Franchise and football.

[Ardiles]

Because they support the club that won the FA Cup in 1988.  But you knew that.

I've responded to a Franchise customer, which was a bad idea.  I regret it already.

[No Longer Posh Red]

Im no fan of shirt wearers, and I do think it is a bit of a plastic indicator. But if you look at teams like Bristol Rovers or Wolves, their shirt wearers are often a bunch of absolute nutjobs who have been following for decades.

Nice to know I'm a plastic fan.  

You would think that having watched Town for nearly 40 years I would be accepted as a real fan by now.

I guess not  

[BletchleyDons]

Because they support the club that won the FA Cup in 1988.  But you knew that.

I've responded to a Franchise customer, which was a bad idea.  I regret it already.

I thought Wimbledon won the FA Cup in 1988. Shows how much I know, being a plastic fan and all that...

[Spencer_White]

I didnt mean it like that Posh red.

Its just when you get everyone in the entire ground wearing the same top, like they do at Reading, it does look well gay.

[Bushey Boy]

AFC Wimbledon had teh support of many things to do with the origional Wimbledon unlike Franchise who simply bought a place in teh league and moved in.  In my opinion, the real dons are AFC Wimbledon and I hope one day they return to where they should be.

[Samdy Gray]

Thankfully, my reply was directed at one of the more intelligent supporters on this forum that might see what my 'shit argument' is actually trying to say.

And I suppose you're member of MENSA?

[No Longer Posh Red]

I didnt mean it like that Posh red.

Its just when you get everyone in the entire ground wearing the same top, like they do at Reading, it does look well gay.

That's OK, it was meant in a light hearted way.

I think it (the amount of Replica Kits at our games) is partly because we have a lot of kids.
My son often wears his Town shirts to Football training up here, I'm just glad he hasn't turned into a Chelsea, Arsenal or Man U fan.

[BletchleyDons]

And I suppose you're member of MENSA?

Now why on earth would you go and make a supposition like that?

I really didn't know that I was that much of an intellectual bully!

[No Longer Posh Red]

Now why on earth would you go and make a supposition like that?

I really didn't know that I was that much of an intellectual bully!

You're not, you are just a Franchise Scum supporting wanker.

[Spencer_White]

Certainly got loads of kids.

And have had for 10 years or more.

Which begs the question where are the kids from 10 years ago?

Not hooked on football.

[BletchleyDons]

AFC Wimbledon had teh support of many things to do with the origional Wimbledon unlike Franchise who simply bought a place in teh league and moved in.  In my opinion, the real dons are AFC Wimbledon and I hope one day they return to where they should be.

Like what? A chunk of Wimbledons fan base and... Well, not much else really.

The players, staff, name, kits, pens and pencils and everything else shifted north to Milton Keynes, as did a section of Wimbledon fans who were happy to make the transition with their team.

I'm not knocking AFC Wimbledon. I don't particularly care for the misleading propoganda they used a few years ago, but they had their reasons.

Their surge through the pyramid has been impressive, although I understand they're not making many friends on the way. Many non-league fans see them as Big-Time Charlies which, in those circles, they probably are.

[BletchleyDons]

You're not, you are just a Franchise Scum supporting wanker.

You fancy me, don't you?

[Samdy Gray]

Serious question BletchleyDons, were you a Wimbledon fan before the move to MK?

[flammableBen]

Ben, Ive got a theory about fans, especially of yo yo clubs like ourselves. The are defined by the era in which their team was most successful.

Oxford and Luton were most successful in the early 80's when fans were just absolutely cuntish to each other. Which is why they are both a set of spite fuelled stabbing cunts.

Reading were most successful in this decade, which is why their fans are a bunch of middle class plastics not interested in the history of the game or tribal fan rivalries.

Rovers were most successful in the 1970's, which is why they are pretty much 95% men who love a beer and a scrap.  

Whereas we were most successful in English footballs golden period (in my view) of 1988 to 1993. Which is why weve got the best type of fans. Bit of everything. Or at least I thought we had. Our support has gone downhill in the last 12 months in my opinion.

It's an interesting one.

You could argue that the longer ago the success was the less it matters, but I guess also there's the transference from old fans to the younger ones effect. You'll have pick up more fans when you're successful (like it or not) and it's their attitude which gets past on to the next generation - overriding what had gone before in a way.

I guess you could call it the Football Genetics Theory, you fans keep the traits of those when you were last successful.

I think our success has a nasty twist too it. You're always going to have fans who think we should better than we are - that's not a pop at fans who say we're not doing well this season, I mean more the undercurrent who think we have a rightful place in the top two leagues. That success ended about 9 seasons ago under Jimmy Quinn, yet it's the empty promises we've had from the likes of Brady and Donegan which have extended it over the first part of this decade.

I'm not sure I'm being fair to be honest. I haven't been going regularly since about the play-off season, but then there were fans who were adamant we should be in at least the championship/div1(as then) by default, and I guess they can't all have died out.

Am I wrong that I see Swindon as a high mid table league one team, with a once in 15 years deviation of good in the championship and average in league two? I think that a sensible running of the club just cements that even more. I'm glad we're going to play within our means, and it will give us an advantage over the other clubs who implode into doing the same, but it also means that we're going to end up more often that not at the level our support deserves.

[Bushey Boy]

Like what? A chunk of Wimbledons fan base and... Well, not much else really.

The players, staff, name, kits, pens and pencils and everything else shifted north to Milton Keynes, as did a section of Wimbledon fans who were happy to make the transition with their team.

I'm not knocking AFC Wimbledon. I don't particularly care for the misleading propoganda they used a few years ago, but they had their reasons.

Their surge through the pyramid has been impressive, although I understand they're not making many friends on the way. Many non-league fans see them as Big-Time Charlies which, in those circles, they probably are.

How about the area they represent? If you are wimbledon why change the name?