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See our match day photogallery 1 >> See our match day photogallery 2 >> Got a chant for the terraces? >> First things first, I must admit that as a Fulham FC season ticket holder I have absolutely no passion for Wimbledon FC. However, after a fantastic day in the Hockey Stadium, all things may change in the future.
I, like hundreds of Milton Keynes residents, were tempted by the chance to watch professional football in the local area and joined the scramble for tickets to watch history in the making. I have had the pleasure, and in some cases the horror, to attend well over 50 league grounds throughout the country, and as well as being an afficionado on pies I think I have a good idea, what makes a good ground. Having visited the Hockey Stadium a lot during the last month, in the course of my job as a journalist, it's been possible to see the transformation from a hockey venue into a football ground. But it wasn’t until 3:15pm today that the it actually came to life. Before then it just looked an odd shaped ground, but filled with fans and players it really did look like it should, a professional sporting arena. Whatever you think about the move, compared to some places, Milton Keynes, and in particular the Hockey Stadium, is a great place for football to be played. It's close to the M1 so all fans can get to the game easily, there's lots of parking space and the train station is just yards away. While some football supporters may want visiting fans to boycott Wimbledon, it didn’t stop 893 Burnley fans from travelling down. The total attendance today was 5,639 and compared to the Dons' attendances of late, this definitely had a direct effect on the way Wimbledon played their football. When the whistle blew to kick things off, the crowd got straight behind the team and had a direct effect, within a minute they had two strikes on goal. The crowd then mooed, which at first sounded like booing, until I remembered the concrete cows and everything fell into place. However, the atmosphere became stilted especially when Burnley took the lead. It was as though the new followers of Wimbledon didn’t know what to do when you go a couple of goals down. This led to the players actually appearing nervous on the pitch, and the half time whistle signalled a much needed break.
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| More fans on Saturday |
As is the tradition these days, the half time entertainment saw two small teams of children running towards goal in the hope of netting the ball and living the dream of a real footballer. However, thanks to two grown adults acting as goalkeepers not many children managed to bag that dream, some minor adjustment may have to made to that spot of fun. The second half was a real chance for Wimbledon’s new fans to experience the sheer wonderment that is football. Burnley looked nervous despite their two goal lead and Wimbledon could smell the fear and pushed hard to break them down. The crowd were still unsure whether singing was permitted but they cheered any move towards the goal area. In truth, it was the fans that proved the decisive factor in the game, David May handled the ball as Wimbledon moved forward and the crowd roared 'handball'. While the referee was unsighted he blew up and went to talk to the linesman who confirmed the fans' reaction and booked May for the second time, which saw him leave the pitch for the dressing room. With the fans realising their influence they got right behind the team who responded with the sense of urgency needed and laid siege on the Burnley goal.
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| Alistair Campbell doesn't seem to think much of his team Burnley |
Dean Holdsworth may be 35 very soon, and therefore old enough to be 19-year-old captain Nigel Reo Coker's father, but he still has the touch of a striker and netted with style and grace. This prompted a scene of pure emotion and delight from the home fans who rose to their feet and jumped around like the true football fans they had become. With the second goal came the chance for the newly subscribed supporters to realise they were the 12th man and despite more vocal support could not inspire a third and final winner. To coin the phrase used on all the staff T-shirts it had ‘been emotional’, the fans left happy and entertained, the players were delighted to have won a point and even I had felt the need to get to my feet to cheer the team off the pitch. We will have to wait and see if the fans return on a regular basis to enjoy the spectacle that is now professional football in Milton Keynes. Wimbledon's move to Milton Keynes has been very controversial. We've heard the reasons why fans will be boycotting the club and the reasons why others will be visiting the Hockey Stadium. Now that they have arrived, we will provide match reports for Wimbledon, just as we do for the other teams in the area. But a club arriving so abruptly in an area is bound to throw up problems as well as benefits so, from time to time, we will also look at how this unique situation affects Milton Keynes and its population. 
