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{{Short description|Association football club in London, England}}
{{About|the men's football club founded in 2002|the men's football club founded in 1889|Wimbledon F.C.|the women's football club|AFC Wimbledon Women}}
{{pp-semi-indef}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox football club
| clubname = AFC Wimbledon
| image = AFC_Wimbledon_(2020)_logo.svg
| image_size = 160px
| fullname = AFC Wimbledon
| nickname = The Dons<br>The Wombles
| owner = The Dons Trust
| chairman = Mick Buckley
| founded = {{Start date and age|2002|df=yes}}
| ground = [[Plough Lane]]
| capacity = 9,215<ref name="Plough Lane">[[Plough Lane]]</ref>
| manager = [[Johnnie Jackson]]
| league = {{English football updater|AFCWimbl}}
| season = {{English football updater|AFCWimbl2}}
| position = {{English football updater|AFCWimbl3}}
|pattern_la1        = _yellowborder
|pattern_b1         = _yellow_collar
|pattern_ra1        = _yellowborder
|pattern_sh1        = 
|pattern_so1        = _wimbledon2223h
|leftarm1           = 0000FF
|body1              = 0000FF
|rightarm1          = 0000FF
|shorts1            = 0000FF
|socks1             = 0000FF
| pattern_la3       = _thinyellowborder
| pattern_b3        = _yellowcollar
| pattern_ra3       = _thinyellowborder
| pattern_sh3       = 
| pattern_so3       = 
| leftarm3          = FFf
| body3             = FFf
| rightarm3         = FFf
| shorts3           = FFf
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| current = 2025–26 AFC Wimbledon season
| website = {{URL|https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/|afcwimbledon.co.uk}}
}}

'''AFC Wimbledon''' is an English professional [[association football]] club based in [[Wimbledon, London|Wimbledon]], [[London Borough of Merton]], [[London]]. The team competes in {{English football updater|AFCWimbl}}, the third tier of the [[English football league system]].

The club was founded in 2002 by former supporters of [[Wimbledon F.C.]] after [[the Football Association]] allowed that club to [[Relocation of Wimbledon F.C. to Milton Keynes|relocate]] to [[Milton Keynes]] in Buckinghamshire, about {{convert|60|mi}} north of Wimbledon. Most of the Wimbledon supporters were very strongly opposed to moving the club so far away from Wimbledon, feeling that a club transplanted to a distant location would no longer represent Wimbledon or the club's historic legacy and tradition.<ref name=reportfansviews>{{cite book
  | title = Report of the Independent Commission on Wimbledon F.C.'s wish to relocate to Milton Keynes
  | first1 = Raj
  | last1 = Parker
  | first2 = Steve
  | last2 = Stride
  | author2-link=Steve Stride
  | first3 = Alan
  | last3 = Turvey
  | url = http://www.wisa.org.uk/cgi/l/files/20020530_fa.pdf
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20041119013644/http://www.wisa.org.uk/cgi/l/files/20020530_fa.pdf
  | url-status = dead
  | archive-date = 2004-11-19
  | publisher = [[The Football Association]]
  | date = 2002-05-28
  | access-date = 2014-12-13
  | pages=17–18, 61–67
  | quote=The proposal has met with considerable opposition, and not just from the WFC fans.&nbsp;... [M]ost of the hundreds (over 600) of communications we have received have argued against the proposal. They have generally been from individual WFC fans. 57. Supporters' associations and individual fans from many other clubs and people from as far afield as the United States, Australia (Wimbledon Supporters Downunder), Russia and Norway have also expressed similar views.&nbsp;... The fans are not of the opinion that a club in Milton Keynes is better than no club at all.}}</ref><ref name="Pitchbattle">{{cite news
| title = Pitch battle
| url = https://www.theguardian.com/football/2003/jan/11/clubsincrisis.sport
| location=London
| work = [[The Guardian]]
| publisher = Guardian News and Media
| first = Jim
| last = White
| date = 2003-01-11
| access-date = 2009-06-05
| quote = Ten miles from Selhurst Park, in Kingston upon Thames, the following Saturday, the streets around the tidy little Kingsmeadow football ground are filling up an hour before kick-off. It is here that Wimbledon fans, fed up with the direction in which the owners were leading the object of their love, have set up a football club of their own.&nbsp;... Wimbledon fans were in seemingly perpetual dispute with the club's owners. At times last season, the vitriol was so intense that the directors' box at Selhurst Park would be surrounded for entire games with supporters hurling venom at its occupants.&nbsp;... Early in 2001, Wimbledon's owners announced that they intended to move the club to the Buckinghamshire new town. The fans were adamant that it should remain in their community. 'They wanted to steal our club', says Kevin Rye, of the Wimbledon Independent Supporters Association (Wisa). 'Nick it and move it 70 miles north. That's what it is: nothing short of theft.'}}</ref><ref name=greenlight>{{cite news
| title = Dons get Milton Keynes green light
| url = https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/w/wimbledon/2012312.stm
| publisher = BBC
| date = 2002-05-28
| access-date = 2009-08-31}}</ref> Wimbledon moved in 2003 and formally changed the name of the club to [[Milton Keynes Dons F.C.|Milton Keynes Dons]] in 2004.<ref name="Pitchbattle"/><ref name="honours">{{cite web|url=http://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/honours.php |title=AFC Wimbledon Website, Honours |access-date=23 November 2007 |publisher=AFC Wimbledon |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071205051059/http://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/honours.php |archive-date=5 December 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

When AFC Wimbledon was formed, it affiliated to both the [[London Football Association|London]] and [[Surrey County Football Association|Surrey]] Football Associations, and entered the Premier Division of the [[Combined Counties Football League|Combined Counties League]], the ninth tier of English football. The club was [[promotion and relegation|promoted]] six times in 13 seasons, going from the ninth tier (Combined Counties Premier) in the 2002–03 season to the third (League One), promoted in the 2015–16 season. 

AFC Wimbledon currently hold the record for the longest unbeaten run of league matches in English senior football, having played 78 consecutive league games without a defeat between February 2003 and December 2004.<ref name="AFC Wimbledon set English record">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/4010137.stm|title=AFC Wimbledon set English record|access-date=23 November 2007|date= 13 November 2004|publisher= BBC}}</ref> They are the first club formed in the 21st century to make it into the Football League.<ref name="Soccernews.com">{{cite news |date=12 July 2012 |title=The REAL Wimbledon are promoted to the Football League |publisher=Soccernews.com |url=http://www.soccernews.com/the-real-wimbledon-are-promoted-to-the-football-league/74402/ |url-status=live |access-date=12 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110921030903/https://www.soccernews.com/the-real-wimbledon-are-promoted-to-the-football-league/74402/ |archive-date=21 September 2011}}</ref>

The club was initially based at [[Kingsmeadow, Kingston upon Thames|Kingsmeadow]], a ground bought from and then shared with [[Isthmian League#Premier Division|Isthmian League]] club [[Kingstonian F.C.|Kingstonian]] until 2017, and with [[Chelsea F.C. Women|Chelsea Women]] from 2017. In November 2020, the club moved to [[Plough Lane]], a new stadium on the site of the defunct [[Wimbledon Stadium|Wimbledon Greyhound Stadium]], only 250 yards away from [[Plough Lane (1912–1998)|the original Plough Lane]], Wimbledon's home until 1991. The new stadium has an initial capacity of 9,215.

==History==

===Foundation===
{{Main|Relocation of Wimbledon F.C. to Milton Keynes}}

On 28 May 2002, [[the Football Association]] approved a decision by a three-person arbitration commission they had appointed to allow [[Wimbledon F.C.|Wimbledon]] to [[Relocation of Wimbledon F.C. to Milton Keynes|relocate]] north to the [[New towns in the United Kingdom|new town]] of [[Milton Keynes]] in Buckinghamshire; a decision influenced, among other factors, by claims from Wimbledon chairman Charles Koppel that such a move was necessary in order to prevent the club from going bankrupt.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bose |first=Mihir |date=16 August 2001 |title=Inside Sport: Hammam cast in villain's role as Dons seek happy ending |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/championship/3010879/Inside-Sport-Hammam-cast-in-villains-role-as-Dons-seek-happy-ending.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110110118/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/championship/3010879/Inside-Sport-Hammam-cast-in-villains-role-as-Dons-seek-happy-ending.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |access-date=2023-03-23 |website=The Telegraph }}</ref>

Although the absence of a ground in Milton Keynes meeting [[English Football League|Football League]] criteria meant that the club were unable to physically move for over a year, major organised protests at the decision continued to be held by Wimbledon's traditional local support and a boycott of the club's home matches at [[Selhurst Park]] meant attendances dwindled immediately.<ref name="AFCWhigherWFC">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/threecounties/sport/2003/06/06/wimbledon_receivership.shtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030608131655/http://www.bbc.co.uk/threecounties/sport/2003/06/06/wimbledon_receivership.shtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=8 June 2003|title=Dip in attendances lower than breakaway club AFC Wimbledon's|access-date=23 November 2007|date= 6 June 2003|publisher= BBC}}</ref>

Following the F.A.'s announcement of their decision, a group of [[Wimbledon F.C.|Wimbledon]] supporters led by [[Kris Stewart]] and fellow founding members Marc Jones and Trevor Williams met in The Fox and Grapes pub on [[Wimbledon Common]] to plan what was to be done next as part of the protest. It was agreed that as there was no right of appeal, the only option was to start the club again from scratch. On 30 May 2002, the idea was put forward in a Wimbledon Independent Supporters' Association meeting to create a new community-based club named AFC Wimbledon and an appeal for funds was launched.<ref>{{cite web |last=Jackson |first=Jamie |date=30 July 2011 |title=AFC Wimbledon feel 'sense of wonder' after odyssey to Football League |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/jul/30/afc-wimbledon-football-league |access-date=26 May 2016 |work=The Guardian}}</ref><ref name="katzpaw.co.uk">{{cite web|url=http://www.katzpaw.co.uk/afc_wimbledon/history.htm|title=AFC Wimbledon: A Local Football Club's History|access-date=26 May 2016|publisher=katzpaw.co.uk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140227005049/http://www.katzpaw.co.uk/afc_wimbledon/history.htm|archive-date=27 February 2014|url-status=usurped|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

On 13 June 2002, a new manager, a playing strip and badge based on that of the original Wimbledon, and a stadium were unveiled to fans and the media at the packed-out Wimbledon Community Centre.<ref name=":0">{{cite news |author=Buckley |first=Will |date=14 July 2002 |title=A club is born; The Observer |newspaper=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2002/jul/14/sport.comment |access-date=13 May 2010}}</ref> In order to assemble a competitive team at very short notice, AFC Wimbledon held player trials on 29 June 2002 on [[Wimbledon Common]], open to any unattached player who felt he was good enough to try out for the team.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.merton.gov.uk/leisure/sport/football/footballhistory.htm|title=A Brief History of Local Football|access-date=29 May 2012|date=29 May 2012|publisher=Merton Council Official Website|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327060131/http://www.merton.gov.uk/leisure/sport/football/footballhistory.htm|archive-date=27 March 2010|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The event attracted 230 hopeful players, from whom the club's squad for their inaugural season was eventually chosen.<ref name="katzpaw.co.uk"/>

=== Badge ===
The double-headed eagle comes from Wimbledon’s coat of arms. On the right wing is a gold rose from the badge of [[Edward I of England|King Edward I]], and on the left wing a gold fret, a fret is a (piece of interlaced work) from the arms of Merton Priory. Merton is the borough in which Wimbledon lies.<ref>{{Cite web |title=AFC WIMBLEDON – whatsbehindthebadge |url=https://whatsbehindthebadge.com/index.php/wimbledon-a-f-c/ |access-date=2024-12-01 |language=en-US}}</ref> 

===Non-League football (2002–2011)===
{{for|a statistical breakdown by season|List of AFC Wimbledon seasons}}
[[File:Gray.jpg|thumb|right|Ryan Gray prepares to take a corner in a 2–1 win over [[A.F.C. Wallingford|AFC Wallingford]] on 8 May 2004 in AFC Wimbledon's final fixture in the [[Combined Counties League|Combined Counties League Premier Division]].]]

