AFC Wimbledon Hospitality Treat Update
Okay, so as promised, here is the update to my AFC Wimbledon Hospitality treat, which my lovely wife paid for me for my birthday, which was a couple of weeks ago.
For the last couple of days of last week ,I have been like a very young child, drooling at the prospect of this trip.
You see, AFC Wimbledon has played a very large part of my life and though I have family connections to Chelsea, it is AFC Wimbledons result I always look for first of all.
So Saturday came and my wife and I made our way to the stadium, me with my pocket money for the club shop and absolutely on such a massive high at what was in store for us
I mean picture this, a mid fifties fella. acting like a demented 13 year old boy in the club shop, with staff probaly thinking, "what is he on" as I said oh wow, the shirts, oh my god the calenders ,scarbes and Pens!!!, where do I start?
My lovely wife, bless her, brought me a pen and a calender, while I got a shrit, badge and a very big tea tub mug, I love my tea and a huge mug in the mornings kickss me off just nicely : )
From there we went to hospitalty and were met by a very nice commercial manager, who I had been emailing and speaking to on the phone, he showed us to our table and we were waited on hand and foot, by the restaurant stuff, enjoying a nice chicken meal, with a gorgeous desert and a beautiful pint of
Wimbledon Ale... Well what else!!
This was puctuated by My wifes excited 55 / 13 year old husband, pouncing on every celebrity who walked through the door, with me saying
"I'm having that"
I got Ivor Hellers autograph, he was the man who had the dream to start us off again
Erik Samuleson, current CEO
Dickie Guy ex goalkeepr and Club President, who I was in such awe of I couldn't get to him for about 5 minutes, before eventually asking him... Mission accomplished
Dinner over, we then met the team manager who gave us a briefing and the team news
From there we made out way to our seats and my poor wife got a running commentry on everything Wimbledon from players to the ground ... You name it, she got it!!
In front of us, was the actor Sam West, the son of Prunella Scales and Tim West, we are fans of his having seen him in Selfridges the TV series and we watch his mum and dad on their houseboat travels. nice chap he is too
So the game kicked off and my wife then discovered something new about her husband
That he kicks every ball, head every ball, saves every shot and if he thinks the players are n't giiving enough then he tells them, very LOUDLY and in no uncertain terms, but giivng praise where praise is due
After all AFC Wimbledon is my club, I am a Dons Trust Member and I am entitled to say things!!!
Two goals were scored and I must have been the only male where we were, to reach the roof of the stand, which was about 20 foot above us, such was the jump I took when both goals went in
Overall the result was a 2~0 win ,i was a happy boy and the experience was one I would repeat at the drop of a hat
I had to share that with you, well I have told everyone else, including the guvnor of the hotel we stayed in, who when advised we were up for Wimbledon said
"Oh, the tennis"
The Tennis!!!!.. I said, its March!!!!... No this is AFC Wimbledon. You know the team that were formerly Wimbledon
His look and my look were priceless!!
Recent Comments
26
Thanks for sharing I can almost hear your very enthusiastic voice telling this me while I sipping a beer and listen to you.
Great post almost or I was there too and I am also someone who the first thought you are going for tennis LOL
Have a great day
Tommy
Thanks Dave - great post.
It would have been great to have been a fly on the wall of the club shop.
A big kid with his "pocket money" - & I can only imagine your excitement with all the shop had to offer - then the autographs of all your idols.
Of course the game must have been the utmost highlight of the day with the 2-0 win.
Great memories for you, & any time you return to the hallowed ground you will relive the day.
Denis
The next move is back to Plough Lane as we now own the freehold to that ground so for the first time ever since 1889 we now have our own ground, the previous plough Lane was council owned
Hope your wife got video of the whole episode. Maybe not she would probably want a new diamond or new car for keeping it off of social media.
All your readers feel your excitement and the fact of getting to share it with you. You have a way of telling a story that readers feel like they are right there with you every step of the way.
Great that you had such a great time and now you are all pumped up.
Barry
In my city most would think tennis, but I knew what you are talking about since I watch world soccer when I have time. Also since we have an MLS team here in Columbus. Seems like you had a super time.
Take care,
Bill
That was the best thing I have read today, Dave - thanks for that.
What an awesome day and a win into the bargain - lucky mascot methinks!!
That would so be me in the shop - kid in a candy store!
Glad you had a great day.
My dad took me up to QPR a couple of times when they came 2nd in the old First Division in 1975/6. Oh those heady days when the likes of Stan Bowles, Phil Parkes, Gerry Francis played for them. It was electric. Cant even remember why I supported them at the time as we lived in Weston super Mare, so a bit of a way to travel in those days! I was only 11 at the time so was probably a bit of a glory hunter!!
Thanks again for the post - anything football related makes my day
Thanks for commenting and glad you liked it some great memories with Gerry Francis who for a while was Don's first team coach back to the day
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Great pos!
It really had to be a great time for you!
Have a nice day!
Ingrid
It absolutely was and a fortune9by my standards!!) was spent in the club shop, on a shirt, calender, pen, badge, and scarf