Dons boss thanks the club's fans after Morecambe win
Wimbledon manager Neal Ardley has saluted the contribution of volunteers in helping to get Saturday’s match against Morecambe on.
The Dons triumphed 2-0 to ease their relegation fears, but the match survived a 12 noon pitch inspection to get the go-ahead – and thanks in no small part to volunteers.
Mat Haylock (pictured above) was one of the supporters who helped to fork the pitch in the morning and a team of volunteers helped out right up until kick-off.
Neal Ardley said: “I’m running out of superlatives to describe the fans of our club. As owners of the club they do so much work behind the scenes and without their efforts we would not be in the Football League. I cannot praise them highly enough.
“Hopefully, they are extremely proud of their efforts on Saturday and they were happy that we won the match. I thought that it was a real opportunity for us psychologically with some of the other teams not playing and it was good that the players rose to the challenge in the end.”
Assistant manager Neil Cox and four AFC Wimbledon Under-18s players also helped get the game on with Charlie Fayers, Tom Beere, Owen Roberts and Harlen Basker all chipping in.
Academy Manager Mark Robinson has introduced a new initiative of getting AFC Wimbledon’s youth players involved on a first-team match day.
Mark said: “We are rotating this around with four different lads involved on every match day. Neal Ardley thought it would be a good idea to get my players involved in what goes on in and around the club. They have been doing various jobs at home games to help out. The whole squad now also come along to partake in match analysis, focusing on one key subject, so that they can learn about the game.”
This season’s Wimbledon Volunteers away day takes place at Bristol Rovers on Saturday, 6 April and those eligible should by now have been contacted by the club.
All fans who have volunteered in the last 12 months should have received information about the Cherry Red Records-sponsored trip, which involves free return travel to the game by coach, pre-match meal at a Bristol hotel, match ticket and a programme.
for the e-mail address.Bristol volunteers trip If you think you are eligible, but have not yet received notification from the club about the trip, then you must e-mail us by Thursday, 28 March. Click on