While Dons fans were dusting themselves down after yesterday's narrow – and unlucky – defeat, a buzz of excitement about the club has been spreading through the newsrooms of the UK.
The cause is the Plough Lane Bond. The Bond, which is administered and offered by the Dons Trust, is looking to raise £5m by 14 February to help cover the remaining costs of the move back to Plough Lane.
The Bond had its media launch on Wednesday and was featured in nearly every national newspaper as well as the BBC and Sky Sports.
And that attention has helped draw a wide cross section of support from the media.
Seb White, Managing Editor of Mundial, said: “The real Dons never know when they are beaten. Huge credit to this fan-powered initiative that I know has taken a vast amount of work from a lot of people.
“The AFC Wimbledon story never ceases to amaze me. The sheer will and determination of so many people to never ever give up is always inspirational. I hope this is the last campaign they have to run.”
Sky Sports presenter Faye Carruthers added: “As a Luton fan, supporter-owned clubs are dear to my heart and living in Wimbledon, I know how important it is for this club to return to its roots. My husband has supported the Dons for years, getting back to Plough Lane would be massive, and this scheme can help that.”
Glenn Moore, the former Football editor of the Independent, also added his support. The Gillingham fan is based locally and his son regularly attends Dons matches. Glenn said: “I’m old enough to remember the original Plough Lane, which had a great atmosphere but was an impossible place to work. So I’m backing the Dons’ dream to go back home to a shiny new stadium, with better facilities for all - and owned by the fans.”
Amy Lawrence is a regular pundit on the BBC and was a football writer for the Guardian and the Observer before joining the popular website The Athletic last year. She issued this call to football supporters everywhere: “Any Wimbledon fans out there, or anyone who wants and is able to help a club that needs to go back to its ancestral home, please check this out.”
The last word, however, goes to The Telegraph columnist and ardent Manchester United fan Jim White: “A bond by the fans, for the fans: AFC Wimbledon are once again showing there is another way in football.”
The Plough Land Bond offers annual returns of up to 4%. Minimum investment starts from £1k with loans running for five, ten and twenty-year terms. Your capital is at risk. Please see the website www.ploughlanebond.com for full terms and conditions and risk factors.
The picture above shows Matt Everard and Joe Sheerin lifting the Combined Counties League Premier Division title trophy back in 2004.