This past Sunday saw a celebration of our national award. Yes, that’s right, Wimbledon In Sporting History is now recognised nationally, and you can read more about this huge achievement here… At the same time, we also were able to remember two legends of WiSH and what they brought to us – the Mick Pugh Challenge Cup was once again contested, and the Dennis Lowndes award was presented.
Details of the thrilling Cup match, and more can be found below, but to round off a super awards ceremony, which was helped along by talks from Mick Buckley, Craig Cope, as well as the various team leaders within WiSH, the Dennis Lowndes Trophy was presented to this year’s Volunteer of the Year Sharon Armfield. The work that all the volunteer group have done over the year was recognised and appreciated, but the decision to award Sharon was unanimous.
Onto the pitch then, and both caged astro and hallowed turf were used, as Chris Hutchinson reports (as well as being a participant)
“The Mick Pugh Challenge Cup saw a thrilling 5-5 draw, which WOPA won on penalties. Following this, the teams combined to enter a WiSH / WOPA team in a walking football tournament. This took place on the main pitch, fulfilling many of the squad’s dreams!
A ’round robin’ saw two AFC Wimbledon walking football teams compete with the newly established WiSH / WOPA team. Teams played each other twice, with a resulting final.
I’m pleased to say that the WiSH / WOPA squad quickly gelled together. They enjoyed many laughs, stayed professional(ish) and went on to dominate the tournament.
WiSH / WOPA remained unbeaten and were proud winners of a well-contested and enjoyable tournament.
Many thanks to all players and the Foundation for an enjoyable event.”
Some of those players involved were former Dons, including Keith Ward, Andy Sullivan, and Ray Merry. Their kind words of appreciation were sent over to WOPA lead, Ray Armfield, who incidentally was referee of the WOPA team that won against WiSH and now boasts a 2-0 record in his managerial career (watch out Johnnie Jackson).
If you would like to volunteer some time for WiSH (and perhaps rub shoulders with former players in future games) then please get in touch with us at info@wimbledoninsportinghistory.com
Wimbledon is a legendary location with a rich athletic past, renowned around the world for its important involvement in many major moments of sporting history. Best known for the world-renowned Wimbledon Championships, the area has also been home to a number of sporting events and teams, including AFC Wimbledon. Preserving the prestigious history of this iconic area is Wimbledon in Sporting History, an independent registered charity and museum. We take a closer look at the organisation’s endeavours, with specialist insight from Managing Director John Lynch, as it is named in the UK Enterprise Awards 2025.
Wimbledon in Sporting History was formed to educate and inspire visitors as they embark on a journey through the area’s rich sporting heritage. The organisation is operated by a team of more than 50 volunteers who have dedicated significant time and resources to safeguarding, curating, and celebrating the incredible legacy forged by Wimbledon’s greatest sporting stars. Since its establishment, Wimbledon in Sporting History has accessed over £1 million in sporting memorabilia, most of which is proudly displayed at its exhibition in Plough Lane.
This marvellous museum is located inside the AFC Wimbledon Club Shop on Plough Lane, providing free access to all interested in learning about the area’s sporting heritage. What’s more, Wimbledon in Sporting History offers guests a comprehensive tour of the Plough Lane Stadium, currently known as the Cherry Red Records Stadium, and home to AFC Wimbledon. The fantastic guides use the one-hour tour to share their wealth of knowledge regarding the club’s unique century-long history, including an exclusive look into dressing rooms and dugouts.
“We strive to be a centre of heritage excellence, to be the storytellers for The Greatest Story in Sports – bringing it to life using all mediums available to us both physically and virtually, delivering and educating on a local, national, and worldwide scale.”
The organisation was created by a group of AFC Wimbledon fans, who wanted to preserve the rich history of their favourite football club. This decision came after the franchise was relocated 70 miles away to Milton Keynes. The club’s exciting history, including its relocation and subsequent relaunch as a fan-owned, community based club, is detailed through an expansive array of artefacts that stretch back to the 1880s, the very beginning of football in Wimbledon.
Whilst Wimbledon in Sporting History was formed by a group of football fans, the organisation covers all sports and remains dedicated to collating, archiving, safeguarding, and displaying the historical artifacts from a range of sporting activities. Wimbledon Common has provided a unique sporting landscape for a number of global sports, including football, speedway, greyhound racing, tennis, rugby, cricket, long distance running, hockey, and shooting.
The organisation may focus on the history of Wimbledon, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t continually look to the future. The industry is a dynamic landscape and to maintain guest engagement, Wimbledon in Sporting History must remain ahead of the curve with new and unique displays and initiatives. In doing so, the organisation can ensure the sustained success of its ongoing mission: educating and celebrating Wimbledon’s extensive history.
“It’s a living history demanding of a constantly changing heritage each year,” John told us. “This requires us to be creative in our development, developing our own skill base, utilising partners expertise, developing, evolving, and diversifying. It has become a much more interactive world, both physically and virtually, moving away from a simple museum with basic cabinet displays to something that is reachable and exciting, wherever you may live.”
