AFC Wimbledon
Community club founded by fans after original Wimbledon FC relocated.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
AFC Wimbledon is a professional football club from Wimbledon, in the London Borough of Merton, that plays in League One, the third level of English football. The club was created in 2002 by supporters of the original Wimbledon F.C. after the Football Association permitted that team to move roughly 60 miles north to Milton Keynes. It is the first club founded in the 21st century to reach the Football League, and it holds the record for the longest unbeaten run in league matches in English senior football, with 78 consecutive games without defeat between February 2003 and December 2004.
The club began in the Combined Counties League Premier Division, the ninth tier, for the 2002–03 season. Over 13 seasons, it earned six promotions, climbing from the ninth tier to the third by the 2015–16 campaign. AFC Wimbledon initially played at Kingsmeadow, a ground bought from and shared with Kingstonian, and later with Chelsea Women from 2017. In November 2020, the club moved to a new stadium at Plough Lane, built on the site of the former Wimbledon Greyhound Stadium, just 250 yards from the original Plough Lane ground that Wimbledon F.C. used until 1991. The new stadium holds 9,215 people.
**History**
**Foundation**
On 28 May 2002, the Football Association approved an arbitration panel’s decision to let Wimbledon F.C. relocate to Milton Keynes, a move chairman Charles Koppel argued was necessary to avoid bankruptcy. Although the club could not physically move for over a year because no suitable ground existed in Milton Keynes, supporters staged major protests and boycotted home matches at Selhurst Park, causing attendances to drop immediately. After the announcement, a group of fans led by Kris Stewart, Marc Jones, and Trevor Williams met at The Fox and Grapes pub on Wimbledon Common to plan a response. With no right of appeal, they decided the only option was to start a new club from scratch. On 30 May 2002, the Wimbledon Independent Supporters’ Association proposed creating a community-based club called AFC Wimbledon and launched a fundraising appeal. On 13 June 2002, a new manager, a playing strip and badge based on the original Wimbledon’s, and a stadium were revealed at a packed Wimbledon Community Centre. To build a team quickly, open trials were held on Wimbledon Common on 29 June 2002, attracting 230 hopeful players, from whom the inaugural squad was chosen.
- founded
- 2002
- location
- Wimbledon, London Borough of Merton, London
- current league
- EFL League One
- record
- Longest unbeaten run of league matches in English senior football (78 consecutive games)
- first Football League club formed in 21s
- True
Lore & Background
The club was founded on 30 May 2002 after the Football Association approved the relocation of Wimbledon F.C. to Milton Keynes. Led by Kris Stewart, Marc Jones, and Trevor Williams, supporters met at The Fox and Grapes pub on Wimbledon Common and decided to start a new club from scratch. On 13 June 2002, a new manager, playing strip, badge, and stadium were unveiled at the Wimbledon Community Centre. Player trials on 29 June 2002 on Wimbledon Common attracted 230 hopeful players, from whom the inaugural squad was chosen.
AFC Wimbledon entered the Combined Counties League Premier Division in 2002–03 under manager Terry Eames. They finished third in their debut season, winning their final 11 league fixtures. In 2003–04, they won their first 21 league games and finished as champions with an unbeaten record of 42 wins and four draws, also winning the Premier Challenge Cup. The club then moved to the Isthmian League, winning the First Division title in 2004–05 under Dave Anderson, and setting a record 78-match unbeaten league run between February 2003 and December 2004.
After two seasons of play-off near-misses, Terry Brown led the club to promotion to the Conference South in 2007–08 via the play-offs. The following season, AFC Wimbledon won the Conference South title, earning promotion to the Conference Premier. The club continued its rise, reaching the Football League in 2011 and eventually EFL League One by 2016.
Reader's Guide
AFC Wimbledon represents a unique case in English football: a phoenix club founded by supporters in direct response to the relocation of the original Wimbledon F.C. to Milton Keynes. The club's rapid ascent from the ninth tier to the third tier in just 13 seasons—with six promotions—demonstrates the power of community ownership and fan-driven organization. Their record 78-match unbeaten league run, spanning February 2003 to December 2004, remains the longest in English senior football. The club's move to Plough Lane in November 2020, a new stadium on the site of the defunct Wimbledon Greyhound Stadium only 250 yards from the original Plough Lane, symbolically returned the club to its historic home. AFC Wimbledon's success has inspired similar supporter-owned clubs and highlighted the importance of local identity in football. Their badge, featuring a double-headed eagle from Wimbledon's coat of arms, reflects the club's deep roots in the borough of Merton.
Did You Know?
- AFC Wimbledon hold the record for the longest unbeaten run of league matches in English senior football: 78 consecutive games between February 2003 and December 2004.
- The club was founded in 2002 by supporters after the Football Association allowed Wimbledon F.C. to relocate to Milton Keynes.
- AFC Wimbledon is the first club formed in the 21st century to make it into the Football League.
- The club's new stadium at Plough Lane, opened in November 2020, is only 250 yards from the original Plough Lane, Wimbledon F.C.'s home until 1991.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is AFC Wimbledon?
AFC Wimbledon is a professional football club based in the London Borough of Merton that currently competes in EFL League One. The team was established in 2002 by supporters of the original Wimbledon F.C. after the FA approved that club's relocation roughly 60 miles north to Milton Keynes.
Why was AFC Wimbledon created?
Fans of the original Wimbledon F.C. refused to let their community lose its team when the FA permitted the club to move to Milton Keynes. In 2002, those supporters founded a new phoenix club locally, and AFC Wimbledon became the first team formed in the 21st century to earn a spot in the Football League.
What league does AFC Wimbledon play in?
AFC Wimbledon currently competes in EFL League One, the third tier of English professional football.
What record does AFC Wimbledon hold?
The club owns the record for the longest unbeaten run in English senior league football, going 78 consecutive matches without a defeat between February 2003 and December 2004.
Where is AFC Wimbledon based?
The club is located in Wimbledon, in the London Borough of Merton, in southwest London.
More in Phoenix clubs 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record