We would like to state our thanks to all the fans and groups who stepped forward with offers to buy passes for fans who may have otherwise struggled to watch our historic first game back at Plough Lane.
On Friday we announced that the Dons Trust would be sponsoring the game versus Doncaster and that we would be giving away 250 iFollow passes to those who need them so that as many members as possible could share the experience on the night.
In the end, the Dons Trust was able to cover all pass requests – just shy of 300 – and we are delighted that these members will now be able to join us for the live broadcast (from 6 pm on the Club’s YouTube channel) and the match itself (KO 7.45 pm).
But we were taken aback by the generosity of our fans and those within the club who offered to help get others involved by covering further iFollow passes should they have been needed.
Among those were the Club Doctor Will Ricketts and his medical team, who offered to donate their match fees in order to buy passes for people to enjoy this special occasion from the safety of their own homes.
Will, who works in Respiratory Medicine at the Royal London Hospital, explained:
“As a lifelong Wimbledon fan, I completely understand fans’ desire to be there on Tuesday night, but for the good of everyone’s health and to help stop this second wave I echo Joe Palmer’s appeal for you to stay at home on Tuesday night. Please do not come to the ground as doing so heightens the risk of catching and spreading COVID-19, even if you have no symptoms currently. The number of cases in London is increasing fast and our hospitals are already under strain – help break this cycle by staying away on Tuesday night.”
Will has been at the sharp end of the battle against coronavirus and he featured in an article on the AFC Wimbledon website at the start of lockdown.
Once again, we would like to thank Will and every single person who has been in touch with such fantastic gestures of kindness.