Dons Trust Co-Chair Xavier Wiggins looks back at how far we have come to get home.
One day, somewhere, the full timeline that led to our incredible move back to Plough Lane and acknowledgment of the work of the many, many people who made it happen, needs documenting.
Until then, as we settle into our new home, Iwanted to share with you a recently produced basic timeline, and urge you to think about how the unique coming together of fans, volunteers and the community really can achieve special things.
2003 AFC Wimbledon Stadium Limited (a wholly owned subsidiary of AFCW plc, was formed to buy Kingsmeadow from the owner of Kingstonian FC
July 2007 Merton Local Development Plan –http://wimbledonheritage.co.uk/dtdocs/dtb_minutes/2009-05-06.pdf
2008 – Jan 2009 Strategy Review undertaken
6 May 2009 DTB meeting notes Merton Civic Reception and increasing positive attitude towards Club’s possible return to Merton following promotion to Conference National. http://wimbledonheritage.co.uk/dtdocs/dtb_minutes/2009-05-06.pdf
7 January 2010 DTB minutes note “ManComm planned to appoint consultants to assess the viability of specific ideas for a stadium in Wimbledon” http://wimbledonheritage.co.uk/dtdocs/dtb_minutes/2010-01-10.pdf
12 April 2010 Financial assessment of the possible sites for a new stadium in Merton had been received. Erik Samuelson meeting with Merton council to discuss site options and viability. http://wimbledonheritage.co.uk/dtdocs/dtb_minutes/2010-04-12.pdf
July 2011 Strategy review – to review performance against 2009 strategy / To update the vision and values of the Trust and to set out our revised aims and objectives and devise an action plan to achieve them,
July 2012 Representations submitted to Council about potential sites in response to its Stage 2a Sites and Policies Development Document (DPD) consultation. [mentioned in article \https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2013/february/new-stadium-plans/
December 2012 DT Chair article in Matchday programme noting working with professional advisors and Stadium Working Group https://thedonstrust.org/2012/12/16/chairmans-update-from-rotherham-matchday-programme/
27 Feb 2013 Club delivered submission to Merton as part of LBM’s Sites and Policies Development Plan Document (DPD) consultation, https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2013/february/new-stadium-plans/
8 March 2013 Feedback survey on possible new stadium at plough lane https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2013/march/a-new-stadium-your-views/
21 January 2014 London Borough of Merton Sites and Policies Examination – Public Hearing. Representation from AFC Wimbledon Merton Public Hearing 21 Jan 2014
6 June 2014 Green light given to proceed with planning application The endorsement of Merton Council’s proposed designation of the site meant that AFC Wimbledon could take the next steps towards submitting a planning application for a football stadium on the site. https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2014/june/stadium-plans-go-ahead/
June / July 2014 Public Consultations: Series of meeting in around/Merton ahead of planning committee to show stadium proposals
November 2014 Planning submitted to Council https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2014/november/planning-application-/
19 December 2014 Launch of Write Now campaign – Bring the Dons Home https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2014/december/launch-of-fans-campaign/
Feb 2015 Public Meetings in Merton and Wandsworth about planning application https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2015/february/calling-all-fans-in-merton/
27 August 2015 Back in Two Ticks launched https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2015/august/stadium-campaign-launch/ 2 votes needed to agree the sale of the club’s current stadium (KM) Prospectus. BITT information https://thedonstrust.org/bitt/
23 October 2015 First round of votes for back in two ticks closed on 22nd October Outcome: https://thedonstrust.org/2015/10/23/outcome-of-first-vote-on-stadium-sale/ DT members gave a resounding thumbs up to the sale of the stadium, but another ‘yes” vote is required to facilitate a move to a new stadium back at Plough Lane announced https://thedonstrust.org/bitt/
16 November 2015 DT SGM – members authorised the board to go ahead with the sale of KM https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2015/november/outcome-of-stadium-vote/ https://thedonstrust.org/2015/11/17/outcome-of-restricted-action-vote/
10 December 2015 Planning permission meeting – Merton Council – unanimous decision https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2015/december/key-date-set-for-stadium/ https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2015/december/plan-for-stadium-meeting/
March 2016 Mayor of London (Boris Johnson) called in planning action https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2016/april/update-stadium-campaign-/
13 April 2016 London Calling campaign by fans: https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2016/april/stadium-campaign-by-fans/
7 June 2016 Contracts exchanged for sale of Kingsmeadow to Chelsea FC. https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2016/june/step-closer-to-return-home/
9 September 2016 Bring the Dons home urge fans to write to the Sec of State re planning application. Wandsworth asked for it to be called in – https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2016/september/new-stadium-write-in/ http://bringthedonshome.org/write-secretary-state/
15 September 2016 Merton planning committee formally noted Mayor of London’s decision to hand back responsibility for determining our planning application to Merton https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2016/september/new-stadium-application/
11 February 2017 Sec of State has referred Wimbledon Stadium to Historic England to carry out a review and make a recommendation on whether the building should be listed. Statement to be published soon. https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2017/february/new-stadium-latest-/
31 July 2017 Stadium Contractor Appointed – Andrew Scott Ltd https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2017/july/new-stadium-contractor/
13 December 2017 Signing of Section 106. https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2017/december/afc-wimbledon-gets-permission-to-start-building-new-stadium/
3 July 2018 Meet reps from Galliard Homes – to talk through the development. https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2018/july/meet-the-galliard-homes-team/
September 2018 Club recently submitted S73 planning application submitted – changes to design https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2018/september/new-stadium-club-submits-s73-planning-application/
5 October 2018 Demolition process of greyhound stadium cleared https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2018/october/swift-progress-on-demolition-work-for-new-stadium/
8 November 2018 Afcw PLC EGM shareholders to authorise the directors to increase the share capital of the company subsequently issue shares as part of the proposed crowdfunding initiatives, which is design to raise funds to help to build and enhance the new stadium in plough lane. https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2018/october/egm-important-vote-to-help-finance-new-stadium/
21 March 2019 Merton council vote in favour of a resolution to approve amendments to original planning application. Next is deed of variation to be signed.
https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2019/march/new-stadium-update2/
30 July 2019 Launch of investment stage of Seedrs
17 January 2020 Launch of Plough lane bond https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2020/january/the-plough-lane-bond-is-now-live/
14 July 2020 Signed MSP capital loan to complete financing of Plough Lane Stadium https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2020/july/statement-from-our-chief-executive-joe-palmer/
3 November 2020 First home game at new stadium https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2020/september/an-update-from-our-chief-executive2/
May – August 2021 Test events 1. Vs Liverpool 18 May 2021 2. vs Scunthorpe 31 July 2021 3. vs Bolton Wanderers (first game of 21-22 season) 14 August 2021