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Network Rail’s new headquarters is located on the former site of one of England’s most debated football clubs.
At its height, the stadium attracted 9,000 fans each week; prior to that, it was the home ground for England’s national hockey team.
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This versatile venue was rented to a club experiencing one of the most notable shifts in contemporary football.
From 2003 to 2007, it became the home for MK Dons, who were competing in League One amidst their EFL transition from London.
Throughout their stay, MK Dons encountered the thrills and challenges of relegation to League Two and subsequent elevation.
In 2007, MK Dons shifted to the newly built Stadium MK, located in Bletchley, leaving the old venue empty.
The stadium remained unoccupied for two years before its demolition began in late 2009, making way for a new Rail HQ, which opened in July 2012.
MK Dons was formed in 2004 as a result of the contentious relocation of Wimbledon FC.
During the 1980s and 1990s, Wimbledon’s infamous ‘Crazy Gang’ played at Plough Lane in Merton, South West London.
However, by 1991, the historic yet aging ground did not meet the all-seater requirements that Premier League stadiums had to fulfill.
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Owner Sam Hammam faced challenges with renovations and sold 80% of the club to Peter Wrinkleman by 1997.
Wimbledon had to share the ground with Crystal Palace from 1991 to 2003 before Wrinkleman moved the club 46 miles north to Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire with the sanction of the FA.
New Luton Town Stadium given planning permission
Many fans were furious when the club was compelled to part with their ‘Don’ nickname, their 102-year-old stadium, badge, and colors by 2004.
Numerous supporters broke away to establish AFC Wimbledon in 2002 as a non-league team, which is presently striving for promotion in League Two.
During this period, the club played its home games at Kingsmeadow – now the home of Chelsea FC Women.
AFC Wimbledon returned to their original home at Plough Lane, now referred to as the Cherry Red Records Stadium, a short distance from their initial ground in 2020.
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A groundsharing agreement with rugby league team London Broncos commenced in 2022.
MK Dons and AFC Wimbledon maintain a complex, yet strained relationship, with AFC refusing to acknowledge MK Dons.
Indeed, AFC Wimbledon was penalized for not using the official name of MK Dons in a pre-match program when both clubs met in League One in 2017.
No discussion of football’s most notable teams would be complete without referencing Wimbledon’s rise in the 1980s.
The notorious ‘Crazy Gang’ was made up of players who advanced from the fourth division to the top tier in just four seasons.
Importantly, the Wombles achieved FA Cup success with Lawrie Sanchez netting the decisive goal against a dominant Liverpool in the 1988 final.
However, the legendary First Division’s remarkable underdog story also had its darker elements.
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The team’s relentless work ethic and fierce competitiveness made them formidable opponents.
Even among their own dressing room, the atmosphere was charged with fear.
Former players Dennis Wise, Vinnie Jones, and John Fashanu recounted stories of severe beatings, rampant violence, and even incidents of arson during their tenure.
“I witnessed players break down and cry from the abuse,” recalled former defender Terry Phelan.
Even Jones admitted, “We were a collection of misfits, a lot of throw-outs, a lot of not-wanteds. You either toughened up quickly or you fell apart.”
Jones was often seen as the figurehead of this tough landscape, but he claims that the culture was established before his entry in 1984, attributing it to Wally Downes’ leadership.
Recently, Wrinkleman sold MK Dons to a consortium based in Kuwait, led by businessman Fahad Al Ghanim in August of this year.
Winkleman was in charge during the club’s ascent to the Championship before they ultimately dropped back down to League Two.
Currently, MK Dons find themselves beneath their fierce rivals AFC Wimbledon in the professional fourth tier.
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