AFC Wimbledon fans provide impetus for upwardly mobile Brown

Walter Gammie at Wheatsheaf Lane

Staines 1 AFC Wimbledon 2

AFC Wimbledon, fuelled by extraordinary support in a crowd of 2,460, secured the third promotion of their six-year life when they won the Ryman League premier division play-offs final away to Staines Town 2-1 on Saturday.

Wimbledon’s progress had been stalled by defeats in the play-offs semi-finals in the past two seasons, but Terry Brown worked the magic in his first season as manager, as he had at Aldershot Town in 2003. He had also won the Icis League in 1996 with Hayes, so the personable 55-year-old was completing an Isthmian League hat-trick.

Brown acknowledged the advantage in resources conferred by Wimbledon’s enviable fan base that allowed him the luxury of greater firepower on the bench than a lively and luckless Staines side, whose more demanding finish to the season caused them to run out of steam. “The supporters have been spectacular,” Brown said. “They’re special. We’re losing 1-0 in the play-offs again with ten minutes to go and I’m not getting grief ? they’re giving the players 100 per cent support.”

Staines had led from the 36th minute with a close-range header from Matt Flitter until Luis Cumbers dived in to head a hotly disputed equaliser after 82 minutes. James Courtnage, the Staines goalkeeper, was adamant that he had been fouled when he dropped a long throw-in to allow Nic McDonnell to cross the ball. Alan Boon, the Staines chairman, said: “We had a wonderful season, but I’d rather have lost 4-0 because it’s so unfair that a decision can cost you an entire season. It sours the occasion.”

Three minutes later Mark De Bolla drove in a free kick for the Wimbledon winner. De Bolla, a substitute, had taken to the pitch in a Wimbledon shirt for the first time since February. He was fresh, having picked up a five-match ban for being sent off twice in a week while on loan to Bromley. De Bolla does not yet know whether the goal will earn him a new contract or merely a place in Wimbledon legend. “It was a great feeling to have those fans behind us,” he said. “They will take this club back into the League.”

Amid emotional scenes, supporters hoisted the retiring Marcus Gayle on to their shoulders. Gayle, 37, had completed a talismanic journey from Wimbledon forward to AFC Wimbledon centre back. “I need to rest my legs,” he said. “I’ve been in the game for 21 years. It was a great way to finish.”

Referee: M McLaughlin
Attendance: 2,460 

FC United of Manchester, the club founded by supporters unhappy at the Glazer takeover of Manchester United, won the third promotion of their three-year life on Saturday by beating Skelmersdale Town 4-1 in the UniBond League first division north play-offs final. Sheffield FC, the world’s oldest club, narrowly missed out on promotion, losing to Nantwich Town on penalties after a 2-2 draw in the south play-offs final.

Comments

[Ian Nunn]

What a brilliant result. Heartiest congratulations to AFC Wimbledon. We up North can't wait for the day we can watch them without a 400 mile round trip. Shame about Franchise FC getting a bit of glory - that took a touch of gloss off our achievement.