AFC Wimbledon

AFC Wimbledon is a semi-professional English football team representing the area of Wimbledon and Merton in London, though they currently play their games in nearby Kingston upon Thames. The Club and the fans see AFC Wimbledon as a direct continuation of Wimbledon F.C., and consider that the MK Dons are no longer representative of the Wimbledon area or the legacy of Wimbledon F.C.

Performance

In 2002-03, their first competitive season, AFC Wimbledon started slowly, but won their last 11 league games to finish the season in third place, narrowly missing promotion to the Ryman Isthmian League. In 2003-04 they won their first 21 league games before a draw on 10 January 2004, giving them 32 consecutive wins in league games over two seasons. By this time, AFC Wimbledon was the only club in England at any level to maintain a perfect league record for the 2003-04 season, and all others not to have lost had drawn more times. The Dons went on to complete an unbeaten regular season (42 wins, 4 draws, goal difference +148), easily earning promotion to the Isthmian League First Division, and winning the CCL title with seven games left to play. On April 30, 2004 they completed a "Double" by winning the CCL's Premier Challenge Cup.

Related Topics:
Isthmian League - 10 January - April 30 - 2004

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The 2004-05 season saw a Wimbledon side back in the Isthmian League for the first time since 1964. They won 29 games, drew ten, and lost three, and led the division all season to earn promotion to the Isthmian League Premier Division. Also, the Dons - in their first appearance in the FA Cup since the creation of AFC Wimbledon - reached the Third Qualifying Round, bowing out to Thurrock from Conference South (two divisions above). A 1-0 home win over Metropolitan Police on April 9, 2005 guaranteed the First Division title. They won the Surrey Senior Cup final 2-1 over league runners-up Walton & Hersham on May 3, having defeated teams from higher leagues in earlier rounds, including a reserve side from Premiership club Crystal Palace in the quarterfinals. Dons manager Dave Anderson was named Manager of the Year in the Isthmian First Division following the season.

Related Topics:
FA Cup - Thurrock - Conference South - April 9 - Walton & Hersham - May 3 - Premiership - Crystal Palace

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One Wimbledon player received a unique honour in the 2004-05 season. After scoring all three goals in the Dons' shutout of Dunstable Town in the Second Qualifying Round of the FA Cup, Rob Ursell was shortlisted by The FA for The FA Cup Player of the Round Award. In an online fans' poll on The FA's official site, Ursell won that award in a landslide. Ursell and the season's other 10 winners, including Premiership stars Shay Given and Ruud van Nistelrooy, were introduced at halftime of the FA Cup final at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. Later in the season, Ursell also received a callup to the England national futsal team. The 2004-05 season also saw the Dons sign their first full international in the AFC era, when they acquired New Zealand international Shane Smeltz in midseason.

Related Topics:
All three goals - Dunstable Town - Shay Given - Ruud van Nistelrooy - Millennium Stadium - Cardiff - Futsal - New Zealand international

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The Dons set a new all-time record for longest streak of unbeaten league games at any level of senior football in the United Kingdom with their 76th, a 1-1 draw at Bromley F.C., on November 13, 2004, and a 2-1 victory over Bashley F.C. on November 27 made it 78. Withdean 2000, 2002/2003 CCL champions, delivered AFC Wimbledon's last league defeat (on Saturday 22 February 2003) before the streak finally ended at Cray Wanderers F.C. with a 2-0 loss on December 4, 2004.

Related Topics:
November 13 - Bashley F.C. - November 27 - Withdean 2000 - 22 February - 2003 - Cray Wanderers F.C. - December 4 - 2004

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