====Combined Counties League (2002–2004)====
In the 2002–03 season, AFC Wimbledon competed in the [[Combined Counties Football League|Combined Counties League Premier Division]] under the management of former Wimbledon player [[Terry Eames]], who was appointed on 13 June 2002.<ref name=":0" /> Their first ever game, a pre-season friendly against [[Sutton United F.C.|Sutton United]] on 10 July 2002, resulted in a 4–0 loss in front of a crowd of 4,657.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/-/reports/friendly--senior/1948/sutton-united |title=AFC Wimbledon match report vs. Sutton United |access-date=23 November 2007 |date=10 July 2002 |publisher=AFC Wimbledon |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071205043610/http://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/-/reports/friendly--senior/1948/sutton-united |archive-date=5 December 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> At the end of their debut season, AFC Wimbledon finished third in the league and narrowly failed to win promotion to the [[Isthmian League|Isthmian League First Division]], despite a strong end to the season that involved winning their final 11 league fixtures.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/archive.php?squad=1&Psection_id=5&Psub_section_id=36&op=Viewby&season=2002 |title=Combined Counties Football League Premier Division league table 2002–03 |access-date=23 November 2007 |publisher=AFC Wimbledon |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071111070740/http://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/archive.php?squad=1&Psection_id=5&Psub_section_id=36&op=Viewby&season=2002 |archive-date=11 November 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2003–04, AFC Wimbledon won their first 21 league games before a 2–2 draw against [[Sandhurst Town F.C.|Sandhurst Town]] on 10 January 2004, giving them 32 consecutive wins in league games over two seasons. Manager [[Terry Eames]] was suspended on 13 February 2004 and sacked five days later on the grounds of gross misconduct, after evidence was produced which showed him to have firstly made unauthorised and untrue representations to a number of the coaching staff, secondly, that he had falsely informed members of the coaching staff that the club had decided not to support his plans for youth football and required him to make immediate budgetary cut-backs and thirdly that he dispensed with the services of members of the coaching staff citing untrue reasons.<ref>{{cite news |last=Robertson |first=Stuart |date=20 February 2004 |title=AFC Wimbledon sack eames for 'gross misconduct' |newspaper=independent.co.uk |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/non-league-notebook-70220.html |access-date=15 May 2016}}</ref> Assistant manager Nick English took charge with immediate effect. The team went on to finish as champions of the Combined Counties League with an unbeaten record for the season of 42 wins and four draws.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://wimbledonheritage.co.uk/archive.php?squad=1&Psection_id=5&Psub_section_id=36&op=Viewby&season=2003|title=AFC Wimbledon season 2003–04|access-date=15 May 2012|publisher=wimbledonheritage.co.uk|archive-date=16 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200616220021/http://wimbledonheritage.co.uk/archive.php?squad=1&Psection_id=5&Psub_section_id=36&op=Viewby&season=2003|url-status=dead}}</ref> AFC Wimbledon also won the league's [[Combined Counties League|Premier Challenge Cup]] after beating [[North Greenford United F.C.|North Greenford United]] 4–1 in the Final on 30 April 2004, completing a [[double (association football)|double]] for the season.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://wimbledonheritage.co.uk/livematch.php?Psection_id=5&Psub_section_id=11&fixture_id=1814&squad=1|title=AFC Wimbledon 4 – 1 North Greenford United|access-date=15 May 2012|publisher=wimbledonheritage.co.uk|archive-date=17 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200617040110/http://wimbledonheritage.co.uk/livematch.php?Psection_id=5&Psub_section_id=11&fixture_id=1814&squad=1|url-status=dead}}</ref>

====Isthmian League (2004–2008)====
[[Dave Anderson (footballer)|Dave Anderson]] was appointed as new manager on 11 May 2004.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wimbledonheritage.co.uk/news.php?Psection_id=2&Psub_section_id=2&op=archive&monthID=4&yearID=2004|title=Managerial Appointment|access-date=3 June 2009|date=4 December 2004|publisher=AFC Wimbledon|archive-date=3 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103111444/http://wimbledonheritage.co.uk/news.php?Psection_id=2&Psub_section_id=2&op=archive&monthID=4&yearID=2004|url-status=dead}}</ref> Under his leadership AFC Wimbledon took their good form into the 2004–05 season during which they competed in the [[Isthmian League|Isthmian League First Division]] — they remained top of the division for the duration of the season, and were convincing title-winners, sealing promotion to the League's [[Isthmian League|Premier Division]]. The Dons secured another double by defeating [[Walton & Hersham F.C.|Walton & Hersham]] 2–1 in the Final of the [[Surrey Senior Cup]] on 3 May 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wimbledonheritage.co.uk/livematch.php?Psection_id=5&Psub_section_id=11&fixture_id=5038&squad=1|title=Walton & Hersham 1 – 2 AFC Wimbledon|access-date=17 February 2013|publisher=wimbledonheritage.co.uk<!--DASHBot-->|archive-date=3 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103112244/http://wimbledonheritage.co.uk/livematch.php?Psection_id=5&Psub_section_id=11&fixture_id=5038&squad=1|url-status=dead}}</ref> Over the course of the season, AFC Wimbledon set a new record for the longest run of unbeaten league games at any level of senior football in the United Kingdom.<ref name="AFC Wimbledon set English record"/> The team remained unbeaten for 78 league matches between 22 February 2003 (a 2–0 defeat at home to [[Withdean 2000 F.C.|Withdean 2000]]) and 4 December 2004 (a 2–0 defeat at [[Cray Wanderers F.C.|Cray Wanderers]]).<ref name="exetercityfc.co.uk">{{cite news|url=http://www.exetercityfc.co.uk/news/article/10-things-afc-wimbledon-1307682.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160804155004/http://www.exetercityfc.co.uk/news/article/10-things-afc-wimbledon-1307682.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 August 2016|title=10 things you probably didn't know about the Dons|access-date=21 January 2014|date=21 January 2014|publisher=exetercityfc.co.uk}}</ref> [[File:Playoff final AfcWimbledon.jpg|thumb|left|AFC Wimbledon fans and players celebrating promotion to the [[Conference South]] having beaten [[Staines Town F.C.|Staines Town]] 2–1 in the 2008 [[Isthmian League Premier Division|Isthmian League Premier Division Play-off Final]].]]

The 2005–06 season proved far more competitive than previous seasons – as after winning their first few games, AFC Wimbledon found themselves struggling to remain in the [[Play-off (association football)|play-off]] places. After fluctuating form, they eventually reached the play-offs after a 1–0 win against Anderson's former club, [[Hendon F.C.|Hendon]], on 22 April 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wimbledonheritage.co.uk/livematch.php?Psection_id=5&Psub_section_id=11&fixture_id=5214&squad=1|title=Hendon 0 – 1 AFC Wimbledon|access-date=24 November 2007|date=12 May 2006|publisher=wimbledonheritage.co.uk|archive-date=3 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103111441/http://wimbledonheritage.co.uk/livematch.php?Psection_id=5&Psub_section_id=11&fixture_id=5214&squad=1|url-status=dead}}</ref> However, a 2–1 defeat at [[Fisher Athletic F.C.|Fisher Athletic]] on 2 May 2006 prevented the club from achieving three back-to-back promotions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wimbledonheritage.co.uk/livematch.php?Psection_id=5&Psub_section_id=11&fixture_id=8703&squad=1|title=Fisher Athletic 2 – 1 AFC Wimbledon|access-date=17 February 2013|publisher=wimbledonheritage.co.uk<!--DASHBot-->|archive-date=3 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103111523/http://wimbledonheritage.co.uk/livematch.php?Psection_id=5&Psub_section_id=11&fixture_id=8703&squad=1|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Dons once again reached the final of the [[Surrey Senior Cup]], however, this time they were narrowly defeated 1–0 by [[Kingstonian F.C.|Kingstonian]] in a fiercely contested derby.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/-/reports/surrey-senior-cup/8689/kingstonian |title=Match report for Surrey Senior Cup vs. Kingstonian |access-date=24 November 2007 |date=12 May 2006 |publisher=AFC Wimbledon |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071205220847/http://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/-/reports/surrey-senior-cup/8689/kingstonian |archive-date=5 December 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Much of the 2006–07 season was overshadowed by the threat of a proposed 18-point deduction by [[The Football Association|the FA]] for the club's fielding of [[Jermaine Darlington]] who, it transpired, had not been registered correctly by the club and had therefore played in three games whilst still officially ineligible.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/6339377.stm|title=AFC Wimbledon deducted 18 points|access-date=24 September 2012 |publisher= BBC Football <!--DASHBot-->}}</ref> However, this punishment was eventually reduced to a three-point deduction and a £400 fine on appeal, after the FA finally acknowledged that the club had made a simple administrative error.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_conf/6496543.stm|title=FA cuts AFC Wimbledon punishment|access-date=24 September 2012 |publisher= BBC Football <!--DASHBot-->}}</ref> The 'Darlington affair' also resulted in expulsion from the [[Surrey Senior Cup]] and the [[FA Trophy]] that year. Although AFC Wimbledon did enough to qualify for the play-offs, they once again missed out on promotion, this time as a result of losing 1–0 to [[Bromley F.C.|Bromley]] in the play-off semi-final on 1 May 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wimbledonheritage.co.uk/livematch.php?Psection_id=5&Psub_section_id=11&fixture_id=10556&squad=1|title=Bromley 1 – 0 AFC Wimbledon|access-date=24 September 2012|publisher=wimbledonheritage.co.uk<!--DASHBot-->|archive-date=3 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103111318/http://wimbledonheritage.co.uk/livematch.php?Psection_id=5&Psub_section_id=11&fixture_id=10556&squad=1|url-status=dead}}</ref> Manager [[Dave Anderson (footballer)|Dave Anderson]] subsequently left the club by mutual consent on 2 May 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wimbledonheritage.co.uk/news.php?Psection_id=2&Psub_section_id=2&op=archive&monthID=4&yearID=2007|title=Dave Anderson Leaves|access-date=24 September 2012|publisher=wimbledonheritage.co.uk<!--DASHBot-->|archive-date=3 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103112106/http://wimbledonheritage.co.uk/news.php?Psection_id=2&Psub_section_id=2&op=archive&monthID=4&yearID=2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[Terry Brown (football manager)|Terry Brown]] was appointed as the new AFC Wimbledon manager on 15 May 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wimbledonheritage.co.uk/news.php?Psection_id=2&Psub_section_id=2&op=archive&monthID=4&yearID=2007|title=Dons Announce New Manager|access-date=24 September 2012|publisher=wimbledonheritage.co.uk<!--DASHBot-->|archive-date=3 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103112106/http://wimbledonheritage.co.uk/news.php?Psection_id=2&Psub_section_id=2&op=archive&monthID=4&yearID=2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> During 2007–08, he led the club to promotion to the [[National League South|Conference South]] in his first season in charge, a feat which predecessor [[Dave Anderson (footballer)|Dave Anderson]] had proved unable to achieve, having lost two consecutive play-off final opportunities in the previous two seasons. The Dons made steady progress throughout the season, qualifying for the play-offs after finishing third in the League. AFC Wimbledon beat [[A.F.C. Hornchurch|Hornchurch]] 3–1 in the play-off semi-final on 29 April 2008<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wimbledonheritage.co.uk/livematch.php?Psection_id=5&Psub_section_id=11&fixture_id=12113&squad=1|title=AFC Wimbledon 3 – 1 AFC Hornchurch|access-date=24 September 2012|publisher=wimbledonheritage.co.uk<!--DASHBot-->|archive-date=3 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103111017/http://wimbledonheritage.co.uk/livematch.php?Psection_id=5&Psub_section_id=11&fixture_id=12113&squad=1|url-status=dead}}</ref> and went on to triumph 2–1 over [[Staines Town F.C.|Staines Town]] in the play-off final on 3 May 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wimbledonheritage.co.uk/livematch.php?Psection_id=5&Psub_section_id=11&fixture_id=12115&squad=1|title=Staines Town 1 – 2 AFC Wimbledon|access-date=24 September 2012|publisher=wimbledonheritage.co.uk<!--DASHBot-->|archive-date=3 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103111233/http://wimbledonheritage.co.uk/livematch.php?Psection_id=5&Psub_section_id=11&fixture_id=12115&squad=1|url-status=dead}}</ref>

====The Conference (2008–2011)====
{{football squad on pitch|align=right
|  GK_nat = England|  GK = '''[[Seb Brown|Brown]]'''
|  RB_nat = England|  RB = '''[[Sam Hatton|Hatton]]'''
| RCB_nat = England| RCB = '''[[Jamie Stuart|Stuart]]'''
| LCB_nat = England| LCB = '''[[Brett Johnson (footballer, born 1985)|Johnson]]'''
|  LB_nat = England|  LB = '''[[Gareth Gwillim|Gwillim]]'''
|  RM_nat = England|  RM = '''[[Ricky Wellard|Wellard]]'''
| RCM_nat = England| RCM = '''[[Steven Gregory (footballer)|Gregory]]'''
| LCM_nat = England| LCM = '''[[Rashid Yussuff|Yussuff]]'''
| RCF_nat = England| RCF = '''[[Danny Kedwell|Kedwell]]'''
|  LM_nat = Wales|  LM = '''[[Kaid Mohamed|Mohamed]]'''
| LCF_nat = England| LCF = '''[[Luke Moore (footballer, born 1988)|L. Moore]]'''
| caption = The starting line-up for the [[2011 Conference Premier play-off final|Conference Premier play-off final]] win against [[Luton Town F.C.|Luton Town]] on 21 May 2011, resulting in promotion to [[English Football League|the Football League]].
}}

