Football Hate

An interesting game in Division 1 last night a game full of hate as AFC Wimbledon played MK Dons who nine or ten years ago were one team. I think everyone in football knows the story about Wimbledon from having their ground sold from under them, ground sharing until the move to Milton Keynes that lead to the split.

Most Wimbledon fans at the time backed a new start with a fan owned club, which has seen them go from non-league to a league football in nine years with AFC Wimbledon. Every fan I talk to regards AFC as the real club to carry on the history of the old Wimbledon. MK Dons are the villain of the piece the Dick Dastardly of football, unloved but for a few.

This was the first time MK Dons had visited Wimbledon’s Cherry Red Records Stadium the two teams had faced each other at MK Dons ground before.

That bitterness reflects in Wimbledon failing to acknowledge MK Dons on the cover of the match day programme and no sight of their badge last night, while inside their opponents were referred to as "Milton Keynes”, with no mention of "Dons”. On the scoreboard, just MK was displayed.

Security had been heightened ahead of the clash, which led to the Dons reducing the allocation of the away club to just 650. Specially designated coaches were laid on for MK fans so that stewards and police could manage their entry. The Dons chairman Pete Winkelman was advised not to attend the game for the normal boardroom pleasantries if there were any on safety reasons but was at the game with the away fans.

I did notice on social media that some fans are starting to tire of this childish behaviour mainly coming from AFC Wimbledon. When visiting MK Dons they (AFC Wimbledon) are shown the upmost respect like all other visiting teams. Their board refuses the normal match entertainment afforded to visiting board members and sit with the visiting fans. I remember AFC Wimbledon fans calling for a ban on spending any money within the ground on food and drink.

Maybe it is easy for me to say. My team has not been ripped apart like that but I saw what a rebrand did to it and that was vicious with fan against fan could the answer be football.

It is just a game at the end of the day a game we love and rivalries are good as long as they are healthy.