UPFROnT
ourFourTwo November 2020 23get a signed match-worn shirt of his
from an England qualifier. That was
a really nice gesture from our record
scorer, and I’ll be keeping it forever.
[FFT: Which other players are fans of
your music?] I’m good mates with
Kieran Tierney – he gave me one of his
old Celtic shirts, which is pretty cool.
I was speaking to the comedian Kevin
Bridges once and he said, “There’s this
young lad here who’s a bit of a fan.
Will you give him a message?” We just
stayed in touch after that. People will
often talk about players being spoilt
and losing their heads, but Kieran is
the total opposite of that. If there’s
anyone that I wish all the success in
football to, it’s him.
Which of your club’s ex-players has
the best job now?
I wouldn’t call it a job, but Les Bradd is
doing an amazing thing – he rings up
some of the older County fans who are
suffering from dementia and chats
about his memories. It’s a fantastic
thing to do and goes such a long way.
Tell us something about one of Notts
County’s current or former players
or managers that we won’t know?
Our midfielder Jim O’Brien plays a bit
of guitar, too. I went to Meadow Lane
recently for the shirt sponsorship and
he was giving me some banter, but
by the end he was asking me to sign
his guitar. He likes the old six-string.
If you could drop yourself into your
all-time five-a-side team, who would
you be playing alongside?
I’ve always liked Oliver Kahn because
he’s mental – no one would want to
challenge him in that tiny area. I’d
have Socrates in midfield – he’s such
an inspiring guy – then Ronaldinho
and Alan Shearer, who could shoot
from anywhere on a five-a-side pitch
and it’d probably go in. [FFT: You’re at
the back, then?] No, no, I’m upfront –
Shearer’s at the back, sorry...
Joe Brewin
New single ‘All I Need’ is coming soon –
follow @JakeBugg for more information
AFC Wimbledon fans have seen their fair share of
miracles over the past 18 years. From beginnings
in 2002 to their current-day League One status,
Wombles have witnessed six big promotions.
But perhaps the Dons’ greatest achievement will
be realised on November 3. A new ground at Plough
Lane, a stone’s throw from the old Wimbledon’s home
for almost 80 years, will host its first official game.
“If you’d have said to me that within 20 years of
starting out, we’d be in League One and playing in
a brand new stadium at PloughLane,I’dhavesaid
you’d lost the plot,” Ivor Heller,AFCWimbledon’s
commercial director, tells FFT. “Wh t t d
back in 2002, people said wewere
look what we’ve achieved.”
The old Plough Lane hosteditsfi
fixture in May 1991, against Crysta
Palace, before the club embarked
a groundshare with... er, Palace.“P
Lane was a tip, but it was ourtip,”
Brian Sullivan, a Dons fan since 19
“The atmosphere was incredible.”
It’s 80 per cent standing capacit
may have added to the ambience
but that would also prove its
downfall. Following Hillsborough,
top-flight clubs were requiredto
upgrade to all-seater stadia by 19
The 15,876-capacity Plough Lanew
deemed unworthy of modernisati
When the club later moved toM
Keynes and became MK Dons,the
new AFC Wimbledon set up base
at Kingsmeadow in Kingstonupo
Thames. “It became a real homefhome for us,” continues Sullivan. “But we’ve always
wanted to go back to Plough Lane. We would have
settled for anywhere in [the borough of] Merton or
Wimbledon, so it’s a massive bonus to go back to
more or less the exact same spot as the old ground.”
The latest miracle would not have been possible
without the extraordinary fundraising efforts of fans.
“They raised around £8 million for the new stadium,
via crowdfunding and bonds,” explains Heller. “They
made the dream a reality.”
Devastatingly,however, supporters are unlikely
to beinattendancewhen Doncaster visit for the
t di ’ tain-raiser – a consequence
onavirus pandemic. “That’s
eaking,” laments Heller. “People
utblood, sweat and tears into
club,and they can’t be there.
ground won’t truly be open until
ryoneis in there together.”
e 9,000-capacity venue can be
ndedto more than double that
e when the club sees fit. For
deused to playing in front of
packed house of 4,000, Plough
ane2.0 represents an exciting
newchapter in history.
“We’ve built a spectacular
facility that can help this club
going forward,” says Heller,
whobelieves the sky’s the limit
n thenew stadium. “Anything is
ossible – I genuinely believe that.”
urney may be far from over, but
allyis no place like home.
mbridgeWimbledonarereadytoreturntoPloughLane– 29yearsafterleaving
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