Dons fan: I’d rather take my girlfriend’s mother to the garden centre than go to MK

Wednesday, November 14, 2012
7:23 AM

Hundreds of AFC Wimbledon supporters are set to boycott their FA Cup second-round clash with MK Dons.

The fixture Wimbledon were dreading became a reality last night when MK Dons beat non-league Cambridge City 6-1 in their first-round replay.

Next month’s clash will be the first time the teams have met since the original Wimbledon, FA Cup winners in 1988, were relocated to Milton Keynes 10 years ago.

AFC Wimbledon, who formed in 2002 in the wake of that controversial move and have since been promoted five times to reach League Two, have already said they will grudgingly fulfil the fixture.

But Simon Wheeler, chairman of the Independent Wimbledon Supporters Association, will not be there to see it.

Wheeler said: “This has reopened a lot of scars. We never wanted this to happen and frankly I feel numb.

“I won’t be going and I know lots of other fans won’t be going. Personally I would rather take my girlfriend’s mother to the garden centre than go to that game.

“Other fans will have to take a long look at themselves and make a personal, informed decision. We’ll talk to the fans and to the club.

“We didn’t ever want this to happen but it does highlight the phenomenal success of AFC Wimbledon from having had everything ripped out.”

MK Dons chairman Pete Winkelman has described the historic meeting as a “potentially fantastic tie”

But Wheeler added: “MK Dons might say how much they are looking forward to the game but actually they are probably rather embarrassed. The frenzy of support Pete Winkelman had envisaged has not materialised and frankly they have an identity crisis. They still call themselves Dons, not Milton Keynes.

“But we have to fulfil the fixture. I believe a group of AFC Wimbledon players will play the game then get back on the bus to Wimbledon and carry on with our season.

“The result does not matter. We’ve already won just by being in the Football League”