AFC Wimbledon spent most of the 2008–09 season near the top of the league table, eventually finishing as champions and earning promotion to the [[National League (division)|Conference Premier]] after defeating [[St Albans City F.C.|St Albans City]] 3–0 on 25 April 2009.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://wimbledonheritage.co.uk/livematch.php?Psection_id=5&Psub_section_id=11&fixture_id=13099&squad=1|title=AFC Wimbledon 3 – 0 St Albans City|access-date=24 September 2012|publisher=wimbledonheritage.co.uk|archive-date=3 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103092929/http://wimbledonheritage.co.uk/livematch.php?Psection_id=5&Psub_section_id=11&fixture_id=13099&squad=1|url-status=dead}}</ref> The match set an attendance record of 4,722 for [[Kingsmeadow, Kingston upon Thames|Kingsmeadow]] stadium, which at that time was full capacity.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.footballgroundguide.com/afc_wimbledon/.stm|title=AFC Wimbledon ground guide|access-date=12 July 2012|date=12 July 2012|publisher=Football Ground Guide.com}}{{dead link|date=February 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

The 2009–10 season was the club's first in the Conference Premier. Overall, the Dons finished eighth, 14 points short of the play-off zone. This was the first season in which the club had failed to make the top five in the league table.<ref name="AFCconference">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_conf/8018657.stm|title=AFC Wimbledon wrap up promotion |access-date=3 June 2009|date= 25 April 2009|publisher= BBC| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090428105255/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/8018657.stm| archive-date= 28 April 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref>

In [[2010–11 AFC Wimbledon season|2010–11]], AFC Wimbledon finished as runners-up of the Conference Premier, qualifying for the play-offs. The Dons faced fifth placed [[Fleetwood Town F.C.|Fleetwood Town]] in the play-off semi-finals, whom they went on to thrash 8–1 on [[aggregate score|aggregate]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_conf/9475891.stm|title=AFC Wimbledon 6 – 1 Fleetwood Town|access-date=13 September 2012|work=BBC Football}}</ref> This [[aggregate score|aggregate]] scoreline set a record as the largest winning margin recorded since the Conference Premier first introduced the play-off system at the beginning of the [[2002–03 in English football|2002–03]] season. In the play-off final at the [[City of Manchester Stadium]] on 21 May 2011, in front of a crowd of 18,195, AFC Wimbledon beat [[Luton Town F.C.|Luton Town]] 4–3 in a [[penalty shoot-out (association football)|penalty shoot-out]], after the match had ended 0–0 in extra time.<ref name="AFCFLeague">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/13418508|title=AFC Wimbledon 0–0 Luton Town (4–3 on pens) |access-date=21 May 2011|date= 21 May 2011|publisher= BBC}}</ref> The victory resulted in promotion to the [[Football League]] and represented the club's fifth promotion in nine years. The club's achievement of attaining League status after just nine seasons of existence is considered to be one of the fastest ascents for a new club since automatic promotion to the [[Football League]] first commenced in the 1980s.<ref name="exetercityfc.co.uk"/> AFC Wimbledon also hold the record of being the first club to be formed in the 21st century to make it into the [[Football League]], making them the youngest club in the Football League by some distance.<ref name="Soccernews.com"/>

===Football League (2011–present)===

The [[2011–12 AFC Wimbledon season|2011–12]] season saw AFC Wimbledon's promotion to [[EFL League Two|League Two]]. The team started the season well, winning seven out of their first 12 matches, but failed to keep the momentum going and had a poor run, eventually finishing the season ranked 16th, 10 points clear of the [[Promotion and relegation|relegation]] zone.

[[File:AFC_Wimbledon_League_Performance.svg|250px|thumb|left|AFC Wimbledon's rapid rise through the English football league system between 2002 and 2024. It took the club just 14 years to progress from the 9th tier to the 3rd.]]
The [[2012–13 AFC Wimbledon season|2012–13]] campaign marked the tenth anniversary of AFC Wimbledon's inaugural season. After an abysmal start to the season, manager [[Terry Brown (football manager)|Terry Brown]] was sacked on 19 September 2012 along with assistant manager [[Stuart Cash]], with AFC Wimbledon sitting just above the [[Promotion and relegation|relegation]] zone.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/article/club-statement-for-sep-19-377804.aspx|title=Terry and Stuart depart|access-date=19 September 2012 |publisher= AFC Wimbledon}}</ref> First team coach [[Simon Bassey]] took over as [[caretaker manager]] with immediate effect. Bassey was in charge just four matches, however, before former [[Wimbledon F.C.|Wimbledon]] player [[Neal Ardley]] was appointed as Terry Brown's permanent replacement on 10 October 2012, naming former [[Watford F.C.|Watford]] and [[Cardiff City F.C.|Cardiff City]] teammate [[Neil Cox (footballer)|Neil Cox]] as his assistant manager.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/article/new-manager-announcement-419710.aspx|title=Former Dons player is back as our new boss |access-date=10 October 2012 |publisher= AFC Wimbledon}}</ref> On 2 December 2012, AFC Wimbledon faced Milton Keynes Dons in the [[2012–13 FA Cup|second round]] of the FA Cup, in the first ever meeting between the two sides following the relocation of Wimbledon to Milton Keynes, with the match ending as a 2–1 defeat for AFC Wimbledon.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/20483967|title=Milton Keynes Dons 2–1 AFC Wimbledon|access-date=1 September 2016|work=BBC Football}}</ref> The Dons secured their [[Football League]] status on the final day of the [[2012–13 AFC Wimbledon season|2012–13]] season, despite having started the day in the [[Promotion and relegation|relegation]] zone, by beating [[Fleetwood Town F.C.|Fleetwood Town]] 2–1 at [[Kingsmeadow, Kingston upon Thames|Kingsmeadow]] on 27 April 2013.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/22229082|title=AFC Wimbledon 2–1 Fleetwood Town |access-date=27 April 2013 |work=BBC Football}}</ref>

In the [[2013–14 AFC Wimbledon season|2013–14]] season, a match involving AFC Wimbledon was at the centre of a [[2013 English match fixing scandal|failed match-fixing plot]]. Shortly after the club's 1–0 loss against [[Dagenham & Redbridge F.C.|Dagenham & Redbridge]] on 26 November 2013, businessmen Krishna Ganeshan and Chann Sankaran and three [[Whitehawk F.C.|Whitehawk]] players—[[Michael Boateng]], [[Moses Swaibu]] and Hakeem Adelakun—were charged with conspiracy to commit bribery over a failed plot to fix the game.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bloss |first=Andrew |date=6 December 2013 |title=Two footballers charged with match fixing |url=https://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/10859213.two-footballers-from-croydon-charged-with-match-fixing/ |access-date=2023-03-23 |website=Your Local Guardian |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Two Whitehawk FC players charged with match fixing|url=http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/10859207.Two_Whitehawk_FC_players_charged_with_match_fixing|work=The Argus|date=5 December 2013 |access-date=6 December 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Match-fixing: Third footballer charged|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-25781813|work=BBC News|access-date=17 January 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Third former Whitehawk footballer charged in match-fixing investigation|url=http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/10946522.Third_former_Whitehawk_footballer_charged_in_match_fixing_investigation/|work=The Argus|date=17 January 2014 |access-date=17 January 2014}}</ref> Ganeshan, Sankaran and Boateng were convicted.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2014-06-20 |title=Businessmen and footballer jailed over match-fixing |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-27939919 |access-date=2023-03-23}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Richards |first=Victoria |date=2014-06-20 |title=Football match-fixing trio sent to prison |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/matchfixing-trio-sent-to-prison-9552097.html |access-date=2023-03-23 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref> The club had a disappointing season overall, only managing to replicate the 20th placed league finish of the season before after the club were docked three points for the ineligible fielding of [[Jake Nicholson]] after failing to obtain international clearance for him after he joined from [[Scottish Championship]] side [[Greenock Morton F.C.|Greenock Morton]] on 19 February 2014.<ref>{{Cite news |title=AFC Wimbledon deducted three points |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/27192069 |access-date=2023-03-23}}</ref>

The [[2014–15 AFC Wimbledon season|2014–15]] season saw AFC Wimbledon face Milton Keynes Dons once again in a competitive fixture on 12 August 2014 in the first round of the [[2014–15 Football League Cup|Football League Cup]], with MK Dons eventually winning the match 3–1.<ref>{{cite news|title=Milton Keynes Dons 3 – 1 AFC Wimbledon |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/28652624 |work=BBC Football|access-date=13 August 2014}}</ref> The two sides met once again on 7 October 2014, with AFC Wimbledon achieving a first 3–2 win over their rivals in the second round of the [[2014–15 Football League Trophy|Football League Trophy]] following a late goal from [[Adebayo Akinfenwa]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Milton Keynes Dons 2 – 3 AFC Wimbledon |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/29421232 |work=BBC Football|access-date=23 January 2017}}</ref> The Dons also reached the FA Cup third round for the first time in their history on 5 January 2015, eventually succumbing 2–1 to [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] with [[Steven Gerrard]] scoring both goals.<ref>{{cite news|title=AFC Wimbledon 1 – 2 Liverpool |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/30620966 |work=BBC Football|access-date=5 January 2015}}</ref> AFC Wimbledon finished the season in a mediocre 15th place after a disappointing run of form saw them finish the season without a win in their last eight league fixtures. [[File:AFC_Wimbledon_League_Two_Play-off_Final_2016.jpg|thumb|right|More than 20,000 AFC Wimbledon fans were present at the [[2016 Football League Two play-off final]] at [[Wembley Stadium|Wembley]] to see the club promoted to League One after a 2–0 win over [[Plymouth Argyle F.C.|Plymouth Argyle]].]]

The [[2015–16 AFC Wimbledon season|2015–16]] season was AFC Wimbledon's fifth consecutive season in [[EFL League Two|League Two]]. Despite getting the season off to a mediocre start, the Dons finished the season strongly, winning seven out of their last ten league matches to ensure that the club would confirm their highest ever League Two finish of seventh place and qualification for the [[2016 Football League play-offs]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Long |first=Sam |date=30 April 2016 |title=AFC Wimbledon seal League Two play-off place with Stevenage draw |newspaper=Evening Standard |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/afc-wimbledon-seal-league-two-playoff-place-with-stevenage-draw-a3237681.html}}</ref> A record home attendance of 4,870 turned out to see AFC Wimbledon beat [[Accrington Stanley F.C.|Accrington Stanley]] 1–0 in the first leg of the play-off semi-final on 14 May 2016 (exactly 28 years to the day since the original Wimbledon won the 1988 FA Cup Final against Liverpool) following a dramatic extra time winner from academy product [[Tom Beere]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=AFC Wimbledon 1–0 Accrington Stanley|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/afc-wdon-vs-accrington/355088|publisher=Sky Sports|access-date=14 May 2016}}</ref> This goal ultimately proved to be the difference between the two sides as AFC Wimbledon went on to win 3–2 on [[Aggregate score|aggregate]] after a 2–2 draw in the reverse fixture.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Accrington Stanley 2–2 AFC Wimbledon (Aggregate 2–3) |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36263628 |work=BBC Football|access-date=21 May 2016}}</ref> This win earned them a place in the play-off final at [[Wembley Stadium|Wembley]] against [[Plymouth Argyle F.C.|Plymouth Argyle]]. The fixture was scheduled for 30 May 2016, exactly 14 years to the day since the club's foundation.<ref name="katzpaw.co.uk"/> AFC Wimbledon ultimately triumphed 2–0 on the day in front of a crowd of 57,956.<ref>{{Cite news |title=AFC Wimbledon 2–0 Plymouth Argyle |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36355814|work=BBC Football|access-date=30 May 2016}}</ref>

The [[2016–17 AFC Wimbledon season|2016–17]] season saw AFC Wimbledon compete in [[EFL League One|League One]] for the first time in their history. They remained unbeaten in the [[South London derby]] fixtures, recording two draws against [[Millwall F.C.|Millwall]], a home draw against [[Charlton Athletic F.C.|Charlton Athletic]], and a 2–1 away win at [[The Valley (London)|The Valley]] on 17 September 2016.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37325426|title=Charlton Athletic 1–2 AFC Wimbledon|access-date=17 September 2016|work=BBC Football}}</ref> Promotion also placed AFC Wimbledon in the same division as Milton Keynes Dons, who had simultaneously been relegated from the Championship. This ensured the club would face Milton Keynes Dons for the first time at [[Kingsmeadow, Kingston upon Thames|Kingsmeadow]] which they did on 14 March 2017, going on to triumph 2–0.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39188570|title=AFC Wimbledon 2–0 Milton Keynes Dons|access-date=4 May 2017|work=BBC Football}}</ref> The club ultimately finished 15th in the league, after a disappointing slump saw them win just five out of their last 22 league matches between January and April.

