Controversial EFL team’s old stadium and former home of national side is now headquarters of Network Rail
THE home of English football’s most controversial club is now the headquarters of Network Rail.
In it’s heyday, 9,000 fans would fill the stadium every week – but before all of that it housed England‘s national hockey team.
The old multi-purpose ground was leased by a club that was going through one of the biggest changes in modern football history.
It temporarily housed MK Dons, who were in League One at the time, between 2003 and 2007 – during the EFL side’s gigantic move away from London.
MK Dons suffered the highs and lows of relegation to League Two and promotion back up again during that four year stay.
In summer 2007, the Dons relocated to the new Stadium MK, near Bletchley, leaving the hockey digs without a tenant.
It was unused for two years and, in late 2009, demolition began in preparation for the redevelopment of the site into a new Rail HQ, which became operational in July 2012.
MK Dons were formed in 2004 following the controversial relocating of Wimbledon FC.
Back in the 80s and 90s, Wimbledon‘s notorious ‘Crazy gang’ played at Plough Lane in Merton, South West London.
However the iconic, but dreaded ground, no longer met the all-seater requirements for Premier League stadiums by 1991.
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Owner Sam Hammam couldn’t afford the renovations and sold 80 per cent to Peter Wrinkleman by 1997.
Wimbledon were forced into ground sharing with Crystal Palace from 1991 to 2003 before Wrinkleman relocated 46 miles north to Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire with the permission of the FA.
Millions of fans were appalled when the club had to abandon their ‘Don’ name, 102-year-old stadium, badge and colours by 2004.
Many supporters walked away and formed AFC Wimbledon in 2002 as a non-league club, who are currently pushing for promotion in League Two.
During that time, the club played home matches at Kingsmeadow – which is now the home of Chelsea FC Women.
AFC Wimbledon returned to their spiritual home on Plough Lane to the Cherry Red Records Stadium a few hundred yards away from the original ground in 2020.
A groundshare with rugby league side London Broncos began in 2022.
MK Dons and AFC Wimbledon continue to share a unique, but bitter, with the latter refusing to recognise the former.
AFC were charged for failing to call MK Dons by their proper name in a pre-match programme when they both sat in League One in 2017.
No collection of football’s most memorable teams could ever be complete without mention of the rise of Wimbledon FC in the 80s.
The notorious ‘Crazy Gang’ brought together a group of players who went from the fourth division to the top-flight in four consecutive seasons.
And, most memorably of all, the Wombles lifted the FA Cup after Lawrie Sanchez scored the Wembley winner against all-conquering Liverpool in the 1988 final.
But the old First Division’s most famous Cinderella story had a dark side.
The team’s work hard-play hard-tackle harder approach to football made them intimidating for opponents.
And the fear factor spread within the team’s own dressing room.
Former players Dennis Wise, Vinnie Jones and John Fashanu told BT Sport a tale of vicious beatings, endemic brutality and even arson.
“I saw players actually cry from the abuse – physically break down and cry,” said ex-defender Terry Phelan.
Jones backed up those words saying: “We were a lot of misfits, a lot of throw-outs, a lot of not-wanteds.
“You either grew a backbone very quickly or you dissolved as a man.”
Jones was often identified as the ring leader, but he claims that the tough culture was already well established by the time he signed in 1984 and that Wally Downes really ran things.
Meanwhile, Wrinkelman sold MK Dons to a Kuwait-based consortium led by entrepreneur Fahad Al Ghanim in August this year.
Winkelman oversaw the club’s promotion up to the Championship before an eventual return to League Two.
MK Dons currently sit below their fierce rivals AFC Wimbledon in the professional fourth tier.