| Bun, Singapore |
Sunday, 21-Dec-2003 03:05:31 GMT |
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| 21/12/2003 I have doubts over Stuart Murdoch ‘s selection of players. He should have chosen Alex Tapp and Wade Small in the midfield role. Adam Nowland should be given the striker’s duty alongside Patrick Ayemang. Based on yesterday ‘s formation and availability of players, he should have chosen Darren Holloway (Right-Back), Rob Gier and Ben Chorley (Centre-Back) and Dean Lewington (Left-Back) in the four-man defence. The midfield should comprise of Jobi Mcnuff (Right Midfield), Nigel Reo-Coker and Alex Tapp (Centre-Midfield) and Wade Small (Left –Midfield). The striker should be led by Patrick Ayemang and Adam Nowland. The goalkeeper should be David Martin. I suggest that there is an urgent need for the club to appoint Joe Kinnear as the new manager to replace Stuart Murdoch before it is too late. There are 22 league games left and it is vital that there is a need for drastic action. I do not see why the club delays in making the decision and it is very important that immediate action has to be done in order to rectify the current situation. I cannot believe that the club keeps losing games and there is no action taken by the club. It is very important that the club takes action within the next few days. We cannot afford to lose time any more. The club is now 12 points adrift from safety. There is a need for fresh ideas and game plan that Joe Kinnear can bring into the club. I hope that my comments do not offend Stuart Murdoch. I spoke out for the benefit of the club. I am not against him. Joe Kinnear is available and we should make good use of the opportunity by appointing him. Dons , do act fast before it is too late. |
| JW, Aylesbury |
Tuesday, 14-Oct-2003 14:48:42 BST |
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| No Posts for 2 weeks - It's a football frenzy folks!! |
| Doc Dowden, Summerstown |
Tuesday, 30-Sep-2003 15:10:47 BST |
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| What's the betting the delayed kick off due to crowd congestion was planned weeks ago as a publicity stunt ? A plague on your plastic house.. |
| Roger Connell, Wimbledon - in South West London |
Tuesday, 30-Sep-2003 15:10:47 BST |
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| Albie from Aylesbury -you don't need a NEW team. You already have one.They are called Aylesbury United. |
| D Challinor, Reigate |
Tuesday, 30-Sep-2003 14:03:12 BST |
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| I followed Wimbledon FC for 15 very special years, 5 of those as a season ticket holder - and have attended many professional football matches since first being taken in 1973...the move to MK has left me feeling betrayed. Nor have I been bitten yet by the AFC Wimbledon 'bug'. In the last two seasons I have attended just one match, after years of attending 30+ each season, as football has lost its appeal for me. It's lost its soul to money - and it's certainly lost my financial support. I hope Franchise FC/MK Dons fails, not because I don't want the locals to enjoy league football, but because I don't want other hard-up clubs to follow the Franchise solution. |
| Albie, Aylesbury |
Monday, 29-Sep-2003 12:41:36 BST |
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| Good call Dave, now lets all get behind our new team, show them what good support is all about and get them in the premier. Albie |
| Mark, MK |
Monday, 29-Sep-2003 12:32:15 BST |
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| I would like to congratulate the beeb on such impartial and unbiased coverage of the Wimbledon move. You have done agreat job in catering for all parties and providing an essential service for all potential new fans. Thanks |
| Sandra Denore, Leicester |
Monday, 29-Sep-2003 12:05:56 BST |
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| It is sad if you are a football fan Andy Smith that you can call this a fantastic day in football. It was quite remarkable to read what you have written and to quote "The crowd were still unsure whether singing was permitted..." "This prompted a scene of pure emotion and delight from the home fans who rose to their feet and jumped around like the true football fans they had become." Bizarre they didn't know if they could make any noise at a football match but now they have become true football fans by the end of one game. After watching a team that should never have be theirs. |
| bob, West London |
Monday, 29-Sep-2003 12:15:32 BST |
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| MK Dons a plastic fake team for a plastic fake town. Do you look forwards to next season in Div 2? |
| Mark, MK |
Monday, 29-Sep-2003 11:30:15 BST |
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| I was listening to Talksport presented by Gary Newbon on Saturday and was amazed at how one sided and closed off AFC fans were to any other opinions. It got to the point where Gary actaully became quite hostile to a majority of AFC callers quoting that it was now getting all a bit boring. In all fairness I can see both sides of the arguement but please the reality is that Wimbledon are now here in MK. Let us pick up the pieces and worry about franchises, open air stadiums and ticket prices. Football is a business as the FA recognises by introducing the 10 point deduction rule for all clubs entering administration. Stop maoning and whinging and get behind your own team AFC based in the Borough of Kingston and let us worry about ours. |
| Adam, SW19 |
Monday, 29-Sep-2003 10:56:54 BST |
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| You just don't get it do you! This is all part of a land deal with ASDA. They need a team to complete the Denbigh land deal, Winkleman tried it with QPR, Luton and Watford...finally got lucky with Wimbledon. He wants the long-term investment pay-off, he doesn't care about Wimbledon FC, just the pay-off and like lemmings the Milton Keynes crowd turn up to watch frnachised football. How sad! |
| Mark, Buckingham |
Sunday, 28-Sep-2003 10:54:16 BST |
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| What a great game. Lesson number one has been learn't in how to get behind a team when they are 2-0 down. Now on to how to make as much noise against the division 1 leaders. The stadium looked full to me accept the away end which still had 700+ fans. As with most clubs expect the bigger teams like West Ham to attract the bigger crowds. |
