Dons Done

802. The Cherry Red Records Stadium Plough Lane

AFC Wimbledon 0-2 Wigan Athletic

League One

Saturday 23rd October 2021

Wimbledon is a district and town, 7 miles south-west of central London. Wimbledon had its own borough while still in the county of Surrey, before it was absorbed into the London Borough of Merton as part of the creation of Greater London in 1965. (population: over 68,000)

It is home to the Wimbledon Tennis Championships and New Wimbledon Theatre, and contains Wimbledon Common, one of the largest areas of common land in London and made famous by The Wombles. The area is split into two sections known as the "village" and the "town", with the High Street being the rebuilding of the original medieval village, and the "town"  developed following the opening of the railway station in 1838.

Wimbledon has been inhabited since at least the Iron Age when the hill fort on Wimbledon Common is thought to have been constructed. In the 1086 Domesday Book, Wimbledon was part of the manor of Mortlake. The ownership of the manor of Wimbledon changed between various wealthy families many times during its history, and the area attracted more wealth, which produced large houses such as Eagle House, Wimbledon Manor House and Warren House.

I blogged a comprehensive history of the club when I visited Kingsmeadow in 2010, which you can read > here. 

AFC Wimbledon finished as runners-up in the Conference that season and won the play-off final against Luton Town in a penalty shoot-out. The Dons were again successful in the play-offs, this time with a 2-0 victory over Plymouth Argyle in the 2016 League Two final, after a 7th place finish. The club have struggled in League One but have managed to avoid relegation, and are now looking to build on the feel good factor of returning to their spiritual home. 

 

The primary objective of the newly formed AFC Wimbledon in 2002 was to return to Merton, with a new stadium close to their original home of 80 years. This plan formed the basis to create a new purpose-built stadium on the Wimbledon Greyhound Stadium site, located approximately 200 yards from the original Plough Lane. In 2013 the club announced that discussions were underway with Merton Council over a joint bid for the greyhound stadium and the surrounding land, in cooperation with developer Galliard Homes. The plans included a new football stadium, 600 residential homes and a range of community facilities.

The plans were approved unanimously by Merton Council in December 2015, with work commencing the following March. The opening of the stadium was delayed from the initial plan of summer 2019, until the 3rd November 2020, with a 2-2 draw against Doncaster Rovers, with Joe Pigott having the honour of scoring the first stadium goal for The Dons.

The Cherry Red Records Stadium

Plough Lane

London

SW17 0NR

Capacity 9,215

Current Premier/EFL Grounds visited 91/92

The stadium has three single tier stands all the same size, apart from the 4,267 capacity Cappagh Stand on the west side, which has two added tiers with executive boxes.  The seats have a mix of blue and yellow, with the 2,391 capacity East Stand having the club nickname written prominently with 3-D effect, The South London Manor Stand is a safe standing terrace which holds 1,092 and backs onto the aforementioned residential flats. The North Stand at the opposite goal is set aside for the away supporters and holds 1,465.

AFC Wimbledon(14th) 0

Wigan Athletic(4th) 2(Kalambayi OG 50 McClean 54)

League One Matchday 14v13

Att.8,047

Admission £20 

Coffee £1.90 (snails-pace service)

Wigan clinched victory with a two goal burst early in the second half. They went ahead when a cross shot from Callum Lang deflected in off Paul Kalambayi, then just after having an effort cleared off the line, McClean curled a clean strike low to the ‘keeper’s right from the edge of the box, to set up a fifth straight away win for the Latics.

 

#Heedhopper

306 miles door-to-door

0630 LNR train Newcastle to London Kings Cross arr.0938

My day started with a journey down to New Malden for the Wimbledon Academy fixture at King's College. I tubed it down to Vauxhall and caught my overground connection to Berrylands, plus the 10 minute walk saw me arrive at the ground in good time, however the match kicked off half an hour earlier, so I watched the early stages through the perimeter fence as I walked around to the entrance.

801.King’s College London New Malden Sports Ground

AFC Wimbledon U-18 3-2 Luton Town U-18

Youth Alliance - South East Division

Table toppers Wimbledon maintained their 100% record in an entertaining encounter with Luton Town. After the hosts took an early lead, Luton responded well and equalised from the penalty spot in the 37th minute. On the stroke of half time the young Dons regained the lead when a cross from the byline was met at the far post by #67. Following a missed penalty the hosts went 3-1 up when a curling shot from #58 found the roof of the net. The young Hatters reduced the arrears when #17 fired home in the 64th minute, but Wimbledon were never in danger of dropping points.  (awaiting confirmation of goalscorers)

King's College London New Malden Sports Ground

Windsor Avenue

New Malden

KT3 5HA

The ground has the cricket pavilion building at the entrance, which looks onto two parallel football pitches. The U-18 ground is the furthest away from the building, with a pair of team dugouts. The U-16 side accessed the other pitch and were also in action this morning against Luton Town. 

