Islington born, Adebayo Akinfenwa is
playing for his 11th club this season, having started his
career at 18 in Lithuania for FK Atlantas, where he was subjected to
extraordinary racial abuse, but where he cut his teeth on the
professional game. Standing 5' 11'' and weighing 225 lbs, the 32 year
old jumped for joy when his team, AFC Wimbledon, the 14th worst team
in the Football league, was drawn against his favourite team,
Liverpool, in tonight's 3rd Round FA Cup tie. Having
scored over 150 goals in his 12 year long career, Akinfenwa is
described in FIFA 15 (EA Sports game) as the Football World's
strongest man. He can bench press 180kgs and will provide the
stuttering Liverpool back four with an immense physical challenge.
AFC Wimbledon is not bringing the
“Crazy Gang” tactics to their playing part of the match tonight,
though previous member of the gang and now manager, Neil Ardley,
wants his squad to give Liverpool a rough old time down at
Kingsmeadow, which with a capacity of only 4800, will generate an
intense energy to fortify the League Two underdogs. Akinfenwa, who
has learned his trade at clubs such as Barry Town, Boston United,
Doncaster and Torquay, wants to be in the cauldron.
AFC Wimbledon, which re-formed in
2002,after the demise of Wimbledon FC and the attempted link with MK
Dons, first played in the Combined Counties League with the like of
Godalming Town as opponents. The rise of the club through the
Isthmian League Premier in 2005, the Conference Premier in 2009
brought the club to the Football League in 2011.
It's a long way from the old Wembley
with Vinnie Jones' first minute tackle on Steven McMahon, Lawrie
Sanchez's goal and Dave Beasant's penalty save, but it is an
intriguing fixture with history to be made.
Only two clubs have won the FA Amateur
Cup and the FA Cup, the Old Carthusians (who else! In 1894 and 1881))
and Wimbledon Football Club (1963 and 1988). PS NEARLY 3000 HITS! exciting
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