A letter from America praises the Dons
AFC Wimbledon colours have popped up all over the world in our Dons on Tour series, but it’s perhaps more surprising that the famous blue and yellow was shown off recently at Sporting Park in Kansas City.
American Conor Crawford paraded a Dons scarf at a Sporting Kansas City versus Real Esteli (Nicaragua) match in the CONCACAF Champions League. But Conor was only there because he fell in love with “soccer” after attending just one AFC Wimbledon match in 2009.
Below is Conor’s letter that he sent to us in full, which shows the appeal of AFC Wimbledon as a true fans club.
“I lived in Surbiton and studied at Kingston University in the summer of 2009. Aside from falling in love with the city of London, I set out to see a local football/soccer match while I was there. Obviously all the Premier League or Championship teams were playing abroad on summer tours at the time, but I didn't care for them anyway.
“I wanted to watch a club lower down the pyramid, and I immediately fell in love with your team when I visited Kingsmeadow in July, 2009. I saw your victory over FC United of Manchester that summer and loved every minute of it. I still think about it to this day.
“I'm now back in my hometown of Kansas City, where I've been a season ticket member at Sporting Kansas City (Major League Soccer) for several years since my return. Our squad won the MLS Cup December, and I proudly had a Wimbledon pin badge on my scarf that night when they lifted the cup. Sporting are now competing in the CONCACAF Champions League. It's nowhere near as exciting as UEFA's tournament, but the sport has really been picking up in America in the past five years.
“When Kansas City played in the Champions League recently I brought along my AFC Wimbledon scarf to represent the club which made me fall in love with the game. Sporting won 3-0 and they're cruising through their group stage at the moment. During this match, a lady sitting next to me asked me what the 'beautiful blue and yellow' scarf from South London was all about. "It's my team," I said. Sporting KC are now approaching the end of their season, but I know there's plenty more for the Wombles coming up. Major congratulations to the club for beating Milton Keynes the other day!”
chris.slavin@afcwimbledon.ltd.uk More of your Dons on Tour photographs will be featured soon on the official website and Facebook soon. We will gratefully receive more pictures of travelling Dons via e-mail:or via a dedicated thread on Facebook, which will be posted up today.