AFCWU-18(1st) 3( #7 5 #67 45+2 #58 59)

LTFCU-18(3rd) 2( #11 37pen #17 64)

YA SE Division matchday 7v8

10.30am ko

Att.53hc

...#Heedhopper continued

Following the Academy game I caught the train to Wimbledon and spent a relaxing hour in The Wibbas Down Inn. I had plenty of time for some bait and also ticked off 5 of the beers in the JDW Real Ale Festival. Last Sunday I tried in vain to buy a ticket for the Wigan game, then after a day of panic I struck luck when contacting Terry the Badge, who fortunately had a spare season ticket this week, as his mate's daughter wasn't going. I met up with Terry at 2.30 to collect the ticket and purchased some of his impressive stock of pin badges before entering the stadium. 

After the game I walked along to Tooting Broadway for the Northern Line tube back to King's Cross, but not before a quick "Spoons tick in the JJ Moon across the road. I rounded off my day in London with a few ales in the Barrel Vault , where I chatted with some of the Toon Army coming back from Crystal Palace and chewed the fat over another match without a win.

1900 LNER train home - back in the Toon at 10.

Alliance Update

(AtA#26)

The Around The Alliance series has featured over 60 matches on this blog over the last 14 years. I finally completed the set within the Alliance pyramid at the end of last season, which was mainly due to limited travel and focusing on Step 7 grounds.

This season the league has sadly lost two of my local clubs, with both Gateshead Redheugh and Felling Magpies wrapping it, as well as Red Row Welfare and Cramlington Town, which leaves 58 clubs within the four divisions. As far as new clubs and grounds go, into the set-up come Bedlington United Sporting Club, plus Whickham FC have formed an U-23 side. I’ve also noticed on the league website that AFC Newbiggin are playing at People’s Park in Ashington, and a fellow enthusiast recently informed me that Morpeth play on the common outside Craik Park. Already on the list is Newcastle Independent who play on the 4G pitch on Coach Lane, so potentially five new grounds to tick off this season, beginning with a game in the west end of Gateshead...

799. Whickham School

Whickham U-23 2-3 AFC Newbiggin Central

Northern Alliance Division 3

Saturday 2nd October 2021

The ground is actually on the opposite side of Fellside Road, with the school across the road used for changing facilities. The pitch is just an open field, but there is a bit of shelter available, with the 97 bus stop looking onto the action.

Newbiggin Central took the lead in the 39th minute courtesy of a header from Michael Todd, before Whickham levelled just before half time, with some nice footwork and accurate finish from Tom Ferguson.

The hosts went ahead on the hour when a right wing cross was swept in by Oliver Martin, but Newbiggin hit back with Michael Humble netting home the rebound, after the ‘keeper made a good save. The visitors were reduced to ten men with just three minutes left after a straight red card shown to the number five, however this spurred them on to grab a winner, with a shot from Todd taking a slight deflection to make it 2-3 in the last minute.

WU-23 2(Ferguson 43 Martin 60)

AFCNC 3(Todd 39,89 Humble 76)

Red Card #5 87'

Att.21hc 

New Northern Alliance grounds visited during this season, will be added to this blog.

Update 17th October

800.Coach Lane Sports Ground 3G

Newcastle Independent 0-0 Cramlington United

Northern Alliance Division 1

Saturday 16th October 2021

I visited Coach Lane earlier in the season when I was redirected to another ground (and another new tick) which can be read here.

Today's game was one of my football firsts. Over the years I've attended well over a hundred matches in the Northern Alliance and this was the first time I witnessed a 0-0. The fixture was an evenly matched contest, with both defences coming out on top and not too many clear cut chances. The point kept Cramlington United clear at the top of the 1st Division, with the GOAT sitting in third, but with a few games in hand.  Att.35hc

updated 23rd January '22

810.People's Park

AFC Newbiggin Central 4-0 Newcastle Independent Cabrito

Northern Alliance 3rd Division

Saturday 22nd January 2022

I was reminded about AFC Newbiggin Central playing home matches at People's Park, when it caught my eye on Friday night while scrolling through my ‘ NE Step 7’ Twitter list. 

People’s Park is not far from the town centre, just off Station Road. The public park has 3 football pitches with Central using the Park Road pitch at the far side. 

The match against Newcastle Independent Cabrito was a 3rd Division 2nd v 3rd clash, but on reflection the teams looked further apart as the home team eased to victory. 

They broke the deadlock in the 24th minute when Jon Short scored from the penalty spot, quickly followed by a brace from Michael Todd, his second saw him cut inside and fire into the far post to make it 3-0. 

The visitors improved in the second half before a twice taking penalty from Kevin Halliday sealed the win for the hosts, which leaves them just a point behind next week's opponents Walker Central and with a game in hand.

AFCNC 4(Short 24pen Todd 27,28 Halliday 62pen)

NIC 0 

Att.26hc

updated 6th February '22

813.Coxlodge Community Centre

Fawdon 0-2 Blaydon Community (NORA)

Northern Alliance 3rd Division.