AFC Wimbledon made an equally slow start to the [[2017–18 AFC Wimbledon season|2017–18]] campaign, managing just five wins in their first 20 league matches between August and December. On 3 December 2017, the club recorded a 3–1 win over [[South London derby]] rivals [[Charlton Athletic F.C.|Charlton Athletic]] in the second round of the [[2017–18 FA Cup|FA Cup]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42126507|title=AFC Wimbledon 3–1 Charlton Athletic|access-date=3 December 2017|work=BBC Football}}</ref> The club were subsequently rewarded by being drawn away against [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] in the third round with the match being played at [[Wembley Stadium|Wembley]] on 7 January 2018. On 13 December 2017, the club received a further boost after being granted permission to begin work on constructing a new 9,300-seater stadium (which could be expanded to hold up to 20,000 in the future) on the site of [[Wimbledon Stadium|Wimbledon Greyhound Stadium]]. The new ground will be only {{convert|250|yd}} away from the original [[Plough Lane (1912–98)]], [[Wimbledon F.C.|Wimbledon]]'s home from 1912 until 1991.<ref name="AFC Wimbledon can build new stadium at Plough Lane after council agreement"/> The club was eventually able to secure another season in League One with a draw in their penultimate game, meaning that for the first time, AFC Wimbledon would be playing in a higher division than the Milton Keynes Dons, who were relegated that season.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43732347|title=Doncaster Rovers 0–0 AFC Wimbledon|access-date=2 May 2018|work=BBC Football}}</ref>

AFC Wimbledon saw a disastrous start to the [[2018–19 AFC Wimbledon season|2018–19]] season, losing twelve of their first seventeen league games. Manager [[Neal Ardley]] departed the club by mutual agreement on 12 November 2018 after a tenure of 6 years, 1 month, 2 days, making him the longest serving manager to date.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46180231|title=Neal Ardley: AFC Wimbledon boss leaves after more than six years in charge|access-date=12 November 2018|work=BBC Football}}</ref> One bright spot in their season was the club's first ever appearance in the FA Cup 5th Round after beating [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]] 4–2 in the [[2018–19 FA Cup]]. On 4 December 2018, [[Glyn Hodges]] joined [[Wally Downes]] as AFC Wimbledon's assistant manager.<ref name="AFC Wimbledon Official Site">{{Cite news|url=https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2018/december/club-statement2/|title=Wally Downes appointed as AFC Wimbledon's new manager|work=AFC Wimbledon Official Site|access-date=2018-12-04|language=en-gb}}</ref> After being rooted to the bottom of the table for most of 2019, they lost only 1 of their last 12 league games to lift them out of the relegation zone, ultimately staying up on goal difference on the last day of the season after a 0–0 draw with already relegated [[Bradford City A.F.C.|Bradford City]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/48074723|title=Bradford City 0–0 AFC Wimbledon: Dons survive after goalless draw|access-date=4 May 2019|work=BBC Football}}</ref> On 25 September 2019, Glyn Hodges took over the management of the first team on a temporary basis following the suspension of Wally Downes after being charged by the FA for betting misconduct.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2019/september/club-statement/|title=Club statement|website=www.afcwimbledon.co.uk|language=en-gb|access-date=2019-09-25}}</ref>

[[File:Fighting for the ball.png|thumb|AFC Wimbledon playing at Plough Lane on April 26, 2025.]]

===Plough Lane===
In November 2020, the club moved to [[Plough Lane]], a new stadium, only 250 yards away from [[Plough Lane (1912–1998)|the original Plough Lane]], Wimbledon's home until 1991. The club played its first match at the new stadium on the evening of 3 November 2020; a 2–2 draw against [[Doncaster Rovers]].<ref name="PLS"/> The club's youth coach, [[Mark Robinson (football manager)|Mark Robinson]], replaced Hodges on 30 January 2021, after a run of poor results;<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2021/february/afc-wimbledon-appoint-mark-robinson-as-new-head-coach/|title=AFC Wimbledon appoint Mark Robinson as new Head Coach|website=AFC Wimbledon|date=17 February 2021|accessdate=26 March 2021}}</ref> Robinson turned the season around and the club avoided relegation on the second-last matchday.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dons retain League One status after Pompey defeat |url=https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2021/may/report-dons-versus-pompey/ |publisher=AFC Wimbledon |access-date=4 May 2021}}</ref> At the end of the [[2021–22 AFC Wimbledon season|2021–22]] season, Wimbledon were unable to avoid relegation from League One, finishing in 23rd position.<ref name="fchd2"/> Following relegation, [[Johnnie Jackson]] was appointed as the new manager.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61466908 |title=Johnnie Jackson: AFC Wimbledon appoint ex-Charlton boss as new manager |website=BBC Sport |date=16 May 2022 |access-date=4 October 2024}}</ref> They earned promotion back to League One at the end of the [[2024–25 AFC Wimbledon season|2024–25 season]], defeating [[Walsall F.C.|Walsall]] 1–0 in the [[2025 EFL League Two play-off final|play-off final]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/c62nd4lrlm6t |title=AFC Wimbledon 1–0 Walsall: Dons promoted to League One |first=Chris |last=Peddy |website=BBC Sport |date=26 May 2025 |access-date=26 May 2025}}</ref>

==Season-by-season record==
{{main|List of AFC Wimbledon seasons}}

==Crest and colours==
The club crest, which is based on the coat of arms of the [[Municipal Borough of Wimbledon]], features a black double headed eagle in reference to a local legend that [[Julius Caesar]] once made camp on [[Wimbledon Common]], this symbol being his own attributed coat of arms.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Borough of Wimbledon Coat of Arms – Merton Memories Photographic Archive |url=https://photoarchive.merton.gov.uk/collections/public-services/local-government/28380-borough-of-wimbledon-coat-of-arms |access-date=2022-05-23 |website=photoarchive.merton.gov.uk}}</ref>

The colours that were chosen for the AFC Wimbledon kit were the [[royal blue]] and yellow traditionally associated with the rise of the original Wimbledon to the top of the Football League (rather than the darker [[navy blue]] and yellow that Wimbledon were wearing at the time, which had been a recent adaptation in 1993). The first ever kit, which was used only during the pre-season friendlies of 2002, consisted of a royal blue shirt, white shorts and white socks. Since then, the home kit has always been predominantly all royal blue with yellow detailing. The away kit used between 2002 and 2004 was white, however since then it has usually been predominantly yellow with blue detailing.

To mark their first game in the [[Football League]] on 6 August 2011 against [[Bristol Rovers F.C.|Bristol Rovers]], the team wore a white and blue commemorative kit which was based on that worn by the original Wimbledon during [[1977–78 in English football|1977–78]] in order to remember their own first season as a member of the Football League in the old Fourth Division (now [[Football League Two|League Two]]). To prevent copyright infringement, a single blue stripe replaced the three trade mark stripes of the [[Adidas]] original and the shirts were emblazoned with a modified crest for the occasion.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/English_Football_League/season/2011-2012/league-two.html|title=AFC Wimbledon Kit |access-date=30 March 2012|date= 30 March 2012|publisher= historicalkits.co.uk}}</ref>

On 14 May 2020, the club released a new, slightly modified, official club crest to mark 32 years since Wimbledon's 1988 FA Cup victory, as well as the forthcoming opening of the new stadium at Plough Lane.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2020/may/new-crest-celebrates-our-greatest-day--and-a-new-era/|title=New crest celebrates our greatest day – and a new era|website=www.afcwimbledon.co.uk}}</ref>

===Sponsorship and kit manufacturer===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;margin-left:1em;float:right"
|-
!Period<ref name=historicalkits>{{cite web|url=http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/Wimbledon_AFC/afc-wimbledon.html|title=AFC Wimbledon|website=Historical Football Kits|access-date=3 April 2019}}</ref>
!Kit manufacturer
!Shirt sponsor
|-
|2002 (pre season)
|[[Umbro]]
|[[Championship Manager]]
|-
|2002–2012
|rowspan=2|Tempest Sports
|[[Sports Interactive]]
|-
|2012–2014
|rowspan=5|[[Football Manager]] (Sports Interactive)
|-
|2014–2018
|[[Admiral Sportswear|Admiral]]
|-
|2018–2022
|[[Puma (brand)|Puma]]
|-
|2022–2023
|[[Hummel International|Hummel]]
|-
|2023–2024
|rowspan=2|[[Umbro]]
|-
|2024–2025
|[[War Child (charity)|War Child]]
|-
|2025–
|[[Lotto Sport Italia|Lotto]]
|Football Manager (Sports Interactive) (Home)<br>War Child (Away)<br>Private Office Asset Management (Third)
|-
|}
AFC Wimbledon's shirts have been sponsored by computer games developer [[Sports Interactive]] since the club's inception in 2002.<ref name="sponsor">{{cite news|url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=308|title=Sports Interactive sponsors AFC Wimbledon|author=Tom Bramwell|date=10 July 2002|access-date=21 June 2007|publisher=GamesIndustry.biz}}</ref>

The current kit used by the club is manufactured by [[Lotto Sport Italia|Lotto]]. Previous manufacturers have been [[Umbro]] (2002, 2023–2025), Tempest Sports (2002–2014),<ref>Marc Jones, designer of first three kits worn by AFC Wimbledon</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://wimbledonheritage.co.uk/news.php?Psection_id=2&Psub_section_id=2&op=archive&monthID=7&yearID=2005|title=The Tempest End|access-date=11 August 2013|publisher=wimbledonheritage.co.uk|archive-date=14 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140514141214/http://wimbledonheritage.co.uk/news.php?Psection_id=2&Psub_section_id=2&op=archive&monthID=7&yearID=2005|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Admiral Sportswear]] (2014–2018),<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/article/dons-new-kit-supplier-1353879.aspx|title=Dons announce new kit deal|access-date=23 June 2014}}</ref> [[Puma (brand)|Puma]] (2018–2022), and [[Hummel International|Hummel]] (2022–2023). Other club sponsors are [[Cherry Red Records]], and author and YouTuber [[John Green]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Club sponsors |url=https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/commercial/sponsors/ |publisher=AFC Wimbledon |accessdate=4 May 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Chilton |first=Martin |date=2016-04-01 |title=John Green to make film about AFC Wimbledon |language=en-GB |work=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/books/authors/john-green-to-make-film-about-afc-wimbledon/ |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=2023-03-23 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110110148/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/books/authors/john-green-to-make-film-about-afc-wimbledon/ |archive-date=10 January 2022 |issn=0307-1235 }}</ref> As part of Green's sponsorship, the [[Nerdfighteria]] emblem is displayed on the back of the playing shorts.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lindquist |first=David |title=Soccer, auto racing and John Green's sporting side |url=https://www.indystar.com/story/entertainment/arts/2016/04/06/john-green-dftba-tfios-wimbledon-indy-soccer-football-indycar/82613998/ |access-date=2025-06-26 |website=The Indianapolis Star |language=en-US}}</ref>

In April 2022, the club announced that it would be switching its kit manufacturer for start of the 2022–23 season to [[Hummel International|Hummel]], a nostalgic link up with the kit manufacturer of the former [[Wimbledon F.C.|Wimbledon]] in three seasons from 1988–89 to 1990–91.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Teaming up with hummel again! |url=https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2022/april/teaming-up-with-hummel-again/ |access-date=2022-05-23 |website=www.afcwimbledon.co.uk |language=en-gb}}</ref> On 6 March 2023, AFC Wimbledon announced they would be switching kit manufacturer from Hummel to Umbro due to Hummel UK distributor Elite Sports Group going into bankruptcy administration.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Double diamond Dons! Umbro deal agreed |url=https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2023/march/double-diamond-dons-umbro-deal-agreed/ |access-date=2023-03-06 |website=www.afcwimbledon.co.uk |language=en-gb}}</ref>

In July 2024, Sports Interactive announced a partnership between the club and [[War Child (charity)|War Child]], and gifted its shirt sponsorship to the charity for all three kits.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-02 |title=Sports Interactive turns provider for War Child with AFC Wimbledon shirt sponsorship |url=https://www.sports-interactive.com/news/sports-interactive-turns-provider-war-child-afc-wimbledon-shirt-sponsorship |access-date=2025-06-26 |website=www.sports-interactive.com |language=en}}</ref>

In April 2025, the club announced a three-year partnership [[Lotto Sport Italia|Lotto]] to produce its kits from the 2025–26 season onwards.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-04-14 |title=Wimbledon reunited with Lotto |url=https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2025/april/14/wimbledon-reunited-with-lotto-/ |access-date=2025-06-26 |website=www.afcwimbledon.co.uk}}</ref> In June 2025, the club announced that Sports Interactive's sponsorship would continue, with the Football Manager logo returning to the home shirt, and charity partner War Child continuing on the away shirt.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-25 |title=Sports Interactive renew once more |url=https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2025/june/25/sports-interactive-renew-once-more/ |access-date=2025-06-26 |website=www.afcwimbledon.co.uk}}</ref> Wealth management firm Private Office Asset Management was also revealed to be the third kit sponsor, after Sports Interactive gifted its sponsorship space back to the club.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-25 |title=Private Office Asset Management revealed as third kit sponsor |url=https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2025/june/25/private-office-asset-management-revealed-as-third-kit-sponsor/ |access-date=2025-06-26 |website=www.afcwimbledon.co.uk}}</ref>

==Mascot==
[[File:Haydon-AFCWimbledon.JPG|right|thumb|"Haydon", the [[mascot]] of AFC Wimbledon.]]

