Latest news with #CrazyGang
Daily Mirror
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
AFC Wimbledon promoted to League One as Guitar Hero joins Crazy Gang folklore
Myles Hippolyte fired the goal that restores the modern-day Crazy Gang to League One in their play-off final against Walsall and Saddlers fans are wondering how they blew a 12-point lead at the top in January Spice Boy Myles Hippolyte sparked another Wombles party at Wembley as AFC Wimbledon left their unloved step-brothers from Milton Keynes behind. As the Grenada international's winner in first-half stoppage time sent the original Dons - accept no imitations on retail parks - back into League One, manager Johnnie Jackson led the celebrations of 30,000 fans following their 1-0 win against Walsall in the fourth tier play-off final. On international duty, 30-year-old Hippolyte represents the Caribbean island where the most famous export is nutmeg. In more than 400 games from the Spartan South Midlands League upwards, he has never played at a higher level than League Two - but now he belongs in the Crazy Gang pantheon of Wembley heroes with Lawrie Sanchez and penalty-save legend Dave Beasant. Hippolyte said: 'We're just a great team. We're hard to beat, we run, we fight, we do everything for each other. I had a feeling I was going to score today. I don't know why, but I got a few texts saying this was going to be my day.' In a throwback to Wimbledon's finest hour, there were echoes of the 1988 FA Cup final - all-blue against all-red, same score. With Crazy Gang godfather Dave Bassett and Beasant in the posh seats, they had to weather heavy pressure and an even heavier downpour to take the chequered flag. Guitar hero Jackson raised £10,000 for a children's cancer charity by performing open-air gigs in his back garden and posting them online during lockdown. Now he's turned his promotion heroes into AFC Wimbledon's boys of strummer. Jackson said: 'As a player, not playing at Wembley was one of my big regrets, so to lead a team out here and win makes this probably the best day of my life. But it was all torture. We couldn't rest for a minute and this is surreal, it feels like a dream. 'This club was reborn in a pub and I should think we'll be visiting quite a few in the next 24 hours to celebrate! I was pleased to see Charlton go up because I've got a long history with the club, and I got a few messages off people there overnight saying, 'Now it's your turn.' But I wouldn't have thought I'll be getting the guitar out yet - I don't want it doused in champagne.' Walsall must have feared it wouldn't be their day when clots selling half-and-half scarves on Wembley Way couldn't even spell the club's name right. But the Saddlers were 12 points clear at the top in January and somehow they blew it. Their collapse will go down as one of football's most harrowing Devon Loch tributes. In the battle of League Two's best defence and highest scorers, it was more cagey than the lions' enclosure at Whipsnade Zoo and the first goal was always likely to prove decisive. Chances were rarer than hen's teeth until Marcus Browne's shot was blocked but Hippolyte's crisp half-volley from the edge of the box was too much for Walsall keeper Tommy Simkin, only his third goal of the season and easily the most precious. The Saddlers rallied after the break, Riley Harbottle clearing off the line from Jamille Matt's flick, and Walsall boss Mat Sadler seemed convinced Joe Lewis should have been penalised for grabbing a handful of Levi Amantchi's shirt in the box. Sadler groaned: 'When you are stood there watching the celebrations and it's not your players who are celebrating it's torture. But we are fighters so there will be no feeling sorry for ourselves.' WIMBLEDON (3-5-2): Goodman 6; Harbottle 7 (Ogundere, 69, 6), Lewis 7, Johnson 8; Tilley 6, Smith 6, Reeves 7, Hippolyte 7 (Maycock, 90), Neufville 6; Browne 7 (Pigott, 90), Stevens 5 (Kelly, 77). WALSALL (3-4-2-1): Simkin 7; Okagbue 6, Williams 5 (McEntee, 34, 6), Allen 6; Asiimwe 5 (Barrett, 74), Chang 5 (Lakin, 74), Stirk 6, Gordon 6; Jellis 5 (Adomah, 63, 7), Hall 6; Matt 5 (Amantchi, 63, 6). ATTENDANCE: 50,947 MAN OF THE MATCH: Ryan Johnson
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'Crazy Gang' final '88: 'The beginning of the end'
It was the fairytale end to a journey that had taken Wimbledon FC from non-league football to the very top of the English game, as the famous "Crazy Gang" beat Liverpool at Wembley to lift the FA Cup in 1988. Lawrie Sanchez's 37th-minute winner was all that separated the teams, while man of the match Dave Beasant saved a John Aldridge penalty as the Wombles sealed a legendary 1-0 win. A long time has passed since that day, Wimbledon FC has long since gone. But on Monday AFC Wimbledon head to Wembley to face Walsall for a spot in League One and their own place in history. "It kind of put everyone on the stage and I think the success that we had that day unfortunately was the beginning of the end, because a lot of people started to think 'I could do with a little bit of that in my team'," Beasant told BBC Sport. Exactly 12 years after that day, Wimbledon were relegated from the Premier League. The following year, a move to Milton Keynes was announced and that end eventually became a reality in 2003. The girl in the Gang - being Wimbledon's physio Wimbledon's storied Plough Lane past & the new chapter being written That 1988 final was the pinnacle of a meteoric rise for the club, who had been playing non-league football in the Southern League just 11 years before. Beasant joined the Dons in 1979 