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Homepage > Articles
AFC
Wimbledon
The following is an
article from the website of the Wimbledon Independent
Supporters Association (WISA). As you are probably aware,
they are setting up a new football club as Wimbledon FC
Ltd are moving to Milton Keynes.
Please visit their
website for more information where they are requesting
messages of support from fellow football fans. The BFCSA
will be sending them a letter of support, which will be
reproduced on this site after it is sent.
www.wisa.org.uk
"By Laurence Lowne
28th May 2002 will go down as the day that Wimbledon FC
Ltd was removed from the conscious mind of Wimbledon
supporters.
30th May 2002 will go down as the day Wimbledon
supporters reclaimed their heritage.
On Thursday the 30th May almost 1,000 Wimbledon fans
packed into the WISA agm at Wimbledon Community Centre.
After much passionate debate lasting over 2 hours, the
members agreed to create a club called AFC Wimbledon and
to make an application to the Ryman League to join
Division Two in time for this coming season.
In the space of 48 hours, despair has been replaced with
hope.
It is intended to initially groundshare with a team local
to Merton, create a team with a forward thinking manager
and harness the disenfranchised fanbase that follows
Wimbledon.
This is a massive opportunity for supporters, businesses,
the media and local government to be in at the start of a
revolution as the fans reclaim the game that has been
disastrously treated during recent years. This is the
opportunity to build a club of the community.
Right now the priority for AFC Wimbledon is to raise
£20,000 which is a commitment to the cause and must be
in place by the 12th June 2002. Supporters are being
asked to pay £200-00 as a Season Ticket advance - many
are contributing more. This will ensure sufficient funds
are in place to pay for the groundshare, registration
fees and licence to play during the first year.
Once the funds are in place, an application will be made
to the Ryman League to join the reorganised Division Two
on the 17th June 2002, which is 25 years to the day since
Wimbledon FC were elected to Division Four of the
Football League - poignant or what?
Within 4 years AFC Wimbledon could be promoted to
Division Three of the Football League - we have done it
once before, we can do it again. And we are going to have
great fun attempting it - the excitement is infectious.
Kris Stewart (WISA Chair) commented: 'This is the
opportunity for the fans to demonstrate their love for
the name Wimbledon. We call upon every person who has a
connection with the name of Wimbledon to stand up and
play their part today, tomorrow and forever. You could
have the skills we need, please get in touch.'
WISA and The Dons Trust are bringing a team together to
make this happen, but it is vital that people with
experience and knowledge of non-league football are
brought to act as a guiding hand. There are a
surprisingly large number of people with the Dons ranks
who have retained connections with non-league football
and these business-people will have a vital role to play
in the formation of AFC Wimbledon.
It is not possible just now to confirm which ground we
will be sharing, but we can assure all supporters that
the facilities will be excellent.
So what can you do right now?
- Invest £200-00 or
more in a Season ticket advance (see Dons Trust
column for details)
- Help spread the
word about AFC Wimbledon
- Volunteer your
services - please either call 020 8540 7396 or
send an email to afc@wisa.org.uk - there is a lot a to do
- Attend all events
being organised - Dons Trust at Mitcham Carnival
this Saturday
- Write letters, send
emails and call the phone-ins relating to the
theft of the shell of our Club by the MK
Imposters (if you need addresses, please send a
request and a large sae to WISA PO Box 32923,
London SW19 4FN)
- Display a poster in
your shop window
The £20,000 being
raised right now by the 12th June 2002 will be used to
secure the groundshare, pay for registration and the
licence to play. It is the first stage of fundraising -
there will be further requests and a need for funds.
There will be a number of Dons Trust events during the
summer.
One for all supporters comes on the 17th June, when we
shall celebrate 25 years to the day our election to the
Football League Division Four. That could become a double
celebration, since it is the date that the Ryman League
hold their AGM and consider our application for
membership. Clear indications are that following their
reorganisation they would welcome us.
This is an exciting time for Wimbledon supporters; it
provides a focus for our energies, but do not for one
second think that we have given up the fight to retain
our name, badge and history.
WISA will be following a two pronged attack.
1) to work towards the solid creation of AFC Wimbledon
2) to fight the MK impostors for what is rightfully ours
An information release will soon be in the hands of
members outlining our plans for the next few months and
will include an application for membership. Please renew
and ask three other supporters top join as well. Your
membership is needed more today than ever before, and if
you can renew early that would be fantastic, and a
donation too - even better.
In closing I would like to pay tribute to Kris Stewart
and Ivor Heller who have worked really hard over the last
10 days putting this together - as Kris says: 'sleep is
for wimps'. I can tell you sleep has been at a premium
for a quite a number of people recently and even more so
over the next few weeks.
Issued:
10/06/2002 23:49:17"
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