.

 

Final Score:  Sandhurst Town 1 - 2 AFC Wimbledon

Attendence:  2449 (league record crowd)

 

 

Tonights final pre-season friendly saw The Dons away to Enfield Town of the Essex Senior League, another club owned by it's fans.  Enfield are on the same level as AFCW which makes a nice change after nine games against Ryman Prem and Ryman One clubs.  With Captain Joe Sheerin playing up front alongside Kevin Cooper things started off great guns.  Sheerin scored on 2 minutes and Cooper doubled the scoreline on 29 minutes.  With Commonwealth boxing silver medalist and AFCW fan Darren Langley looking on things in the first half were definately looking bright but it wasn't all one way traffic.

 

At the start of the 2nd half Joe Sheerin was subbed for a new player (another one?! - name TBC).  Enfield pulled one back on about 62 minutes.  However, two minutes later Lee Sidwell regained the two goal advantage with a shot into the bottom corner after being one on one with the Enfield keeper.  With a little over 20 minutes to go Dons could have had a 4th thanks to the Enfield keeper.  He paried a shot on to his post, fortunately for him it bounced out rather than into his own goal no doubt to the relief of his team mates.  Enfield managed to reduce the defecit a second time inside the last 10 minutes.

 

This win will please everyone and release any pressure felt by Terry and the players before Saturdays first league game against Sandhurst Town which can only be a good thing.  Also we have won our first piece of silverware, the Supporters Direct Cup.  UP THE DONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

MK 0 - 1 Gillingham.  According to the official MK figures the attendence for the opening game of the season at Selhurst Park was 2476, no one seems to believe this figure.  The BBC's Garth Crooks, who has been inside the ground and seen for himself, said that as far as he was concerned there had been some "creative accounting within Wimbledon Football Club".  Even if this figure was to be true it would be the lowest attendence figure for the top division since the war.  Click on this link to see a few photos from Selhurst

 

 

The Nationwide League season kicks off today and FFC (or MK Diamonds!) take on Gillingham at Selhurst Park.  WISA/AFCW and other interested groups and individuals will be protesting against franchising in football before the game.  Hope everyone has fun and don't get arrested for anything too serious guys :)

 

 

BBC Newsnight programme ran a good item on AFC & WFC.  If you have not been able to see it click on this link http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsa/n5ctrl/tvseq/newsnight/newsnight.ram

 

 

Dons played their penultimate pre-season friendly against Wealdstone.  Like Leatherhead a trophy was being competed for, The Allan Batsford Cup.

 

The game started off fairly quietly until the 15th minute when Wealdstone took the lead from a header following a perfect cross.  Wealdstone went further ahead on about 24 minutes.  Despite the 2-0 deficet it was not all one way traffic with Dons making attacks on the Wealdstone goal, unfortunately weak shots, deflections and the like meant the score remained the same for the remainder of the first half.

 

The second half started with just the one substitution.  From looking at the Match Updates very little happened in the 2nd half other than the odd shot at goal.  The game finished 2-0.

 

After the final whistle a message came through on the W&WW messageboard that there was crowd trouble which worried me some what.  Apparently, as it eventually turned out, a Wealdstone supporter had punched a AFCW supporter and that was it.  If it was anything more than that I havn't heard about it.

 

 

Season Ticket Sales.  It has been confirmed today that AFC Wimbledon have sold a grand total of 1046 season tickets.  Compare that to FFC sales of 128.  The tickets are currently being made and will be printed shortly.

 

 

Today is 'Meet The Players Day'  The lads will be at Specsavers on Broadway at 1200 and then Centre Court at 1230 (might be better to move it to the casualty department the way things are going!).  It seems we will also be unveiling another sponsor - Powerade the sports drink supplier.

 

 

June and I made the trip from West Yorkshire to Leatherhead today.  What a trip!  Just over 5 hours to get there and almost 2.5 hours to do the last 38 miles on the M25.

 

The last match we went to was the game at Dulwich and we could certainly see some improvement from that game, the passing was definately better.  The defence today was OK and the attacking was OK but the midfield seemed to be nowhere, especially in the first half.  The two teams, as the score suggested, seemed to be fairly equal in the first half with neither of the two keepers being over worked.  The Leatherhead Captain (?)(No4) seemed to have it in for Daniel Jones and scythed him down twice in quick succession.  The referee, who looked as if he had eaten all the pies and left his glasses at home, did nothing but have a word probably so he could have a rest.  The Captain argued with the ref, placed his hands on him a couple of times and judging by his gestures and facial expressions the ref should have at least booked him for dissent.  A penalty 4 minutes from time gave Dons fans the hope that just for a change we would take the lead.  A penalty was awarded, presumably for hand ball, but the kick by Andy Sullivan was so soft the keeper had no problem stopping it

 

The start of the second half saw Dons playing better and several shots were made in the general direction of the goal and once or twice the keeper actually had to make a save.  At one point Dons had the ball in the back of the net, or so we thought, unfortunately it had gone into the side netting.

 

As the second half wore on I started to think that Leatherhead were getting back on top and as soon as I did our No20 managed to head the ball into the back of his own net and within a few minutes in what must have been a mix up of some kind the ball trickled towards the post with no one attempting to stop it and bobbled in.  Letherheads superior fitness was showing and at times it looked as if our players were preferring the ball to come to them rather than they go to it.  Having said that it didn't stop Carley from running around in persuit of the ball and we still had a couple of shots on goal.

 

On a sad note Akim Gallimore was hospitalised during the first half with a broken rib(?).  Like with everything else in this game the ref did sod all about it that I can remember (this is being written 6 hours after the game).

 

The final score Leatherhead 2 - 0 AFCW meant our first attempt at a piece of silverware failed but there is always next week when we take on Wealdstone for the Allen Batsford Trophy to be presented by the man himself.

 

 

For those of you that havn't heard yet Terry Eames has told goalkeeper Andy Hunt that his services will not be required any longer and sadly he has been released from the club.  I'd like to wish Andy the best of luck in the future at which ever club decides to take him on and thank him for all he has done in the pre-season matches.  Andy made his own announcement on 'It Must be Dons' earlier today and after giving the bad news he said "I just wanted to thank all the fans for the brilliant support they gave while I was involved and wish you all the best in the future"

 

 

AFC Wimbledon have been entered into two more cup competitions.  Details are as follows:

 

Cherry Red Books Trophy - 19 October v Ditton (the clever clogs amongst us will have already noticed that we have a league game that day).

 

London Senior Cup - v Brimsdown Rovers.  First round to be played between 9th and 14th September.

 

Also AFCW will be playing for their first piece of silverware at the Leatherhead friendly on Saturday.  The Maureen Wooldrige trophy is in memory of the lady of the same name who died of cancer in 1995.  The match will raise money in her memory for the Royal Marsden Hospital where she was cared for.