In 2002, AFC Wimbledon became the proverbial phoenix to rise from the ashes of Wimbledon FC. After years of ground-sharing turmoil, the 'Crazy Gang' was sent on an ambitious relocation adventure to Milton Keynes which inevitably ended in catastrophe.
The much loved Wombles, who had grown out its home sweet home Plough Lane in the heart of Wimbledon Common, dissolved in 2004. A hardcore element of over 2000 fans was determined to become the Dons of their beloved local side once more.
Having secured the sponsorship of Sports Interactive, the Wombles went into Championship Manager mode - on their own mission to re-establish Wimbledon as a South-West London local - not a far away franchise club of which MK Dons are referred to as today.
But this Phoenix took the form of a mere sparrow setting out on its first flight - a thrown together side set about competing in the Combined Counties League - a million miles away from the famous FA Cup victory of 1988.
Wimbledon had always been the ultimate minnows - unfortunately they lost their way in a sea of sharks on their unprecedented rise to the Premier League. With their relegation in 2000 after 14 years with their heads in the clouds, the road to Wembley became the highway to hell.
AFC Wimbledon have stayed true to form in the business of defying the odds and nine years after its formation the club has soared through the non-league into the fourth tier of English football.
The question is where do the Wombles go from here? I took a trip down to Kingsmeadow, the new capital home of Wimbledon to find out a bit more and taste the atmosphere of the ultimate underdog embarking on a potential cup upset.
The visit of League 1 Scunthorpe United was a passionate affair and the atmosphere was breathtaking throughout a cagey but entertaining 0-0 draw. It was the post-match experience which blew me away.
A few drinks in the clubhouse to see the players interviewed and watch the England v Spain game with some fellow football lovers. As a Wolves fan it made me question my motive for being.
I ignorantly commented to one fan that the ultimate aim must be to restore Wimbledon to former glory and he replied 'No, I disagree'. Whilst the flag-wavers of the 1988 FA Cup Final still yearn for the Dons to march on Milton Keynes to put their successors to the sword - there is another, equally honest theme of this club.
Having been stripped of their club once before, these loyalists would sooner die before they see it fall into entrepreneurial hands ever again. If that means confining themselves to a life of lower league football, so be it.
Somewhere along the way, the stars which once lined the eyes of Wimbledon FC as a Premier League regular and cup-run specialists, as they do all of us football fans, blinded the sight of what is good and true about supporting a club.
What the fans did in their hour of desperation defies logic, it’s beyond belief.
No performance on the pitch can really provide more pride than the elation these men and women feel every Saturday when they go to watch their team - because it really is theirs – and as the song rang out – they just can’t get enough.
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