Milton Keynes Dons F.C.
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| Milton Keynes Dons | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Milton Keynes Dons Football Club |
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| Nickname(s) | The Dons | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Founded | 2004 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ground | stadium:mk (Capacity 22,000[1]) |
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| Chairman |  Pete Winkelman |
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| Manager | Paul Ince |
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| League | League One | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007–08 | League Two, 1st (promoted) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Milton Keynes Dons Football Club is a professional football club founded in 2004, based in Milton Keynes, England. They will play the 2008-09 season in Football League One, the third division of English football. The side's home ground is the stadium:mk in Milton Keynes. The club was relaunched under its current name on 21 June 2004, nine months after the then Wimbledon F.C. moved to Milton Keynes. Milton Keynes Dons is legally a continuation of Wimbledon F.C., however after negotiation with the Wimbledon Independent Supporters' Association, mediated by the Football Supporters Federation, the club agreed to return the trophies and memorabilia of Wimbledon F.C. to the London Borough of Merton, and to make no claims on the history of Wimbledon F.C. thereafter.[2][3]. This step was taken to ensure the recognition of the Milton Keynes Dons Supporters Association by the Football Supporters Federation.
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[edit] History
- An account of the controversy surrounding Wimbledon's move is detailed in Wimbledon F.C.
The history of Milton Keynes Dons (MK Dons) begins in the late 1990s with Pete Winkelman, a music promoter and resident of Milton Keynes. Winkelman had a vision to build a FIFA-compliant new stadium complex in the town, providing a sporting & events centre. The core to this project was to base a professional football club at the stadium. As such Winkelman began approaching football clubs within a reasonable radius of the town who were struggling to gain consent to redevelop their stadia, including Barnet, Luton Town and Queens Park Rangers, without success. However, in Wimbledon F.C., he found a club with owners who were already looking for a new base.[4] He persuaded the directors that a move 56 miles (90 km) north to Milton Keynes might give them the financial boost they wanted. Most of Wimbledon's fans as well as the Football League were against such a move.[5]
On May 28, 2002, despite over a year of fan protests against the idea, the Football Association authorised the move to Milton Keynes. Although there have been club relocations in the UK, there had never been such a relocation of a professional club within the English pyramid system, and this move attracted widespread criticism. Those who interpreted the League decision as American-style sports "franchises" gave Wimbledon the disparaging title "Franchise F.C.". At the behest of the Football Supporters Federation, the fans of other teams boycotted games against the club and crowds dwindled to non-league levels. On 5 June 2003, Wimbledon went into financial administration with debts of more than £20 million.[6]
During the 2003-04 season, Wimbledon F.C. was run by the administrators and many of the team's players were sold. At the end of a dismal season, the club was relegated to League One (the new name for the Second Division). During the summer of 2003, the National Hockey Stadium was converted for use as a football stadium, and in September 2003, Wimbledon F.C. moved into the National Hockey Stadium in Milton Keynes. In spring 2004, to ensure that the idea of permanently basing a football team at the proposed stadium complex became a reality, Winkelman bought the near-bankrupt club from the administrators, although the owning of the club was never the original intention.
In 2008, the club claimed their first items of silverware, winning the Johnstone's Paint Trophy final 2-0 against Grimsby Town in front of over 55 thousand fans at Wembley Stadium. In May of 2008, the club lifted the League Two championship trophy after winning League Two and gaining promotion to League One for the 2008/2009 season.
[edit] Change of name
In June 2004, against the recommendations of the Football Association's Independent Commission, Winkelman announced that he was changing the name of Wimbledon FC to Milton Keynes Dons FC. This was not a popular decision - Winkelman had previously promised fans a vote on the issue, and the committee of the official supporters' club had voted unanimously for the word "Wimbledon" to be retained in the name. When the club formally emerged from administration under the new name and ownership on July 1, Winkelman also announced that he was changing the club's blue and yellow kit for new team colours and a new badge. This change was again implemented without any consultation with supporters. The new badge bore the letters "MMIV", signifying that 2004 was a new start for the MK Dons.
[edit] League history
When the 2004-05 season began, the team were still being managed by Stuart Murdoch. They started the season badly and Murdoch was sacked to be replaced by Danny Wilson. Under their new manager, the Dons began to improve and they were suddenly looking good enough for survival. They managed to beat the drop from League One on the final day of the season - but only because of Wrexham's 10-point deduction that had been their penalty for going into administration.
The following season, the Dons struggled all year, were relegated to League Two and manager Danny Wilson was sacked.
