Who Exactly Are the MK Dons?...........
By Mark Ridgway
October 27 2010
Ahead of Saturday's home nPower League One encounter with Milton Keynes Dons, Mark Ridgway takes a look at the history behind arguably the Football League's youngest team in terms of history......
Technically, Rovers opponents this Saturday are by far the youngest Football League team, with just six years of mixed history under their belt, after forming in 2004.
The club was originally known as Wimbledon of course, and under that name they were reasonably famous, thanks in parts to the "Crazy Gang," who were key to the sides success in the 1980's and 1990's.
Two key members of the "Crazy Gang" in that era were of course, Dennis Wise and Vinnie Jones, who have since taken different routes in life since leaving the game. Jones moved into acting whilst Wise has managed and coached at Newcastle, Leeds and Millwall - where he lead the Londonders to an FA Cup Quarter Final replay victory over Brian Little's Tranmere.
The original Wimbledon were founded in 1889, and shot to fame during the 1980’s when they went from the old English 4th division to the 1st division in just four years. Progressing every year, in only their second season in the top flight, they won the FA Cup, a major achievement for the club considering they were in the basement division just five years earlier.
Former Rovers Boss John Aldridge Missed a Penalty against Wimbledon in 1988
In the 1988 cup final, they famously defeated the the current League Champions, Liverpool, winning 1-0 thanks to a Lawrie Sanchez goal. Future Rovers boss John Aldridge also famously missed from the spot in the same game.
That was the clubs last silverware under the original name of Wimbledon, and their decline began in 1991. The board closed their ground, Plough Lane, and they began to share Selhurst Park with neighbours Crystal Palace which would be their home until 'the end'.
In May 2000, 'The Dons’ were relegated from the Premier League, after losing 2-0 at Southampton. and just a year later in 2001 the club announced it would be moving to Milton Keynes, a decision that most Wimbledon fans objected to which practically tore the club apart for its remaining years as Wimbledon FC. This lead to action from their loyal fans, who promptly founded AFC Wimbledon.
Meanwhile, as Wimbledon continued with an ever-decreasing fan base, every player worth anything was sold to ease the clubs financial crisis as it entered administration. In 2004, MK Dons were then formed as a continuation of Wimbledon, but make no claim to their history.
Former Rovers and MK Dons Player Gareth Edds
The club began playing at the National Hockey Stadium, in the then called Division Two, along with Tranmere. The club managed to survive on the final day thanks to a victory over ourselves, a 2-1 score line where a certain Gareth Edds bagged a brace for the Dons, either side of a David Beresford strike when Rovers were already cemented in the play off places.
The next season the Dons weren’t so lucky, and nearly a
year to the day of their victory over the Super Whites, they lost a
relegation six-pointer against Rovers to confirm their relegation. A last
gasp Delroy Facey strike kept Rovers up in dramatic style at the
National Hockey Stadium, with manager Brian Little departing just days
later.
Two years later, MK Dons stormed League Two under the stewardship of Paul Ince. Not only did they win the League, but also the Johnstone's Paint Trophy at the new Wembley Stadium, beating Grimsby 2-0.
The Johnstones Paint Trophy Victory was officially MK Dons first silverware, with the trophy arriving at Stadium:MK before the League Two trophy. The next season they came close to achieving back to back promotions, only to lose out to Scunthorpe in the play offs (a clash that would have involved Rovers but for last day heart-break at Glanford Park.)
Roberto Di Matteo was in charge for the 2008/09 season, but the Italian departed, joining West Brom at the end of the season. This paved a return for Paul Ince, who was sacked after less than a season at Blackburn.
Last season was an average one for the MK, finishing 12th with Jermaine Easter scoring 19 times. They did however do the double over Tranmere, with two 1-0 victories. This year, MK have the youngest manager in the League with Karl Robinson taking over, and joining his coaching (and playing) staff is Dietmar Hamman, the former German star who brings plenty of experience and is of course familiar with Merseyside.
So, when MK Dons travel to beautiful Birkenhead on Saturday, the clubs root's lie back in Wimbledon, where AFC Wimbledon take on Darlington in a Conference clash. With the original Dons sitting pretty at the top of the Blue Square Premier, surely it won’t be long before the two clubs are locking horns for real...
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AFC Wimbledon were a 'phoenix' team set up by Wimbledon fans who were opposed to the move to MK, AFC Wimbledon have no history pre-2003, they'd never even played a game as a team.. It was only in October 2006, that MK Dons officially gave all their history (ie the FA Cup win etc) "back" to AFC Wimbledon and the community and local borough.
But if you read the article it makes it quite clear that MK Dons do not make a claim to Wimbledons history and there first trophy was the JPT.
The purpose of the article was to explain who the MK Dons are and how the "appeared," and I thought it was decent Mark!
MK Dons' history does not pre date 2004, all of Wimbledon's history went into non-league with AFC Wimbledon as they hold the honours such as the FA Cup.
Referring to MK Dons as a "football club" is also very dubious territory. Before MK Dons there was non league football team in Milton Keynes already, which Winkleman could have bought and brought through the leagues rather than hijacking someone elses club.
New Brighton joined third division north in 1923. They got voted out in 1951 and were replaced by Workington.
In 1977 Workington were voted out and replaced with Wimbledon / MK Dons.
So basically MK Dons only exist due to New Brighton being so bad in 1951.
What a great derby fixture that would have been though!!
Quote:Rovers till I die
If you did some research you might have learnt that all the honours from Wimbledon are now with AFC Wimbledon, furthermore MK Dons was founded in 2004.
As pointed out in both the article and my post. AFC Wimbledon however were set up in 2002.
Quote:Rovers till I die
MK Dons' history does not pre date 2004, all of Wimbledon's history went into non-league with AFC Wimbledon as they hold the honours such as the FA Cup.
I stated this here:
Quote:Mikey
It was only in October 2006, that MK Dons officially gave all their history (ie the FA Cup win etc) "back" to AFC Wimbledon and the community and local borough.
And furthermore from the article it says MK Dons make no claims to Wimbledons history.
Quote:Rovers till I die
Referring to MK Dons as a "football club" is also very dubious territory. Before MK Dons there was non league football team in Milton Keynes already, which Winkleman could have bought and brought through the leagues rather than hijacking someone elses club.
However Wimbledon do play a part in MK Dons history, as without Wimbledon there would be no MK Dons, certainly none playing at this level of football anyway, as DS says above.
Was it really necesarry to tear apart an article that someone has put a lot of effort into, in their free-time? We ain't paid to run this site and as the purpose of the article was more "where did MK Dons come from?" the background information and part of the "story" if you like is of course going to include Wimbledon!
If they have handed their honours to Wimbledon FC then surely they should also hand them the place in the Football League that they took as well (not that Wimbledon will need charity soon in relation to that).
Giving away honours from the past is all very easy but they did everything else the wrong way.
On top of that, I see no link between West Germany, East Germany and Germany
I certainly never expected someone like that, to be playing League 1 this season.