AFC Wimbledon at Wembley

 

 

AFC Dons did well to reach the League division 2 play off final, the winner of which would be promoted to the heights of Division 1. Walsall FC the other finalist, was at one stage of the football season, 12 points ahead of the pack in division 2 but then began to tire. AFC Wimbledon had been fading too  towards the end of the season and my expectation was that Walsall would just about clinch it.

In the semi finals, the Dons won both their home and away match in the semi finals 1-0 against Notts County so appeared to be gaining momentum just as that was needed.

From a supporter's viewpoint, buying tickets for the Wembley match proved very difficult. AFC Wimbledon had declined to appoint agents so sold tickets directly on line with an initial two days being reserved for season ticket and debenture holders (the club unusually for a football club is mainly supporter owned). 

By the time  ticket sales were opened to the wider public, all of the best seats had been sold. However after queuing in their well organised system I managed to buy three tickets in the cheapest seats. Having last been to Wembley for the 2012 women's football final I recall how good the view was really wherever one was seated and so it proved,

Traveling to Wembley on the Bakerloo underground line was not ideal so we traveled home  via Euston on the much  more comfortable and speedier Lionesses Line.

Some pictures from the match: 

a

 

 

As it happened I walked to AFC Wimbledon's  HQ with a view to buying some kit for the game. A number of other supporters were trying the same but the supporters kit for the finals was sold out. I managed to buy a Dons' hat and scarf though.

After the match whilst walking to Wembley Central Station, a Walsall fan came up to us to congratulate AFC Dons though expressing disappointment that his team was to spend a seventh year in Div 2.

The overall atmosphere both before during and after the match was excellent  and as I told one of our   grandchildren later, there were many young people including girls her age in attendance also.