General Football Discussion

[Orange14]

Mind you their first team squad is a little different with only Walcott and Ramsay British.

PS In case this is lost on anyone the big joke in England is that Arsenal do not play english guys.Whether any break into the first team as regulars is another matter!!

Isn't Ramsay from Wales? I know that classifies him as "British" but he would have to play internationaly for Wales I think (like Ryan Giggs).

[SPL]

I was being lazy yes Ramsay is Welsh and Walcott English.

i told my tale of all these english kids to my friends at cricket today. I said it remains to be seen if any of them break into the first team. My mate said that they will all have to learn french first!!

[Kowalczyk]

Question about English football... Perhaps SE6 Ajacied or SPL can help...

I have read articles and heard stories about AFC Wimbledon and United FC, two clubs that were basically founded out of protest: by people who no longer digged the business of the real clubs.

My question: are AFC Wimbledon and United FC the only two 'protest clubs' of this kind, or are there more examples by now?

Also: did AFC Wimbledon ever play MK Dons, in a friendly or anything (that would be a spicy one)? (I take it United FC never played Man U...)

K.

[SE6Ajacied]

Question about English football... Perhaps SE6 Ajacied or SPL can help...

I have read articles and heard stories about AFC Wimbledon and United FC, two clubs that were basically founded out of protest: by people who no longer digged the business of the real clubs.

My question: are AFC Wimbledon and United FC the only two 'protest clubs' of this kind, or are there more examples by now?

K.

Ah, now there's a question. They are still the only 2 really. For a time Barnsley fans set up AFC Barnsley (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A.F.C._Barnsley) when they were in dispute with their management but that team have now folded. There's also AFC Liverpool (http://afcliverpool.org.uk/go/) but they say they are not a "protest" fans club as such, they have a good relationship with Liverpool FC and say that they are supporters of both teams, it's more that they were set up by and for fans who no longer go to Anfield. ie have been priced out. AFC Wimbledon have been fairly fortunate, they inherited just about all of the old Wimbledon support and play fairly near to Wimbledon at Kingstonian's ground but FC United are finding life a bit tougher off the pitch at least. They rent Bury FC's ground, apparently at a crippling annual rent and fans are apparently starting to drift away back to Old Trafford, especially after the CL win last year. On the field both teams are doing well though, Wimbledon are in Conference South (Level 6) and FC United in the Unibond Premier (Level 7) having started out at a much lower level.

There's also AFC Telford, a non-league team set up by fans after it was clear that their team Telford United was about to go bust. ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AFC_Telford_United). Also Scarborough Athletic (here http://www.scarboroughathletic.com/). Aldershot Town have just regained Aldershot FC's place in the Football League 16 years after the latter went bust and Newport County, Maidstone United and most recently FC Halifax Town (at the end of last season) are all ex Football League teams that have closed down and then been reformed at a lower level in the pyramid with considerable input from their fans.

Although there are comparatively few fans clubs though, there are quite a few at various levels who are or have been owned by a "Supporters Trust", a government backed initiative. You can find more info on some of those teams here http://www.clubsincrisis.com/ and here http://www.supporters-direct.org/ btw.

(not very) interesting fact btw, the AFC in Wimbledon at least is for "A Fans Club" rather than the usual "Association Football Club".

I went to see Maidstone United (v Fisher Athletic FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round score 3-2 to Maidstone) on Saturday btw, and with mine there were a total of 3 Ajax shirts in attendance!

[Kowalczyk]

Cheers for that, mate. Exactly the info I was looking for...

More questions...

Did AFC Wimbledon ever play Milton Keynes Dons (which would be a bizarre fixture)?

And did they ever play the old derby against Crystal Palace?

K.

[SE6Ajacied]

Also: did AFC Wimbledon ever play MK Dons, in a friendly or anything (that would be a spicy one)? (I take it United FC never played Man U...)

K.

Just spotted the rest of your question. The simple answer is no, not exactly. Certainly the two Don's against each other in terms of fans feelings would make Ajax/Feyenoord look like the Teddy Bears Picnic in comparison. AFC Wimbledon have blocked MK Dons supporters club from membership of the Supporters Trust (see my last post) and also apparently have it in their constitution that (unless they would be fined or lose points by not doing so) they will never play MK Dons. There was also a seemingly never-ending row about the "return" of the trophies won by Wimbledon FC (including the 1988 FA Cup) which were eventually handed over, though not to AFC Wimbledon as such and are now on display at Wimbledon Library on permanent loan to Merton Council. "Franchise FC" are certainly not well-liked, not least in London SW19!

