AFC Wimbledon secured League One safety on Tuesday night following a 0-0 draw away at Doncaster.
It was a game of few chances, but the full-time whistle sparked jubilant scenes amongst the 482 travelling away fans. Not only did they watch their side ensure League One football for another year, it also meant for the first time in their 16-year history, they will occupy a higher league standing then MK Dons, the club formed from the ashes of Wimbledon FC. MK Dons were of course relegated to England’s fourth tier for the first time since 2008 on the weekend following a 2-0 home defeat to Scunthorpe.
In 2002, second-tier side Wimbledon were without a permanent home and in profound financial uncertainty. A consortium led by Pete Winkelman decided to the move the club from the south of London to Milton Keynes, situated 56 miles away Buckinghamshire. Initially, the club played home games in Milton Keynes under the Wimbledon name from September 2003 until June 2004 and then in the summer of 2004, the club renamed itself MK Dons.
Despite the 113 years of history formed through multiple promotions and indeed relegations, it was MK Dons who adopted Wimbledon’s league standing. MK Dons even attempted to claim Wimbledon F.C.'s heritage and history but were forced to officially renounce this in 2007. Nevertheless, despite relegation from League One to League Two a few seasons after relocation, MK Dons solidified themselves as a solid league side. In 2008 they built the Stadium MK and went on to win the League Two title and the EFL Trophy. They even managed to get promoted to the Championship in 2015.
Meanwhile, having watched their club be franchised and relocated a 45-minute drive away, Wimbledon fans were left bewildered and abandoned. In response, fans formed AFC Wimbledon. The club entered England’s ninth tier. The newly-formed club went on to enjoy a meteoric rise through non-league, winning five promotions in nine years to reach the Football League in 2011. They then won promotion to League One - the same division as MK Dons - in 2016.
The two clubs first played each other in the FA Cup in December 2012, with eight meetings in all competitions since. AFC Wimbledon got themselves in hot water in September's fixture when they refused to correctly name their rivals. They referred to the away side as Milton Keynes or MK and did not mention them on their programme cover.
The EFL accused AFC Wimbledon of breaching EFL's rules, which say no member should "unfairly criticise, disparage, belittle or discredit" any other club in the league. They later dropped the matter after "positive dialogue" between the clubs, with the history of both clubs clearly playing a part in their decision. EFL chief executive Shaun Harvey said at the time "I would like to thank Milton Keynes Dons for their support in what we understand is a highly emotive matter for fans of both clubs. The EFL understands the history and the strong feelings associated with the two clubs and we will now look to work with them both in an attempt to secure a positive outcome."
With their survival and MK Dons relegation, AFC Wimbledon are finally emerging from the shadows of their bitter and some would say illegitimate rivals. They have even recently been given permission to build a new stadium on Plough Lane in Merton, an area seen as the club's divine home. Wombles can now focus on their own success rather than MK's failure, but for many football fans around the country (and beyond), there is a sense of vindication for the group of supporters who lost their club 16 years ago.