In 2006, AFC Wimbledon introduced a new mascot to represent the club, a [[Womble]] known as ''"Haydon"'' after [[Haydons Road railway station|Haydons Road]], the nearest railway station to both Wimbledon's original home ground, [[Plough Lane (1912–98)]], and the current [[Plough Lane]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Stockford |first1=Tara |url=https://www.tidybag.uk/memorabilia/wombles-football-mascots/ |title=Wombles football mascots |website=Tidy Bag |access-date=20 January 2019}}</ref>

When the club relocated to Milton Keynes in 2003 permission to use the then mascot Wandle the Womble was not renewed as owners of the Wombles brand no longer wished to be associated with Wimbledon FC.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Staff |date=2003-05-12 |title=Wimbledon's Womble walks away |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2003/may/12/newsstory.sport5 |access-date=2024-12-01 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

==Rivalries==
===Milton Keynes Dons===
{{main|AFC Wimbledon–Milton Keynes Dons F.C. rivalry}}
The most obvious of AFC Wimbledon's rivals are [[Milton Keynes Dons F.C.|Milton Keynes Dons]], the club which resulted from the [[relocation of Wimbledon F.C. to Milton Keynes|relocation of Wimbledon to Milton Keynes]] in 2003.<ref>{{cite web |last=Gratton |first=Aaron |date=17 June 2014 |title=MK Dons and AFC Wimbledon Is No Rivalry |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/aaron-gratton/wimbledon-mk-dons_b_5504002.html |access-date=17 March 2016 |work=The Huffington Post UK}}</ref> However, there is some debate amongst AFC Wimbledon supporters as to whether this should be considered a rivalry. Since some supporters do not recognise the legitimacy of the club, it is argued they cannot be considered rivals.<ref>Couper, N (2004). This Is Our Time: the AFC Wimbledon Story. London: Cherry Red Books</ref> {{citation needed span|The two sides have met four times in cup competitions, all games at Milton Keynes, of which AFC Wimbledon have won one and one game went to penalties. Owing to MK Dons' relegation from the Championship in the 2015–16 season, alongside AFC Wimbledon's promotion from League Two, AFC Wimbledon and Milton Keynes Dons competed in the same league division for the first time in the 2016–17 season. Both clubs won one and lost one in that season's league matches. In the nine league matches played between the clubs, Wimbledon won one, drew three and lost five.|date=May 2025}}

===Crawley Town===
One of AFC Wimbledon's main rivals have been [[Crawley Town F.C.|Crawley Town]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thechriswhitingshow.wordpress.com/2012/08/28/2012-football-rivalry-census-results/|title=2012–13 Football Rivalry Survey Results|work=The Chris Whiting Show|date=28 August 2012|access-date=17 March 2016}}</ref> {{citation needed span|This is purely due to their frequently fractious meetings at a non-League level since 2009. The two sides did not play each other between 2012 and 2015 due to Crawley's promotion to League One. However, Crawley's relegation during the [[2014–15 Football League One|2014–15]] season meant the two sides played each other on 15 August 2015 which the Dons won 2–1. Between Wimbledon's [[2016 Football League Two play-off final|2016 promotion]] into [[EFL League One|League One]] and [[2021–22 EFL League One|2022 relegation]] into [[EFL League Two|League Two]], they met just once competitively in the second round of the 2020–21 FA Cup with Crawley Town winning 2–1. With both teams back in the same league since the [[2022–23 EFL League Two|2022–23 season]], they have met two times, with the home team winning each fixture.|date=May 2025}}

===Sutton United===
Sometimes known as the ''[[Thameslink]] derby'', after the train operator that serves both locales. AFC Wimbledon had never shared a league with [[Sutton United F.C.|Sutton United]] before 2022, but due to the geographical proximity the two clubs share a friendly rivalry. Sutton were the first team to play the reformed Dons on 10 July 2002, defeating them 4–0 at [[Gander Green Lane]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wimbledonheritage.co.uk/-/reports/friendly--senior/1948/sutton-united|title=Sutton United 4 AFC Wimbledon 0: Match Report|access-date=8 October 2016|publisher=AFC Wimbledon official website|archive-date=5 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180105011448/http://wimbledonheritage.co.uk/-/reports/friendly--senior/1948/sutton-united|url-status=dead}}</ref> Before they met in the FA Cup in 2017, the most recent competitive match between the two sides was in the 2013 [[Surrey Senior Cup]] semi-final at [[Gander Green Lane]] on 11 April 2013, a game which Sutton won 5–2.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.suttonunited.net/matchreport.html?id=810|title=Sutton v. Wimbledon: Match Report|access-date=11 April 2013|publisher=Sutton United official website|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109154803/http://www.suttonunited.net/matchreport.html?id=810|archive-date=9 November 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The clubs played each other in the third round of the [[FA Cup]] on 7 January 2017, which resulted in a 0–0 draw.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/38214843|title=FA Cup third round: League Two Newport or Plymouth to visit Liverpool|access-date=5 December 2016|work=BBC Sport Football}}</ref> The replay took place at Kingsmeadow on 17 January 2017, with Sutton winning 3–1.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/jan/17/afc-wimbledon-sutton-united-fa-cup-third-round-replay-match-report Sutton's Biamou and Fitchett strike late to stun 10-man Wimbledon in FA Cup] ''[[The Guardian]]'', 17 January 2017. Retrieved 17 January 2017.</ref> {{citation needed span|The two clubs were both be in [[EFL League Two|League Two]] for the 2022–23 season.|date=May 2025}}

==Stadium==

===Plough Lane===
{{Main|Plough Lane}}

[[File:Plough Lane, 18 May 2021.jpg|300px|right|thumb|[[Plough Lane]]'s first match with spectators, 18 May 2021]]

Since its inception in 2002, AFC Wimbledon had stated that one of its primary aims was to play in [[London Borough of Merton|Merton]], with a new stadium close to what it regards as its "spiritual home" of the original [[Plough Lane (1912–98)|Plough Lane]], where the original Wimbledon had played for over 80 years. This aim formed the basis of a project to create a new purpose-built stadium on the site of the [[Wimbledon Stadium|Wimbledon Greyhound Stadium]], located on Plough Lane approximately 250 yards from where the old football stadium had stood.

Plans to develop the greyhound stadium site as either a multi-purpose stadium or as a football stadium were publicised frequently by the club and the media prior to 2013. In 2013, AFC Wimbledon announced that discussions were underway with [[Merton London Borough Council|Merton Council]] over a joint bid for the greyhound stadium and surrounding land, in cooperation with developer [[Galliard Homes]], to build a new football stadium, 600 residential units and a wide range of shops and community facilities.<ref>{{cite news |date=19 September 2013 |title=New stadium a step closer |url=http://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/article/stadium-announcement-1064509.aspx |publisher=AFC Wimbledon |access-date=10 December 2015}}</ref>

The plans for the football stadium were approved unanimously by Merton Council on 10 December 2015.<ref>{{cite news |date=10 December 2015 |title=Go-ahead for new stadium |url=http://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/article/go-ahead-for-new-stadium-2845699.aspx |publisher=AFC Wimbledon |access-date=10 December 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=10 December 2015 |title=Wimbledon's Plough Lane return approved by planners |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-35066622 |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=10 December 2015}}</ref> Clearance of the site in preparation for the new football stadium and housing was begun on 16 March 2018.<ref>{{cite news | date=16 March 2018 | title=Demolition work starts to clear the way for new stadium | url=https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2018/march/demolition-work-starts-to-clear-the-way-for-new-stadium/ | publisher=AFC Wimbledon | access-date=15 April 2018}}</ref> The stadium's opening was initially planned for summer 2019, however, delays caused the approximate completion date to be moved to 25 October 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.crowdfundinsider.com/2019/08/150276-afc-wimbledon-is-now-seeking-2-million-on-seedrs-to-help-finance-return-to-a-new-stadium-on-plough-lane/|title=AFC Wimbledon Is Now Seeking £2 Million on Seedrs to Help Finance Return to a New Stadium on Plough Lane|last=Hurst|first=Samantha|date=2019-08-06|website=Crowdfund Insider|language=en-US|access-date=2019-08-24}}</ref> The land's freehold was transferred to an AFC Wimbledon subsidiary on 24 December 2018, among other transactions that also formally transferred ownership of [[Kingsmeadow, Kingston upon Thames|Kingsmeadow]] to [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Plough Lane – land transfer complete |url=https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2018/december/plough-lane-latest/ |website=AFC Wimbledon |access-date=24 December 2018}}</ref> The new stadium has an initial capacity of 9,215,<ref name="Plough Lane">[[Plough Lane]]</ref> with the option of expansion to a maximum 20,000 at a later date.<ref name="AFC Wimbledon can build new stadium at Plough Lane after council agreement">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42339553|title=AFC Wimbledon can build new stadium at Plough Lane after council agreement|access-date=13 December 2017|date=13 December 2017|work=BBC}}</ref><ref name="Home Sweet Home">{{cite news |date=8 July 2019 |title=Home Sweet Home |url=https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2019/july/home-sweet-home/ |publisher=AFC Wimbledon |access-date=8 July 2019}}</ref>

Wimbledon played the first four home matches of the 2020–21 season at [[Loftus Road]] whilst Plough Lane was being completed.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2020/august/dons-to-start-new-season-at-qpr/|title=Dons to start new season at QPR|website=www.afcwimbledon.co.uk}}</ref> The club played its first match at Plough Lane on the evening of 3 November 2020 with a 2–2 draw against [[Doncaster Rovers]].<ref name="PLS">{{Cite news|title=AFC Wimbledon 2–2 Doncaster Rovers|language=en-GB|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54700574|access-date=2020-11-03}}</ref>

===Loftus Road===
{{Main|Loftus Road}}

AFC Wimbledon started the 2020–21 season at Loftus Road, after agreeing a temporary groundshare agreement with Queens Park Rangers, while construction of Plough Lane was completed. They played four league games at the ground, plus two cup ties, before departing at the end of October 2020. Due to the coronavirus restrictions in place at that time, all of the club's  games at Loftus Road were played behind closed doors.

===Kingsmeadow===
{{Main|Kingsmeadow, Kingston upon Thames}}

[[File:AFCWvsRamsgate.jpg|300px|right|thumb|[[Kingsmeadow, Kingston upon Thames|Kingsmeadow]] on 18 August 2007 as AFC Wimbledon beat [[Ramsgate F.C.|Ramsgate]] 2–0 in their first league fixture of the [[2007–08 in English football|2007–08]] season in the [[Isthmian League Premier Division]].]]

The club played at the 4,850 capacity Kingsmeadow<ref name="footballgroundguide.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.footballgroundguide.com/afc_wimbledon/ |title=AFC Wimbledon: The Cherry Red Records Stadium |date=4 February 2016 |publisher=Football Ground Guide |access-date=17 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160527054913/http://www.footballgroundguide.com/afc_wimbledon/ |archive-date=27 May 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news.php?Psection_id=2&Psub_section_id=1&Open=6221#6221 |access-date=21 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120625145815/http://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news.php?Psection_id=2|title=Latest news |archive-date=25 June 2012 }}</ref> in [[Kingston upon Thames]] until May 2020. Until 2017, AFC Wimbledon groundshared with [[Kingstonian F.C.|Kingstonian]] with the Dons being the landlords and Kingstonian the tenants since the summer of 2003; before then the roles were reversed. In November 2015, AFC Wimbledon supporters voted to approve the selling of Kingsmeadow to [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] to help fund a planned new ground in Merton,<ref name="mattlewis">{{cite web |author=Lewis |first=Matt |date=17 November 2015 |title=Chelsea purchase of Kingsmeadow: AFC Wimbledon fans overwhelmingly approve sale of ground to Blues |url=http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/chelsea-purchase-kingsmeadow-afc-wimbledon-10454830 |work=getwestlondon}}</ref><ref name="simonjohnson">{{cite web |author=Johnson |first=Simon |date=17 November 2015 |title=Chelsea's £2m deal for Kingsmeadow moves Wimbledon a step closer to going home |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/chelseas-2m-deal-for-kingsmeadow-moves-wimbledon-a-step-closer-to-going-home-a3116316.html |work=Evening Standard}}</ref> On 13 December 2017, the contract was signed for the new stadium to be built,<ref>{{cite news |title=AFC Wimbledon given permission to build new ground at Plough Lane This article is more than 2 year |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/dec/13/afc-wimbledon-given-permission-build-new-stadium-plough-lane |access-date=26 August 2020 |work=The Guardian |date=13 December 2017}}</ref> with Kingstonian leaving the ground in 2017 as a result.

