Plough Lane

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yob
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Joined: Tue Dec 03, 2002 1:26 am
Location: Czech Republic

Plough Lane

Post by yob »

Here's a street you weren't expecting to hear about - 15 years after the former home of FA Cup winners the Wombles was demolished for housing.

For those unaware of the history - Wimbledon FC, during its life one of the oldest football clubs in the world founded in 1869, competed as an amateur club in England until entering the Football League in 1977. It holds the very rare honour of winning both the amateur FA cup, and the FA Cup title - the latter in 1988 against league champions Liverpool.

The club played at Plough Lane stadium until 1991. Following the Taylor Report it was deemed necessary to leave as the ground was unable to be brought up to league standard on the club's budget. The club ground shared with Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park until its demise in 2002.

And this is where they reached the fork in the road. The club's board pursued a new stadium development in Milton Keynes and relocated to the new city, rebranding the club as Milton Keynes Dons. The fans opposed such a big move and phoenixed the club as AFC Wimbeldon, fan owned, and entered the football league. Having experienced historically the greatest winning (semi interrupted) run in the sport the club has risen to the ranks of the 4th tier - one tier below its estranged father.

Following a tumultuous period where fan associations in England refused to recognise MKD fans' claims on the history of Wimbeldon, the club surrendered all claims to its history and trophies and transfered these to the London borough or Merton - who dutifully appointed AFC Wimbeldon as the rightful owners. MK Dons are now MK Dons established 2004, and AFC Wimbeldon are the real Wimbeldon, with the dual honour of winning the 1988 FA Cup... and being the first club founded in the 21st century to have won its way to the Football League.

And what of Plough Lane? Well, it's a housing development. But now, in partnership with a developer, AFC Wimbeldon proposes to return to where it all began - well, next door, with a staged 11,000, then 20,000 capacity purpose built stadium. And it's a beauty.

And to complete the romance, MKD and AFC Wimbeldon squared off in the league cup this morning, where AFC Wimbeldon emerged as losers. Oh for f**k's sake.


Proposal:

http://www.redevelopingploughlane.co.uk/

http://www.scribd.com/fullscreen/232096 ... hZLodLH2dH

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