Hall of Fame coming soon - Your committee members

Ever wondered who is the greatest ever Wimbledon player?

This Spring you have the chance to solve that riddle!

AFC Wimbledon and the Dons Trust are delighted to announce that this year we will be creating our Hall of Fame.

Over the last three months, our Hall of Fame Committee – 20 volunteers who answered our call earlier this year – have been trawling through the archives to produce a shortlist of 10 for seven different eras.

Details of how you can be involved in deciding the first entrants into the Hall of Fame will be announced very soon, but in the meantime, meet the people who have been working on this project.

RAY ARMFIELD

My first Wimbledon game was in 1971, since then I’ve written articles for many WFC fanzines including Dons Outlook, Grapevine and Yidaho, several books and since 2002 have been a regular contributor to the AFC Wimbledon matchday programme and occasional South London Press match reporter. I have also served on the Dons Trust Board and last year I began guiding WiSH Plough Lane stadium tours as a volunteer.

ANTHONY COOKE

I’m married with three grown up children, two of whom are passionate Wimbledon supporters like myself. I‘ve followed Wimbledon all my life and have many fond memories of our club. I was fortunate enough to attend an organised training session in Kingston back in the 80’s, coached by players including Fashanu and Scales.

Again from the 80’s, a stand out memory has to be standing in the corner of the dressing room at half time, listening to Dave Bassett give a team talk after a poor first half performance at Plough Lane – I learnt some new words that day, that I was firmly told not to repeat when I got home. In more recent times I recall travelling on the coach to the play-off game against Luton in 2011 with my eldest son, then 11 – arriving at the ground just before kick-off as the coach driver went the wrong way round the Manchester ring road. It was all worth it in the end…!! Both my sons have been mascots in the past and all the staff at the club, and the players themselves, made the occasions very special and memorable. I’ve been in the insurance industry for 25 years, currently working in the city as an underwriter for a US owned insurance company. Outside of family and football, my main passion lies with Speedway, another sport which has a rich history in Wimbledon – ironically, right where we all sit today.

NIALL COUPER

I first went to Plough Lane back in 1982 and was hooked immediately. I was a mascot in January 1983 with my brother. It was our last defeat of the season as we went onto storm the Fourth Division, and begin our first meteoric rise. I became a season ticket holder a couple of years later, and sold programmes at the old ground. I continued to watch us at Selhurst Park. When the devastating news came in August 2001, I had to do something – I set up Yellow and Blue, an alternative matchday programme. It would go on to outsell the official version three to one. Yellow and Blue would become the first official programme of AFC Wimbledon.

I have since served on the Dons Trust Board twice and have written two books on the club, The Spirit of Wimbledon, and This Is Our Time. A compilation of the two is due out soon.

JIM HAMPSHIRE

I have been supporting the Dons since Jan 1988, when I went to a home game with my dad against West Brom, which turned out to be the start of the run to our incredible FA Cup triumph. I have contributed to the Wombles Downunder fanzine and to Gary Jordan’s excellent book ‘Show Me The Way To Plough Lane’. I am a Season Ticket holder in the West Stand & DT member. It is an honour to be a part of the Wimbledon Hall of Fame committee.

PAUL JEATER

My first Wimbledon FC game – February 1964 and have been a Season Ticket holder at Plough Lane, Selhurst and Kingsmeadow & Plough Lane. I’m a Dons Trust member and volunteer in number of roles ranging from press reports as part of media team and joint organiser with Ray Armfield of Silent Auctions & Fundraising Dinner. Along with Elaine Jeater ran the Dons Trust table & stall at Kingsmeadow for many seasons. Dons Trust Board member in Ryman League era. Author of ‘A Unique Solution’ (1st Season of AFC Wimbledon)

NINA JOHNSTON

I have supported Wimbledon since the age of 13 and been a season ticket holder ever since.