====Ground purchase and debt====
Upon their foundation in 2002, AFC Wimbledon entered into a ground–sharing arrangement with [[Kingstonian F.C.|Kingstonian]] to play home fixtures at [[Kingsmeadow, Kingston upon Thames|Kingsmeadow]] in the neighbouring borough of [[Kingston upon Thames]].

After Kingstonian entered administration to avoid bankruptcy and lost the Kingsmeadow lease in October 2001, it was assigned in April 2002 by the administrators to a property developer, Rajesh Khosla, who was also by then owner of the club.

After an [[Extraordinary general meeting|SGM]], it was felt by the AFC Wimbledon board of directors that securing ownership of Kingsmeadow would safeguard the ground for the future of both clubs. In March 2003, the Dons Trust members voted to purchase part of the lease for Kingsmeadow and in June 2003 the contract for buying the lease to the stadium was agreed with Rajesh Khosla;<ref>[http://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news.php?Psection_id=2&Psub_section_id=2&op=archive&monthID=4&yearID=2003 Open meeting re the purchase of Kingsmeadow] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080510085221/http://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news.php?Psection_id=2&Psub_section_id=2&op=archive&monthID=4&yearID=2003 |date=10 May 2008 }} Sunday 18 May 2003</ref> £3 million needed to be raised.

AFC Wimbledon were already sub-tenants at Kingsmeadow, before raising £2.4 million to buy the lease from Khosla in June 2003, with a view to making Kingsmeadow their home. Kingstonian secured a 25-year sub-tenancy agreement with AFC Wimbledon, with customary break clauses. The clubs operated a ground-sharing arrangement, with Kingstonian receiving preferentially cheap rental terms.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2398914/Non-League-Fans-seek-control.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2398914/Non-League-Fans-seek-control.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live | title=Non-League: Fans seek control | date=1 April 2003 | access-date=24 August 2013 | last=Wigmore | first=Simon | newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

====Expansion====
At the end of the [[2011–12 AFC Wimbledon season|2011–12]] season, AFC Wimbledon commenced work on building a new 1,000 capacity all-seater stand to replace the existing Kingston Road End. This was completed by 13 October 2012 game against [[Cheltenham Town F.C.|Cheltenham Town]] which saw an attendance of 4,409.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/19854935|title=AFC Wimbledon 1–2 Cheltenham|work=BBC Sport}}</ref> The new stand was named the North Stand before being renamed The [[Nongshim]] Stand and in July 2015 the [[John Green]] Stand following sponsorship deals. The work increased the stadium capacity to approximately 4,850 with 2,265 seats.<ref name="footballgroundguide.com"/>

====Sale====
In 2015, AFC Wimbledon agreed plans to sell Kingsmeadow to Chelsea in order to help finance their plans to move to a new stadium in Merton. Chelsea's intention was to use the ground for their own youth and women's teams and were not willing to accommodate Kingstonian. This was met with protests from Kingstonian fans, as the club would be left without a home ground of their own.<ref name="auto">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/apr/25/kingstonian-kingsmeadow-lost-stadium-chelsea-afc-wimbledon|title=Kingstonian leave Kingsmeadow: collateral damage in a modern football parable?|last=Ames|first=Nick|date=25 April 2017|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=29 October 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/6244656.Kelly_fears_AFC_deal_will_kill_Kingstonian/|title=Kelly fears AFC deal will kill Kingstonian|website=News Shopper|date=30 May 2003 |access-date=29 October 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Mitchell |first=Jonathan |date=5 January 2017 |title=Ks in Crisis? Fans reject chance to take over Kingstonian as uncertainty over club's future grows |url=http://www.surreycomet.co.uk/news/15004516.Ks_in_Crisis__Fans_reject_chance_to_take_over_Kingstonian_as_uncertainty_over_club_s_future_grows/ |access-date=29 October 2018 |website=Surrey Comet}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Mitchell |first=Jonathan |date=7 March 2017 |title='Leatherhead is too far': Kingstonian fans protest move to new ground during home match |url=http://www.surreycomet.co.uk/news/15139351.display/ |access-date=29 October 2018 |website=Surrey Comet}}</ref> Since the sale, Kingstonian have had to groundshare with [[Leatherhead F.C.|Leatherhead]] and then [[Corinthian-Casuals F.C.|Corinthian-Casuals]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kingstonian.com/news/kingstonian-fc-and-corinthian-casuals-fc-joint-sta-2150430.html|website=kingstonian.com|title=Kingstonian FC and Corinthian-Casuals FC Joint Statement|access-date=20 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180714193023/http://www.kingstonian.com/news/kingstonian-fc-and-corinthian-casuals-fc-joint-sta-2150430.html|archive-date=14 July 2018|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> AFC Wimbledon departed Kingsmeadow in May 2020.<ref>{{cite web |title=The club thanks all those volunteers that helped to clear the stadium... |url=https://twitter.com/AFCWimbledon/status/1267425664283693067 |website=AFC Wimbledon |publisher=Twitter |access-date=4 June 2020}}</ref>

==Ownership and legal status==
AFCW [[Public limited company|plc]] was placed under the ownership of The Dons Trust, a supporters' group which is pledged to retain at least 75% control of that ownership. In 2003, a minority interest was sold in a share issue in order to finance the purchase of Kingsmeadow; given the circumstances of the club's formation, this decision raised concerns among some members but was quickly accepted.{{citation needed|date=May 2011}}

The Dons Trust is an [[industrial and provident society]] registered with the [[Financial Services Authority]] as "Wimbledon Football Club Supporters' Society Limited". This is not to be confused with Wimbledon Independent Supporters Association (WISA) although WISA has as one of its stated constitutional aims "to purchase shares in AFC Wimbledon's holding company".

The original chief executive was Erik Samuelson, a retired accountant, who carried out his full-time duties in return for the nominal sum of one [[Guinea (British coin)|guinea]] a year, because "it sounded posher than a pound".<ref>{{cite news| url = https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2011/may/19/luton-town-afc-wimbledon-play-off-final | title = Resurrection awaits AFC Wimbledon or Luton own in play-off final| newspaper = The Guardian| access-date = 21 May 2011| date=19 May 2011}}</ref> Samuelson retired in 2019;<ref>{{cite web |title=Club announcement: Erik Samuelson |url=https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2019/april/erik-retires/ |website=AFC Wimbledon |date=8 April 2019}}</ref> he was replaced by the club's former COO, Joe Palmer.<ref>{{cite web |title=Club Announcement: AFC Wimbledon CEO |url=https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2019/april/club-announcement-afc-wimbledon-ceo/ |publisher=AFC Wimbledon |access-date=17 April 2019}}</ref>

==Community work==
The club places great emphasis on its role as a social focus for the entire local community, and part of this role is to offer the chance to play football to all. For this reason AFC Wimbledon established the Community Football Scheme (CFS) in 2004. On 1 May 2010, AFC Wimbledon's Community Football Scheme was awarded the FA Charter Standard Community Club Award, the highest graded award attainable in the FA Charter Standard Club Programme, in recognition of the club's outstanding coaching facilities in the local community. The club offer a number of different football courses open to children of any ability aged 4–14, who receive coaching from FA qualified coaches. The club aim to reach as many children as possible through their football and multi-sports programme by having vital links with their surrounding boroughs, most notably [[London Borough of Merton|Merton]] and [[Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames|Kingston]], which has allowed them to become one of the main providers of sports coaching in their local community.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://afcwimbledoncfs.wordpress.com/about-2/|title= AFC Wimbledon Community Football Scheme|access-date= 25 August 2012|publisher= AFC Wimbledon |url-status= dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120326065618/http://afcwimbledoncfs.wordpress.com/about-2/|archive-date= 26 March 2012|df= dmy-all}}</ref>

AFC Wimbledon also offers a Schools Coaching Programme in [[London Borough of Merton|Merton]], [[Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames|Kingston]] and neighbouring boroughs. The club look to encourage a healthy and active lifestyle for both Primary and Secondary school children through football and a range of other sports. The sessions are run with an emphasis on learning, development and health awareness in a fun coaching environment. On 15 March 2012, coaches from the CFS, in partnership with the [[Football League]]'s main sponsor [[RWE npower|nPower]], engaged in a community outreach scheme promoting the FA's 'Respect' campaign to school pupils. Nearly 2,000 children aged 10 and 11 were taught how abusive verbal and physical behaviour on the pitch to both players and referees should never be tolerated under any circumstances. The aim of the nationwide 'Respect' scheme in schools is to eradicate racism, homophobia, violence and dissent from the next generation of footballers and supporters.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wimbledonguardian.co.uk/news/9588192.AFC_Wimbledon_coaches_call_for_Respect_in_schools/|title= AFC Wimbledon coaches call for Respect in schools|date= 14 March 2012|access-date=16 September 2012 |publisher= Wimbledon Guardian <!--DASHBot-->}}</ref>

On 27 March 2012, AFC Wimbledon became the first football club to be presented with the Prime Minister's [[Big Society Award]] for outstanding contributions to the local community. The club was recognised for the honour because it offers a wide range of community development schemes including 19 youth and women's teams, school health and sport projects (hundreds of children a week participate in the outreach schemes provided) and a range of innovative activities, including a stadium school to help children get to grips with maths by using football as a teaching aid.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.number10.gov.uk/news/afc-wimbledon-wins-the-big-society-award//|title=AFC Wimbledon wins the Big Society Award |access-date=27 March 2012|date= 27 March 2012|publisher= 10 Downing Street}}</ref>

Congratulating AFC Wimbledon on receiving the award, then Prime Minister [[David Cameron]] said:

{{blockquote|The team behind AFC Wimbledon have not just given fans a local club to support, but much more than this, they have united a community, given them the chance to have a real stake in their club's future and made a huge difference to the lives of many people in the area at the same time. Football is a team game, and AFC Wimbledon have shown just what can happen when people don't just sit on the sidelines, but choose to get involved and really pull together – a great example of the [[Big Society]]. Congratulations to AFC Wimbledon and all their fans and supporters whose determination and devotion has created a community-owned club that has gone from strength to strength.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/afc-wimbledon-wins-the-big-society-award|title= AFC Wimbledon wins the Big Society Award|access-date=4 May 2016 |publisher= Prime Minister's Office <!--DASHBot-->}}</ref>}}

Accepting the award, Erik Samuelson, chief executive of AFC Wimbledon stated:

{{blockquote|This club's achievements show that a co-operatively owned football club can be faithful to its high ethical standards, keep a keen focus on community involvement, be financially sustainable – and still be successful on the pitch. Everyone who has contributed to the club's success and this award should be very proud.|Erik Samuelson|statement on the Number 10 official website<ref name="AFC Wimbledon wins the Big Society Award">[https://archive.today/20121224040113/http://www.number10.gov.uk/news/afc-wimbledon-wins-the-big-society-award//AFC Wimbledons wins the Big Society Award].</ref>}}

A group formed by the club's fans, the Dons Local Action Group, stepped up during the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom|COVID-19 pandemic]] in 2020, ensuring community members were distributed sufficient food and that students locked down at home had the technology they needed to keep up with classes.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Morrissy-Swan |first1=Tomé |title=Team effort: the London football club that's helping to feed its local community |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/food-and-drink/features/london-football-club-helping-feed-local-community/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/food-and-drink/features/london-football-club-helping-feed-local-community/ |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=16 June 2020 |work=The Telegraph |date=5 May 2020}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

==Players==

===Current squad===
{{updated|29 August 2025}}<ref>{{cite web |title= Retained List Announced |url= https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2023/may/retained-list-announced/ |website=AFC Wimbledon |access-date=1 July 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title= First team squad |url= https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/teams/first-team/ |website=AFC Wimbledon |access-date=1 July 2022}}</ref>

