Wombles Downunder

Out of a personal collection of Wimbledon FC memorabilia grew Wimbledon In Sporting History (WiSH). Its founder John Lynch tells WDSA the story of how it  developed into “The UK’s Best Sporting Heritage Organisation in 2025.”

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Deftly avoiding mention of that club..
Cope “Danilo obviously had to make a decision to go and play some games and joined a club based on his relationship with their then manager. We’re not put off by this, we believe he will settle well into our squad.”

www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2025/ju...

The dam wall broke on Wednesday.. three signings ahead of the season kickoff… energising a stalled month in the transfer window…

JJ “Antwoine Hackford possesses huge potential – he’s got pace, power, the directness to run at people and play off the shoulder. He had an excellent season with Port Vale and played a big part in helping them into League One.”

www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2025/ju...

Craig Cope “Nathan Asiimwe has been a target for us for much of the summer. Although the deal has happened quite late, we agreed everything early with Charlton and it was just a case of them letting him out at the right time. We’re really excited. He’ll fit very nicely into our squad.”

Lot of positives with the Sam Hutchinson signing.. the priceless experience at higher levels, leadership, positional versatility, popularity with fans and a positive influence with teammates on and off the pitch. Needs a good offseason to be ready.

Cope “It’s great to see Sam recover well after his heart incident. We have been in contact with Sam and the various medical professionals to make sure Sam is alright.”
Hutchinson signs on for a year..

afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2025/june…

Hutchinson “I’m delighted to sign again. Everyone has made me feel so welcome - it’s a proper football club. A special thank you to everyone who has looked after me with what went on at the end of last year. I can’t wait to just crack on now and have a great season!”

JJ “Sam’s heroics at the end of last season got us to the play-offs. What he put his body through just shows you what a warrior he is and what a wholehearted player he is. He played a great part in getting us back to League One and he’s brilliant around the group.”

As anticipated a big week for #AFCWimbledon with three key signings… more to do so, obviously, but Craig Cope and team are working within their means to build a squad for League One…trust the process.

Alistair is ours! Midfielder signs permanently Alistair is ours! Midfielder signs permanently

“I’m so happy to have signed permanently with AFC Wimbledon.. I’m excited for the new season and ready to give everything to help keep the team and the Club pushing forward.”

www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2025/ju...

Steve signs for third spell Steve signs for third spell

Seddon “I have such good memories from my other spells here that it felt like the perfect time to come back. I’m also looking forward to playing at Plough Lane in front of our fans.”

Out of the blue for a third spell with the Dons.

www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2025/ju...

The ‘resilient’ Wombles Downunder fanzine | Wimbledon Downunder Supporters' Association

The 'most resilient' Wombles Downunder is nearing 40 years — the fourth oldest in still active zines and as it's 10,559 miles from Sydney to Wimbledon it's without doubt the furthest away any fanzine is from its subject
@FanzineFC

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Wombles Downunder #269 | Wimbledon Downunder Supporters' Association

@wdownunder.bsky.social promotion special. @leewillett.bsky.social "Wimbledon-ed" at Wembley, @ploughlanebynum.bsky.social season analysis, @misterdowse.bsky.social profiles 'Indispensable Skip', winners of Ivors & Corkies & tribute interview with Carlton Fairweather. wdsa.com.au/2025/06/womb...

Yep, work to be done but think you're in a far healthier position now than you were back in L1 prior to the drop. You've got a proper infrastructure now + Craig Cope seems to be doing a fine job. Fingers crossed!

Johnnie Jackson looks like he’s been put through the wringer after he managed his side through four pressure 1-0 wins to claim promotion. Gutsy performance from the Dons, but Walsall were their own worst enemies, only coming close when Riley Harbottle cleared off the line in the first half.

Yet again Wimbledon leave Wembley as winners, nine years ago beating Plymouth to move into L1 for the first time… once again the Dons handled the big occasion to knock over one time runaway leaders Walsall, who spent 119 days on top of the league but finished with nothing.

Now the work begins - or has it already? - to build a Dons squad capable of holding its own in League One… No doubt Craig Cope is on the case..Will be fascinating to see what transpires in the coming weeks. Some new faces coming in and some departures as well. Decisions.

Exciting but daunting challenge ahead for the Dons
League One 25/26 -

AFC Wimbledon
Barnsley
Blackpool
Bolton
Bradford
Burton
Cardiff
Doncaster
Exeter
Huddersfield
Leyton Orient
Lincoln
Luton
Mansfield
Northampton
Peterborough
Plymouth
Port Vale
Reading
Rotherham
Stevenage
Stockport
Wigan
Wycombe

A triumph for team spirit, doggedness, organisation and resilience culminating in promotion through the nerve wracking playoffs… Johnnie Jackson earns the kudos for holding it all together at the business end when their rivals could not.

How crucial was this moment in the context of the final.. Harbottle took some knocks but his goal line clearance preserved yet another clean sheet under pressure.

@rezla89.bsky.social

What a wonderful memento of the Dons glorious promotion day…

JJ certainly had the look of a huge sense of relief, he let out a guttural roar during the post match scenes… he looked wrung out by the experience and little wonder.. a long lovingly embrace with his wife up the steps told more of what he has been going through these past weeks

JJ "We’ve had to be defensively at our best for the last four games. You don’t want it to be 1-0, you want it to be more comfy than that. But sometimes one’s enough if you can defend the way we can.”

AFC Wimbledon relish reaching League One after edging out Walsall in playoff final Myles Hippolyte’s goal in first-half stoppage time gave AFC Wimbledon a 1-0 win over Walsall in the League Two playoff final at Wembley

#Wimbledon’s solidity shone through with an impenetrable defence. They celebrated victory and a clean sheet, just like they had done at #Wembley nine years ago against #Plymouth, just like the #CrazyGang in 1988.
www.theguardian.com/football/202...

The biggest Wembley crowd (50,947) for a L2 playoff final.. since 2016 when Wimbledon beat Plymouth Argyle before 57,956 fans.

Yes, down under, @wdownunder.bsky.social is a fanzine running from AUSTRALIA after all these years, what an amazing achievement and a fanzine that will feature in an upcoming blog.

Wimbledon had several great chances to wrap it up much earlier, Browne spurning two clear cut chances and Alex Bass producing a fine diving save to deny a Matty Stevens free header. Concentrated on long balls, and failed to find fluidity in possession, but they’re off to Wembley.