Marvellous story , well done them.

The picture in the article of the old ground, reminded me of the only time I went to Plough Lane, a night game v Portsmouth in April 1989, you can see the away fans at the other end of the ground, that was where I was stood with a couple of thousand Pompey. The game ended up 3-3 , with both teams containing two of the hardest sets of players I have ever seen on a football pitch at the same time.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54779977

Just checked and it was 2-2 in April 88, I like to get these things right

[quote="horden"]Marvellous story , well done them.

exactly. glad they have got their home back and not gone down the line of a new ground miles away from their traditional home. pools and others take note.

Yes, I agree with the comments about AFC Wimbledon. Well done The Wombles. I will never forget how they beat Burnley 1-0 away in the FA Cup back in 1976 i believe and the heroics of one Dickie Guy who I reacall looked a bit like the drummer out of 10cc. Also remember well when Wimbledon in their first season in the league came to Pools and Pools won 2-0. One other strange memory for me of Wimbledon was one awful winter back again in the 70s when Pools were supposed to play in London against Wimbledon and with the weather atrocious, the game was called off when the supporter's bus was halfway to London or someplace and there were only 4 games in England still playing. One was at Northampton and the other at Birmingham City who played Boro. A vote was taken amongst the fans who agreed to divert to Birmingham. Fucking horrible intimidating place St Andrews in those days as I recall and felt terrified behind the goal on the terraces with a couple of hundred Boro fans. There was this NF tatooed Birmingham guy who was black! Very strange. To make matters worse, Boro won 2-1 right at the end of the game and it kicked off. Very intimidating atmosphere and I was glad to get back on the bus and head North East out of the way.

since passing my driving test in 1966 i have driven to all games apart from york away. gone through the bad days of the 70,s and 80,s with no problems. then it all changed in the 90,s when i went to st.andrews. i had my car vandalised and did not have colours on. yes, i have been to millwall a number of times without a hint of trouble. birmingham city seemed to be the last bastion of the old days.

What the Wimbledon fans have achieved is amazing - hope they have a load of success in the new Plough Lane. How their club was stolen from under them 18 years ago is a disgraceful episode, sanctioned by the FA and the EFL.

It's a very relevant story at the present time as the Covid crisis has led to open speculation about downsizing the EFL and allowing the self-appointed 'big 6' to enter B teams in it when they naff off to a European super league. You get the impression that certain people are actively hoping that more EFL clubs will go to the wall to further the process - wonder if that's part of the reason the Premier League is still stalling on paying for that £150 million EFL bail out?

Great memories 2-0. I remember Wimbledon first time the came to the Vic in 1977, we absolutely battered them. should of won 10-0 but only won 2-0. I remember my dad and uncle for some reason went for pre match drink in the Clansman, rather than the Lion and it was packed with Cockneys, one of them playing on the piano according to my old man.

First game down there was a re arranged fixture,on a Tuesday night when we got stuffed 3-0 in front of 1400, but remember a bus load of top lads going down the season after for a Saturday game in 1978, I had booked up on the supporters , but it was cancelled due to lack of demand. The bus from the RAFA apparently got dropped off at Westminster and had to make their own way to Wimbledon, meeting Chelseas finest on the way , Chelsea were at home that day and shared the same underground line.

Positivity and perseverance are the lessons here. Probably also helps having supporters who are millionaires have some brains.

Mick Tait play that night?

No, he was at Reading by then. Pompey had in their ranks players like Billy Gilbert, Kevin Ball, Noel Blake, Wimbledon, Jones, Wise, Fashanu , Scales, Mariner, maybe even ex pools player Mick Smith.

Yeh I forgot he went there before coming to Darlo

A terrific effort by everyone connected to the club and a shining example of what can be achieved with such dedication to the cause. A magnificent achievement and hats off to them.

I remember seeing their first game in the League at Plough Lane but can't recall why I picked that game. I think it was against Halifax and may have been due to Dave Bassett. Dave was born in Stanmore (as was I) and attended a local school in South Harrow. He was a classmate of one of the lads I hung around with and who lived across the road from me. We enjoyed many a kick about etc. and Dave went on to play for a few local clubs at senior "amateur" level.

So to debunk a myth. I have seen several times that he became "Harry" whilst at Wimbledon and/or because he was known as Harry Houdini on account of escaping relegation on several occasions. Not true. We all knew him as Harry from an early age and I believe it was because his mum would call out to his dad, "Harry, come and see to him" when he was being arsey.

It was against Halifax. Remember they were part time in their first season , and we mullered them at the Vic, we shouldve won about 10-0 , but missed chance after chance and eventually ran out 2-0 winners. There is a bit in this book that gives a flavour of that first season.

https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=msM ... 03&f=false