from London Spartan League side Edgware after the club had been promoted to the old Third Division - now League One. After a rollercoaster of two relegations and four promotions in seven seasons, Wimbledon reached the First Division to compete with the giants of English football. It all culminated in that day at Wembley and what would turn out to be Beasant's final game for the club, as he joined Newcastle United that summer. "It was a defining moment in my career that, first and foremost to win a trophy, and [winning the] FA Cup final with Wimbledon was something I never ever dreamed I'd be capable of doing," he said. "I was first to leave and then a few others followed, people started to pick Wimbledon apart. "It was a great day and if you're going to bow out at a club that I'd been at for nine years, I can't think of a better place than here at Wembley and winning the FA Cup." AFC Wimbledon travel to Wembley to face Walsall on Monday following a 2-0 aggregate victory over Notts County, reaching the final with a 1-0 victory at their own Cherry Red Records Stadium, just a short distance from the old club's original Plough Lane home. It is their second trip to the national stadium, nine years after the first - a 2-0 win over Plymouth Argyle in the League Two play-off final. "It was huge – the crowd, the roar, playing in front of I think it was 66,000 on that day," current club captain Jake Reeves, who played that day, told BBC Radio London. Goals from Lyle Taylor and Adebayo Akinfenwa secured the win for Neal Ardley's side. This time round it will be Johnnie Jackson in the hot seat. The former Charlton Athletic defender said his biggest regret was never stepping out under the arch as a player himself. "I grew up [in] maybe one of the last generations loving the [FA] Cup final. I went to a lot of cup finals when I was younger watching Arsenal and it was always my dream to play there and I never got the opportunity," he said. "Winning it as a manager would would top that [winning as a coach at Charlton in 2019] and probably be the highlight of my whole career." AFC Wimbledon beat Notts to set up final with Walsall 'I broke down' - Hutchinson on heart attack diagnosis Looking back on AFC Wimbledon's 2016 Wembley win Barry Fuller was the captain who lifted the trophy in 2016. AFC Wimbledon have since made an emotional return to Plough Lane and Reeves said he hopes this current side can create their own piece of history at the club. "You see all the photos from that day printed up around the stadium and around the ground. Obviously I know if I get to lift the trophy then those memories will live long," he said. Beasant added: "I looked back at what we achieved [going] from non-league football to the first division and winning the FA Cup 11 years later, that was an unbelievable journey and I never thought that would be emulated. "But what [AFC] Wimbledon have done, starting even lower down the system and getting, first and foremost, league football again, was an achievement that kind of matched what we done but in a different dimension. "They're very ambitious, the club is fan-owned so it's for everyone. I think they've done a more than superb job."
BBC News
25-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'Crazy Gang' final '88: 'The beginning of the end'
It was the fairytale end to a journey that had taken Wimbledon FC from non-league football to the very top of the English game, as the famous "Crazy Gang" beat Liverpool at Wembley to lift the FA Cup in Sanchez's 37th-minute winner was all that separated the teams, while man of the match Dave Beasant saved a John Aldridge penalty as the Wombles sealed a legendary 1-0 win.A long time has passed since that day, Wimbledon FC has long since on Monday AFC Wimbledon head to Wembley to face Walsall for a spot in League One and their own place in history."It kind of put everyone on the stage and I think the success that we had that day unfortunately was the beginning of the end, because a lot of people started to think 'I could do with a little bit of that in my team'," Beasant told BBC 12 years after that day, Wimbledon were relegated from the Premier League. The following year, a move to Milton Keynes was announced and that end eventually became a reality in 2003. Wimbledon's '80s rollercoaster That 1988 final was the pinnacle of a meteoric rise for the club, who had been playing non-league football in the Southern League just 11 years joined the Dons in 1979 from London Spartan League side Edgware after the club had been promoted to the old Third Division - now League a rollercoaster of two relegations and four promotions in seven seasons, Wimbledon reached the First Division to compete with the giants of English all culminated in that day at Wembley and what would turn out to be Beasant's final game for the club, as he joined Newcastle United that summer."It was a defining moment in my career that, first and foremost to win a trophy, and [winning the] FA Cup final with Wimbledon was something I never ever dreamed I'd be capable of doing," he said."I was first to leave and then a few others followed, people started to pick Wimbledon apart."It was a great day and if you're going to bow out at a club that I'd been at for nine years, I can't think of a better place than here at Wembley and winning the FA Cup." 