Latest news with #WimbledonFC
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."
BBC News
14-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Lewington stays with Dons in development role
Long-serving defender Dean Lewington is to stay with MK Dons in a coaching role with the club's newly-formed development 40-year-old had been considering his future after deciding to retire at the end of the season following 917 will work with first-year professional and schoolboy-level players as an individual development coach from the beginning of pre-season."Lewie has been an integral part of this football club from day one, achieving something that I think we all agree will never be seen again," said sporting director Liam Sweeting."We have been so fortunate to lean on Dean's wisdom on the pitch, but his new career path provides an excellent chance to pass on some of his experience to those aspiring to reach the senior level of football, and for Dean to enter the next chapter of his career as a coach."Lewington, who has acted as interim boss on three occasions, already has a Uefa B coaching licence and is now studying for his A of an A licence are eligible to coach men's teams up to and including the second tier. Lewington began his playing career with Wimbledon FC and stayed with them when they made the move to Milton Keynes in was involved in many of the club's biggest moments, winning the EFL Trophy at Wembley in 2008, beating Manchester United 4-0 in the League Cup in 2014 and winning promotion to the Championship in final appearance as a player came as a late substitute in their season-ending game away to Swindon Town on 3 May.
BBC News
25-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'He's ridiculously humble' - Warne lauds retiring Lewington
New MK Dons boss Paul Warne has paid tribute to Dean Lewington ahead of what may be the veteran defender's final game for the 41, began his career with Wimbledon FC and stayed with them when they made the move to Milton Keynes in has confirmed that he will retire from playing at the end of the season and Saturday's home game against Grimsby Town has been named Dean Lewington Day as a show of respect."He's like the MK Dons Ryan Giggs. I played about 500 games which I'm quite boasty about because I think that's impressive.... but to play nearly double that, to have the physical resilience for that is amazing, the way the modern game is," Warne told the club website, external."I've seen him in team meetings and I've seen him out on the training pitch talking to the younger lads and telling them where they should be - his appetite for the game is impressive and that's possibly why he's played so many games."He is so humble, ridiculously humble, which is a really impressive trait. If he were my son, I'd be very proud of him as a player and a human being. He's the perfect person you want in the dressing room."Lewington was involved in many of the club's biggest moments, winning the EFL Trophy at Wembley in 2008, beating Manchester United 4-0 in the League Cup in 2014 and winning promotion to the Championship in 2015."It's unique that every team photo (at the stadium) has got him on. And he's the easiest one to find. When I walk down the steps, there he is, it's not like 'Where's Wally?' where it's really tricky. 'Where's Dean?' is really an easy game to play," joked Warne, who was appointed on 15 April. "He will definitely, when he passes away, be in a vinegar jar somewhere as a freak of nature." Lewington last played in a 3-2 win over Cheltenham in November, but if he is involved against Grimsby, it will be his 916th game for the Dons, having broken John Trollope's 40-year record for the most league appearances for a single club in the EFL in 2023. "It feels a bit surreal; it doesn't really feel like it's the end," he told BBC Three Counties Radio."I'm not ready. I don't think you ever will be if you love something that has brought you so much joy and happiness and you still enjoy doing it; you never want to stop."But obviously everything has a time and a place and I know it is time to stop, but my heart is not quite ready yet."He has been named interim boss on three occasions when previous managers left Stadium: MK but was not asked to do the job again when Warne's predecessor Scott Lindsey was sacked in Peter Shilton, Tony Ford, Graham Alexander and Terry Paine have played more senior games in English Lewington said: "Records ultimately are meaningless, it's just a list that you're top of."The end of my career is going to feel different because it means so much to me, it's my life and it's going to affect me a little bit differently, but hopefully I'll be alright."He has only played nine games this season and said he felt as "distant" from the rest of the team as he has ever done despite being involved in training."I've not been involved in the squad, not been to half the games, so it's been a really weird season for me," he continued."Even back at the start of the season, I probably knew this would be the last one but I was hoping the team would do well and it might end with a promotion, or at Wembley, something quite nice."It's been a disappointing season for everyone concerned and hopefully they have made the change now (by bringing in Paul Warne) that will be in place for two or three years and they can have a bit of stability."We may have hit rock bottom and hopefully now, this is the start of a comeback." Mk Dons are 18th in League Two, having lost in the play-offs last season, and following the game against Grimsby, they will end the campaign with a trip to Swindon Town on 3 May.