{{Fs start}}
{{fs player|no=1 |nat=ENG |pos=GK |name=[[Nathan Bishop]]}}
{{fs player|no=2 |nat=UGA |pos=DF |name=[[Nathan Asiimwe]] |other=on loan from [[Charlton Athletic F.C.|Charlton Athletic]]}}
{{fs player|no=3 |nat=ENG |pos=DF |name=[[Steve Seddon]]}}
{{fs player|no=4 |nat=ENG |pos=MF |name=[[Jake Reeves]]|other=[[Captain (association football)|captain]]}}
{{fs player|no=5 |nat=ENG |pos=MF |name=[[Sam Hutchinson]]}}
{{fs player|no=6 |nat=NIR |pos=DF |name=[[Ryan Johnson (footballer, born 1996)|Ryan Johnson]]}}
{{fs player|no=7 |nat=ENG |pos=FW |name=[[Danilo Orsi]]}}
{{fs player|no=8 |nat=ENG |pos=MF |name=[[Callum Maycock]]|other=}}
{{fs player|no=9 |nat=LBN |pos=FW |name=[[Omar Bugiel]]}}
{{fs player|no=11 |nat=ENG |pos=MF |name=[[Marcus Browne (footballer)|Marcus Browne]]}}
{{fs player|no=12 |nat=ENG |pos=MF |name=[[Alistair Smith (English footballer)|Alistair Smith]]}}
{{fs player|no=14 |nat=ENG |pos=FW |name=[[Matty Stevens]]}}
{{fs mid}}
{{fs player|no=15 |nat=GER |pos=DF |name=[[Patrick Bauer (footballer)|Patrick Bauer]]}}
{{fs player|no=16 |nat=ENG |pos=FW |name=[[Antwoine Hackford]]}}
{{fs player|no=17 |nat=ENG |pos=DF |name=[[Brodi Hughes]] |other=on loan from [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]]}}
{{fs player|no=18 |nat=JAM |pos=MF |name=[[Delano McCoy-Splatt]]}}
{{fs player|no=20 |nat=ENG |pos=GK |name=[[Joe McDonnell (footballer)|Joe McDonnell]]}}
{{fs player|no=21 |nat=GRN |pos=MF |name=[[Myles Hippolyte]]}}
{{fs player|no=25 |nat=ENG |pos=DF |name=[[Ethan Sutcliffe]]}}
{{fs player|no=26 |nat=ENG |pos=DF |name=[[Riley Harbottle]]}}
{{fs player|no=29 |nat=NOR |pos=MF |name=[[Aron Sasu]]}}
{{fs player|no=30 |nat=ESP |pos=FW |name=[[Junior Nkeng]]}}
{{fs player|no=31 |nat=WAL |pos=DF |name=[[Joe Lewis (footballer, born 1999)|Joe Lewis]]}}
{{fs player|no=33 |nat=ENG |pos=DF |name=[[Isaac Ogundere]]}}
{{Fs end}}

====Out on loan====
{{fs start}}
{{fs player|no=10 |nat=ENG |pos=FW |name=[[Josh Kelly (footballer, born 1998)|Josh Kelly]]|other=to [[Woking F.C.|Woking]]}}
{{fs player|no=19 |nat=NED |pos=FW |name=[[Osman Foyo]]|other=to [[Sutton United F.C.|Sutton United]]}}
{{fs player|no=22 |nat=ENG |pos=DF |name=Riley Horan|other=to [[Walton & Hersham F.C.|Walton & Hersham]]}}
{{fs player|no=23 |nat=ENG |pos=DF |name=Leo Young|other=to [[Havant & Waterlooville F.C.|Havant & Waterlooville]]}}
{{fs mid}}
{{fs player|no=24 |nat=ENG |pos=DF |name=Harry Sidwell|other=to [[Dagenham & Redbridge F.C.|Dagenham & Redbridge]]}}
{{fs player|no=27 |nat=ENG |pos=FW |name=Ed Leach|other=to [[Whitehawk F.C.|Whitehawk]]}}
{{fs player|no=32 |nat=ENG |pos=MF |name=[[Kai Jennings]]|other=to [[Farnborough F.C.|Farnborough]]}}
{{fs end}}

''For youth teams see [[AFC Wimbledon Development Squad and Academy]].''

===Player of the year, club captains and top scorers===
The following table shows players who have previously been selected to be club [[captain (association football)|captain]], have been The Wimbledon Independent Supporters Association (WISA) player of the year and have been the player who scored the most league goals in a season (including [[Penalty kick (association football)|penalties]]) in chronological order:

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
!  style="background:#0066cb; width:100px;"|<span style="color:#ffda00;">Season</span>
!  style="background:#0066cb; width:150px;"|<span style="color:#ffda00;">Club captain</span>
!  style="background:#0066cb; width:160px;"|<span style="color:#ffda00;">Player of the year</span>
!  style="background:#0066cb; width:160px;"|<span style="color:#ffda00;">Top scorer</span>
!  style="background:#0066cb; width:50px;"|<span style="color:#ffda00;">Goals</span>
|-
|2002–03 || {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Joe Sheerin]] || {{flagicon|ENG}} Kevin Cooper || {{flagicon|ENG}} Kevin Cooper || 37
|-
|2003–04 || {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Joe Sheerin]] || {{flagicon|ENG}} Matt Everard || {{flagicon|ENG}} Kevin Cooper || 53
|-
|2004–05 || {{flagicon|ENG}} Steve Butler || {{flagicon|ENG}} Richard Butler || {{flagicon|ENG}} Richard Butler || 24
|-
|2005–06 || {{flagicon|ENG}} Steve Butler || {{flagicon|ENG}} Andy Little || {{flagicon|NZL}} [[Shane Smeltz]] || 19
|-
|2006–07 || {{flagicon|ENG}} Chris Gell || {{flagicon|ENG}} Antony Howard || {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Roscoe Dsane]] || 17
|-
|2007–08 || {{flagicon|ENG}} Jason Goodliffe || {{flagicon|ENG}} Jason Goodliffe || {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Steven Ferguson (footballer, born 1982)|Steven Ferguson]] || 10
|-
|2008–09 || {{flagicon|ENG}} Jason Goodliffe || {{flagicon|ENG}} Ben Judge || {{flagicon|ENG}} Jon Main || 33
|-
|2009–10 || {{flagicon|ENG}} Paul Lorraine || {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Danny Kedwell]] || {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Danny Kedwell]] || 21
|-
|[[2010–11 AFC Wimbledon season|2010–11]] || {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Danny Kedwell]] || {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Sam Hatton]] || {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Danny Kedwell]] || 23
|-
|[[2011–12 AFC Wimbledon season|2011–12]] || {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Jamie Stuart]] || {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Sammy Moore]] || {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Jack Midson]] || 18
|-
|[[2012–13 AFC Wimbledon season|2012–13]] || {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Mat Mitchel-King]] || {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Jack Midson]] || {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Jack Midson]] || 13
|-
|[[2013–14 AFC Wimbledon season|2013–14]] || {{flagicon|IRE}} [[Alan Bennett (footballer, born 1981)|Alan Bennett]] || {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Barry Fuller]] || {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Michael Smith (footballer, born 1991)|Michael Smith]] || 9
|-
|[[2014–15 AFC Wimbledon season|2014–15]] || {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Barry Fuller]] || {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Adebayo Akinfenwa]] || {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Adebayo Akinfenwa]] || 13
|-
|[[2015–16 AFC Wimbledon season|2015–16]] || {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Barry Fuller]] || {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Paul Robinson (footballer, born 1982)|Paul Robinson]] || {{flagicon|MSR}} [[Lyle Taylor]] || 23
|-
|[[2016–17 AFC Wimbledon season|2016–17]] || {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Barry Fuller]] || {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Tom Elliott (footballer, born 1990)|Tom Elliott]] || {{flagicon|MSR}} [[Lyle Taylor]] || 14
|-
|[[2017–18 AFC Wimbledon season|2017–18]] || {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Barry Fuller]] || {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Deji Oshilaja]] || {{flagicon|MSR}} [[Lyle Taylor]] || 18
|-
|[[2018–19 AFC Wimbledon season|2018–19]] || {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Deji Oshilaja]] || {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Will Nightingale]] || {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Joe Pigott]] || 15
|-
|[[2019–20 AFC Wimbledon season|2019–20]] || {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Will Nightingale]] || {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Terell Thomas]] || {{flagicon|FIN}} [[Marcus Forss]] || 11
|-
|[[2020–21 AFC Wimbledon season|2020–21]] || {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Alex Woodyard]] || {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Joe Pigott]] || {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Joe Pigott]] || 22
|-
|[[2021–22 AFC Wimbledon season|2021–22]] || {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Alex Woodyard]] || {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Jack Rudoni]] || {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Jack Rudoni]] || 12
|-
|[[2022–23 AFC Wimbledon season|2022–23]] || {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Alex Woodyard]] || {{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Ali Al-Hamadi]] || {{flagicon|RSA}} [[Ethan Chislett]] || 11
|-
|[[2023–24 AFC Wimbledon season|2023–24]] || {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Jake Reeves]] || {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Jack Currie (English footballer)|Jack Currie]] || {{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Ali Al-Hamadi]] || 17
|-
|[[2024–25 AFC Wimbledon season|2024–25]] || {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Jake Reeves]] || {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Josh Neufville]] || {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Matty Stevens]] || 17
|}

===Most league appearances and goals===

''For a list of all AFC Wimbledon players who hold appearance or goal-scoring records see [[List of AFC Wimbledon records and statistics]].''

===Notable former players===
{{For|a list of all AFC Wimbledon players with articles on Wikipedia|Category:AFC Wimbledon players}}

===Wimbledon Old Players Association===
As part of WISA's campaign to try and reclaim the history of Wimbledon Football Club, the Wimbledon Old Players Association (WOPA) was formed in 2005. Membership of WOPA is open to all former Wimbledon and AFC Wimbledon players and managers. Among the sixty founding members were [[Glenn Mulcaire]], who scored AFC Wimbledon's first ever goal in 2002<ref name="Crane, Rob">{{cite web|url=http://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/matches/reports/bromley170702.html |title=Match report Wednesday 10 July 2002 Pre-season friendly Bromley 2 – 1 AFC Wimbledon |publisher=AFC Wimbledon Official Website |date=10 July 2002 |access-date=6 September 2011 |author=Crane, Rob |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030605140801/http://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/matches/reports/bromley170702.html |archive-date=5 June 2003 }}</ref> and Kevin Cooper, who remains the club's all-time highest goal scorer with 107 goals between August 2002 and May 2004, as well as retaining the title for the most goals scored in a season with 66 during 2003–04. Others that joined included some of the legends of the old [[Wimbledon F.C.|Wimbledon]], such as [[John Fashanu]], [[Dave Beasant]], [[Efan Ekoku]], [[Neil Sullivan]], [[Dave Bassett]], [[Wally Downes]], [[Marcus Gayle]], [[Neal Ardley]], [[Alan Kimble]], [[Andy Thorn (footballer)|Andy Thorn]], [[Roger Joseph]], [[Dickie Guy]], [[Allen Batsford]], Roger Connell, [[Ian Cooke (footballer)|Ian Cooke]], [[Roy Law]] and Steve Galliers.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/football/2002/jul/14/sport.comment A club is born], Will Buckley, ''[[The Guardian]]'', 14 July 2002</ref> On 16 July 2006, WOPA fielded a team in the [[Masters Football|Masters Football Tournament]] at [[Wembley Arena]], with AFC Wimbledon's backing.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wisa.org.uk/wopa/news7.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20080107205443/http://www.wisa.org.uk/wopa/news7.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 January 2008 |title=Wimbledon Independent Supporters Association news item re Wimbledon Old Players Association (WOPA) |access-date=24 November 2007 |date=23 May 2006 |publisher=Wimbledon Independent Supporters Association }}</ref> The team included [[Carlton Fairweather]], [[Scott Fitzgerald (footballer, born 1969)|Scott Fitzgerald]], [[Marcus Gayle]] and [[Dean Holdsworth]].

In June 2010, [[Vinnie Jones]], another former player of [[Wimbledon F.C.|Wimbledon]], donated his 1988 FA Cup winners medal to the fans of AFC Wimbledon. The medal is on display at Wimbledon in Sporting History's Museum at Plough Lane.

==Management==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}

===Current management and coaching staff===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!  style="background:#0066cb; width:135px;"|<span style="color:#ffda00;">Name</span>
!  style="background:#0066cb; width:250px;"|<span style="color:#ffda00;">Role</span>
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Johnnie Jackson]]
| style="text-align:center;"| Manager
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Terry Skiverton]]
| style="text-align:center;"| Assistant manager
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| Robert Tuvey
| style="text-align:center;"| First-team coach
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| Andy Parslow
| style="text-align:center;"| First Team Restarts / Set Piece Coach
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| Dave Reddington
| style="text-align:center;"| Individual Coach
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| Steve Sallis
| style="text-align:center;"| Head of Mindset Performance
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| Chris McConnell
| style="text-align:center;"| Sports scientist
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Ashley Bayes]]
| style="text-align:center;"| Goalkeeping coach
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| Bobby Bacic
| style="text-align:center;"| Physiotherapist
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| Katy Bignell
| style="text-align:center;"| Assistant Sports Therapist
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| Robin Bedford
| style="text-align:center;"| Kit Manager
|}
{{col-2}}

===Current academy and youth development staff===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!  style="background:#0066cb; width:250px;"|<span style="color:#ffda00;">Name</span>
!  style="background:#0066cb; width:300px;"|<span style="color:#ffda00;">Role</span>
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| Michael Hamilton
| style="text-align:center;"| Academy manager
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| Michael Cook
| style="text-align:center;"| Academy Head of Operations
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| Anthony Ferguson
| style="text-align:center;"| Head of Coaching
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| [[Simon Clark (English footballer)|Simon Clark]]
| style="text-align:center;"| Under 18s Head Coach
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| Jack Matthews
| style="text-align:center;"| Lead Youth Phase Coach (U13-16)
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| Nicholas Wright
| style="text-align:center;"| Lead Foundation Phase Coach
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| Liam Connor
| style="text-align:center;"| Head of physical performance
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| Victoria Athey
| style="text-align:center;"| Physical Performance and Medicine Manager
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| Stuart Page
| style="text-align:center;"| Head of Education
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| Ben Foshuene
| style="text-align:center;"| Head of Academy Talent ID
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| Ahmed Jama
| style="text-align:center;"| Head of Academy Performance Analysis
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| Deji Olorukoba-Oseni
| style="text-align:center;"| Academy Administrator
|}
{{col-end}}

===Managerial history===
{{updated|4 March 2024}}

These statistics incorporate results for league matches (including [[Playoffs|Play-off]] matches) and results in all major League Cup competitions (including the [[Combined Counties Football League|Combined Counties League Premier Challenge Cup]], the [[Isthmian League|Isthmian League Cup]], the [[Conference League Cup]], the [[EFL Cup|Football League Cup]] and the [[Football League Trophy]]) as well as results in the [[FA Vase]], the [[FA Trophy]] and the [[FA Cup]].

