Author: Gary Jordan

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.”

You can find out more about Football Weekends here

And find out more about our World Wide Wombles here

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.

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…

You will have read about the great event that happened at the Club on the weekend of February 14/15. This saw over 20 different countries represented through our overseas fanbases at Plough Lane to enjoy our fantastic facilities. Many went on a Tour and were also entertained by former player Hans Segers.

We have a selection of images from that weekend below, and if this has raised interest, we have a dedicated page on this site to our WWW (that’s World Wide Wombles), which can be found here…

A full feature will appear in the club matchday programme against Bromley and will be available here soon after.

The Batsford Boys Anniversary Dinner was a truly tremendous event that brought together the famous team from the now infamous 1975 FA Cup run, as well as other exploits on and off the pitch.

You can read more about that night in our previous article here

During the evening the players from the past took time to mix with people that attended the evening, and also signed their thoughts down, which you can see in the images below.

Some even took time to send messages of thanks after the event, such was their joy of being reunited with their colleagues from the past, and also the new generation of supporters that have learnt of their achievements.

WiSH would like to go on record by thanking all of those that helped make this event a true success, and of course to the players, and families that attended the night, and gave up so much time to make everyone reminisce on those glory days.

Our WiSH club museum was officially reopened on Friday  January 31 by Mo Batsford and club President Dickie Guy, I believe the pictures speak for themselves, an incredible effort from all the WiSH volunteers involved in rescuing items from the flood to building new cabinets and then bringing it back to life.

I’m told it has the WOW factor now and we’re very proud of the end result. I hope you all enjoy seeing our complete 130+ years of history on display, please sign and comment in the visitor’s book and leave a kind donation if you can, the museum remains free at the point of contact for all to view.

 Tours are also back in full swing now and some brand new exhibits, just for those that book, to see up on the third floor.

 

The day finished with a celebration of the famous Batsford Boys 50th Anniversary dinner, once again I’ll leave the pictures to tell the story. The evening was a great success and the first partnership heritage anniversary event between WiSH and the Club, we plan to celebrate an anniversary each season now and are already looking forward to what we can bring you in 2025/26!

Bigger, Brighter, Better and Back with a Bang.

A Whole New Museum for Wimbledon’s Heritage

After an incredible effort and support from all the WiSH Volunteers, AFC Wimbledon, Sponsors and Partners, we’ve gone from wading through muddy water, carrying all of the artefacts up three flights of stairs to put into storage. Through to presenting a whole new offering and heritage experience.

The WiSH team are proud to present once more the Club Museum and we hope everyone values it as much as we do, better than most premiership offerings, a unique insight & record of “The Greatest Story in Football”

From February 1, the museum will be open when the shop is, so no longer just available on tours, but with free access to all across the week, donations are always welcome though as we develop further initiatives at the stadium and out in the community.