AFC Wimbledon - Stadium

Stadium

For the full article see, see Kingsmeadow.

The club currently play at Kingsmeadow stadium in Kingston-upon-Thames, a ground which they share with Kingstonian.

As of April 2009, the stadium had a capacity of 4,720. However, in late 2011 AFC Wimbledon unveiled plans to rebuild the Kingston Road End of the ground, renamed as the 'North Stand' as a 900 capacity all-seater stand. Work commenced on this site at the close of the 2011–2012 season to be ready in time for the 2012–13 campaign. The work increased the stadium capacity to approximately 4,850 with 2,025 seats.

It is AFC Wimbledon's long term ambition to relocate to a stadium, with a capacity around 10,000 (with potential for expansion), in the London Borough of Merton where the original Wimbledon F.C. played at Plough Lane between 1912–1991.

On 7 August 2012, AFC Wimbledon released a statement in which they announced their intent to return to their spiritual home of Plough Lane, 21 years after the original Wimbledon F.C. last played there on 4 May 1991. However, since the original Plough Lane was demolished in 2002 and later converted into a housing development, the club chose the site of Wimbledon Stadium which is currently in use as a greyhound track.

The proposals include building a stadium with an initial capacity of 12,000 with potential expansion for up to 22,000. It is estimated that the Plough Lane project, which the club believes could take "around 10 years" to complete, will cost somewhere in the region of £100m to build on the five hectare site.

Chief Executive, Erik Samuelson announced "We have entered a competition with other bidders and now we hope to win it. This would be a fantastic next step in our journey. It's not the only site in Wimbledon but it is our preferred site by some distance." However, Stephen Alambritis, leader of Merton Council, said that although he welcomed the football club's plans for Plough Lane he warned they would face competition from other parties. It therefore remains to be seen whether AFC Wimbledon's bid will succeed.

The Kingsmeadow stadium comprises the following four stands:

• The North Stand – (formerly "The Kingston Road End") is a covered all-seater stand with 900 seats.

• The Paul Strank Stand – the all-seater main stand with 1,125 seats, which also includes the stadium's changing rooms, offices, three bars and other facilities. Paul Strank is a supporter and major benefactor of AFC Wimbledon, hence it was named in his honour.

• The East Stand – (formerly "The John Smiths' Stand") is a partially covered shallow terrace along the length of the pitch, opposite the main Paul Strank Stand. AFC Wimbledon are about to commence a feasibility study regarding the best way to upgrade this area of the ground, which must meet football league standards by May 2014.

• The Tempest End – (formerly "The Athletics End") – a covered behind-the-goal deep terrace. The terrace was covered during the 2005–2006 season and renamed the "Tempest End" in recognition of the sponsorship of Tempest Sports, Wimbledon's exclusive kit manufacturer since the club's inception, who had partially paid for the development.