IT HAS been 29 long years — but tonight Wimbledon come home.
The Dons left Plough Lane in 1991 to groundshare with Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, before being franchised to Milton Keynes in 2002.
Wimbledon return to their home at Plough Lane for the first time in 29 years tonightCredit: Twitter @TimMcKenna5
Since then, there has been the formation of AFC Wimbledon and their remarkable rise through the non-league ranks to reach League One.
Off the pitch, a series of red-tape struggles have slowed the return to their spiritual home, with supporters raising funds to get the building work finally completed on a stadium with an initial capacity of 9,300.
The old ground has long since been bulldozed to make way for flats, but Plough Lane stands just 500 yards from the original site, albeit in a different postcode.
Dons legend Dickie Guy, who made almost 600 appearances for the club, hailed the achievement in getting back to their Plough Lane roots.
He told SunSport: “It will mean everything to see the club back at Plough Lane.
“To have our club taken away from us like we did back in 2002 by the outrageous decision from the FA.
“To do what our supporters have done — by putting their hands in their pockets to get the stadium done — and what the team has done on the pitch throughout the years to get back to League One.
“It is just an amazing story which I don’t think will ever be repeated.”
The Dons welcome Doncaster Rovers to the Lane having left in 1991Credit: Rex Features
Ex-keeper Guy played for Wimbledon between 1967 and 1978. He is widely remembered for saving Peter Lorimer’s penalty in 1975, as the non-league side held Leeds to a draw in the FA Cup at Elland Road.
Guy is now president of AFC Wimbledon and claims the club lost their identity when they moved out of SW19.
And he cannot hide his delight at their return for tonight’s clash with Doncaster Rovers.
Plough Lane timeline
1912: SEP 7, Wimbledon play their first match at Plough Lane — having secured a freehold on the land.
1984: Ground sold to chairman Sam Hammam for £3million.
1991: May 4, Wimbledon play their final game at Plough Lane, a 3-0 defeat to Crystal Palace — who they would ground share with the following season.
1998: Hammam sells Plough Lane to supermarket Safeway.
2002: The same season as AFC Wimbledon’s formation, Safeway fail to get planning permission but Lane stands are demolished.
2005: Site is sold to developers to build 570 flats — which are completed in 2008.
2013: Dons submit plans to Merton Council to redevelop the Wimbledon Greyhound Stadium.
2015: Merton Council agree to the proposal for a 20,000-seater ground on the site of Wimbledon Greyhound Stadium.
2016: March 22, major blow as London Mayor Boris Johnson calls in scheme for a review.
2016: July 27, Johnson’s replacement Sadiq Khan moves plans back to council to press ahead.
2016: Sep 27, final approval is granted for the Dons to build their dream home.
2017: Wimbledon Greyhound Stadium is closed.
2018: Work begins on building the new ground.
He added: “Plough Lane was always a decent non-league ground.
“But as the club moved closer to the Football League, it was small to the other clubs in the league.
“It was our home and the club lost all its spirit once they moved to Selhurst Park.
“I am absolutely over the moon we are back there.”
Watch the hilarious moment Photographer falls of his stall during Wimbledon vs West Ham in EFL Cup
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