'Winning would be highlight of my career' AFC Wimbledon travel to Wembley to face Walsall on Monday following a 2-0 aggregate victory over Notts County, reaching the final with a 1-0 victory at their own Cherry Red Records Stadium, just a short distance from the old club's original Plough Lane is their second trip to the national stadium, nine years after the first - a 2-0 win over Plymouth Argyle in the League Two play-off final."It was huge – the crowd, the roar, playing in front of I think it was 66,000 on that day," current club captain Jake Reeves, who played that day, told BBC Radio from Lyle Taylor and Adebayo Akinfenwa secured the win for Neal Ardley's time round it will be Johnnie Jackson in the hot former Charlton Athletic defender said his biggest regret was never stepping out under the arch as a player himself."I grew up [in] maybe one of the last generations loving the [FA] Cup final. I went to a lot of cup finals when I was younger watching Arsenal and it was always my dream to play there and I never got the opportunity," he said."Winning it as a manager would would top that [winning as a coach at Charlton in 2019] and probably be the highlight of my whole career." 'If we win, the memories will live long' Barry Fuller was the captain who lifted the trophy in 2016. AFC Wimbledon have since made an emotional return to Plough Lane and Reeves said he hopes this current side can create their own piece of history at the club."You see all the photos from that day printed up around the stadium and around the ground. Obviously I know if I get to lift the trophy then those memories will live long," he added: "I looked back at what we achieved [going] from non-league football to the first division and winning the FA Cup 11 years later, that was an unbelievable journey and I never thought that would be emulated."But what [AFC] Wimbledon have done, starting even lower down the system and getting, first and foremost, league football again, was an achievement that kind of matched what we done but in a different dimension."They're very ambitious, the club is fan-owned so it's for everyone. I think they've done a more than superb job."
Irish Daily Mirror
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Man United legend recalls hilarious outcome of a clash with hardman Vinny Jones
Manchester United legend Norman Whiteside has recalled a moment when he feared he was going to be throttled by football hardman-turned-Hollywood movie star Vinny Jones. The brilliant Belfast-born winger was speaking on the Manchester United podcast as he celebrated his 60th birthday on Wednesday. He was speaking about the toughest opponents he faced in a career that was sadly cut short at the age of just 26 by injury. The conversation turned to Wimbledon icon Jones, and Whiteside brought up an incident which saw him floor the Crazy Gang star - and led to him fearing retribution. Jones' reaction, however, wasn't what he expected. 'Vinny came up against me down at Wimbledon and we both go into this challenge, and I manage to catch Vinny just above the kneecap, to be honest, and he went down like a bag of cement,' Whiteside recalled. 'I've backed off 20 or 30 yards, getting out of the way, and Vinny's gone, 'Where's that Whiteside gone, I'll have him'. 'The physio comes on, gives Vinny all the treatment, and Vinny's looking out for me. He throws the physio out of the way, he gets up and he comes running at me, and I'm thinking, bloody hell, he's a nutcase, isn't he? You know what he's like. 'He gets closer and closer, he gets right up beside me, turns around and shouts in my ear at the top of his voice, 'Great tackle big man'. He is a decent guy.' Whiteside, who played in the 1982 and 1986 World Cups with Northern Ireland. He joined United in 1978 and stayed with the club until 1989, when he moved to Everton. However, a series of knee injuries brought the curtain down on his career in the summer of 1991. Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email .
BBC News
15-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Ex-Wimbledon winger Fairweather dies at 63
Former Wimbledon player and Sunderland coach Carlton Fairweather has died at the age of Camberwell-born winger was a member of the infamous Crazy Gang as they won promotion to the top flight and later became founder members of the Premier League in established his career after working as a draughtsman and started out in non-League with Dulwich Hamlet, Bromley and Tooting and Mitcham United before joining the Dons as a 23-year-old, for just £3, missed the Dons' 1988 FA Cup final triumph over Liverpool with a broken leg but made 164 appearances for the club and scored 28 leaving Wimbledon in 1993 he travelled to play in Hong Kong and the United States after a brief spell with Carlisle becoming a youth coach back at Wimbledon and then reserve team manager at Crystal Palace, Fairweather moved to Sunderland where he spent 22 years in various coaching and community roles, including three seasons as manager of Sunderland Ladies. Sunderland paid tribute, external to Fairweather, saying he was "a beloved character behind the scenes at the Academy of Light" and said he died on Monday night, surrounded by director Kristjaan Speakman said: "Carlton's personality and charisma was unique. He worked across all aspects of our club and the reason he's so highly thought of is down to his dedication, humility, and work ethic. "Within a sporting environment, you need consistency, and Carlton's character very rarely shifted from enthusiastic, bubbly, and infectious. "Add this to someone who crafted their skill of coaching and mentoring over so many years and it's a special mix."Wimbledon said in a statement on their website, external: "To this day Carlton is fondly remembered by the Wimbledon faithful and will be sorely missed by all those who knew him well."