Wilson's successor for 2006-07 was Martin Allen, who had just taken Brentford to the brink of a place in the Football League Championship. With a new manager taking charge of a team in a new division, the Dons looked more convincing than they had done in either of the previous two seasons. They looked like serious promotion challengers for much of the season and were in the hunt for automatic promotion right up to the last game. In the end, they finished fourth and had to settle for a playoff place. They suffered a shock defeat to Shrewsbury Town in the playoff semi-finals and the promotion dream was over. During the 2007 summer break, Allen terminated his contract with the Dons to take over at Leicester City in an arrangement that lasted just five games before his contract was terminated.
For the 2007-08 season, former England captain Paul Ince took over as manager. After a slightly troubled start, they recovered well and had reached the top of League Two at the end of September 07, went 11 points clear in early January 2008[7] and they continued to top the league at the end of February 08 by a one point margin. Also in February, they qualified for the final of the Football League Trophy with a win on penalties over League One leaders Swansea City in the Southern Area final. The final was played on Sunday March 30 against Grimsby Town where The Dons were victorious with a 2-0 win, to bring home their first professional trophy to Milton Keynes. On 19 April 2008, MK Dons beat Stockport County 3-2 and secured promotion to League One for the 2008-09 season. A week later, the Dons travelled to Valley Parade to take on Bradford City, where a 2-1 win gave them the League Two title.
[edit] Supporters club recognition
On 4 June 2005, at the 2005 Football Supporters' Federation "Fans' Parliament" (AGM), the FSF refused [8] the MK Dons Supporters Club membership of the FSF in a debate that, among other arguments, questioned why the Football League had yet to introduce any new rules to prevent the "franchising" of other football clubs in the future. In addition, the FSF membership agreed with the Wimbledon Independent Supporters Association that the Milton Keynes Dons Supporters Association should not be entitled to join the FSF until they give up all claim to the history and honours of Wimbledon F.C. With this in mind, the FSF began discussions aimed at returning Wimbledon F.C.'s honours to the London Borough of Merton.
Shortly afterwards, following heavy criticism for allowing the move, the Football League announced new tighter rules on club relocation.
At its AGM on 5 June 2006, the FSF again considered a motion[9] proposed by the FSF Council to allow MK Dons Supporters Association membership if the honours and trophies of Wimbledon F.C. were given to the London Borough of Merton. In October 2006, agreement[10] was reached between the club, the MK Dons Supporters Association, the Wimbledon Independent Supporters Association and the Football Supporters Federation. The replica of the FA Cup plus all club patrimony gathered under the name of Wimbledon F.C. would be returned to the London Borough of Merton. Ownership of trademarks and website domain names related to Wimbledon F.C. would also be transferred to the Borough. As part of the same deal it was agreed that any reference made to Milton Keynes Dons F.C. should refer only to events subsequent to August 7, 2004 (the date of the first League game of Milton Keynes Dons F.C.). As a result of this deal, the FSF announced that the supporters of Milton Keynes Dons F.C. would be permitted to become members of the federation, and that it would no longer appeal to the supporters of other clubs to boycott MK Dons matches.[2]
On 2 August 2007, Milton Keynes Dons transferred the replica trophies and all Wimbledon F.C. memorabilia to the London Borough of Merton.[3]
[edit] Stadium
The club's first stadium in Milton Keynes was the National Hockey Stadium, which was temporarily converted for football for the duration of the club's stay, Their lease on this ground ended in May 2007.
On 18 July 2007, the club's new 22,000 seater stadium:mk in Denbigh, Milton Keynes hosted its first game, a restricted entrance event against a young Chelsea XI.[11] The stadium was officially opened on 29 November 2007 by Queen Elizabeth II.[12]
The complex also includes a 3,000 seat indoor arena, where the MK Lions basketball team will be based: this arena is currently not scheduled for completion until mid-2008.
[edit] Training Ground
The club currently uses the public sports facilities at Woughton on the Green for training. The club's academy sides also play their home games here. During the 2005 close season a new plastic-covered artificial training pitch nicknamed 'the bubble' was constructed. They are hoping to move to a new training ground near the stadium.
[edit] Honours
[edit] Reserves
The club's reserve side currently competes in the Football Combination East Division. The reserve players also make up the bulk of the squad which competes annually in the Berks and Bucks Senior Cup, which they won in 2007. Commencing from the 2007/2008 season, reserve games will be played on Monday evenings.
