AFC Wimbledon

AFC Wimbledon is a professional English football club based in Kingston upon Thames, Greater London. The club currently play in League Two of the Football League, which is the fourth tier of English football. They play at Kingsmeadow, in Kingston upon Thames Greater London, a ground which is shared with Kingstonian.

The club was founded in 2002 as a result of the decision for Wimbledon F.C.'s relocation to Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire by the Football Assocation; Wimbledon F.C. was subsequently renamed Milton Keynes Dons in 2004. The Wimbledon supporters who strongly opposed the idea of moving reacted by founding their own club, AFC Wimbledon, before the move was necessary or mandatory. In view of its transplanting to Milton Keynes, a large majority of Wimbledon fans felt that the original club no longer represented Wimbledon's legacy and traditions, and thus withdrew their support, choosing instead to start a new so-called "phoenix club" from scratch.

When AFC Wimbledon was formed it affiliated to both the London and Surrey Football Associations, and entered the Premier Division of the Combined Counties League, which is the ninth tier in English football. In its short history the club has been extremely successful, being promoted five times in nine seasons, and going up from the ninth tier (Combined Counties Premier) to the fourth (League Two). The only other club considered to have completed this feat is the now dissolved Rushden & Diamonds. However, in that instance the club had been formed by a merger of two other previously existing clubs, namely Rushden Town and Irthlingborough Diamonds, as opposed to being an entirely new entity.

AFC Wimbledon currently holds the record of the longest unbeaten run of league matches in English senior football, having played 78 consecutive league games without a defeat between February 2003 and December 2004. AFC Wimbledon also hold the record of being the first club to be formed in the 21st century to make it into the Football League.

Read more about AFC Wimbledon:  Colours and Crest, Sponsorship and Kit Manufacturer, Supporters, Mascot, Stadium, Ground Purchase and Debt, Ownership and Legal Status, Community Work, Ladies, Club Honours, Records

Famous quotes containing the word wimbledon:

    New Yorkers love it when you spill your guts out there. Spill your guts at Wimbledon and they make you stop and clean it up.
    Jimmy Connors (b. 1952)