Kicking off, A shared vision
Earlier this year the boards of The Dons Trust and AFCW PLC agreed a shared vision for the next chapter in our Club’s history. Our aim is to get to the Championship as a sustainable, fan-owned club.
Looking long term: Realising this vision
Setting out an agreed vision and achieving it are two different things though. As we know from direct experience, it takes concrete actions and focus to do it. Part of that is for both boards to think in those terms in everything we do, working to create the conditions off and on the pitch that can make it happen.
To get there we will need to build out the stadium to increase capacity, improve our football and non-football revenue, improve the performance of our teams, have better facilities and make better data-driven decisions. That’s a lot to do.
What’s our job on The Dons Trust board? This is where that word ‘governance’ comes in, we must be sure we are steering the club as much as we can without getting in the way of what our professional management team are doing day to day to enable our teams to win games of football.
Setting up for the season
What progress have we made in the run up to the start of the season?
- We’ve sold record numbers of season tickets, which include Trust membership. As well as the season ticket option, an enhanced membership which includes Dons Trust rights and Club benefits is also available.
- Our fantastic kits – always a huge part of our identity – are once again, top notch. This year, thanks to our long-term sponsors Sports Interactive, featuring the War Child logo.
- We’ve moved over to a new club website of our own. This is a massive opportunity for all of us to develop and grow our presence online, and the Dons Trust will be moving to the new site over time.
- The stadium and pitch have been renewed, with new display hoardings, and better live streaming. Our two first teams have made some really good signings, and we’re delighted that the women’s team will now be based in Wimbledon themselves, at Raynes Park Vale and at Plough Lane.
All of us would like to thank everyone who has worked so hard on these projects and the work behind them over the summer.
We’ve had a change on The Dons Trust board too. Previous chair Michele Little was asked to take on the newly created role of vice chair of AFCW PLC to support the operations and management team, so I’ve become chair of The Dons Trust and James Macdonald is our new Vice Chair. I’d like to thank Michele on behalf of the Dons Trust for all the work she’s done since being on the board, especially on bond finances, something she’ll continue to work on as Treasurer.
Get involved
Your membership gives you something more than just a voice in the crowd. It makes you a part-owner of AFC Wimbledon. Whether for the first time, returning, or long-standing, welcome.
There are plenty of ways you can get involved as well. We have groups of volunteers working on membership, fundraising and communications and we have a group for 16–24-year-olds. If you would like to get involved, let us know.
As a board, we want to be as open and approachable as we can. Although we’re all volunteers and can’t always respond as quickly as you might like, we’ll always try to reply – though sometimes, we are unable to because of the commercial sensitivities associated with a football club.
We also have a kiosk staffed on matchdays, at the back of the South Stand. Pop over and say hello. We are an approachable bunch. So, if you’ve got questions for us, please feel free to get in touch.
Come on you Dons!
Angus Fox
Chair, Dons Trust Board