[edit] Current squad
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[edit] Technical Staff
| Paul Ince | |
First Team Manager |
| Ray Mathias | |
Assistant Manager |
| Paul Heald | |
Goalkeeping Coach |
| Simon Crampton | |
Head Physiotherapist |
| David Tuttle | |
Chief Scout |
| Mike Dove | |
Director of Youth and Community/Under 18's Manager |
| Duncan Russell |  |
Fitness Coach |
| Andrew Stone | |
Academy Sports Scientist |
| Paul Collins | |
Academy Physiotherapist |
| Joseph Aylett | |
Head Groundsman |
| Dr Martin Cave | |
Club Doctor |
[edit] Previous Managers
| Name | Nat | From | To | Record | ||||
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| P | W | D | L | % | ||||
| Stuart Murdoch | |
May 2002 | November 2004 | 122 | 35 | 65 | 22 | 28.69% |
| Danny Wilson |  |
December 2004 | June 2006 | 81 | 25 | 32 | 24 | 30.86% |
| Martin Allen | |
June 2006 | May 2007 | 46 | 25 | 9 | 12 | 54.35% |
[edit] Former Dons
Adolfo Baines - Goalkeeper signed from CD Tenerife in July, 2006. He was famously sent off in his first senior match for the Dons for handling the ball outside the penalty area. Adolfo made 23 appearances before being released in May, 2007.
- Allan Smart - Much travelled striker who joined the club from Crewe Alexandra in July, 2004. The MK Dons was his 12th club. Allan made 22 appearances, scoring 6 times before moving onto Bury in June, 2005.
- Ben Chorley - Defender and a Wimbledon Old Boy. Signed from Arsenal in March, 2003. Ben went on to make 138 Appearances for Wimbledon and Milton Keynes Dons during his time at the club which he Captained regularly. He also scored on 5 occasions. he signed for Tranmere Rovers in July, 2007.
- Ben Harding - Midfielder who was another product of the Wimbledon Academy. Ben, who was a firm favourite with the female fans played for the club 54 times and scored 6 goals before moving to non-league Aldershot in August, 2007.
- Clive Platt - Striker who joined the club in January, 2005 from Peterborough United. Clive played 113 times and scored 27 goals, including the first hat-trick by a Milton Keynes Dons player. He joined Colchester United after a prolific last season in July, 2007.
Craig Morgan - Welsh international defender signed from Wrexham in July, 2005. He made 52 Appearances for the club before surprisingly being transferred to rivals Peterborough United in January, 2007.
- Drewe Broughton - Centre Forward signed from Chester City in July, 2007. The MK Dons were his 14th professional club. Drewe made 19 Appearances & scored 1 goal before being released in May, 2007. He will be remembered fondly for scoring the final penalty which beat Swansea City in the area final of the Football League Trophy, taking the club to their first visit to Wembley as the MK Dons.
- David Martin - England Under 20 Goalkeeper was a Wimbledon trainee who made 25 Appearances for the club. His raw talent was spotted by Premiership club Liverpool who he signed for in January, 2006. David is the son of West Ham legend Alvin Martin.
Gareth Edds - Australian Youth International who signed from Bradford City in 2004. A versatile player who was equally comfortable at Right Back or Midfield, Gareth made 147 Appearances & scored 12 goals before being released in May, 2007. He will be best remembered for his goal in the final minutes of the last match of the 2004-05 season against Tranmere Rovers, which kept the MK Dons from being relegated.
- Gary Smith - Midfielder who signed for the then named Wimbledon from Middlesbrough in March, 2004. He quickly established himself as a crowd favourite and made 91 Appearances in a injury plagued time, scoring 9 goals. Gary left in August, 2007 and joining Brentford.
- Izale McLeod - Prolific striker who signed from Derby County in July, 2004. Izale made 135 Appearances, scoring 60 goals before a £1.1 million transfer to Charlton Athletic in August, 2007. As a MK Dons player he was also capped at England Under 21 level.
- Jamie Smith - Hard tackling Defender, Jamie joined the club from Bristol City in the summer of 2006. He was immediately made captain. However injury restricted him to just 17 Appearances and he was forced to retire at the end of the 2006-07 season.
- Jason Puncheon - Another Wimbledon trainee who made his debut in 2003. This midfielder played 34 times, scoring 1 goal before his somewhat clock and dagger departure to non-league Fisher Athletic. Jason returned to the ranks of League football when he signed for Barnet.
- Jon-Paul McGovern - Former Celtic Midfielder who signed for the club from Sheffield Wednesday in July, 2006. He made 56 Appearances and scored 4 goals before his move to Swindon Town in August, 2007.
Laurent Herve - Midfielder signed from French club Guingamp in July, 2004. Laurent's time at the club was marred by injury and he only managed 20 Appearances and 6 Goals before being released in May, 2005.
- Lee Harper - Goalkeeper & former Arsenal player who signed from local rivals Northampton Town in October, 2006 initially on loan. Lee made 24 Appearances for the club before moving onto non-league Kettering Town in May, 2007.
