Great news from the Football League from the weekend as AFC Wimbledon overtook the MK Dons on the League One table.
AFC WIMBLEDON’S RISE
That probably means bugger all to most sporting fans, but is a great moment for AFC Wimbledon fans. Of which The Gurgler is one after a stint in the Merton Borough last decade.
You see AFC Wimbledon started because Wimbledon became MK Dons. This means that in 2003 Milton Keynes was a city without a team and Wimbledon a team without a home ground and that appeared to be not much of a prospect for financial success any longer. So, for the first time (and only hopefully last) the club became a franchise and was moved to Milton Keynes and eventually renamed after the place. With the name of Dons added to the end.
Fans of the old Wimbledon formed AFC Wimbledon and started at the bottom of the Football Pyramid. Doing it the right way.
Over 14 years they have steadily (and sometimes rapidly) moved up the Pyramid. In 2009 they had made it back into the Football League, and last season were promoted to the third tier. On the back of Gurgler favourite Adebayo Akinfenwa’s best work mostly.
This was convenient timing as their rivals from further north were relegated to the third tier League One at the same time. It finally gave a chance for AFC Wimbledon to overtake Milton Keynes on the ladder for the first time.
That event finally happened last weekend, and even better was it was available on Foxtel under Bein Sports. They had both teams’ games live.
It may not last, but it was an excellent milestone to pass. No less than either club deserves. All we need now is for Milton Keynes to get their own identity and drop the Dons tag.
Probably not big news in the context of the entire sporting world, but a victory for hard work and good against evil.
OTHER FEEL GOOD FOOTBALL LEAGUE STORIES
But it wasn’t the only feel good story from the week of Football League.
Happy days too for Steve McClaren who was rewarded during the week for taking Derby from certain promotion to missing the playoffs two seasons ago. Then going to Newcastle and starting the rot that sent them down to the second tier last season. He must be a nice guy or have something about him to get another chance at a club where his stint ended in failure. Promotion to the EPL with the Rams may still not be enough to take the Wally with a Brolly tag off him.
Other happy news is the hiring of new managers to give under performing clubs two months of positive progress followed by return to dross.
Aston Villa took offence when a pundit declared them a chance for double relegation. They shouldn’t have been too offended as they have played like a side trying their hardest to achieve that. Former Hull and Birmingham City boss Steve Bruce takes over at Aston Villa which may or may not be a feel good story.
There’s always a sacking just around the corner in the Football League, well worth a bet if you can find a market. 7 of the 72 managers who started the season have gone. Stay in touch via the excellent website – The Sack Race.
THIS WEEK’S TV GAMES
No AFC Wimbledon this week, but plenty of Championship goodness.
Australian Cow Time (aka Qld)
Saturday 4:40am – BEIN SPORTS 2 (514) – Cardiff v Bristol
Saturday 11:55pm – BEIN SPORTS 1 (513) – Derby v Leeds
Sunday 2:25am – BEIN SPORTS 1 (513) – Aston Villa v Wolves
Sunday 8:55pm – BEIN SPORTS 1 (513) – Huddersfield v Sheffield Wednesday
THIS WEEK’S FOOTBALL LEAGUE SELECTIONS
CHAMPIONSHIP
DRAW – Blackburn Rovers v Ipswich Town
BRIGHTON to beat Preston North End
DERBY COUNTY to beat Leeds United
NORWICH CITY to beat Rotherham
HUDDERSFIELD to beat Sheffield Wednesday
$1 pays $32
LEAGUE ONE
BOLTON WANDERERS to beat Oldham Athletic
SHEFFIELD UNITED to beat Port Vale
WIMBLEDON to beat Swindon Town
NORTHAMPTON TOWN to beat Millwall
BRADFORD CITY to beat Oxford Utd
$1 pays $39
LEAGUE TWO
NOTTS COUNTY to beat Crewe Alexandra
DONCASTER ROVERS to beat Colchester
CARLISLE to beat Hartlepool
YEOVIL TOWN to beat Newport
PLYMOUTH ARGYLE to beat Portsmouth
$1 pays $41