In just five years, Wimbledon in Sporting History has grown significantly alongside the evolving market. In this period, the organisation has opened the museum; developed heritage trails, both inside the stadium and across the borough; made three films, including a cartoon; published a book; staged a play; and is currently planning to transition all of its achievements into online offerings that are free at point of delivery worldwide.
Alongside this, Wimbledon in Sporting History has another exciting project in the pipeline. John told us that the organisation will be proudly unveiling Speedways’ first ever statue in the UK of Wimbledon World Champion Ronnie Moore. The bike and rider have been made exclusively from recycled materials sourced from the old stadium in which he raced.
This addition is yet another step in the organisation’s dedication to honouring Wimbledon’s legendary legacy, transforming the stadium and its precinct into a popular destination for sports tourism. For its exceptionally curated collection of artefacts and its unwavering commitment to safeguarding and celebrating the history of sports in Wimbledon, Wimbledon in Sporting History has been bestowed with the well-deserved title of Best Sporting History Organisation 2025.
We are pleased to announce the formal start of an exclusive competition open to all, and a chance to be part of our ongoing future.
BACKGROUND:
More than 50 years ago, Wimbledon Football Club had a ground on Plough Lane. The Supporters Club was then based at The Sportsman pub on Durnsford Road.
The large outdoor sign, usually a large colourful picture representing the name of the pub, in this case, featured five sports played in the area (football, cricket, golf, tennis and rugby); all represented by white males.
The old Sportsman sign, pictured below, will be on display at Wimbledon Library throughout the annual Wimbledon tennis championships for anyone who wants to see the original.
COMPETITION:
What we would like YOU to do is to re-imagine the sign, making it representative of sports in the 21st century and showing that sport is for all, irrespective of gender, race or ability.
There will be two categories –
Schools & Under 16s
Adults – Groups or Individuals
There are no rules that your competition entry can be fine art, a cartoon or a computer-generated piece. There simply are no barriers, just be creative…
Submissions can be made online by sending to info@wimbledoninsportinghistory.com or taken directly to the Reception at The Cherry Red Records Stadium, Plough Lane, SW17 0NR.
*Closing Date – July 13*
JUDGING:
The competition is being judged by:
Dan Lewis, South London artist
Rebecca Hamlin,Arts consultant
Marc Jones, renowned graphic designer and Head of Brand, Marketing & Communications, AFC Wimbledon.
PRIZE:
Competition winners will be announced before the new football season starts on August 25. Their work will be displayed at AFC Wimbledon’s Cherry Red Records Stadium, where they will also be presented with an award and invited to attend a match during the new season.
We look forward to seeing your competition entries and thank everyone for the support.
WiSH has a packed summer ahead with many events being attended. Some at the Stadium, others around the borough, the Common is an often-used hub for activities.
Over the last weekend of April and the first one in May, Jon Stevens, our erstwhile Speedway fanatic who is heading up our event at the Stadium here on July 5 (info can be seen on the side of this page), was our man on the ground.
First of all, he took part in the annual Tweed Run London, a 12-mile cycle ride. As you can see above, he was kitted out in full vintage Speedway track Marshall regalia, circa 1940-50s. The trade bicycle featured an advertisement for the FIM Wills Internationale Tournament.
The following weekend saw the We Are Merton Festival. This was held at Morden Park, and celebrated 60 years, and with help from our friends at DLAG, as well as Haydon the Womble, this turned out to be another worthwhile event.
WiSH and TheDonsDen had a stand in the community marquee, talking to residents about what we do and our upcoming community and Speedway events. We met Mayor Slawek Szczepanski and his wife at the event, who were very interested to hear of our speedway event, since he followed speedway since a young boy.
We will have a detailed rundown of all of our events during the summer very soon. Look out for us on all our social media channels to keep up to date.
Our museum is gaining recognition around the country and is the envy of many opposing teams that visit. Often, they ask how they can create something similar, and our volunteers are happy to help and give advice.
Displaying our amazing history through rare artefacts and kind donations, in themed cabinets, does take a huge amount of time and effort. The WiSH team of volunteers who help organise and design the displays do so with care and a thoughtfulness that all supporters would look after their collection or possessions. The difference is that these are all put together for everyone to enjoy.
What you see most of the time in the various displays is very much the tip of the WiSH archives. The collection is always growing. This may be from a kind donation of rare medals, through to a once forgotten carrier bag of authentic playing shirts and training gear (check your loft, you never know).
The pictures give a glimpse behind the scenes, from moving new displays and workspaces, to yet-to-be-sorted boxes, and items. Eventually, some of these will go on display. All have a special place in an exciting, ever-growing archive that is truly incredible.
If you would like to help WiSH in any area of what we do, from museum host to tour guide, renovations to social media, then please get in touch at info@wimbledoninsportinghistory.org
Chris Hutchinson, our renovations team lead, explains the process of a recent clean up of our canine friend.