- Leon Crooks - Defender who was a product of the Wimbeldon FC Academy. He made his debut in 2004 and played for the club on 66 occasions before moving to Wycombe Wanderers in June, 2007.
- Leon Knight - Diminutive former Chelsea striker signed from Swansea City in January, 2007. Leon made 36 appearances and scorded 6 goals before being allowed to leave in January, 2008 for Wycombe Wanderers.
Malvin Kamara - English born Sierra Leone international midfielder was a Wimbledon Academy player who broke into the first team in 2003. Malvin made 84 Appearances and scored 5 Goals before signing for Cardiff City in July, 2006.
- Mark Williams - English born, Northern Ireland international defender joined the then Wimbledon from Watford in 2000. He made 109 Appearances, scoring 10 goals over two stints with the Dons, separated by a brief time with Columbus Crew of the American MLS. Mark left the club in late 2004, joining Rushden & Diamonds.
- Matt Carbon - Former Derby County & England Under 21 International Defender signed from New Zealand Knights in December, 2007. Unfortunately injury wrecked Matt's time with the Dons & restricted him to just 4 Appearances before being released in May, 2007.
- Matthew Baker - Goalkeeper signed from Wrexham in December, 2004. A firm favourite of the fans he made 61 Appearances before joining non-league Weymouth in December, 2006. Serious injury forced Matt to retire and he is now a reporter for the Official Milton Keynes Dons TV Station Dons World.
Michel Pensee-Bilong - Cameroon International Defender who joined the club in January, 2005 from Japanese side Sanfrecce Hiroshima. He made 18 Appearances and scored 1 goal before leaving in May of the same year.
- Nicky Rizzo - Former Liverpool Australian international winger signed from Italian club AC Prato in November, 2004. He made 63 Appearances and scored 7 goals in an injury hit time with the club. A favourite of the fans, he was released in May, 2007 and returned to Australia to play for Perth Glory.
Paul Butler - Manchester born Republic of Ireland international defender who signed from Leeds United initially on loan in November, 2006. He went on to make 18 Appearances for the Dons before being released in July, 2007 when he joined Chester City.
- Paul Heald - Goalkeeper who signed for Wimbledon in July 1995, from Swindon Town Paul made 45 appearances for the club over a 9 year period before retiring in 2005. He stayed on a the club in a coaching capacity & is currently the Goalkeeper coach.
Shola Oyedele - Dutch born defender who was another Wimbledon Academy old boy. He made his debut for the club in March, 2004 playing 42 times before joining non-league Woking in August, 2006.
- Scott Taylor - Joined the club from Plymouth Argyle as a striker and quickly became a fans favourite. He made 50 Appearances, scoring 5 times before being released in 2008, joining non-league Grays Athletic.
- Steve Palmer - Veteran Defender who joined the club from Q.P.R. in 2004 as a Player/Coach. Since his retirement Steve has become the Performance Manager at the Tottenham Hotspurs Academy.
- Wade Small - Winger from the Wimbledon Academy who made his debut for the club in 2003. he went to to make 115 Appearances, scoring 15 goals before his move to Sheffield Wednesday in May, 2006.
[edit] See also
Relocation of professional sports teams: United Kingdom
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ Stadiummk Virtual Tours. MK Dons. Retrieved on 2009-03-14.
- ^ a b "MK Dons agree to return Wimbledon trophies to Merton - and sanction amendments to football statistics" - FSF website
- ^ a b Merton given back Dons trophies
- ^ The Guardian's account of move, January 2003. See section beginning "But the dispute's roots stretch back as long ago as 1991."
- ^ Fans united against franchising. Telegraph, 28 May 2002.
- ^ Dons' move to city in doubt (MK Citizen, 9 June 2003)
- ^ Rotherham 0-1 MK Dons (Match Report). MK Citizen (05 January 2008).
- ^ Motion 1 on pages 6 minutes at www.fsf.org.uk (pages 44/45)
- ^ Motion 6 (pages 6)
- ^ Accord on history and honours of Wimbledon FC WISA website.
- ^ Dons open stadium against Chelsea. BBC Sport. 19 July 2007.
- ^ The Queen visits Milton Keynes. BBC Becks, Herts & Bucks. 30 November 2007.
- ^ Bradford 1-2 MK Dons (Match Report). BBC Sport (2008-04-26).
- ^ Grimsby Town 0-2 MK Dons (Match Report). BBC Sport (2008-03-30).
- ^ Berks & Bucks Cup Winners 2006 - 2007. Berkshire and Buckinghamshire Football Association (2007-08-06).
| Preceded by Doncaster Rovers |
Football League Trophy Winners 2007-08 |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
| Preceded by Walsall |
Football League Two Champions 2007-08 |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
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