AFC Wimbledon is hosting an extra special event on Friday 31 January with true Wimbledon greats to be reunited for a celebration of THAT match versus Leeds United in 1975. Limited space is available so please book now! Seat selection [Lounge | 31.01.2025 – 19:00 | The Batsford Boys are Back] – AFC Wimbledon
For Wimbledon fans back then and Dons who wish to find out more about a unique time in our history, it’ll be an unforgettable night.
The Batsford Reunion – named after the Wimbledon manager who created a heroic team that defied the odds by holding then league champions Leeds in their own backyard – will bring together almost the entire starting 11 from that memorable day.
There’s sure to be one or two stories that supporters may not have heard before – a Q&A taking place with all of the squad from 1975.
Back then, Wimbledon were in the Southern League, so it created national headlines when the Dons held Leeds, and for the first time since the following players will be all together:
Dickie Guy, Ian Cooke, Jeff Bryant, Bob Stockley, Billy Edwards, Roger Connell, Kieran Sommers, Micky Mahon, Dave Bassett, Selwyn Rice.
Maureen Batsford (on behalf of Allen) and Gloria Donaldson (on behalf of Dave) will also be joining us, plus goalkeeper Mike Kelly from the 1963 FA Amateur Cup winning team.
John Lynch, Managing Director at Wimbledon in Sporting History (WiSH), said: “It was a revolution that Allen Batsford started in the summer of 1974, having just won the FA Amateur Cup with Walton & Hersham.
“The early 70s were very difficult for Wimbledon and at one point the Club was subject to interest from a consortium led by George Best. Before Allen took over the reins we had only seven contracted players, but he changed everything. Bringing in players including Dave Bassett, the whole spirit of the Club was transformed on the way to reaching the Football League for the first time. We’ve got virtually the whole of the starting 11 joining us and they’ve never been all in the same room for half a century, so this will be a one-off event. It’ll be an unmissable night for people from that era, or younger Dons who want to find out more about a club icon who was the catalyst for Wimbledon to transition from non league into the league.”
There’ll also be one or two revealing insights from the squad back then, plus a few funny stories from an era when football was rather different!
“We’ll also hear about the two Wombles turning up unexpectedly on the pitch at Elland Road – to say Allen Batsford was unhappy would be a massive understatement. We’ll also hear more about the presentation of a Haggis to Billy Bremner after the game!”
Funds from a raffle and an auction will be donated to WiSH for stadium and community projects, with proceeds from ticket sales to the Club. Raffle prizes will include new posters of the Batsford Arms – the pub inside the old Plough Lane stadium – replica shirts from that historic season and special merchandise.
WiSH – Rare & special auction items for the Batsford 50th Anniversary Reunion Dinner
WiSH are making available some very special & unique heritage items.
1) Original wooden PL honours board 1977-1988, signed in 18k gold leaf (reserve £400)
2) An Original Plough Lane Turnstile (reserve £400)
3) A complete set of home programmes in 3 bespoke binders, covering the Batsford SL Years 1974/75 75/76 76/77. Signed by the squad inc Burnley & Leeds away (reserve £200)
All incredibly rare & offered as one offs never to be repeated
You can e-mail bids now to info@wimbledoninsportinghistory.co.uk
Final bidding will be live at the dinner on Friday 31st January, compered by Ivor Heller.
There’ll be some special limited edition items available on the night –
Batsford Arms A3 Prints, the famous Blue & Yellow kit shirt from the 74/75 season
Team Prints & a bespoke event badge
Meet the legendary team, hear their stories, watch the film footage, get items signed & photograph opportunities, like the auction, this is a one off, and for some the first time they’ve seen each other in half a century.
Come & celebrate with us & the legendary Batsford Team that won 3 back to back league champion trophies & finally got us elected to the Football League after numerous applications had been turned down before by the FA.