“After a year or so, it became clear that the Mick the Miller mosaic was suffering from the elements. Some of the tiles had become mouldy/discoloured. With such an important part of the stadium’s history, it was essential to seek advice before completing any restoration work. Hence there was a delay in taking action.
Rebecca Hamlin, our Museum and archives consultant, researched what we should do, and contacted the appropriate people for advice.
We were then able to proceed, and thankfully, the work wasn’t too extensive. The Perspex in front of the mosaic was too close to the mosaic tiles and created condensation. So the Perspex was removed, cleaned down, and spacers were put in place to create a small gap to allow air to circulate.
The tiles, also thankfully, cleaned up fairly easily with weak soapy water. A coating of porcelain tile sealer was applied to protect the mosaic further.
So, after a slightly nervous start, we now have a clean and protected mosaic. We’ll continue to monitor how things progress, but going forward I anticipate an annual clean and application of sealant will be the plan.
WiSH relies on volunteers to make events and projects happen. If they hadn’t offered their time, none of the plans would have seen the light of day. From Tours to the Museum, events held on the Common, statue unveilings, to dinners like the Batsford reunion at the start of this year.
WiSH is more than just football though. The history of what was on the Plough Lane site that we now play at is vast with many stories to tell. We have already honoured the Greyhound history, and very soon Speedway will have its unique event that will mark what a huge attraction that was for so many people.
Beyond this Wimbledon Stadium hosted much more making it a truly multi-sport arena. We aim to preserve the heritage of sports that took place here and in the wider Borough. Think of all the many different sports played at the old stadium.
Paddle tennis
Boxing
Formula Stockcars
Banger Racing
other sports across the wider area
WiSH is very keen to hear from individuals and people who have an interest in these different sports (and more) within the Borough, that may be interested in getting involved with WiSH. Whether that be to give some of their time, knowledge or items of interest associated with these sports. If this is of interest please contact Jon Stevens at thedonsden@hotmail.com and we can discuss further.
We have previously covered how the International Weekend was received by all those who attended, and of course, appreciate all those that helped make it a great success. It is always welcomed when others from outside of the club also recognise the spirit of what we do at WiSH and how it brings us all together.
So, it was again nice to see that Football Weekends magazine published a special feature on that weekend in its latest issue. We have reproduced an excerpt from the feature below.
Wombling The World Over
The festivities began the previous evening when the fans began arriving in London, gathering in the clubhouse bar, The Phoenix. They were then entertained to an entertaining matchday tour that took in the changing rooms – a world away from the basic facilities of the original Plough Lane ground – the dugouts, around the stands and executive lounges.
The weekend was put together by long-time Dons fan John Lynch, a club vice president and Managing Director of Wimbledon in Sporting History Charity. He said, “As a fan, I’ve always been aware of the interest in this club that has reached out across the world. My background is in theatre, a storyteller, and what’s struck me, watching games in my seventh decade, is how you can reach out to people and they will come back to something again and again.
“What’s resonated with me is that football is a hearts and minds thing. So if there’s a great story it touches people, and that’s been the secret to the success of this club being adopted around the world.”
Saturday, March 8 was International Women’s Day, and the club always like to mark the occasion in the best way it can. So, with an AFC Wimbledon Women fixture scheduled for the very next day, against promotion-chasing Ipswich Town, the convenience was a blessing.
The tremendous work of Ray Armfield, head of Wimbledon Old Players Association (WOPA), has meant that so many of our former women’s team players have joined up an ever-increasing number of our past that get honoured.
The games Matchday Programme Cover
It was no coincidence that bringing this group of talented women together on this day meant that not only were they remembered for their pioneering exploits, but to also embrace the current set up, as well as looking to the future. The rise in popularity in the women’s game is one well told and witnessed, and over 1,100 came to Plough Lane to attend the game, as well as pay tribute to the past.
Here are some pictures from the day, provided by Ray himself, including some image boards covering just a sample of the players.
Some of you with good vision and inquisitive minds may be wondering why there are bare naked ladies riding bicycles around a dirt track on our fantastic artwork on the site’s homepage. Of course, there will be some of you who may be able to figure out exactly what is going on.
If not, here is the story…
Back in 1978, the rock band Queen, fronted by Freddie Mercury, released a song called Bicycle Race. This was part of a “Double A” side single (the flip song was Fat Bottomed Girls) and reached the heady heights of number 11 in the music charts. The infectious melody includes the sounds of many old-fashioned bicycle bells being rung.
The music video that accompanied the song was banned in several countries for its content. Yes, those bare naked ladies were seen for real as they rode around the then Wimbledon Stadium with its greyhound track. The models improvised their race, and as over 60 of them bare all on rented cycles, the video was seen as too graphic and was censored and banned.
The history of Wimbledon Stadium has had many highlights. This one is one of its most famous that doesn’t include competitive sport being played. Being family friendly, WiSH can show you the censored version of the video. Trust Freddie to make headlines…
