United journey to South West London on Saturday and a first ever meeting with AFC Wimbledon.
Terry Brown's men were promoted as Champions of the Blue Square South last season, and have continued their healthy momentum into the new campaign. The Surrey side currently lie in ninth place following just one defeat in the past six matches.
The story of Wimbledon FC controversially relocating to Milton Keynes in 2002 and changing their moniker to MK Dons is a well-documented one. Supporters felt understandably angry and accused the club's new owners of ignoring their proud 104-year history, as well as the undoubted loyalty of its fans. Within months those same fans had made the ultimate sacrifice of abandoning ship and forming a new club which would ideally be based in South West London and, to avoid history repeating itself, be solely owned by a Supporters Trust.
Despite being unable to find a location close to their spiritual Wimbledon residence with such short notice, a ground-share agreement was reached with neighbouring Kingstonian, and AFC Wimbledon were duly elected to the Combined Counties League in time for the commencement of the 2002/03 season. Their first ever match, a friendly at Sutton United, attracted a remarkable 4,657 crowd, whilst their inaugural league game at Kingsmeadow saw hundreds locked out as 4,142 squeezed into what was then a tiny ground.
That first league game ended in a disappointing 2-1 loss to Chipstead, but they grew stronger throughout the campaign and, with the added motivation of regularly drawing crowds in excess of 4,000, finished the season in third place. They embraced being labelled as favourites the following year when the championship was clinched, and within twelve months the Dons had also secured the Ryman First Division title.
Two failed attempts to climb out of the Premier Division saw ex-Aldershot boss Terry Brown recruited as Manager in the summer of 2007, and his arrival has proved the catalyst for their rise into the higher echelons of non-league football.
Brown swiftly guided them to the Ryman Premier Division Play-off Final in his first season, and a 2-1 triumph over Staines Town meant promotion to the Conference South and another chapter in their dramatic story.
Amazingly they took the league by storm last year and, thanks to a healthy defensive record weighed against their goal scoring average of more than two per game, they were defeated just six times all season en route to winning the championship. The title was sealed on the final day of the campaign courtesy of a 3-0 victory over St Albans.
The key to their success was a well blended mixture of youth, talent and experience. The defence was superbly marshalled by former Stevenage man Jason Goodliffe, who brought bags of experience to the club, whilst Michael Haswell was touted as one of the most highly rated left-backs outside the Football League. Up front Danny Kedwell and Jon Main seemed to score goals for fun. The latter notched 34 in just 44 league and cup games, with ex-Grays striker Kedwell bagging 24 in 45 starts.
Strangely, though, Haswell decided to jump ship and join seemingly mis-managed club Grays Athletic over the summer, so his place in the side has been eagerly snapped up by youngster Chris Hussey. The summer arrival of centre-half Paul Lorraine from relegated Woking has further strengthened the defensive ranks, whilst there is renewed competition in midfield thanks to the signature of Paul Wellard from Ashford Town. Wellard was watched by several League clubs last season, and joined the Dons along with Stephen Gregory, who made the surprise switch from fellow BSP new boys Hayes & Yeading. Moreover, Kedwell and Main were kept on their toes by the arrival of Luke Moore, who was part of the mass exodus from Ebbsfleet.
The Season so Far
The Dons opened the season with a high profile encounter at home to Luton. Jon Main came to the rescue with a late equaliser in a 1-1 draw, but their first away game at this elevated level proved a damp squib for the hefty travelling support who witnessed a 1-0 defeat to Eastbourne.
Four wins in five matches soon raised the spirits, though, as both Grays and Salisbury shipped four goals to Brown's attack-minded front line, whilst Altrincham and Kettering were both beaten in their own backyards. The only blip was a 1-0 home reverse to table-topers Oxford who, according to reports, were lucky to leave Kingsmeadow with the points.
Their last outing was a 2-2 draw at stubborn Tamworth, with Danny Kedwell scoring two second-half goals to snatch a share of the spoils. Kedwell is the Dons' top scorer to date with eight goals, and sits just one behind Chris Holroyd who tops the BSP charts with nine.
Matchday Connection
Danny Webb began his career with Southampton but, after failing to make the grade at St Marys, was sold to Southend for £10,000 in December 2000. Just thirty-one appearances and three goals later he was farmed out to Brighton on loan and, despite a solitary goal in fifteen games, Hull City saw enough to snap him up. Nevertheless, Danny's lack of goals saw him climb aboard the loan bus again, with a spell at Lincoln coming just before his move to the Abbey.
He made his black & amber debut under Manager Herve Renard in a 2-1 Nationwide Division Three away win at Northampton on 19 December 2003, and scored his first goal for the club two weeks later in our 2-2 draw at Lincoln City. Danny made a total of 43 appearances for United but, again, his shyness in front of goal, (four in total) proved his downfall, and he is largely remembered for a ridiculous on-field scuffle with Luke Guttridge during a home game with Shrewsbury in August 2004.
He moved on to Yeovil following our 2005 Football League relegation, and subsequently played for Rushden, Woking and with Marsaxlokk in Malta. Danny joined AFC Wimbledon during the 2007/08 campaign and managed to record nine goals in 33 matches, but departed for short spells at Chelmsford, Sutton and Havant & Waterlooville, before signing for current employers Salisbury towards the end of last season.
Doug Shulman
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