FA Cup Betting: AFC Wimbledon v MK Dons is no dream

FA Cup / Dan Fitch / 16 November 2010 / 1

" class="free_bet_btn" rel="external" onclick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/G4/inline-freebet');" target="_blank">

'Franchise FC' are still about as popular as an outbreak of piles.

I’ve written the words ‘MK Dons’ twice now and on both occasions have had to stop myself from adding the preface ‘The’.

On paper it looks like a dream FA Cup clash, but as Dan 'The Betting Man' Fitch explains, it's not one that the fans of AFC Wimbledon actually want to see.

If the FA Cup still has any real purpose these days, it's as a platform for grudge matches between sides from different divisions, who very rarely play each other.

When the draw for the second round of the FA Cup was made, the standout tie was the possible clash between AFC Wimbledon and MK Dons. The media was immediately salivating at the prospect of a juicy match, with an unhealthy side dish of needle.

On paper the game reads like a Hollywood script. A club has its heart ripped out and relocated to Buckinghamshire. Amidst the devastation the fans form their own club and then years later get their chance to gain revenge in the world's oldest football competition.

For this tie to come to fruition, both sides need to win their first round replays this week. AFC Wimbledon are [1.96] to win away at Ebbsfleet on Thursday, while MK Dons are [1.93] to win at home to Stevenage.

Whilst ITV will be praying that both teams come through unscathed in order to give them a second round match that the mass public will actually be interested in watching on television, there is one group of people who are in two minds as to whether they want to see this grudge match take place.

I'm talking about the AFC Wimbledon fans. They are divided on the issue of this game. As the club are rapidly rising through the English football pyramid, there are some that think that this fixture is going to come eventually in the league anyway and that they might as well get all the fuss out of the way now.

There are others though who would prefer that the team simply lost to Ebbsfleet. They don't want to be forced to acknowledge a match against a club that they feel has no right to exist and who stole their hard fought for league position.

The Wimbledon fans have got a point. I've written the words 'MK Dons' twice now and on both occasions have had to stop myself from adding the preface 'The'. This is a testimony that in my mind at least, the team from Milton Keynes have not yet rid themselves of their American franchise style origins.

I'm sure that their fans would also prefer that the game were not taking place. Having scouted out some MK Dons forums, it seems that some fans originate from the original Wimbledon, while others are local residents who seem completely sick of being asked who they supported before a Football League club suddenly appeared on their doorsteps. As you can imagine, neither are particularly welcoming the scrutiny and interest in their club, from a general public who will all be supporting the 'original' Dons.

Some AFC Wimbledon fans are claiming that they will not attend the game if it happens. Their stance is similar to those supporters of FC United, who would refuse to go to any possible future game with Manchester United, should their 'dream' game ever materialise.

FC United are another fan-created club who have hit the big time in the FA Cup. It's possible that they could be playing Brighton in the second round, in a repeat of sorts of the 1983 cup final between the Seagulls and Manchester United.

Wimbledon won the FA Cup in 1988 and the replica of that trophy was returned to the London Borough of Merton by the MK Dons in 2007. Now no side plays in Merton and the two halves of the fragmented Wimbledon are in no rush to meet.

'.$sign_up['title'].'

'; } } ?>

(1)

Ed | 16 November 2010

Great article Dan.
I am a Wimbledon fan myself. I've been toing and froing on this issue for a few years, but now the fixture could be upon us I've come to the conclusion that I would go to the game (should it be at home, I wouldn't ever travel to their ground). Although there is still A LOT of pain from the whole incident I think our supporters need to remember that we have agreed to enter a competition where it is possible that we could meet MK. At some point we will meet them. If we were to get promoted to League 2 (I stress IF because obviously we are still yet to hit the halfway point of the season), and MK were to stay in League 1, we would have three competition draws where we could meet them (Johnstone's Paint Trophy, League Cup, FA Cup).
As new generations of Wimbledon supporters join us, it would be ridiculous to expect them to feel what the original AFCW fans felt. I would expect that to them it will be a grudge match between two rivals.
It's been a rollercoaster ride over the last 10 years, but I am so proud to be a true Dons fan. It will be a passionate game if it happens. However I remind you that Franchise football is not in the interests of the genuine fans. I hope no other club has to go through what happened to Wimbledon, and I look forward to our replay at Ebbsfleet on Thursday. I'll be there cheering my team on.