I am a Dons Trust founder member and began volunteering for the Dons Trust after joining the protests at Soho Square. I have been a continuous match day volunteer since Chipstead at home in 2002 fulfilling roles in the matchday cash office, operating turnstiles and now on the hospitality desk.

I watch home matches from my seat in the west stand with my husband, children, sister and our group of mates, most of whom I’ve met through following the Dons. My boys have attended from as young as 4 days old and 2 of the 3 are match day ball boys.

GARY JORDAN

I am currently the AFC Wimbledon programme editor and have recently had a book published about our return back to Plough Lane, and another alongside Stephen Crabtree capturing our history. I first attended a game back in the mid-80’s when as guests of the club, the local Little League teams were invited. Living in nearby Kingston it was the better option of supporting Kingstonian, and all these years later it was definitely the right choice.

VICKI LOWNDES

This is something that Dad always wanted our Club to do, so I have joined the Committee to ensure Dad’s voice and the people he respected are involved in this amazing project. Dad has been instrumental to so much to do with Wimbledon and AFC Wimbledon, and often volunteered my brother (Matt) and I to do voluntary roles, without even asking us! My roles started at Plough Lane when I was 13. On match days I was Bobby Gould’s helper – one very important job was to ensure his office, and the referee’s room, were fully stocked with spirits! I could be found in the ticket office with Laurence and Sandra up until kick off, then I would carry the cash in a plastic carrier bag to the “office” which as we all know was a hut and count the money with Adrian Cook. Half time saw me delivering score sheets to Bobby in the home dressing room (I learnt a lot of new words very quickly!!!) and to the Boardroom. Full time was score sheets, followed by league tables. The week before Cup Final you would find me at the ground from morning to night – Dad had told the school I was ill and didn’t expect me to be on TV selling tickets in the office! Since that 13 year old at Plough Lane I have volunteered every season in some capacity. Jumping forward to today I proof read the match day programme, and volunteer for the Dons Local Action Group (DLAG) and We Are Wimbledon Fund (WAWF). Outside of Wimbledon I also volunteer to provide football for over 6,000 girls aged U8 to U18 in the Surrey area. My nominations have come from me gathering feedback from ex managers, ex-players, my brother, friends and long term supporters including Roger Caley who has supported the Dons for 72 years. If only I could have asked my Dad…

LUKE MACKENZIE

Born in Wimbledon, I started watching regularly in 1991-92 although the first time I saw Wimbledon was in 1987. Like many, I was fully behind the formation of the Dons Trust and then AFC Wimbledon. As a WISA committee member and then multiple time Dons Trust board member I feel lucky to have watched us rise again. My first role at AFC Wimbledon was as chief steward – something I did for most of non-league. Latterly at KM I collected tickets on the middle stand before

I’m married with 2 children and bring my football obsessed son to games.

BRIAN MANNING

As a bright eyed 7 year old I was taken by my Dad to my First Wimbledon game on the 19/08/1972, a 1-1 Draw with Barnet if I am told correctly. Even though the game did not meant much to me at such a tender age I just loved the ground and the atmosphere. Saturday football became a long standing tradition with me and my dad long after we moved to Basingstoke. The Train up to Wimbledon to see the mighty Dons was always a highlight of my week. Unfortunately he never made it to the new Plough Lane but he is with me in spirit at every game. Traditions carry on and my Daughter was the first girl mascot at Kingsmeadow in 2002 and now my 6 year old granddaughter proudly wears her Dons shirt to this day.

TERRY MAY

My first contact with Wimbledon FC came around sometime in September 1961, after just moving to Wimbledon from Chelsea. My colleagues at work encouraged me to go along and see a “Top Amateur side.” That began a relationship that has endured to the present day, even though I now reside just outside Edinburgh. From three Isthmian titles and an Amateur FA Cup win, Southern League promotion and titles, entry to the league, promotions, and relegations, the FA Cup in 88. During this time (around 86/87) I assisted my wife provide light pre-match refreshments, in the Sidney Black upstairs lounge, for the players. Which was then extended into a meeting place for supporters after the players had left for the dressing rooms. (Some very interesting insights to Dave Bassett’s, often very colourful, team talks) Before Bobby Gould joined, I was asked to take over organising the programme sellers, which I carried on doing so until those dismal days of the late 90s early 2000s. Culminating with my leaving in 2001. Since 2002, following my move up to Scotland, my actual attendance has been reduced, but the odd away trip, iFollow and WhatsApp have kept me in touch, although my son and grandsons have managed more games than I by being physically more mobile.

