MK Franchise Match - A plea from Wise Men Say

[Summerof69]

From Martin Samuel's column this week. Sums my thoughts perfectly :

The most wonderful sight of the weekend was AFC Wimbledon, second in the Conference, level on points with leaders Luton Town. It is early days, but there are genuine hopes of promotion to the Football League.

 AFC Wimbledon first entered the Isthmian League First Division in season 2002-03, and were they to come up it would expose the falsehood at the heart of Franchise, the club formed from the theft of the old Wimbledon.

At the time, Pete Wankelman , owner of MK Franchise, said he could not possibly have invested in the existing team in his locality, Milton Keynes City, because the journey to the Football League would take too long.

As a result the standard bearers for football in the city since 1974 folded in July 2003, victims of Wankelman's demand for instant promotion and recognition. They were his collateral damage, their passing almost unrecognised.

It is painful that Milton Keynes and its zombie football club are now considered appropriate hosts for World Cup football in 2018 and, if there is any justice, by then AFC Wimbledon will have a higher league status.

There is no reason why Wankelman could not have waited for his reward rather than grabbing it. Every true fan would welcome the return of the real Wimbledon next season.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1305833/MARTIN-SAMUEL-Why-Spurs-loath-fund-Harry-Redknapps-grand-designs.html#ixzz0xo2KmrTL

[Matchworn Shirts]

Unfortunately history cannot be changed and the 'real Wimbledon' are Milton Keynes

[Bennett]

Unfortunately history cannot be changed and the 'real Wimbledon' are Milton Keynes

nope! you're massively wrong.
sorry

[Matchworn Shirts]

Wimbledons history is part of what Milton Keynes are now

[Peter Venkman]

MK Dongs will never be the real Wimbledon.

[sonicyouth]

Bullshit.

[joteddyred]

Unfortunately history cannot be changed and the 'real Wimbledon' are Milton Keynes

I completely disagree with that statement.  The real Wimbledon are 'AFC Wimbledon' and I really hoppe they regain their place in the Football League soon.

It would be interesting to know how many supporters of Wimbledon now follow Franchise as opposed to AFC Wimbledon.  My guess is that 99% of their supporters are from Milton Keynes.  I could be wrong though, anyone know?

[Peter Venkman]

Unfortunately history cannot be changed and the 'real Wimbledon' are Milton Keynes

I think you will find yourself a lonely voice on that one.

[DiV]

[url width=300 height=225]http://mikeinside.modthesims2.com/thumbs/other/debates/DontFeedTheTroll.jpg[/url]

[Summerof69]

Wimbledons history is part of what Milton Keynes are now

Wrong. Franchise gave that up to AFC a few years ago, including all the cups that were won by the old Wombles.

http://www.wisa.org.uk/cgi/l/articles/index.cgi?action=show&id=571

[ghanimah]

Thank you Batch that was precisely what I meant. As I've said elsewhere, would never criticise any Town fan for going to support the team - it is as hertha says a matter of personal conscience with no "right" answer

Agree it's the ultimate dilemma of principles; do you go and support your team thus basically supporting financially a team that is anathema for everything that football stands for, or boycott thus betraying the principle of supporting your team whatever.

It's a dilemma I can't get my head round - I wouldn't blame anyone for going or not on principle

[Barry Scott]

It would be interesting to know how many supporters of Wimbledon now follow Franchise as opposed to AFC Wimbledon.  My guess is that 99% of their supporters are from Milton Keynes.  I could be wrong though, anyone know?

You'll unfortunately be hard pushed to find accurate stats on this, beyond postcodes, as like any "true" Man U supporter, they say they've always supported them. Like you hint at, I believe 99% of Wimbledon's fans were in fact travelling every week from MK to South East London. They were supporters of Wimbledon long before they became a customer of Franchise.

[herthab]

I don't think he was saying otherwise, just that WMS should reflect both viewpoints.

I know Paul wasn't having a dig. It just goes to show though, that even though I'll be going, there's part of me that thinks I shouldn't; hence my over-reaction!

[THE FLASH]

Met a bloke in a bar in corfu with Plastic shirt on (late 40's)

He came from MK........I asked him what shirt he wore 10 years ago...

Reply....A shrug...

At least with an Oxford fan i could of had a constructive slanging match.

[Arriba]

i think fans can do without 1 away game out of principle.