WOMBLES AT THE WANDLE

The old Plough Lane was a challenging place to play. I played there in what was known as the London Floodlight League, a mid-week competition that would pit clubs in the London area with floodlights and from a variety leagues, into relatively serious combat. It was a good excuse for managers to play reserves or have a look at members of the club's youth team.

The Plough Lane pitch was originally described as "swampland" and was drained and made playable in September 1912. Around 500 spectators could safely get into the ground at that time and the first match played there was against local rivals Carshalton Athletic. It resulted in a draw.

Wimbledon FC played there until May 1991 and then went into a groundshare with Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. The old ground went for sale to Safeway in 2001 and then was sold for housing development, creating 570 flats with blocks named after Wimbledon's "heroes"; Batsford, Bassett, Cork, Lawrie, Reed and Stannard. (no Vinnie?) The whole complex was named Reynolds Gate after a past player, Eddie Reynolds.

AFC Wimbledon, a reincarnation in 2002, has been playing in Kingston-u-Thames at Kingsmeadow, ground sharing with Kingstonian FC and Chelsea Ladies. I shall not pursue the club's history to Milton Keynes etc, so you can look that up if you need to. It really is worth researching as the club made 6 promotions in 13 seasons from "county" standard to their present perch in League One.

The new Plough Lane has been under construction since 2018, aiming for an 11,000 capacity as the "Wombles" return to their "spiritual home", rebuilding on the site of the famous Greyhound Stadium, virtually next door. Granted permission in 2015 to get on with the project, Merton Council and Galliard homes accepted a joint bid with a community focus in what is known as a "Call for sites" scheme.

There will be space for 602 residences, shops and various community schemes, such as a fitness centre and squash courts. Inevitably there have been delays but the target is 2019-20 and with a fair wind AFC Wimbledon as the club is now called will be playing 200 yards from their old ground on the banks of the River Wandle. Smart eh?

https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/sport/wimbledon-stadium-plough-lane-images-14034398
Here is a series of classic Crazy Gang images and a short video about the development of the club....warning there may be an odd photo that might upset you!
In the corner of their "museum" will hopefully still be a plaque marking the anniversary match played between Wimbledon FC and A Charterhouse XI. The celebration was to mark the fact that Wimbledon became only the second club to win both the FA Amateur Cup (1963) and the FA Cup (1988). The only other club to achieve that is the Old Carthusians (Amateur 1894 and 1897) and (FA Cup 1881).