From a quick search through google it seems that (arguably with good reason) Wimbledon fans hate MK Dons almost as much as they support their own team.

[SE6Ajacied]

Did AFC Wimbledon ever play Milton Keynes Dons (which would be a bizarre fixture)?

And did they ever play the old derby against Crystal Palace?

K.

Oh yes, at least once, in a pre-season friendly, no big problems between thse two. Here's a match report http://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/-/reports ... tal-palace

[Kowalczyk]

Last question... Can you tell me who the traditional local rivals of the old Wimbledon FC were? What was their real London grudge game?

K.

[SE6Ajacied]

Last question... Can you tell me who the traditional local rivals of the old Wimbledon FC were? What was their real London grudge game?

K.

Hmm, that's a tougher one. Wimbledon FC only joined the Football League in 1978, and then moved up through the divisions rapidly so didn't really have time to build a big local rivalry as such. Crystal Palace in later years especially during the ground-share became local rivals of a sort and Wimbledon had all sorts of "friends" due to their physical direct style of play, but real long term local rivals would be from non-league days before 1978.

[Manneken Pis]

For those interested, found this weekly review of Dutch football on the footballunlimited.com website;

http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/leanderschaerlaeckens

[Over Pasanens Head]

Last question... Can you tell me who the traditional local rivals of the old Wimbledon FC were? What was their real London grudge game?

K.

Hmm, that's a tougher one. Wimbledon FC only joined the Football League in 1978, and then moved up through the divisions rapidly so didn't really have time to build a big local rivalry as such. Crystal Palace in later years especially during the ground-share became local rivals of a sort and Wimbledon had all sorts of "friends" due to their physical direct style of play, but real long term local rivals would be from non-league days before 1978.

That Wimbledon were rivals of Palace should be on the Vak425 Pathetic Joke section. Palace always viewed them as they still are - a mickey mouse club.

Ko, for the complete history of old, franchise and new Don's there is nobody better to contact than good old Tony Marsden. He used to haunt these boards at times so he might see the subject and join in.

[Blind3]

Just heard the unedited Joe Kinnear gone mental press conference on satellite radio. Thank God for satellite. Abso-fucking-lutely brilliant !! 52 words you can't say on tv.

[SE6Ajacied]

Just heard the unedited Joe Kinnear gone mental press conference on satellite radio. Thank God for satellite. Abso-fucking-lutely brilliant !! 52 words you can't say on tv.

and for those without Satellite radio, here it is http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008 ... mierleague

priceless

[Blind3]

SE6Ajacied, Thanks for posting the transcript. Just added it to my favorites. Joe Kinnear for President.

[DanK]

Just heard the unedited Joe Kinnear gone mental press conference on satellite radio. Thank God for satellite. Abso-fucking-lutely brilliant !! 52 words you can't say on tv.

and for those without Satellite radio, here it is http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008 ... mierleague

priceless

Swear much? Classic interview.

[Kowalczyk]

That is great...

My God. Promotional suicide. The good man has already capitulated.

I would love the hear the original interview.

K.

[SE6Ajacied]

I would love the hear the original interview.

K.

lol, well there's a link to a bleeped out version of some of it on here. (but as all small boys or bigger boys know - you can still hear what the rude words are)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/footbal ... 648284.stm

[Cedric]

Uncensored version

[DanK]

Uncensored version

If I had a dollar for every swear...

[Blind3]

You'd have 52 dollars. I knew my math skills would come in handy.

[DanK]

You'd have 52 dollars. I knew my math skills would come in handy.

[Blind3]

Not one to cheerlead for Barca, though their stylish play and player ties with Ajax are pleasing, but their 5:1 goalpalooza today is a thing of beauty. Atletico Madrid look shell-shocked so far. What a great 35 minutes.

[Kowalczyk]

Must have been a really, really boring game...

Yaaawwwnnn!!

http://www.dumpert.nl/mediabase/260611/ ... dsaai.html

K.

[Jeroen126]

Hehe, funny that... I had the flu yesterday and took a nap at half time

[Orange14]

Not one to cheerlead for Barca, though their stylish play and player ties with Ajax are pleasing, but their 5:1 goalpalooza today is a thing of beauty. Atletico Madrid look shell-shocked so far. What a great 35 minutes.

The real reason for all the goals is that Athletico and Johnny Heitinga are playing defense like Ajax!!!