TOM PHILLIPS

Born in 1973 and brought up in SW19, I have been a Wimbledon fan since the early 1980s, including season tickets at Plough Lane (with my Dad) and Selhurst Park. My passion as a fan was truly ignited following the Milk Cup victory over Brian Clough’s Nottingham Forest in 1983.

I left the UK to work abroad in 2005 (my career in the golf industry has taken him to Hong Kong, China and now Dubai) but I remain a keen supporter from overseas and a member of the Dons Trust. A recent highlight for me was returning to Plough Lane with my father and 19-year-old son: three generations of Dons fans and all Dons Trust members.

MARK LEWIS

Taken to Plough Lane in our first league season, I soon had a season ticket on the West Bank with my sister and our dad. Having written for fanzines in the 80s, I joined the WISA committee in the 90s during the fight against Koppel and his cronies, as well as helping launch and run the Yellow & Blue programme at Selhurst. As a founder member of the Dons Trust, I have been a volunteer at AFC Wimbledon from the start, helping sell shirts from the Kingsmeadow back bar before we even built our own shop. Nowadays I help coordinate the matchday volunteer programme sellers, with my wife, son and daughter, all of whom are season ticket holders and volunteers.

JOHN LYNCH

I have and extensive career in the music and health sectors, musical theatre director and producer. 60 years a Wimbledon supporter and club Vice-President. Also now doing some pro bono project managing for the club.

KERRY MANDER

I have been a Wimbledon supporter since the late 90s when my brother took me to my first match at Selhurst Park. I was a regular volunteer in the ticket window at Kingsmeadow for 11 years. My two sons and I are season ticket holders at Plough Lane and we are all Dons Trust members.

DEAN PARSONS

My first ever game was Boxing Day 1982 a 1-1 draw with Mansfield Town my second game we won 4-3 v York City and I was hooked. My first favourite player was Wally Downes, but being short myself I did love players that proved that it didn’t matter what size you were, Dennis Wise, Paul McGee, Terry Gibson, Terry Phelan & Michael Hughes to name a few. I have volunteered in a number of roles since 2002, Golden Goals and programme seller, turnstile operator, Dons Trust Board member and have volunteered in my current match day role since August 2006.

RUSS SMITH

I am honoured to be part of the committee, that will create our ‘Hall of Fame’, it is a great project , that ‘everyone’, can get involved in, and have a voice it’s not just the volunteers at the centre of the project. The ‘Hall of Fame’ is something that I have wanted the club to do, a celebration of what makes Wimbledon ‘The Greatest Story in Football’.

My first game was as a 4 year old on December 17 1966 versus Corby Town, my late Uncle said, take the boy to football, it was 2:45, myself and dad who is a Season ticket holder at 92 years of age, drove straight to Plough Lane, parked inside the ground, and was stood behind goal at the ‘West Bank by 2:55, and here we are 56 years later. I can’t claim to have seen the first two eras !, but some will say I’m old enough. But fondly remember those, that have come , and gone , in the famous Blue of Wimbledon.

A founder member of the ‘Dons Trust’ I first held a season ticket in 1973, and proud to do so for the last 20 years, and was on the Supporters club committee in the early 1980’s. Favourite players, and moments are too many too mention, what a great life it’s been so far, I couldn’t come back in a next life without being a Wimbledon fan ! So the Hall of Fame, is going to create something that is everybody’s to enjoy, and that can be a long lasting legacy.

LOU CARTON-KELLY

STEPHEN CRABTREE

MICK PUGH