Give the heroes of 2016 a parade to remember
Twenty eight years ago Wimbledon town centre turned yellow and blue to welcome home returning heroes with silverware from Wembley.
Our photo shows captain Dave Beasant, forward Alan Cork and goal scorer Lawrie Sanchez on the balcony with the FA Cup after that memorable day under the Twin Towers against Liverpool.
This Sunday though it will be the turn of skipper Barry Fuller, Player of the Year Paul Robinson and Lyle Taylor, who scored the first goal in the 2-0 victory over Plymouth in the League Two Play-Off Final just over a month ago, to receive a special Wimbledon welcome along with the rest of the squad and management.
An open-top bus parade through Wimbledon town centre will be followed by the new kit launch with first-teamers, academy players, and AFC Wimbledon Ladies and Girls taking to the catwalk.
AFC Wimbledon’s management and players on board will parade their silverware through Wimbledon Village and the town centre to celebrate with supporters. The bus will then stop at the Piazza so that the club can address fans and thank them for their support.
The Mayor of Merton Councillor Brenda Fraser, as first citizen of the borough, will be accompanied by the Leader of the Council, Councillor Stephen Alambritis, on the bus to congratulate the team for their fantastic achievement and thank them for being the ‘Pride of Merton’.
Following the parade, the new Admiral home and away kits will be launched, along with goalkeeper and training kits, at the Centre Court Shopping Centre.
Schedule for Sunday:
• The top bus will drive through Wimbledon Town Centre, coming through Wimbledon Village, down Wimbledon Hill into Wimbledon Broadway, stopping outside the Piazza at 11am for 20 mins, where the club will thank fans for their support.
• Fans are encouraged to gather in the Piazza outside Morrison’s and the Odeon from 10.30am, where the bus will stop for 20 mins at 11am.
• The open top bus parade will be followed by the new kit fashion show featuring AFC Wimbledon from the 1st team, Academy Teams and Girls and Ladies teams outside Monsoon on the upper level of the Centre Court Shopping Centre at 12pm
• The new kit will be available to buy from AFC Wimbledon’s pop-up shop, which will be based in the upper level of Centre Court Shopping Centre in the Help for Heroes unit, immediately after the fashion show until close of business on Sunday.