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! style="background:#0066cb;"|<span style="color:#ffda00;">Name</span>
! style="background:#0066cb;"|<span style="color:#ffda00;">From</span>
! style="background:#0066cb;"|<span style="color:#ffda00;">Until</span>
! style="background:#0066cb;"|<span style="color:#ffda00;">Managed</span>
! style="background:#0066cb;"|<span style="color:#ffda00;">Won</span>
! style="background:#0066cb;"|<span style="color:#ffda00;">Drawn</span>
! style="background:#0066cb;"|<span style="color:#ffda00;">Lost</span>
! style="background:#0066cb;"|<span style="color:#ffda00;">Win %</span>
! style="background:#0066cb;"|<span style="color:#ffda00;">Honours</span>
|-
||{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Terry Eames]]||13 June 2002||13 February 2004*||82||69||4||9||84.15||
|-
||Nicky English||13 February 2004||11 May 2004||21||19||2||0||90.48||<small>[[2003–04 in English football|2003–04]] [[Combined Counties League|Combined Counties League Premier Division Champions]]</small> <br /> <small>[[2003–04 in English football|2003–04]] [[Combined Counties League|Combined Counties League Premier Challenge Cup winners]]</small>
|-
||{{flagicon|NIR}} [[Dave Anderson (footballer)|Dave Anderson]]||11 May 2004||2 May 2007||167||98||40||29||58.68||<small>[[2004–05 in English football|2004–05]] [[Isthmian League First Division|Isthmian League First Division Champions]]</small>
|-
||{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Terry Brown (football manager)|Terry Brown]]||15 May 2007||19 September 2012||270||133||54||83||49.26||<small>[[2007–08 in English football|2007–08]] [[Isthmian League Premier Division|Isthmian League Premier Division play-off winners]]</small> <br /> <small>[[2008–09 in English football|2008–09]] [[Conference South|Conference South Champions]] </small> <br /> <small>[[2010–11 in English football|2010–11]] [[Conference National|Conference National play-off winners]]</small>
|-
||{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Simon Bassey]] (caretaker)||19 September 2012||10 October 2012||4||2||0||2||50.00||
|-
||{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Neal Ardley]]||10 October 2012||12 November 2018||326||108||91||127||33.13||<small>[[2015–16 in English football|2015–16]] [[Football League Two|Football League Two play-off winners]]</small>
|-
||{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Simon Bassey]] (caretaker) ||12 November 2018||4 December 2018||5||2||0||3||40.00||
|-
|{{Flagicon|ENG}} [[Wally Downes]]<ref name="AFC Wimbledon Official Site"/>||4 December 2018||25 September 2019**||41||11||12||18||26.82||
|-
||{{flagicon|WAL}} [[Glyn Hodges]]||25 September 2019||30 January 2021||62||18||18||26||29.00||
|-
||{{Flagicon|ENG}} [[Mark Robinson (football manager)|Mark Robinson]]||30 January 2021||28 March 2022||70||18||23||29||25.71||
|-
||{{Flagicon|WAL}} [[Mark Bowen (footballer)|Mark Bowen]] (caretaker)||30 March 2022||7 May 2022||7||0||4||3||00.00||
|-
||{{Flagicon|ENG}} [[Johnnie Jackson]]||16 May 2022|| ||101||35||27||39||34.65|| <small>[[2024–25 EFL League Two]] [[2025 EFL League Two play-off final|play-off winners]]</small>

|}

''* Terry Eames was suspended as manager on 13 February for disciplinary reasons, but was not officially dismissed until 18 February 2004. Following his suspension, the role was undertaken by his assistant Nicky English.''<ref>{{cite news|last=Robertson |first=Stuart |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/non-league-notebook-70220.html |title=Non-League Notebook |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |date=2004-02-20 |access-date=2016-12-23}}</ref>

''** Wally Downes was suspended as manager on 25 September 2019 after he was charged by the Football Association over bets placed on games, with his assistant Glyn Hodges taking over his duties. Downes was not officially dismissed until 20 October 2019, when he was suspended by the FA after admitting breaching Football Association rules around betting. Hodges was then named his permanent replacement.''<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/50119419 |title=Wally Downes: AFC Wimbledon part with manager |newspaper=[[BBC Sport]] |date=2019-10-20 |access-date=2019-10-26}}</ref>

===Restarts coach and substitution coach===

In spring 2021, AFC Wimbledon appointed [[Andy Parslow]] as restarts coach, becoming the first English Football League club to appoint a specialist restarts coach.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/exclusive-interview-with-afc-wimbledon-restarts-coach-andy-parslow/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230428052608/https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/exclusive-interview-with-afc-wimbledon-restarts-coach-andy-parslow/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=2023-04-28|title=AFC Wimbledon restarts coach Andy Parslow|publisher=londonnewsonline.co.uk (Archived)}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/sep/22/afc-wimbledon-set-piece-kings-arsenal-carabao-cup-specialist-coaches|title=AFC Wimbledon: set-piece kings aim to make Arsenal dance to their tune|newspaper=The Guardian |date=22 September 2021 |publisher=theguardian.com |last1=Fisher |first1=Ben }}</ref>
In summer 2021, AFC Wimbledon appointed [[Sammy Landers]] as substitution coach, becoming the English Football League club to appoint a specialist substitution coach.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/2819155/2021/09/13/we-call-them-finishers-not-substitutes-that-word-is-negative-meet-footballs-first-substitution-coach/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210913113352/https://theathletic.com/2819155/2021/09/13/we-call-them-finishers-not-substitutes-that-word-is-negative-meet-footballs-first-substitution-coach/|url-status=live|archive-date=2021-09-13|title="We call them 'finishers', not substitutes. That word is negative" – meet football's first 'substitution coach'|publisher=theathletic.com (Archived)}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/59018115|title='One of these guys could be your match-winner' - is a substitution coach the future in football?|work=BBC Sport |date=25 October 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12734960/cristiano-ronaldos-substitute-strop-shows-football-needs-to-change-its-relationship-with-this-important-role|title=Cristiano Ronaldo's substitute strop shows football needs to change its relationship with this important role|publisher=skysports.com}}</ref>

==Women==
{{Main|AFC Wimbledon Women}}

[[AFC Wimbledon Women]] switched affiliation from [[Wimbledon F.C.|Wimbledon]] after the [[2002–03 in English football|2002–03]] season.

Kevin Foster is the manager and the team competes in the [[FA Women's National League|FA Women's National League South]].

Wimbledon Women's former player [[Sophie Hosking]] won an [[Olympic medal|Olympic gold medal]] for [[Team GB]] in the women's lightweight double sculls at the [[2012 Summer Olympics|London 2012]] games. Hosking continues to be an avid supporter of AFC Wimbledon and demonstrated as such when she painted her fingernails in the club's royal blue and yellow colours for the Olympic final at [[Dorney Lake]] on 4 August 2012.

== Records ==
AFC Wimbledon's club records include the following:<ref name="fchd2">{{cite web |last=Rundle |title=Football Club History Database – Wimbledon |url=https://www.fchd.info/WIMBLEDO.HTM}}</ref>

*Best [[FA Cup]] performance: 5th round, [[2018–19 FA Cup|2018–19]]
*Best [[EFL Cup]] performance: 3rd round, [[2021–22 EFL Cup|2021–22]], [[2024–25 EFL Cup|2024–25]]
*Best [[EFL Trophy]] performance: Quarter-finals, [[2020–21 EFL Trophy|2020–21]], [[2023–24 EFL Trophy|2023–24]]
*Best [[FA Trophy]] performance: 3rd round, [[2007–08 FA Trophy|2007–08]], [[2009–10 FA Trophy|2009–10]]
*Best [[FA Vase]] performance: 4th round, [[2003–04 FA Vase|2003–04]]

==Honours==
{{for|a more detailed account of the club's records and statistics|List of AFC Wimbledon records and statistics#Honours}}
AFC Wimbledon's honours include the following:<ref name="fchd">{{cite web
|title=Football Club History Database – Wimbledon
|url=https://www.fchd.info/WIMBLEDO.HTM
|last=Rundle}}</ref>

'''League'''
*[[EFL League Two|League Two]] (level 4)
**Play-off winners: [[2016 Football League play-offs#League Two|2016]], [[2025 English Football League play-offs#League Two|2025]]
*[[National League (English football)|Conference]] (level 5)
**Play-off winners: [[2010–11 Football Conference|2011]]
*[[National League South|Conference South]] (level 6)
**Champions: [[2008–09 Football Conference#Conference South|2008–09]]
*[[Isthmian League]]
**Play-off winners: [[2007–08 Isthmian League|2008]]
*Isthmian League Division One
**Champions: [[2004–05 in English football|2004–05]]
*Combined Counties League
**Champions: [[2003–04 in English football|2003–04]]

'''Cup'''
*Combined Counties League Premier Challenge Cup
**Winners: 2003–04
*Isle of Man Tournament
**Winners: 2009–10<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iomtoday.co.im/sport/isle-of-man-sport/afc-wimbledon-show-their-class-in-ramsey-tournament-1-1793884|title=AFC Wimbledon show their class in Ramsey tournament|access-date=21 March 2013|date=21 March 2013|publisher=iomtoday.co.im|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105063855/http://www.iomtoday.co.im/sport/isle-of-man-sport/afc-wimbledon-show-their-class-in-ramsey-tournament-1-1793884|archive-date=5 November 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
*Lanes Cup
**Winners: 2007–08<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/-/reports/lanes-cup/10558/tooting-and-mitcham-united |title=Match report for Lanes Cup vs. Tooting & Mitcham United 2007 |access-date=1 April 2012 |date=1 April 2012 |publisher=AFC Wimbledon |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090411191300/http://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/-/reports/lanes-cup/10558/tooting-and-mitcham-united |archive-date=11 April 2009 }}</ref> 2011–12<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.katzpaw.co.uk/afc_wimbledon/history.htm|title=Match report for Lanes Cup vs. Tooting & Mitcham United 2011|access-date=1 April 2012|date=1 April 2012|publisher=AFC Wimbledon|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140227005049/http://www.katzpaw.co.uk/afc_wimbledon/history.htm|archive-date=27 February 2014|url-status=usurped|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
*[[London Senior Cup]]
**Winners: 2013–14<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.londonfa.com/news/2014/may/07/afc-wimbledon-become-london-senior-cup-champions|title=AFC Wimbledon become London Senior Cup champions|publisher=London FA|accessdate=27 December 2023}}</ref>
*[[Surrey Senior Cup]]
**Winners: 2004–05<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/-/reports/surrey-senior-cup/5038/walton-and-hersham |title=Match report for Surrey Senior Cup vs. Walton & Hersham 2004 |access-date=1 April 2012 |date=1 April 2012 |publisher=AFC Wimbledon |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120918235023/http://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/-/reports/surrey-senior-cup/5038/walton-and-hersham |archive-date=18 September 2012 }}</ref>

== Notes ==
{{reflist|group=n}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{commons category}}
* {{official website}}
* [http://www.thedonstrust.org The Dons Trust]
* {{BBC Football Info|BBClinkname=afc-wimbledon}}
* {{fchd |id=AFC-WIMB |name=AFC Wimbledon }}

{{AFC Wimbledon}}
{{Wimbledon F.C.}}
{{EFL League One}}
{{EFL League Two}}
{{Football in London}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:AFC Wimbledon}}
[[Category:AFC Wimbledon| ]]
[[Category:2002 establishments in England]]
[[Category:Association football clubs established in 2002]]
[[Category:Combined Counties Football League]]
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[[Category:National League (English football) clubs|Wimbledon]]
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[[Category:Sport in the London Borough of Merton]]
[[Category:English Football League clubs]]
[[Category:Wimbledon F.C.|AFC Wimbledon]]
[[Category:Phoenix clubs (association football)]]
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