Saturday 5th February 2022

Fawdon is situated about 3.5 miles north-west from Newcastle City Centre and was the site of three colliery villages which were known as High Fawdon, Fawdon Square and Low Fawdon. The football club runs two teams, the first team playing in the 3rd Division of the Northern Alliance and the reserves in the Northeast Combination Football League. 

Fawdon have been playing home matches at Druid Park but returned to their old home last month at Coxlodge Leisure Centre. The ground has two pitches with Fawdon using the far pitch which stands in the shadow of the Virgin Money Gosforth headquarters.

In a tight first half, both sides did well to handle the blustery conditions with Ross Hughes latching onto a good through ball to slot home the opening goal for the away side in the 13th minute. Fawdon struggled to grab an equaliser in the second half as Blaydon grew stronger as the game progressed. The visitors were rewarded for their efforts when a cross from the left was dropped by the ‘keeper, before falling to Ryan Davenport to bundle the ball over the line to give them a 2-0 win.

FFC 0

BCFC 2(Hughes 13 Davenport 73)

2pm ko

Att.11hc

 updated 13th February '22

814. Morpeth Common

Morpeth 1-4 Stobswood Welfare

Northern Alliance 2nd Division

Saturday 12th February 2022

Morpeth FC formed in 2016 playing in the Tyneside Amateur League before stepping up into the Northern Alliance. Last season they won all nine matches in the 3rd Division before the season was curtailed in March. The club were still declared champions on points-per-game basis and kicked off in the 2nd Division this season.

The club play on Morpeth Common which is just outside Craik Park. The two grounds are divided by huge conifer trees, with the teams having access to the neighbours changing rooms.

Stobby took full advantage of the strong wind in the second half to run out comfortable winners. Aaron Costello danced past the Morpeth ‘keeper to give them the lead, before a good well placed header from Lewis Reilly made it all square at the break.

Josh Hay missed a penalty early in the second half, before eventually going ahead in the 69th minute, when Max Anderson ran onto a through ball and fired in his left foot shot. Costello grabbed his second and King made up for his penalty miss when he twisted and turned the home defence and rifled in the fourth in added on time. 

Morpeth 1(Reilly 37)

Stobswood Welfare 4(Costello 24,83 Anderson 69 Hay 90+2)

6th v 1st matchday 16

Att.30hc

updated 20th February

815. Prudhoe Community High School

Prudhoe YC Seniors 1-2 Alnwick Town

Northumberland FA  Benevolent Bowl Semi-Final

Saturday 19th February 2022

Prudhoe Youth Club FC is an FA Community Chartered Standard Club established in 1969, the largest football club in West Northumberland with 25 teams, which includes over 350 players and 30 FA qualified coaches.

The club is based at Eastwood Park, with the senior team playing at Kimberley Park and occasionally here, at the 4G surface at Prudhoe Community High School.

A decent crowd, including a strong following from Alnwick, enjoyed a competitive and well fought out Benevolent Bowl semi final.

The visitors went ahead in the 33rd minute when (my former work colleague) Mickey Laws fired in from the penalty spot after the ‘keeper had committed the foul. On the stroke of half time a free kick from the edge of the box was brilliantly converted into the roof of the net by Matty Robinson to make it 1-1.

In the second half the tie could have gone either, but it was Alnwick who clinched it, when Dominick Hayes headed home a left wing cross at the far post to book their place with Wallington in the final.

PYCS 1(Robinson 45+1)

ATFC 2(Laws 33pen Hayes 63)

Att.64hc

Admission £2

updated 5th May '22

825. Axwell Park

Whickham U-23 5-2 Fawdon

Northern Alliance Division 3

Wednesday 4th May 2022

After missing out on ticking Bedlington United SC, I thought my Northern Alliance fixtures were finished for this season. Luckily, I noticed just an hour before kick off that Whickham U-23s were playing at Axwell Park.

The ground has been used for the odd pre-season friendly but not by a regular Saturday club. It is situated on the A694 between Swalwell and Winlaton Mill. The pitch has a changing room hut on one side with woodland opposite, which borders the Axwell Park private estate. 

Whickham fell behind early on when John Elsender stayed on side, before running through to score. Kerosene Lizinde slid in to equalise six minutes later, then fired in from the edge of the box to make it 2-1 at half time.

Fawdon made a positive start to the second half and grabbed an equaliser when a corner kick was met by the head of Tommy Parker at the far post. 

The young Whickham side finished the match strongly with a cracking 30 yarder from Rob Woods restoring their lead. The match was wrapped up in added on time with a goal from Lee Finlay, before Lizinde completed his hat trick from the penalty spot with the last kick of the game.

Whickham U-23 5(Lizinde 20,39,90+5pen Woods 73 Finlay 90+1)

Fawdon 2(Elsender 14 Parker 49)

Northern Alliance Division 2 matchday 25/26

10th v 14th

1855 ko  Att.11hc