Yesterday was a great day for English football. AFC Wimbledon were promoted to League 2. The club was only formed in 2002, following the demise of Wimbledon FC, who scandalously relocated to Milton Keynes, in the only example of football franchising in the UK. The club were started following open trials on Sutton Common, where thousands of people turned up.
At the time of their formation, an FA official stated that it wasn't in the wider interests of English football for AFC Wimbledon to exist. This was complete bollocks. Nothing could be more in the interests of English Football than for local people to stick their fingers up at the out of touch idiots in the FA's ivory towers. When AFC WImbledon were formed, I doubt too many expected seven promotions in nine seasons. I doubt many envisaged that they would beat Luton FC in a playoff final at the City of Manchester Stadium to achieve promotion. Yesterday, many of those dreamers who helped form the club, were on the terraces.
It is funny, I remember when the original Wimbledon FC reached the FA Cup final, many sniffy pundits claimed it was "not in the interests of football" for Wimbledon to beat Liverpool, as they played route one football. This was cobblers as well. They won the final on merit and fired the dreams of every small club. In some ways yesterdays achievement was even more impressive. To come form nowhere to League football in nine seasons is an unprecedented achievement.
The people who run football have no interest in the fans, smaller clubs or grass roots football. They are dazzled by the money and bright lights of the big clubs. The Premiership is all about concentrating money in the hands of the few, as is the Champions League. These people see the AFC Wimbledon story as nothing more than an embarrassing distraction. The AFC Wimbledon story is the most graphic example possible that the grass roots fans see things in a completely different way. As I listened to the aftermath on 909, caller after caller stated that they were chuffed for AFC Wimbledon. I wonder where the story will end. Champions League in another 9 seasons? Now that would be truly hilarious and I for one would love to see it.
At the time of their formation, an FA official stated that it wasn't in the wider interests of English football for AFC Wimbledon to exist. This was complete bollocks. Nothing could be more in the interests of English Football than for local people to stick their fingers up at the out of touch idiots in the FA's ivory towers. When AFC WImbledon were formed, I doubt too many expected seven promotions in nine seasons. I doubt many envisaged that they would beat Luton FC in a playoff final at the City of Manchester Stadium to achieve promotion. Yesterday, many of those dreamers who helped form the club, were on the terraces.
It is funny, I remember when the original Wimbledon FC reached the FA Cup final, many sniffy pundits claimed it was "not in the interests of football" for Wimbledon to beat Liverpool, as they played route one football. This was cobblers as well. They won the final on merit and fired the dreams of every small club. In some ways yesterdays achievement was even more impressive. To come form nowhere to League football in nine seasons is an unprecedented achievement.
The people who run football have no interest in the fans, smaller clubs or grass roots football. They are dazzled by the money and bright lights of the big clubs. The Premiership is all about concentrating money in the hands of the few, as is the Champions League. These people see the AFC Wimbledon story as nothing more than an embarrassing distraction. The AFC Wimbledon story is the most graphic example possible that the grass roots fans see things in a completely different way. As I listened to the aftermath on 909, caller after caller stated that they were chuffed for AFC Wimbledon. I wonder where the story will end. Champions League in another 9 seasons? Now that would be truly hilarious and I for one would love to see it.
