WDON celebrates 10-year anniversary tonight
Tonight’s match against Torquay United will be a special occasion for our WDON commentary team as it marks the 10-year anniversary of the radio station’s first broadcast.
The visit of the Gulls will be exactly a decade since our original WDON team, consisting of Chris Philips, Marc Jones and Matt Couper carried out an experimental broadcast from AFC Wimbledon’s London Senior Cup win (4-3 on penalties) against Brimsdown Rovers.
Current commentator Mike Taliadoros (Mikey T) was there almost from the very start as he joined for the next game, a 4-3 Combined Counties League win against North Greenford United. Since then, WDON has provided live coverage from the games that mattered for AFC Wimbledon and the highlight was undoubtedly that proud day up in Manchester last May. A recording of the WDON team’s reaction to THAT penalty from Danny Kedwell was used to open the very next Non League Show and Mikey T estimates that he has reported on over 450 games.
Such commentating greats as John Motson and Martin Tyler have been special guests during WDON broadcasts and Mikey T says it has been a real privilege to provide live coverage for Dons fans all over the world.
“The time has flown by," he said. "It has been a real honour and a privilege to commentate on Wimbledon for so long,” he said. “We have had great feedback from our listeners. Obviously, Manchester was the real culmination of all the club’s efforts. There had been a lot of promotions over the years, but getting into the Football League was mission accomplished. Chris Philips asked me to join the team for the North Greenford game and I have been involved ever since. I remember we won that game 4-3 after being 3-1 down. Keith Ward scored the winner with a goal that was like Pele’s overhead kick in Escape to Victory.”
Since the original broadcasting team started 10 years ago, several commentators have also helped with WDON’s success including Barry James and northern correspondents James Whittaker and Dave Hunt-Jackson. Of course, our current WDON team of Mikey T, Rob Cornell and Geoff Hawley will be commentating on tonight’s League 2 match against Torquay United and hopefully the 10-year anniversary will bring some much-needed luck and a win for the Dons.
The picture above shows (left to right) Rob Cornell, Sammy Moore, Geoff Hawley, Barry James, Mike Taliadoros and Chris Philips after they presented Sammy with his player of the year award last season.