Kevin Cooper's pride as AFC Wimbledon close in on league landmark
If the Dons score twice tomorrow it will bring up 1,000 league goals since AFC Wimbledon was formed and the man who netted the first has paid tribute to the club’s achievements.
minute of a 2-1 win at Sandhurst Town on 17 August, 2002. It’s still a day revered by every Wimbledon fan present as 2,449 supporters packed into Bottom Meadow – many standing on bales of hay to get a view – and Kevin was delighted to put a smile on the faces of fans so happy to be watching their own football team again.thKevin Cooper (who is pictured above being congratulated after scoring for the Dons) put AFC Wimbledon 1-0 up in the 18
“It seems like such a long time ago, but you just don’t forget things like that,” said Kevin when we spoke to him today. “On the coach to Sandhurst it was being drummed into us by supporters and those behind the club that this was the start of a rollercoaster ride for AFC Wimbledon. The players were talking about getting the first goal. I will never forget that I scored it and got the man of the match award. To know that I got the first and the club has now nearly scored 1,000 goals makes me so proud.
“During pre-season we kind of knew how big it all was because of the crowds we were getting and the publicity. Being realistic though, I don’t think anyone would have believed then that the club would make it into the Football League in nine years. That AFC Wimbledon did do that is a tribute to the fans and the people behind the scenes at the club.”
Kevin attended the recent match against Torquay United and he had quite a few fans urging him to make a comeback!
“I was at the Torquay game and they played good on the day,” Kevin added. “It was quite funny because I probably had about 20 fans in the space of five minutes asking me to get my boots back on.
“Though I did go onto play higher than the level Wimbledon were at, it was my best achievement in football to score 66 goals in one season.”
Kevin scored a total of 107 goals in just 95 games during his stay at AFC Wimbledon.
to view some of them.Dons Goals for Dave Boyle’s match report from that day. Plenty of the club’s 998 league goals so far feature on our You Tube channel, including the best of 2013. Click on Your AFC Wimbledon Click on minute substitute in the memorable game 12-and-a-half years ago.thA look back at that Sandhurst Town match also puts into perspective Simon Bassey’s achievements at AFC Wimbledon. Now first-team coach, Simon came on as a 74
to visit the website. Kevin’s projectKevin Cooper currently works as an Events Coordinator and in his spare time he is involved with Sellebrity Soccer, an online auction site run by former Norwich City star Darren Eadie. It has been a roaring success with celebrities and sports stars teaming up to raise over £250,000 for charities with four football matches staged last year. Click on