AFC Wimbledon Hospitality Treat

bydavehayes

3.2K followers

5 years ago

I wasn't going to write about this, but in the scheme of things the 7 year old child inside of me, said

"Ah, Go one, you know you want to"

So I am going to.

Not many of you, in fact probably no one will know that for my sins ( I don't have that many thank fully) that I am an AFC Wimbledon Co ~Owner, a a member of the Dons Trust

For those of you who haven't heard of AFC Wimbledon, let me give you a very brief history.

They are a Fans Trust Owned Football Club, currently demonstrating how strong they are by holding up the rest of League 1

Formed in 2002, as a result of a committees decision to relocate a very struggling Wimbledon FC from Croydon, to Milton Keynes, where upon they became MK Dons, the fans of Wimbledon(of which I am one) , got together and created from nothing a brand new football club, called

AFC Wimbledon. The started off with literally no ground, players or coaching staff and held trials on Wimbledon Common, to select a squad of players. They duly got a squad of players and found a ground to play football in, which is called Kingsmeadow, In Kingston

The club started off, right at the very bottom of the football Pyramind in the Combined counties, playing essentially parks football.

Howver they secure promotion to the English Football league back in 2011

From their it has been a steady ascent up the leagues to where we are now and whenever AFCW are on TV, which is not too often, I don (pardon the pun) my short and proceed to kick every ball, head every ball and on more than one ocaassion have been known by my wife to quite literally jump off the sofa, when corners are sent into the opponents box, in an attempt to head the ball in to the net, before sinking to my knees in absolute despair as it misses by a few yards

When goals are scored, I jump up, punch the air, the cat goes running straight out the door, My wife has a nervous fit, and I end up running round the lounge, and down the hallway in sheer delight!!

Penatlies are even worse!!... Being a Goalkeeper myself, I was in the Schmeichal mould) quiet of the pitch and an absolute lunatic on it, I assume the posisiton for penalties, sitting on the sofa, crouched half up half down and if its a save, will leap off the settee, punching the air in sheer delight, while comiserating with the opposing player who has missed the penalty as only a home fan could... Politely and in a very british way ( my wife will tell you a different version of that!!).

I actually saw them play at Portsmouth ealier this season, because we live not far from Pompey and a mate of mine is an avid fan so got me a ticket in the Portsmouth End, and because he is a Pompey season ticket holder, my ticket was that of a pompey STH who couldn't get to the match

Still it was good, thoough I ended up in my excitement of sitting in the wrong seat, until asked very politely by this middle aged 'bruiser' and his mate, "Are you in the right seat mate"

I think so I replied, I am in ... Oh I am sorry is this your seat" and promptly moved one along, shaking slightly, even more so as he said

"Aint seen you here before"... No i said, I don't come that often

For a lot of the match I kept my mouth shut, sat on my hands and when AFC Scored the their goal, which was a worldy ( we lost 2~1) I said, oh what a good goal and clapped politely, but safe in the knowledge that all around me were clapping too

So it is agains that back drop that my lovel wife, decided that her husgand coulddo with losing some of this energy by seeing the team play live but in a different capacity... Hospitality!!

And so it is on Saturday, we see AFC Wimbledon, V Doncaster Rovers at the Cherry Red Record Stadium, where we get to meet the players, here the managers briefing and for a 50 something going on 7 year old adult male, it will be like being a kid in a candy store

But one I can't wait for.

Pocket money is at the ready for a scour through the club shop. I am wearing a previous AFC Wimbledon shirt, going to buy a newer one, as well as a Tea Tub Mug

I shall up date you with a blog after the game and share my experience with you.

Thanks for allowing me to indulge a bit of a passion of mine outside work, with you here