| Martin Jenkins, New Malden |
Monday, 29-Sep-2003 04:09:55 BST |
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| Dave - you are ignorant and wrong. All Wimbledon fans (not Frachise that is) want Wimbledon to play in SW London. You have stolen our club. Wimbledon is part of SW London, not part of MK. Condoning the theft of another community's football club is disgraceful. |
| Hooper the Gooner, Dublin |
Monday, 29-Sep-2003 01:30:14 BST |
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| Congrats on your new home! |
| Andrew Brenson, London |
Monday, 29-Sep-2003 00:47:49 BST |
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| So, after all of the upheaval of the past two years, the best that MK can do for the first game after all of the publicity is fill an already tiny stadium half full (at best). And that's on a pleasant Saturday in September. Even in pre Franchise days after relegation, the Dons used to get better that that at S*lhurst. What a great big waste of time the whole exercise has been. Shame on those that went. I have no doubt that most of them won't be there for the mid winter, midweek evening games with no roof and freezing temperatures that are still to come. I used to love the Dons, now they're dead but I have AFC to console me - 6-1 on Saturday and 9 wins on the trot. What exists in MK is a sham, the afterbirth of an already faltering property deal. And with Pete Winky at it's helm it hasn't got a chance. Don't worry about Saturday's result. All Franchise fixtures will be null! and void when they go bust before the season ends. Only then, when what rightfully belongs to the fans is given back to us, our name and our heritage, will we consider justice to have been properly served. |
| Nick, Wimbledon |
Sunday, 28-Sep-2003 14:22:56 BST |
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| Dave: you don't have a clue. The club were STOLEN. Winkleman had previously asked at least four other clubs if he could move them to MK. Wimbledons average attendence at Selhurst Park i the first division (while it was still Wimbledon) was higher than yesterdays on a 'historic' occasion. And no, if you go and support franchising YOU ARE NOT 'TRUE' FOOTBALL FANS |
| John, Kent |
Sunday, 28-Sep-2003 12:58:07 BST |
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| Dave (and others who parrot this same line) are simply wrong. The Franchise did not move to MK because the fans deserted them, the fans deserted them because they were moving to MK. Wimbledon is nothing to do with MK. This is theft, pure and simple. Get it now? |
| Dan Byer, bristol |
Sunday, 28-Sep-2003 12:42:19 BST |
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| Wimbledon FC abandoned their fans, not vice versa. Milton keynes abandoned their own club, Milton Keynes, in favour of a club that has no heritage or place in Milton Keynes. |
| Matt, Crawley |
Sunday, 28-Sep-2003 11:27:30 BST |
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| So, Pete Winkleman and MK are you satisfied with your Franchised team you now have ? It was hardly a sell out at 5600 people. So you can honestly support a outfit who first of all refuse to refund season ticket money for the games at Selhusrt Park (after they said they would) continue to spin things around by saying it would be a sell out and then charge you £25 to sit in an open stand with no roof ? Do you not yet even at this early stage see through The Franchise web of spin and lies yet ? Franchise and Co have bought shame to the game, they have dragged it and MK through the mud and should themselves be charged with brining the game into distribute. You only have to look at the comments on the BBC web pages to see that most descent football fans are against this. Have your Franchised team, Asda supermarket and shopping centre, but always remember at what price you obtained these items. By upsetting and splitting a whole community/thousands of people and by dirtying your towns name in sporting/football circles. |
| Charlotte, Milton Keynes |
Sunday, 28-Sep-2003 11:01:32 BST |
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| it seemed like it was a good game i think milton keynes has brought u luck and u will go at long way. keep up the good work. you can win! |
| Dazzer AFC Wimbledon, Wallington |
Sunday, 28-Sep-2003 11:03:31 BST |
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| Dave I have supported Wimbledon for 26 years , and believe me, the club was very welcome in Wimbledon. In fact so welcome that when a survey was done over 80% of the residents of Merton wanted the team back in the borough. You can try to justify it as much as you want, but MK HAVE stolen a place in the first division. |
| Richard, London |
Sunday, 28-Sep-2003 10:58:39 BST |
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| think what you like Dave all true football supporters know the truth. the club deserted it's fans in London not the other way round. Do you really think travelling 70 miles for home games is what football is all about. no it's about supporting your local team. You support your 'new local team' but be prepared to become the pariahs of football and even more loathed than Manchester United if you can be bothered travelling to away games. |
| Dave, Milton Keynes |
Sunday, 28-Sep-2003 00:26:47 BST |
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| All comments accusing MK of stealing a football team, buying a franchise - call it what you will...are missing the point. We're very happy to have Wimbledon in our town, but we didn't ask for it to happen. Wimbledon were abandoned by their own community and came knocking on our door. They are now here and many of us will watch them (not sure whether support is the right word yet)because we're football fans. We'd be mad not to watch first division football being played on our doorstep. But let's bet it straight, Wimbledon are in MK because they weren't welcome in Wimbledon - not because MK stole a team. |
There has been a huge reaction to this story. Read the comments on the Wimbledon move and add your own >>
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